Science & Vie

"Science & Vie" ("Science and Life") is a monthly science magazine issued in France since 1913 when its name was "La Science et la Vie". In 1982, a spinoff computer magazine, "Science & Vie Micro" (SVM) was launched. Another spinoff for teenagers, "Science & Vie Junior" was started in 1986. It was first edited by Excelsior Publications until the latter was bought by Emap Plc in 2003. Since 2006, it is edited by Mondadori France.

"Science & Vie" was divided in three sections, "Science" (Sciences), "Technologie" (Technology), "Vie Pratique" (Daily life). While the "Science" section reported onrecent scientific progress, the "Technology" section would report on recent technicaladvances. "Science & Vie" covered technical advances in industry, but also in militarytechnology. In particular, it featured articles on explosives, firearms, chemical weaponsand nuclear weapons. The "Vie Pratique" section was concerned with technology in dailylife. It included articles on photography, personal computers, video recording equipment or television. Besides these three sections, "Science & Vie" contained a section on amateur electronics by Henri-Pierre Penel, a section on amateur astronomy "La Calculette de l'Astronome", and two sections on computer programming in BASIC, one of video games (first for the Sinclair ZX 81, and then the ZX Spectrum) and another of elementary numerical analysis, "Le Micro de l'Ingénieur" (with listings for the Apple II).This made "Science & Vie" a more popular magazine (both in terms of circulation andin terms of the level of eductation of its readers) than La Recherche or Pour la Science which are only concerned with science, or Industries & Techniques which only deals with applications of technology in industry. Another important distinctive feature of"Science & Vie" was its willingness to tackle the issue of pseudoscience. The magazine was very critical of astrology, homeopathy, and pseudoscience. Withthe help of the conjuror Gérard Majax, it has exposed the tricks used by Uri Geller to bend spoons and make small objects fly. [ "Parapsychologie : des charlatans déguisés en savants" Science&Vie n° 774 march 1982, p. 74] In 1989, it criticized strongly the claimsof Jacques Benveniste of having observed the water memory. ["La mémoire de l'eau" Science&Vie n° 856 january 1989 p. 22] The magazine also uncovered the fabrication of theautopsy of an alien body supposedly discovered in Roswell, New Mexico. ["Extraterrestres : la grande arnaque (affaire Roswell)" Science&Vie n°935 August 1995 page 88] . The magazine was also very supportive of Henri Broch's debunking of paranormalclaims. In general, articles on paranormal topics were marked as Blurgs an acronym for"Balivernes lamentables à l'usage réservé des gogos" (deplorable nonsense to be used only by the gullible). Since being bought by Mondadori, the magazine has adopted a less skeptical line.

References

External links

* [http://www.science-et-vie.com/ "Science & Vie" website] fr icon
* [http://www.svmlemag.fr/ "Science & Vie Micro" website] fr icon
* [http://www.svjlesite.fr/ "Science & Vie Junior" website] fr icon
* [http://science-et-vie.macollec.net/ Index of past issues of "Science & Vie"] fr icon
* [http://www.abandonware-magazines.org/affiche_mag.php?mag=48&page=1 Index of past issues of "Science & Vie Micro"] fr icon