Popular Science

Popular Science (also known as PopSci) is an American digital magazine carrying popular science content, which refers to articles for the general reader on science and technology subjects. Popular Science has won over 58 awards, including the American Society of Magazine Editors awards for its journalistic excellence in 2003 (for General Excellence), 2004 (for Best Magazine Section), and 2019 (for Single-Topic Issue). With roots beginning in 1872,[2] Popular Science has been translated into over 30 languages and is distributed to at least 45 countries.

This article is about the magazine. For the general concept of interpreting science for a broad audience, see popular science. For the 1935–1949 film series, see Popular Science (film). For similar magazines, see List of science magazines.
Popular Science
Magazine cover (January, 1923)
EditorAnnie Colbert (2023)
General ManagerAdam Morath
CategoriesInterdisciplinary
FrequencyFully digital
Total circulation
(June 2014)		1,321,075[1]
FoundedMay 1872 (1872-05) (as The Popular Science Monthly)
Final issueApril 27, 2021 (print)
CompanyRecurrent Ventures
CountryUnited States
Based inNew York, NY
Websitewww.popsci.com
ISSN0161-7370
OCLC488612811

Early history

The Popular Science Monthly, as the publication was originally called, was founded in May 1872[3] by Edward L. Youmans to disseminate scientific knowledge to the educated layman. Youmans had previously worked as an editor for the weekly Appleton's Journal and persuaded them to publish his new journal. Early issues were mostly reprints of English periodicals. The journal became an outlet for writings and ideas of Charles Darwin, Thomas Henry Huxley, Louis Pasteur, Henry Ward Beecher, Charles Sanders Peirce, William James, Thomas Edison, John Dewey and James McKeen Cattell. William Jay Youmans, Edward's brother, helped found Popular Science Monthly in 1872 and was an editor as well. He became editor-in-chief on Edward's death in 1887.[4] The publisher, D. Appleton & Company, was forced for economic reasons to sell the journal in 1900.[5]

James McKeen Cattell became the editor in 1900 and the publisher in 1901. Cattell had a background in academics and continued publishing articles for educated readers. By 1915 the readership was declining and publishing a science journal was a financial challenge. In a September 1915 editorial, Cattell related these difficulties to his readers and announced that the Popular Science Monthly name had been "transferred" to a group that wanted the name for a general audience magazine, a publication which fit the name better. The existing journal would continue the academic tradition as Scientific Monthly. Existing subscribers would remain subscribed under the new name.[6] Scientific Monthly was published until 1958 when it was absorbed into Science.[7]

The Modern Publishing Company acquired the Popular Science Monthly name. This company had purchased Electrician and Mechanic magazine in 1914 and over the next two years merged several magazines together into a science magazine for a general audience. The magazine had a series of name changes: Modern Electrics and Mechanics, Popular Electricity and Modern Mechanics, Modern Mechanics and finally World's Advance, before the publishers purchased the name Popular Science Monthly. The October 1915 issue was titled Popular Science Monthly and World's Advance. The volume number (Vol. 87, No. 4) was that of Popular Science but the content was that of World's Advance. The new editor was Waldemar Kaempffert, a former editor of Scientific American.[8][9]

The change in Popular Science Monthly was dramatic. The old version was a scholarly journal that had eight to ten articles in a 100-page issue. There would be ten to twenty photographs or illustrations. The new version had hundreds of short, easy to read articles with hundreds of illustrations. Editor Kaempffert was writing for "the home craftsman and hobbyist who wanted to know something about the world of science." The circulation doubled in the first year.[5]

From the mid-1930s to the 1960s, the magazine featured fictional stories of Gus Wilson's Model Garage, centered on car problems.

An annual review of changes to the new model year cars ran in 1940 and 1941, but did not return after the war until 1954. It continued until the mid-1970s when the magazine reverted to publishing the new models over multiple issues as information became available.

From 1935 to 1949, the magazine sponsored a series of short films, produced by Jerry Fairbanks and released by Paramount Pictures.

From July 1952 to December 1989, Popular Science carried Roy Doty's Wordless Workshop as a regular feature.

From July 1969 to May 1989, the cover and table of contents carried the subtitle, "The What's New Magazine." The cover removed the subtitle the following month and the contents page removed it in February 1990. In 1983, the magazine introduced a new logo using the ITC Avant Garde font, which it used until late 1995. Within the next 11 years, its font changed four times (in 1995, 1997, 2001, and 2002, respectively). In 2009, the magazine used a new font for its logo, which was used until the January 2014 issue.

