# Your Favorite Science Magazine
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-science-magazine/555737
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [October 1, 2010, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-science-magazine/555737 "2010-10-01T16:20:10Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2010, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-science-magazine/555737/1 "2010-10-01T16:20:10Z")
When traveling by air (about every other month), I’ve always picked up a copy of _The Economist_ and a copy of _Discover_. Last time I traveled the Hudson News didn’t have _Discover_, so I grabbed a _Scientific American_ instead. I was impressed with the depth of the content (although some of it went over my head). What say you?
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### Author:  [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2010, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-science-magazine/555737/2 "2010-10-01T16:25:02Z")
I pick them all up from time to time, but the answer is easily _Scientific American_. I only read the others if an unread SA is not available.
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### Author:  [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2010, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-science-magazine/555737/3 "2010-10-01T16:26:52Z")
Why did you include _Science_ but not _Nature_? (Not that I’ve ever seen either one at an airport newsstand.)
My usual pick for in-flight reading is _Scientific American_. If that isn’t available (or I’ve read the edition already), I’d go for magazines on other topics.
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### Author:  [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-science-magazine/555737/4 "2010-10-01T16:28:02Z")
Easiest poll ever.
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### Author:  [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-science-magazine/555737/5 "2010-10-01T16:28:27Z")
_Scientific American_…while the articles about particle physics and computer science are always over my head, I really appreciate the depth of the articles. It takes time to read this magazine; I like that!
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### Author:  [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2010, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-science-magazine/555737/6 "2010-10-01T16:33:46Z")
_Invention and Technology_ is pretty interesting.
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### Author:  [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2010, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-science-magazine/555737/7 "2010-10-01T16:44:13Z")
As a SciAm subscriber, this one was easy.
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### Author:  [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2010, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-science-magazine/555737/8 "2010-10-01T16:59:15Z")
I pretty much only get them during air travel as well. Definitely prefer “Scientific American” over discover. But, be careful. Last time I accidentally bought “Scientific American _Mind_” instead of the normal version, and it just wasn’t the same. The real bummer is I had to pay import prices.
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### Author:  [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2010, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-science-magazine/555737/9 "2010-10-01T17:45:37Z")
> [@scr4](#):
>
> Why did you include _Science_ but not _Nature_? (Not that I’ve ever seen either one at an airport newsstand.)
>
> My usual pick for in-flight reading is _Scientific American_. If that isn’t available (or I’ve read the edition already), I’d go for magazines on other topics.
I’ve never seen _Nature_ anywhere. I assumed that the “Something Else” option would be used frequently. I had no idea that SciAm was so popular.
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### Author:  [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2010, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-science-magazine/555737/10 "2010-10-01T17:52:53Z")
I subscribe to SciAm and I’m always happy to return home and find the latest issue waiting. As others have said, I enjoy the depth of the content.
It’s rarely what I would call over my head, but it certainly stretches my limits. I think that’s what I enjoy about it. I found it comprehensible, but often only with some effort. But then I’m one of those freaks who likes learning and likes having to work at it and exercise my brain.
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### Author:  [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-science-magazine/555737/11 "2010-10-01T17:57:34Z")
Other … _Science News_
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### Author:  [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2010, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-science-magazine/555737/12 "2010-10-01T18:03:47Z")
> [@Spiff](#):
>
> Other … _Science News_
I used to get that when I was a kid. I loved it.
As I recall it came every week. Is that still true?
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### Author:  [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-science-magazine/555737/13 "2010-10-01T18:12:22Z")
My favorite general purpose science journal that I read is _Nature_, which has become easier with the advent of electronic publishing by NPG (and now they even have an iPhone app). _Scientific American_ is okay–the quality of the main articles is generally pretty good, especially since they are typically written by principal investigators in a fashion that is between pop science and peer-reviewed journal submission–but the editorial board clearly has some biases that show up in the selection of articles. They also seem to emphasize more showy science over good research at times; I understand the motivation, but I still find it irritating. I personally can’t stand _Discover_ and _Popular Science_, as they select very splashy pop sci articles that make headlines but say little or nothing.
