Scopus has released its latest database update—and March turned out to be a record month in terms of the number of journals removed.
Sixteen magazines. All at once. From different countries, covering different topics, and with varying levels of “credibility.”
Among them are publications from Greece, Jordan, Slovenia, Nigeria, Iraq, Italy, the United States, and other countries.
Journals on philosophy, medicine, cybersecurity, mycology, computer science, signals and images, surgery, and antennas. Some are highly specialized, while others cover a broad range of topics. Some are well-known, while others are less so.
This is not an anomaly. It is a message that Scopus sends time and time again: no journal is automatically “safe” simply because it was in the database yesterday.
Magazines We Didn't See Coming — and Why It Matters
In the “Journals at Risk of Being Removed from Scopus” section, we systematically analyze publications that show signs of risk. We did not review any of the 16 journals included in the March update in advance.
This proves one simple thing: monitoring cannot cover all magazines at the same time. Some publications disappear unexpectedly—without public warnings, without high-profile scandals. One day, the database is updated—and the publication is gone.
But when we give a warning—we're precise. Between 2024 and 2025, 37 of the 44 journals we wrote about in the “Candidates for Delisting” section were officially removed. Accuracy — 84%. The highest score among teams that monitor scientific publications.
Official List of Excluded Journals (March 2026)
1. Conatus — Journal of Philosophy
- ISSN: 2653-9373 | E-ISSN: 2459-3842
- Publisher: NKUA Applied Philosophy Research Laboratory
- Country: Greece
- Reason: Discontinuation
- Links in Scopus: View in Scopus
2. Dirasat: Humanities and Social Sciences
- ISSN: 1026-3721 | E-ISSN: 2663-6190
- Publisher: University of Jordan, Office of the Dean of Scientific Research
- Country: Jordan
- Reason: Discontinuation
- Scopus link: View in Scopus
3. Empirical Studies of the Arts
- ISSN: 0276-2374
- Publisher: Sage
- Country: United States
- Reason: Discontinuation
- Scopus link: View in Scopus
4. Fungal Diversity
- ISSN: 1560-2745 | E-ISSN: 1878-9129
- Publisher: Springer Nature
- Reason: Journal Change Policy
- Scopus link: View in Scopus
5. Heart Surgery Forum
- ISSN: 1098-3511 | E-ISSN: 1522-6662
- Publisher: Forum Multimedia Publishing LLC
- Reason: Journal Change Policy
- Scopus link: View in Scopus
6. Informatica (Slovenia)
- ISSN: 0350-5596 | E-ISSN: 1854-3871
- Publisher: Slovenian Informatics Society
- Country: Slovenia
- Reason: Discontinuation
- Scopus link: View in Scopus
7. International Journal of Advances in Signal and Image Sciences
- E-ISSN: 2457-0370
- Publisher: XLESCIENCE
- Reason: Discontinuation
- Scopus link: View in Scopus
8. International Journal of Biomedicine
- ISSN: 2158-0510 | E-ISSN: 2158-0529
- Publisher: International Medical Research and Development Corporation
- Reason: Discontinuation
- Scopus link: View in Scopus
9. Internet Technology Letters
- E-ISSN: 2476-1508
- Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
- Reason: Discontinuation
- Scopus link: View in Scopus
10. Journal of Research, Innovation, and Technologies
- E-ISSN: 2971-8317
- Publisher: RITHA Publishing House
- Reason: Journal Change Policy
- Scopus link: View in Scopus
11. Journal of the Balkan Tribological Association
- ISSN: 1310-4772
- Publisher: Scientific Bulgarian Communications
- Country: Bulgaria
- Reason: Discontinuation
- Scopus link: View in Scopus
12. Mesopotamian Journal of Cybersecurity
- E-ISSN: 2958-6542
- Publisher: Mesopotamian Academic Press
- Country: Iraq
- Reason: Discontinuation
- Scopus link: View in Scopus
13. National Journal of Antennas and Propagation
- E-ISSN: 2582-2659
- Publisher: Society for Communication and Computer Technologies
- Country: India
- Reason: Discontinuation
- Scopus link: View in Scopus
14. NIPES — Journal of Science and Technology Research
- ISSN: 2734-2352 | E-ISSN: 2682-5821
- Publisher: Nigerian Institute of Professional Engineers and Scientists
- Country: Nigeria
- Reason: Discontinuation
- Scopus link: View in Scopus
15. Nuova Rivista Storica
- ISSN: 0029-6236
- Publisher: Dante Alighieri Publishing Company
- Country: Italy
- Reason: Journal Change Policy
- Scopus link: View in Scopus
16. Surgical Technology International
- ISSN: 1090-3941
- Publisher: Universal Medical Press
- Country: United States
- Reason: Journal Change Policy
- Scopus link: View in Scopus
Conclusions
Sixteen journals in a single month—this isn’t just a record for the sake of a record. It reflects how Scopus continues to purge its database of publications that no longer meet its standards or have simply ceased operations.
Twelve journals have been assigned the status “Discontinuation”—they no longer exist as active publications. Four more—classified as “Journal Change Policy”—have changed their editorial policies to such an extent that Scopus cannot confirm their compliance with its criteria.
Among those excluded are publications from major players such as Springer Nature and Wiley. It is especially important to realize that even a prestigious publisher is no guarantee of permanent indexing.
What this means in practical terms for every author:
- An article that has been submitted to or accepted for publication in a journal that is at risk of being delisted may not be counted toward certification;
- Publication in a discontinued journal may serve as grounds for rejection during the dissertation defense;
- Grants and titles linked to Scopus publications are also at risk.
The March update is yet another confirmation of a simple but uncomfortable truth: checking a journal before submission is neither paranoia nor excessive caution. It is basic professional practice for a modern researcher. Those who make decisions based on current data, rather than on trust in “well-known” journal names, are incomparably better protected.