In 2014, the magazine underwent a major redesign; its February 2014 issue introduced a new logo, and a new format featuring greater use of graphics and imagery, aiming to broaden its content to appeal to wider attention to the environment, science, and technology among a mass audience. The revamp concluded in November 2014 with a redesign of the Popular Science website.[10][11]

Recent history

The Popular Science Publishing Company, which the magazine bears its name, was acquired in 1967 by the Los Angeles-based Times Mirror Company. In 2000, Times Mirror merged with the Chicago-based Tribune Company, which then sold the Times Mirror magazines to Time Inc. (then a subsidiary of Time Warner) the following year. On January 25, 2007, Time Warner sold this magazine, along with 17 other special interest magazines, to Bonnier Magazine Group.[12]

In January 2016, Popular Science switched to bi-monthly publication after 144 years of monthly publication.[13]

In April 2016 it was announced that Editor-in-Chief Cliff Ransom would be leaving the magazine.[14]

In August 2016, Joe Brown was named Popular Science's new Editor-in-Chief. In September 2018, it was announced that Popular Science would become a quarterly publication.[15] During his tenure, Popular Science diversified its readership base,[16] was nominated for several National Magazine Awards, winning for The Tiny Issue in 2019, and named to AdWeek's Hot List in 2019.[17] Brown stepped down in February 2020.

In March 2020, Executive Editor Corinne Iozzio was named Editor in Chief.[18] During her tenure, the brand moved from a print to a digital-only publication, produced extensive coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, celebrated its 150-year anniversary,[19] and relaunched its "Brilliant 10" franchise.[20] Iozzio and her team won a 2022 National Magazine Award for its Heat Issue.[21] The issue, an in-depth look at the stark realities and ingenuity of a warming world, was the second win in the Single-Topic Issue category but the first in its new digital-only format. In August 2022, after more than a decade at Popular Science and two and a half years leading the brand, Iozzio announced that she would step down as Editor-in-Chief in October of that year.

On October 6, 2020, the Bonnier Group sold Popular Science and six other special interest magazines, including the well-known titles Popular Photography, Outdoor Life, and Field & Stream, to North Equity LLC.[22] While North Equity is a venture equity firm that primarily invests in digital media brands, David Ritchie, CEO of the Bonnier Corp, said Bonnier believes, "North Equity is best-positioned to continue to invest in and grow these iconic legacy brands."[23] [24] In June 2021, North Equity introduced Recurrent Ventures as the new parent company to its digital media portfolio.[25]

From April 27, 2021, the Popular Science publication was changed to a fully digital format and is no longer in physical print.[26] Its digital subscription offering, PopSci+[27] is inclusive of exclusive digital content and the magazine.

In January 2023, Annie Colbert was named the new Editor in Chief. She joined the brand after spending more than 10 years at Mashable.[28]

Radio

Popular Science Radio was a partnership between Popular Science and Entertainment Radio Network, which ran through 2016.[29]

Tablet

On March 27, 2011, Popular Science magazine sold the 10,000th subscription to its iPad edition, nearly six weeks after accepting Apple's terms for selling subs on its tablet.[30]

Podcasts

In 2018, Popular Science launched two podcasts, Last Week in Tech and The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week,[31] Last Week in Tech was later replaced by Techathlon.[32][33]

Weirdest Thing proved to be the brand's breakout hit. After just one episode, Apple Podcasts included "Weirdest Thing" on their weekly "New & Noteworthy" list, and over the years it has hosted a number of live events.

In early 2010, Bonnier partnered with London-based design firm BERG to create Mag+, a magazine publishing platform for tablets. In April 2010, Popular Science+,[34][35] the first title on the Mag+ platform, launched in the iTunes Store the same day the iPad launched.[36] The app contains all the content in the print version as well as added content and digital-only extras. Bonnier has since launched several more titles on the Mag+ platform, including Popular Photography+ and Transworld Snowboarding+.

On September 24, 2008, Australian publishing company Australian Media Properties (part of the WW Media Group) launched a local version of Popular Science. It is a monthly magazine, like its American counterpart, and uses content from the American version of the magazine as well as local material.[37] Australian Media Properties also launched www.popsci.com.au at the same time, a localised version of the Popular Science website.

