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Essential Science Indicators^SM from Thomson Reuters contains data on Research Fronts (see Research Front Methodology) which are updated every two months. As part of this bimonthly processing, Special Topics identifies the Research Fronts that are growing most rapidly in each of the 22 major fields covered by Essential Science Indicators.

Fast Moving Fronts are those having the largest percentage increase in number of core papers from one period to the next in their respective fields. The rate of increase in citations to the core papers is also used as a criterion. An individual front can increase in size by either internal growth or by merging with one or more other fronts. In addition, random Research Fronts are selected from the current Research Front set for mapping that are relevant to the core papers of the chosen field. View the site-wide index of all maps.

For details on each front, their core papers and other statistical characteristics, see the Research Fronts section of Essential Science Indicators. Some papers have comments sent in by the author(s) of the paper which may include images and descriptions of their work.