American Scientist

There are or have been a fair number of ‘science’ magazines — magazines devoted to general science and technology, written for an audience most of whom will not have an expert background in most of the major fields covered. Unfortunately, most of them are written not so much to convey some understanding of their ostensible topics as to give the reader the impression that he or she has been informed. (In high school, we called essays and papers written that way ‘B.S.’)American Scientist (not to be confused with Scientific American) is one of the exceptions. It began and remains a house organ of Sigma Xi (a society of scientists and engineers), and is written as if on the assumption that the readership has a strong background in some science, if not necessarily in the specific science of a given article. (You can sample some of the articles by going to www.americanscientist.org .)One deficiency that this magazine shares with every other general magazine that I have read is that, when the relationship of science or technology to social policy is discussed, the authors usually make unquestioned technocratic assumptions of one sort or of another (presuming that administrated solutions will necessarily be at least as good and usually better than those of any other sort), and are also inclined to insist (as if it is just obvious to all Right-Thinking people) that the marginal value of satisfying scientific curiosity outweighs that of rival concerns.

This is what SciAM used to be. Sigma Xi is the publisher. Here, the society remains loyal to the scientific reader. The first copy I received turned into a cover to cover read.Four specific `things I learned' in my first copy included:1. Only in 2011 have arctic glaciers receded to the 1300AD, pre Little Ice Age extant based on carbon dating newly exposed flora. The LIA may be finally over, 160 later than previously believed. The cause of the LIA is hypothesized on 4 nearly simultaneous volcanic eruptions.2. The human eye's white sclera and small iris are unique in nature allowing the ability to discern and communicate `gaze'. It is hypothesized that this ability to discern visual direction permitted the domestication of dogs. H.nea did not domestic dogs in the same period. Dog domestication may have been a critical factor in H.sap's success.3. Civilization's development of `cities' has been pushed back 5,000 years based on Jordanian excavations to 20,000 years ago.4. The soap-bubble analog computer reveals a previously unknown form of crystal symmetry new to both mathematics and science.If I can glean 4 new specifics to think about between mag editions, I'm happy.Thank you previous Amazon reviewers! It was your reviews that prompted me to exit SciAM

Approximate ship date for first issue was 2 to 3 months out, but was pleasantly surprised when it arrived just 1 month after placing order. After receiving this publication it was clear that the articles were written for individuals with an interest and a background in science. The articles aren't just a page with flashy pictures and a short write-up. All articles gave a brief synopsis of the technology and research behind the topics being discussed before diving into the details. I also subscribe to Popular Science, which pales in comparison to American Scientist. American Scientist gives readers realist applications for the topics covered and gives information sources after most articles.My only wish is that American Scientist was published every month, instead of bimonthly. But you can't have everything.

I really enjoy this magazine. I prefer it to Scientific American, which seemed to be dumbing down its expected reading level with every year. The articles in "American Scientist" are well written and informative. (Scientific American does seem to have more articles on modern physics, but since I am a physicist, I don't really need that.) My only complaint is more of a nit: they seem to be reviewing fewer books now than in the past.

I subscribed to this magazine and several other well known scientific publications at the same time. This was by far the best. I love it.

A way better publication for science geeks than SciAm or Discovery or Popular Science...up there with Nature and the other big gun magazines. The print editions are way better than the e-versions for old guys like me, young people may think otherwise, their techno-competence notwithstanding.

OK and often good information. Not the end all I was led to believe

Good insight into what's going on with science and technology in today's world.