Citizendia
Your Ad Here

Scientific American
March 2005 cover of Scientific American
Abbreviated title Sci Am
Discipline Interdisciplinary
Language English
Publication details
Publisher Scientific American, Inc. An academic discipline or field of study is a branch of Knowledge which is taught or Researched at the college or university level In Academia, Pedagogy, Physical sciences, Earth sciences, Human sciences and Social sciences English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States (USA)
Publication history 1845 to present
Indexing
ISSN 0036-8733
Links

Scientific American is a popular-science magazine, published (first weekly and later monthly) since August 28, 1845, making it one of the oldest continuously published magazines in the United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the An International Standard Serial Number ( ISSN) is a unique eight-digit number used to identify a print or electronic Periodical publication. For the 1935-1949 film series see Popular Science (film. Popular Science is an American monthly Magazine founded in 1872 Science Magazine was a half-hour television show produced by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation from 1975 to 1979 Events 475 - The Roman General Orestes forces western Roman Emperor Julius Nepos to flee his Capital Year 1845 ( MDCCCXLV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common It brings articles about new and innovative research to the amateur and lay audience.

Scientific American (informally abbreviated to "SciAm") had a monthly circulation of roughly 555,000 US and 90,000 international as of December 2005. [1] It is not a peer-reviewed scientific journal, such as Nature; rather, it is a forum where scientific theories and discoveries are explained to a broader audience. Peer review (also known as refereeing) is the process of subjecting an author's scholarly work research or Ideas to the scrutiny of others who are For a broader class of publications which include scientific journals see Academic journal. Nature is a prominent Scientific journal, first published on 4 November 1869 In the past scientists interested in fields outside their own areas of expertise made up the magazine's target audience. Now, however, the publication is aimed at educated general readers who are interested in scientific issues. The magazine American Scientist covers similar ground but at a level more suitable for the professional science audience, similar to the older style of Scientific American. American Scientist (ISSN 0003-0996 (not to be confused with Scientific American) is an illustrated bimonthly Magazine about Science and

Contents

History

The magazine was founded by Rufus M. Porter, who grew up in Bridgton, Maine, as a single-page newsletter, and throughout its early years Scientific American put much emphasis on reports of what was going on at the US patent office. For the American football player see Rufus Porter (American football. Bridgton is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The United States Patent and Trademark Office ( PTO or USPTO) is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that issues Patents to It reported on a broad range of inventions that includes perpetual motion machines, an 1849 device for buoying vessels by Abraham Lincoln, and the universal joint which now finds place in nearly every automobile manufactured. The term perpetual motion, taken literally refers to movement that goes on forever Abraham Lincoln (February 12 1809 &ndash April 15 1865 the sixteenth President of the United States, successfully led his country through its greatest internal A universal joint, U joint, Cardan joint, Hardy- Spicer joint, or Hooke's joint is a Current issues feature a "this date in history" section, featuring an article originally published 50, 100, and 150 years ago — where often-humorous, un-scientific, or otherwise noteworthy gems of science history are featured.

Porter sold the newsletter in 1846 to Alfred Ely Beach and Orson Desaix Munn, and until 1948 it remained owned by Munn & Company. Alfred Ely Beach ( September 1, 1826 – January 1, 1896) was an American Inventor, Publisher and patent Under the second Orson D. Munn, grandson of the first, it had evolved into something of a "workbench" publication, similar to the 20th century incarnation of Popular Science. For the 1935-1949 film series see Popular Science (film. Popular Science is an American monthly Magazine founded in 1872 In the years after World War II, the magazine was dying. Three partners who were planning on starting a new popular science magazine, to be called The Sciences, instead purchased the assets of the old Scientific American and put its name on the designs they had created for their new magazine. Thus the partners -- publisher Gerard H. Piel, editor Dennis K. Flanagan, and general manager Donald H. Miller, Jr. -- created essentially a new magazine, the Scientific American magazine of the second half of the twentieth century. Miller retired in 1979, Flanagan and Piel in 1984, when Gerard Piel's son Jonathan became president and editor; circulation had grown fifteenfold since 1948. In 1986 it was sold to the Holtzbrinck group of Germany, who have owned it since. Donald Miller died in December, 1998,[2] Gerard Piel in September 2004 and Dennis Flanagan in January 2005. John Rennie is the current editor-in-chief. John Rennie (b 1959 became the seventh Editor in chief of Scientific American magazine in late 1994 having been a member of the Board of Editors since

