Scientific American

Scientific American is one of the oldest and most serious popular-science magazines. Founded by Rufus Porter, Scientific American has been published monthly since August 28, 1845.

History

Throughout its early years Scientific American put much emphasis on reports of what was going on at the US patent office. It reported on a broad range of inventions that includes perpetual motion machines, an 1849 device for buoying vessels by one Abraham Lincoln, and the universal joint which now finds place in nearly every automobile manufactured. Any issue from the 19th century gives a fascinating insight into the progress of the industrial revolution in that time. 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.

Related Topics:
US patent office - Perpetual motion - 1849 - Abraham Lincoln - Universal joint - Automobile - 19th century - Industrial revolution

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Porter sold the magazine in 1846 to Alfred Ely Beach and Orson Desaix Munn, and until 1948 it remained owned by Munn & Company. Under the second Orson D. Munn, grandson of the first, it had evolved into something of a "workbench" magazine, similar to the 20th century incarnation of Popular Science. On purchasing control from Munn, publisher Gerard Piel, editor Dennis Flanagan, and general manager Donald H. Miller created substantially the Scientific American we know today. Flanagan and Miller had retired by 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. Gerard Piel died in September 2004 and Dennis Flanagan in January 2005.

Related Topics:
1846 - 1948 - Popular Science - Gerard Piel - Dennis Flanagan - 1984 - 1986

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