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New Scientist

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New Scientist is a prominent weekly magazine dedicated to science and technology.

Based in London, it serves a global audience through English-language editions. These editions are distributed in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia. The publication covers a wide range of topics including news, features, and reviews. It also explores the implications of scientific discoveries on society. Beyond standard reporting, the magazine publishes speculative articles. These pieces can range from highly technical studies to deep philosophical inquiries.

The magazine operates through several distinct content formats and delivery methods. Readers can access the material via printed paper editions or digital online subscriptions. The content is organized into specific sections to guide the reader. For much of the 21st century, these included the Leader, News, and Technology sections. Other parts included Opinion, Features, and CultureLab for book and event reviews. Interactive elements like the Feedback section allow readers to discuss pseudoscience. The Last Word section provides a platform for technical questions and answers.

New Scientist has a complex history of ownership and evolution. It was founded in 1956 by Tom Margerison, Max Raison, and Nicholas Harrison. The first issue, titled The New Scientist, debuted on 22 November 1956. It originally cost one shilling per copy. In 1965, the magazine merged with the British monthly Science Journal. This merger created the combined entity known as New Scientist and Science Journal. Over the decades, ownership shifted from the Reed Group to TI Media. In 2017, Kingston Acquisitions purchased the magazine. This group was formed by Sir Bernard Gray, Louise Rogers, and Matthew O'Sullivan.

In March 2021, the magazine underwent another major change in ownership. The Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT) acquired it for £70 million.

DMGT provided specific guarantees regarding the magazine's operations. They promised to maintain editorial independence for the staff. They also ruled out staff cuts or the sharing of editorial content. By December 2021, the magazine moved to a new division called Harmsworth Media. This division also includes the daily i newspaper. These changes were designed to stabilize the publication's future under new corporate management.

The magazine's reach and circulation have seen various fluctuations. In the first half of 2013, international circulation averaged 125,172 copies. This represented a 4.3% reduction from the previous year. However, this decline was smaller than that of many other mainstream magazines. In 2014, UK circulation fell by 3.2%. Despite this, stronger international sales helped increase total circulation to 129,585. The magazine also expanded geographically with a Dutch-language edition. Launched in June 2015, this monthly edition is published by Veen Media. It features translated English articles alongside local research from the Netherlands and Belgium.

Throughout its history, the magazine has used various creative elements. For many years, it published cartoons to provide light relief. The Grimbledon Down comic strip by Bill Tidy ran from 1970 to 1994. The Ariadne pages offered humorous views on science and technology. The magazine has also successfully branched out into book publishing. Many of these books are compiled from the Last Word Q&A section. Titles include "Why Don't Penguins' Feet Freeze?" and "Will We Ever Speak Dolphin?". Since 2016, the brand has expanded into live events. The annual New Scientist Live festival in London features high-profile scientists.

New Scientist has occasionally faced scrutiny regarding its scientific rigor. In 2006, writer Greg Egan criticized the magazine's coverage of the EmDrive. He argued that the magazine displayed a lack of basic knowledge. Specifically, he noted that the coverage of this electromagnetic drive violated the law of conservation of momentum. Egan suggested that such reporting could threaten public understanding of science. The editor at the time, Jeremy Webb, defended the publication. He stated that New Scientist is an "ideas magazine." He explained that this means the publication must write about hypotheses as well as established theories. This tension highlights the challenge of balancing speculative ideas with strict scientific accuracy.

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