The Journal of Molecular Evolution is pleased to announce that the following paper has won the Zuckerkandl Prize for the top paper published in the journal in an issue released in the 2025 calendar year: Wu C, Paradis NJ, Jain K (2025) Substitution-mutation rate ratio (c/µ) as molecular adaptation test beyond Ka/Ks: a SARS-COV-2 case study. J Mol Evol 93:322–349. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00239-025-10248-6 Congratulations to Chun Wu from Rowan University for winning this award! We are also pleased to congratulate the runners up for their work on viral origins and evolution: Karki S, Barth ZK, Aylward FO (2025) Ancient host-virus gene transfer hints at a diverse pre-LECA virosphere. J Mol Evol 93:295–305. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00239-025-10246-8 More details about the 2025 award can be found here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00239-026-10302-x. Thank you for your interest. David Liberles Editor-in-Chief Journal fo Molecular Evolution David A Liberles (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)