In July 2007, Popular Science launched the Popular Science Predictions EXchange (PPX). People were able to place virtual bets on what the next innovations in technology, the environment, and science would be. Bets have included whether Facebook would have an initial public offering by 2008, when a touchscreen iPod would be launched, and whether Dongtan, China's eco-city, would be inhabited by 2010. The PPX shut down in 2009.

Television-Future Of...

Popular Science's Future Of...[38] show premiered on Monday, August 10, 2009 on the Science Channel. The show was concerned with the future of technology and science in a particular topic area that varies from week to week. As of December 2009, a new episode was premiering every Monday.[39]

Books

Popular Science has published a number of books, including the bestselling Big Book of Hacks[40] and Big Book of Maker Skills.[41]

The brand has also published The Total Inventor's Manual[42] and The and The Future Then,[43] which was published in conjunction with the brand's 145th anniversary.

Other languages

In June 2014, Popular Science Italia was launched in Italy by Kekoa Publishing. Directed by Francesco Maria Avitto the magazine is available in print and digital version.[44]

In April 2017, Popular Science was launched in Arabic by United Arab Emirates based publisher Haykal Media. The magazine is available in print bimonthly, and through a daily updated portal.[45]

Publishers
DatesPublisher
1872–1900D. Appleton & Company
1900–1901McClure, Philips and Company
1901–1915Science Press
1915–1924Modern Publishing Company
1924–1967Popular Science Publishing Company
1967–1973Popular Science Publishing Company, subsidiary of Times Mirror
1973–2000Times Mirror Company
2000–2007Time Inc.
2007–2020Bonnier Magazine Group
2020−presentNorth Equity

Sources: American Mass-Market Magazines[5] The Wall Street Journal[46] and New York Post.[47] [48]

  • Ship on Stilts Rides Above Waves, January 1936, by Edgar Franklin Wittmack
    Ship on Stilts Rides Above Waves, January 1936, by Edgar Franklin Wittmack
  • Is U.S Building a "New Moon"?, May 1949
    Is U.S Building a "New Moon"?, May 1949
  • Cars Without Wheels, July 1959
    Cars Without Wheels, July 1959