International Editions

Scientific American published its first foreign edition in 1890, the Spanish-language "La America Cientifica. " Publication was suspended in 1905, and another 63 years would pass before another foreign-language edition appeared: In 1968, an Italian edition, Le Scienze, was launched, and a Japanese edition, Nikkei Science(日経サイエンス), followed three years later. Le Scienze is an Italian magazine and is the Italian edition of Scientific American, published monthly since 1968. Kexue(科学，“Science” in Chinese), a simplified Chinese edition launched in 1979, was the first Western magazine published in the People's Republic of China. Later in 2001, a newer edition, Global Science(环球科学), was published instead of Kexue, which shut down due to financial problems.

Today, Scientific American publishes 18 foreign-language editions around the globe: Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Lithuanian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, and Spanish. Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language Portuguese ( or língua portuguesa) is a Romance language that originated in what is now Galicia (Spain and northern Portugal. Czech (ˈʧɛk čeština ˈʧɛʃcɪna in Czech is a West Slavic language with about 12 million native speakers it is the majority language in the Dutch ( is a West Germanic language spoken by around 24 million people 22 million of which are from the Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly Italian ( or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken by about 63 million people as a First language, primarily in Italy. is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities This article is mainly about the spoken Korean language See Hangul for details on the native Korean writing system Lithuanian ( lietuvių kalba) is the official state language of Lithuania and is recognised as one of the official languages of the European Union. Polish ( język polski, polszczyzna) is the Official language of Poland. Romanian or Daco-Romanian ( dated: Rumanian or Roumanian; self designation limba română, ˈlimba roˈmɨnə is a Romance Russian ( transliteration:,) is the most geographically widespread language of Eurasia, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages


From 1902 to 1911, Scientific American supervised the publication of the Encyclopedia Americana, which during some of that period was known as The Americana. The Encyclopædia Americana is one of the largest general Encyclopedias in the English language.

First issue

Cover of Scientific American September 1848 issue.
Cover of Scientific American September 1848 issue.

It originally styled itself "The Advocate of Industry and Enterprise" and "Journal of Mechanical and other Improvements". On the front page of the first issue was the engraving of "Improved Rail-Road Cars". The masthead had a commentary as follows:

Scientific American published every Thursday morning at No. 11 Spruce Street, New York, No. 16 State Street, Boston, and No. 2l Arcade Philadelphia, (The principal office being in New York) bt Rufus Porter. Each number will be furnished with from two to five original Engravings, many of them elegant, and illustrative of New Inventions, Scientific Principles, and Curious Works; and will contain, in high addition to the most interesting news of passing events, general notices of progress of Mechanical and other Scientific Improvements; American and Foreign. Improvements and Inventions; Catalogues of American Patents; Scientific Essays, illustrative of the principles of the sciences of Mechanics, Chemistry, and Architecture: useful information and instruction in various Arts and Trades; Curious Philosophical Experiments; Miscellaneous Intelligence, Music and Poetry. This paper is especially entitled to the patronage of Mechanics and Manufactures, being the only paper in America, devoted to the interest of those classes; but is particularly useful to farmers, as it will not only appraise them of improvements in agriculture implements, But instruct them in various mechanical trades, and guard them against impositions As a family newspaper, it will convey more useful intelligence to children and young people, than five times its cost in school instruction. Another important argument in favor of this paper, is that it will be worth two (dollars at the end of the year when the volume is complete, (Old volumes of the New York Mechanic, being now worth double the original cost, in cash. ) Terms: The "Scientific American" will be furnished to subscribers at $2. 00 per annum, - one dollar in advance, and the balance in six months. Five copies will be sent to one address six months for four dollars in advance. Any person procuring two or more subscribers, will be entitled to a commission of 25 cents each.