Back when I had general access to a technical library, I ready Physical Letters and Physical Review as often as I could (though usually not every week), and there are a couple of technical journals I read on a semi-regular basis for work, but those are obviously not intended for the general public.
Stranger
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### Author:  [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2010, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-science-magazine/555737/14 "2010-10-01T18:17:01Z")
The extent to which SciAm has succeeded in meeting its goal of informing the intellectually curious lay person has always been debatable. Years ago when the articles were mainly written my scientists who were active researchers in the topic of those articles, you knew that you were getting what I’ll call the “helmet-cam” view of the field. But great scientists aren’t always great writers and you really had to struggle through some of the articles. At first you just felt stupid but upon closer inspection you realized that the writing was flawed - whether contorted, vague, stilted or whatever.
In recent years it seems that they have begun to take positions on certain issues and while not being blatant advocates seem to have identifiable biases. I think that goes along with a general attempt to broaden their appeal - not necessarily a bad thing depending upon how you do it, but I don’t get the feeling that they have the same commitment to the subject matter that they once did.
I think Science News is the best publication for lay people. It comes out weekly and is relatively brief, usually 20-30 pages I would guess, so you don’t get overwhelmed. It has an excellent mix of short articles that cover the latest news and longer articles that go in depth on particular subjects. The writing is almost always clear, informed and articulate (although there always exceptions). And finally, it seems to make a concerted effort to present all relevant aspects of a story. If something looks like a breakthrough but some people in that field aren’t so sure, you will get their viewpoint as well.
I do still love SciAm and wouldn’t even think about dumping my subscription. But to be honest, I don’t think it has ever been the best lay publication. It has some absolutely stellar moments, but for being well informed and getting all relevant viewpoints, well, that has never been what it was shooting for anyway.
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### Author:  [@Mr.Accident](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Accident)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2010, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-science-magazine/555737/15 "2010-10-01T18:19:16Z")
Popular Science is my favorite. I do read them all however.
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### Author:  [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2010, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-science-magazine/555737/16 "2010-10-01T18:46:23Z")
I get Scientific American but I’m preferring American Scientist.
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### Author:  [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)
#### Post date: [October 2, 2010, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-science-magazine/555737/17 "2010-10-02T13:11:22Z")
Other.
New Scientist, a British magazine distributed worldwide is by far the best I have read.
I find it interesting and well written.
I find Nature and similar far too detailed and technical for someone who is merely a science enthusiast rather then a proffessional keeping up on peer review.
It is on line if you wish to check it out.
Disclaimer, I’m not nor have ever been associated with the magazine other then as a reader, nor as far as I know have ever actually known anyone who is/was.
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### Author:  [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)
#### Post date: [October 2, 2010, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-science-magazine/555737/18 "2010-10-02T14:15:07Z")
I hardly see it in the UK these days, but, like _Grey_, I prefer [Amercan Scientist](http://www.americanscientist.org/).
2nd choice would be New Scientist.
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### Author:  [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)
#### Post date: [October 2, 2010, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-science-magazine/555737/19 "2010-10-02T14:46:51Z")
I like \*Science \*because it has actual real science in it, not dumbed down shit like the others (with _Popular Science_ being the most heinously useless, although I found it fun to read in middle school.) _Nature_ is pretty good, but too bio-heavy for my tastes.
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### Author:  [@JWT\_Kottekoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JWT_Kottekoe)
#### Post date: [October 2, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-science-magazine/555737/20 "2010-10-02T15:14:41Z")
Scientific American and Science News. Science News now comes every two weeks, but I also subscribe to their daily email service, which is free. Scientific American has gone down hill since the old days of Martin Gardner and C. L. Stong, but is still excellent.
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