See also

References
  1. "eCirc for Consumer Magazines". Alliance for Audited Media. December 31, 2012. Archived from the original on April 18, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  2. Lewenstein, Bruce V. (1987). "Was There Really a Popular Science 'Boom'?". Science, Technology, & Human Values. 12 (2): 29–41. doi:10.1177/016224398701200204. hdl:1813/13731. S2CID 141385150.
  3. "Top 100 U.S. Magazines by Circulation" (PDF). PSA Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 15, 2016. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  4. Gilman, D. C.; Peck, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905). "Youmans, William Jay" . New International Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.
  5. Nourie, Alan; Barbara Nourie (1990). American Mass Market Magazines. Bloomsbury Academic. pp. 385–399. ISBN 978-0-313-25254-9. Archived from the original on March 16, 2009.
  6. Cattell, James McKeen (September 1915). "The Scientific Monthly and the Popular Science Monthly". Popular Science Monthly. Vol. 87, no. 3. pp. 307–310.
  7. "AAAS and the Maturing of American Science: 1941–1970". American Association for the Advancement of Science. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  8. "September's Harvest of Important Books". The New York Times. August 29, 1915. p. BR312. "The Popular Science Monthly has been bought by the Modern Publishing Company of New York City…"
  9. Walter, Frank Keller (1918). Periodicals for the Small Library (2nd ed.). American Library Association. p. 24. The new Popular Science Monthly is continued from World's Advance, old version in now Scientific Monthly.
  10. "Folio January/February 2014 - With Redesign, Popular Science Tweaks Its 140-Year-Old Formula". read.nxtbook.com. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  11. Mosher, Dave (2014-11-24). "Welcome To The New Popular Science". Popular Science. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  12. "Bonnier Magazine Group Buys 18 Magazines from Time Inc". Time Warner. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  13. "Big Changes at Popular Science". Popular Science. 17 December 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  14. "Cliff Ransom Steps Down at Popular Science". Cision. 22 April 2016.
  15. Faisal Kalim (13 August 2019). ""Magazines are alive and well": Publishers refresh their strategies for the print format". WNIP. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  16. "How Popular Science is shedding its male-geek image". Digiday. 2018-06-21. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  17. "These Print And Digital Publishers Are Redefining What It Means to Be a Media Brand in 2018". www.adweek.com. 2018-10-15. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  18. "CORINNE IOZZIO NAMED EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF POPULAR SCIENCE | Bonnier". www.bonniercorp.com. 2020-03-10. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  19. "150 years of Popular Science". Popular Science. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  20. Gourgey, Bill (2021-09-20). "The Brilliant 10: The most innovative up-and-coming minds in science". Popular Science. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  21. Hebert, Cathy (2022-04-11). "Popular Science Wins 2022 ASME for Best Single-Topic Issue". Recurrent. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  22. Alpert, Lukas I. (October 6, 2020). "Bonnier Corp to Sell Its Biggest U.S. Magazines to Venture Equity Group". Wall Street Journal.
  23. "North Equity Announces Acquisition of Iconic Brands Including Popular Science, Saveur, Outdoor Life and Field & Stream". PRNewswire. October 6, 2020.
  24. "Welcome to North Equity". North Equity.
  25. Hebert, Cathy (2021-06-15). "Recurrent Ventures Named the New Parent Company of Popular Science, The Drive, Domino, Field & Stream, and Other Brands". Recurrent. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  26. Iozzio, Corinne (27 April 2021). "Welcome to the new digital edition of Popular Science". PopSci+.
  27. "About PopSci+ | Popular Science's Premium Content Membership". Popular Science. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  28. Hebert, Cathy (19 January 2023). "Recurrent Names Annie Colbert Editor-in-Chief of Popular Science". Recurrent.
  29. "Popular Science Radio".
  30. Nat Ives, adage.
  31. "The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. 2023-09-27. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  32. "Popular Science Podcasts".
  33. Silber, Tony. "With A New Podcast, Popular Science Looks To Stand Out From The Monotony Of Tech Media". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  34. "Popular Science+ in iTunes". iTunes. February 24, 2012. Retrieved April 1, 2012.
  35. Lynda Applegate; et al. (November 30, 2012). "Bonnier: Digitalizing the Media Business" (PDF). Harvard Business School. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 4, 2016. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  36. Fell, Jason (2010-04-07). "How Popular Science Built Its App in 62 Days". Foliomag. Retrieved April 1, 2012.
  37. "Popular Science Launches In Australia". September 24, 2008. Archived from the original on September 29, 2008.
  38. "PopSci's "Future Of" on The Science Channel | Popular Science". Popsci. August 24, 2009. Retrieved April 1, 2012.
  39. "PopSci's Future of". Science Channel. January 23, 2012. Archived from the original on September 18, 2012. Retrieved April 1, 2012.
  40. Cantor, Doug (2012-10-23). The Big Book of Hacks: 264 Amazing DIY Tech Projects (Original ed.). San Francisco: Weldon Owen. ISBN 978-1-61628-399-5.
  41. Hackett, Chris (2014-11-04). The Big Book of Maker Skills (Popular Science): Tools & Techniques for Building Great Tech Projects (Illustrated ed.). Weldon Owen. ISBN 978-1-61628-890-7.
  42. Ragan, Sean Michael (2017-01-10). The Total Inventors Manual (Popular Science): Transform Your Idea into a Top-Selling Product. Weldon Owen. ISBN 978-1-68188-158-4.
  43. The Future Then: Fascinating Art & Predictions from 145 Years of Popular Science (Illustrated ed.). Weldon Owen. 2018-07-10. ISBN 978-1-68188-299-4.
  44. "Popular Science. Sbarca in Italia il mensile di scienza e tecnologia più antico e diffuso al Mondo - Quotidiano Sanità".
  45. "Dubai Future Foundation April 2017".
  46. Rose, Matthew; Nikhil Deogun (October 20, 2000). "Time Warner to Pay $475 Million To Buy Times Mirror Magazines". The Wall Street Journal.
  47. Kelly, Keith J. (January 25, 2007). "Time Warner Sells Mags Under $300m". New York Post. Archived from the original on November 22, 2008.
  48. Kelly, Keith J. (October 6, 2020). "Bonnier Corp. Sells Popular Science, Field & Stream, and Outdoor Life". New York Post.
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