The commentary under the illustration gives the flavor of its style at the time:

There is, perhaps no mechanical subject, in which improvement has advanced so rapidly, within the last ten years, as that of railroad passenger cars. Let any person contrast the awkward and uncouth cars of '35 with the superbly splendid long cars now running on several of the eastern roads, and he will find it difficult to convey to a third party, a correct idea of the vast extent of improvement. Some of the most elegant cars of this class, and which are of a capacity to accommodate from sixty to eighty passengers, and run with a steadiness hardly equalled by a steamboat in still water, are manufactured by Davenport & Bridges, at their establishment in Cambridgeport, Mass. The manufacturers have recently introduced a variety of excellent improvements in the construction of trucks, springs, and connections, which are calculated to avoid atmospheric resistance, secure safety and convenience, and contribute ease and comfort to passengers, while flying at the rate of 30 or 40 miles per hour. "

Also in the first issue is commentary on Signor Muzio Muzzi's proposed device for aerial navigation.

Editors

Scientific American Special Navy Supplement (1898)
Scientific American Special Navy Supplement (1898)

Special issues

Scientific American 50 award

The Scientific American 50 award was started in 2002 to recognise contributions to science and technology during the magazine's previous year. The Scientific American special Issue on Communications Computers and Network, is a Special issue of Scientific American dedicated The magazine's 50 awards cover many categories including agriculture, communications, defence, environment, and medical diagnostics. The complete list of each year's winners appear in the December issue of the magazine, as well as on the magazine's web site.

Website

In March 1996 Scientific American launched its own website that includes articles from current and past issues, online-only features, daily news, weird science, special reports, trivia, "Scidoku" and more.

Columns

Notable features have included:

Television

Scientific American also produces a TV program on the PBS channel called Scientific American Frontiers. Martin Gardner (b October 21, 1914, Tulsa Oklahoma) is a popular American mathematics and science writer specializing in Recreational mathematics Scientific American 's The Amateur Scientist column was the definitive "how-to" resource for citizen-scientists for over 72 years - 2001 The Public Broadcasting Service ( PBS) is a Non-profit Public broadcasting Television service with 354 member TV stations in the Scientific American Frontiers was an American Television program primarily focused on informing the public about new technologies and discoveries

Criticism

In May of 1988 science writer Forrest Mims was a candidate to take over The Amateur Scientist column, which needed a new editor. Forrest M Mims III is an amateur scientist and magazine columnist and the author of the popular Engineer's Mini-Notebook series of instructional books originally sold in He was asked to write some sample columns, which he did in 1990. Mims was not offered the position, due, he alleged, to his creationist views. "Creationism" can also refer to Creation myths in general or to a concept about the origin of the soul. Various newspapers, starting with the Houston Chronicle which broke the story and later The Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post and the New York Times, published articles critical of the magazine for rejecting the author, not on science but on his personal religious views. The Houston Chronicle is the largest daily Newspaper in Texas, USA. The Washington Post is the largest and most circulated Newspaper in Washington D The underlying theme of the criticism was that Scientific American toed the line of scientific orthodoxy. According to Mims, former managing editor Armand Schwab Jr. said "Scientific American is a science magazine; it's largely written by scientists. We're completely dependent on the good will of working scientists for those articles, so there's a question of whether or not this could conceivably threaten the credibility of the magazine. You have to understand that creationism is sort of a shibboleth for scientists. Shibboleth (ˈʃɪbəlɛθ or ˈʃɪbələθ is any practice which is indicative of one's social or regional origin "[4]

