Popular Science

Infobox Journal
title = Popular Science
abbreviation = Pop Sci


discipline = Interdisciplinary
Frequency = Weekly
website = http://www.popsci.com/
publisher = Bonnier Corporation
country = USA
history = 1872 to present
ISSN = 0161-7370:"For the 1935-1949 film series, see Popular Science (film).""Popular Science" is an American monthly magazine founded in 1872 carrying articles for the general reader on science and technology subjects. Popular Science has won over 58 awards, including the ASME awards for its journalistic excellence in both 2003 (for General Excellence) and 2004 (for Best Magazine Section). PopSci has been translated into over 30 languages and goes out to at least 45 countriesFact|date=September 2008.

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

On January 25, 2007, Time Warner sold this magazine, along with 17 other special interest magazines, to Bonnier Magazine Group. [ [http://www.timewarner.com/corp/newsroom/pr/0,20812,1582185,00.html Bonnier Magazine Group Buys 18 Magazines from Time Inc.] ]

Currently, the magazine consists of several sections, including: Headlines, a general recap of current discoveries and issues in science; FYI, interesting questions that are asked by readers and answered by writers; and How 2.0, projects for the average reader, as well as interesting achievements made by people across the globe.

Mark Jannot is the editor in the US edition.

Early history

"Popular Science Monthly" was founded in May 1872 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, William James, Thomas Edison, John Dewey and James McKeen Cattell. In 1877 William Youmans, Edward's brother, joined "Popular Science Monthly". The publisher, D. Appleton & Company, was forced by economic reasons to sell the journal in 1900. cite book | last = Nourie | first = Alan | coauthors = Barbara Nourie | title = American Mass Market Magazines | date = 1990 | pages = pp. 385–399 | isbn =0313252548]

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 that the journal had been "transferred" to a group that wanted the name for a general audience magazine. Next month the subscribers would be receive a new journal titled "Scientific Monthly" that would continue the academic tradition.cite journal | last = Cattell | first = James McKeen | title = The Scientific Monthly and the Popular Science Monthly | journal = Popular Science Monthly | volume = 87 | issue = 3 | pages = 307–310 | publisher = The Science Press | date = September 1915 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=QqUVAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA307] "Scientific Monthly" was published until 1958 when it was absorbed into "Science".

The Modern Publishing 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". The publishers were still looking for a new name so they purchased "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". cite news | title = September's Harvest Of Important Books | work = The New York Times | page = BR312 | language = | date = August 29, 1915 "The Popular Science Monthly has been bought by the Modern Publishing Company of New York City…"] cite book | last = Walter | first = Frank Keller | title = Periodicals for the Small Library | publisher = American Library Association | date = 1918 | pages =p. 24 |edition= 2nd edition | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=07tCAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA24 The new "Popular Science Monthly" is continued from "World's Advance", old version in now "Scientific Monthly".]

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 Kaembffert 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.

Popular Science Predictions Exchange

In July 2007, Popular Science launched PPX, the Popular Science Predictions EXchange. Here, people could place virtual bets as to what the next innovations in technology, the environment and science would be. The system of the PPX is based on the ability of wagers to predict the future. Bets include whether Facebook would have an initial public offering by 2008, the launch of a touchscreen iPod and whether China's eco-city, Dongtan would be inhabited by 2010.

Publishers

Sources: "American Mass-Market Magazines"cite book | last = Nourie | first = Alan | coauthors = Barbara Nourie | title = American Mass-Market Magazines | date = 1990 | pages = p. 398 | isbn =0313252548] "The Wall Street Journal"cite news | first = Matthew | last = Rose | coauthors = Nikhil Deogun | title = Time Warner to Pay $475 Million To Buy Times Mirror Magazines | url = http://wap.wsj.com/article/SB971994073376548863.html?mod=Media-Marketing | work = The Wall Street Journal | date = October 20, 2000] and "New York Post".cite news | first = Keith J. | last = Kelly | title = Time Warner Sells Mags Under $300m | url = http://www.nypost.com/seven/01252007/business/time_warner_sells_mags_under_300m_business_keith_j__kelly.htm | work = New York Post | date = January 25, 2007]

"Popular Science Magazine" throughout the decades

References

External links

* [http://www.popsci.com/popsci Popular Science]
* [http://www.revistapopularscience.es Popular Science en Español]
* [http://www.cinemashorts.com Website of "Popular Science" short films]
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0265475 List of "Popular Science" films (1935-1949) at IMDB]