I just received a call from Science - the new editor in chief is Bruce Alberts. The journal made him the offer, and he accepted over the weekend.

Alberts will assume his duties March 1. Current editor-in-chief Don Kennedy will remain in the position until then.

AAAS spokesperson Ginger Pinholster said I was the first call she made with the news.

Alberts was one of many names that surfaced during the months of speculation over who would take over the journal.

Alberts is a biochemist at the University of California, San Francisco, and former president of the National Academy of Sciences.