In its January 2002 issue, Scientific American published a series of criticisms of the Bjorn Lomborg book "The Skeptical Environmentalist". Bjørn Lomborg (born January 6, 1965) is a Danish author academic and environmentalist The Skeptical Environmentalist Measuring the Real State of the World ( Danish: Verdens Sande Tilstand, literal translation The Real State of Cato Institute fellow Patrick J. Michaels said the attacks came because the book "threatens billions of taxpayer dollars that go into the global change kitty every year. The Cato Institute is a Libertarian Think tank headquartered in Washington D Patrick J Michaels, PhD (born February 15, 1950) is a part-time research professor of Environmental Sciences at the University of Virginia "[5] Journalist Ronald Bailey called the criticism "disturbing" and "dishonest", writing, "The subhead of the review section, 'Science defends itself against The Skeptical Environmentalist,' gives the show away: Religious and political views need to defend themselves against criticism, but science is supposed to be a process for determining the facts. Ronald Bailey (born November 23, 1953) is the science editor for ''Reason'' magazine. "[6]

The May 2007 issue featured a column by Michael Shermer calling for a United States pullout from the Iraq War. Michael Brand Shermer (born September 8, 1954 in Glendale California) is an American science writer historian of science founder of The Skeptics The Iraq War, also known as the Second Gulf War, the Occupation of Iraq, or the War in Iraq, is an ongoing Military campaign [7] In response, Wall Street Journal online columnist James Taranto jokingly called Scientific American "a liberal political magazine". James Taranto (born 1966) is a Manhattan -based columnist for The Wall Street Journal and editor of its online editorial page OpinionJournal [8]

In the 1990s the target audience changed, from other scientists in unrelated fields, to educated general readers interested in science issues. This change is lamented in an article The Demise of Scientific American by Professor Larry Moran [9].

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Print Media Kit circulation statistics. Albert Graham Ingalls ( January 16, 1888 &ndash August 13, 1958) was an American Astronomer and editor. Amateur astronomy, a subset of Astronomy, is a Hobby whose participants enjoy studying and observing celestial objects Amos Ives Root (1839 &ndash 1923 developed innovative Beekeeping techniques in the United States during the mid-1800s a period when the industry played an important A general-audience description of a mathematical or scientific concept is one that can be understood by the average educated person New Scientist is a weekly International science magazine and website covering recent developments in science and technology for a general English -speaking Scientific American Mind is a Bimonthly American popular science magazine concentrated on Psychology, Neuroscience, and related fields Discover is a Science magazine that publishes articles about Science for a general audience ScientificAmerican. com. Retrieved on 2006-04-29. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1429 - Joan of Arc arrives to relieve the Siege of Orleans.
  2. ^ "Paid Notice: Deaths - MILLER, DONALD H." (December 27 1998). New York Times.  
  3. ^ "Dennis Flanagan, 85, Editor of Scientific American for 37 Years", New York Times, January 17, 2005. Events 38 BC - Octavian marries Livia Drusilla. 1287 - King Alfonso III of Aragon invades Minorca Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Retrieved on 2008-04-01. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 527 - Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne  "Dennis Flanagan, who as editor of Scientific American magazine helped foster science writing for the general reader, died at his home in Manhattan on Friday. He was 85. The cause of death was prostate cancer, according to his wife, Barbara Williams Flanagan. Mr. Flanagan, who worked at Scientific American for more than three decades beginning in 1947, teamed editors directly with working scientists, publishing pieces by leading figures like Albert Einstein, Linus Pauling and J. Robert Oppenheimer. " 
  4. ^ Forrest M. Mims III
  5. ^ Who Let the Dogs Out at Scientific American?, Patrick J. Michaels, January 17, 2002
  6. ^ Green with Ideology, Ronald Bailey, Reason, May 2002
  7. ^ Bush's Mistake and Kennedy's Error, Michael Shermer, Scientific American, May 2007
  8. ^ Sunk or Bunk?, James Taranto, Best of the Web Today, May 18, 2007
  9. ^ The Demise of Scientific American, Larry Moran,

References

External links

© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
 Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic