[1][3] The journal was first created by the National Research Council's Committee on Nuclear Science, which partnered with Annual Reviews to produce the first volume in 1952.

In its history, it has had eight editors, four of whom had tenures of 10 or more years: Emilio Segrè, John David Jackson, Chris Quigg, and Barry R. Holstein.

[4] One of the key proponents of creating the journal was Alberto F. Thompson, who had previously helped establish Nuclear Science Abstracts in 1948.

From Volume 3 onward, Annual Reviews assumed all responsibility for the journal from the National Research Council.

All other members of the editorial committee are appointed by the Annual Reviews board of directors and serve five-year terms.