Printed in a digest format, TJOLS was designed to stand apart from other science magazines on the rack with illustrated covers and its reliance on photography to help tell stories.
The idea for the magazine was strongly influenced by The Acumen Journal of Life Sciences, a now-defunct publication that covered themes similar to TJOLS' and was published between 2003 and 2004.
[3] Under Patrick, the magazine has sought to make the content livelier than that of most science publications, with articles on human tissue as art, home kits for genetic testing, and research on the health effects of marriage by matchmaking site eHarmony's Ph.D.'s.
Recent issue covers have focused on the big current trends in the life sciences including stem cell research, personalized medicine, and health and wellness.
TJOLS contributors have included Sally Lehrman, Frank Browning, Ann Parson, Gareth Cook, Bruce Goldman, Lawrence M. Fisher, Julian Smith, Brian Vastag, Stephan Herrera, Sarah A. Klein, and K.C.