Volume of preprints posted in hard sciences (arXiv) and life sciences, from 1991 to 2017. In this time window, the total number of arXiv (Life sciences) preprints submitted was 1,263,265 (32,284). The inset shows the recent, rapid growth of preprint submissions in the Life sciences (including submissions to "arXiv q-bio", "Nature Preceedings", "F1000Research", "PeerJ Preprints", "bioRxiv", "The Winnower", "preprints.org" and "Wellcome Open Research"). The data and the code required to reproduce this figure is available in the web version of this article by clicking on the data and code icons. Unfortunately, these research products could not be included in the PDF version of the article due to the inherent limitations of this format. Data Source: arXiv and Pre-Pubmed.