Returns and refunds go through the retailer
Same rule as shipping: Modern Biology News is an independent editorial publication, not a retailer. We never take payment for a product, so we're not in a position to issue a refund, authorize a return, or replace anything — the party you actually paid handles all of that.
Whose policy applies
Return windows, restocking fees, and refund eligibility are all set by the retailer or manufacturer you bought from, and they differ quite a bit from one seller to the next. The policy that actually governs your purchase is the one posted on that seller's checkout or order-confirmation page — read it there, ideally before you buy, since "after the fact" is a bad time to discover a short return window.
How to actually start a return
Go back to the order confirmation email from the retailer, find the return or refund instructions included there, and follow that seller's process directly. Most retailers require the original order number, so keeping that email is worth doing.
What we can't do
We have no login into any retailer's order or refund system, so we can't check a return's status, authorize one, or speed one up — even if we wanted to. If you write in about a return, we'll point you to the retailer, but anything more specific than that would just be us guessing at a policy we don't administer.