Popular Science, widely known as PopSci, has been a cornerstone of science and technology journalism for over a century and a half. However, as of late 2023, the brand has undergone its most significant structural change since its founding. For readers looking to subscribe to or purchase a physical copy of Popular Science magazine, the current reality is that the magazine product, in both print and digital subscription formats, has been discontinued.

The era of Popular Science as a monthly or quarterly publication concluded in November 2023 when its parent company, Recurrent Ventures, announced the end of the digital magazine. This marked the final transition of a brand that started in 1872. While the magazine as a standalone, episodic product is gone, the editorial mission continues through its digital platform, popsci.com, as well as its podcasts and video content.

The End of a 151-Year Magazine Run

The discontinuation of Popular Science magazine was not an abrupt event but the culmination of several years of downsizing. The brand’s transition away from traditional publishing followed a pattern seen across the media industry:

  1. The Print Sunset (2020): After 148 years of continuous print publication, Popular Science moved to a digital-only format. This was a response to declining newsstand sales and rising printing and distribution costs.
  2. The Quarterly Digital Era (2021–2023): For a brief period, PopSci attempted to maintain the magazine experience through a quarterly digital subscription. This allowed for deep-dives into single topics, such as the award-winning "Heat" issue.
  3. The Final Discontinuation (November 2023): Recurrent Ventures, which acquired PopSci in 2020, decided to "evolve" the brand. This meant laying off several staff members and ending the digital magazine product to focus on daily news and affiliate-supported reviews on its website.

Despite the end of the magazine format, Popular Science remains one of the most visited science news websites in the world. The editorial team continues to unpack the science behind current events, review the latest gadgets, and provide DIY guides.

The Origins and Mission of Popular Science Monthly

To understand why the loss of the magazine format is significant, one must look back to its inception in May 1872. Founded by Edward L. Youmans as The Popular Science Monthly, the publication had a lofty goal: to disseminate scientific knowledge to the educated layperson.

In its earliest years, Popular Science was more akin to a scholarly journal than the gadget-focused magazine it later became. Youmans was a fervent believer in the power of education and scientific inquiry. He curated long-form articles from the most influential minds of the 19th century. Early contributors included:

  • Charles Darwin: His theories on evolution were frequently discussed and defended in the publication.
  • Louis Pasteur: The magazine featured his breakthroughs in microbiology and vaccination.
  • Thomas Edison: As electricity began to reshape the world, Edison’s inventions were chronicled in detail.
  • William James: The father of American psychology provided insights into the human mind.

During this period, the magazine was a serious, text-heavy publication designed for readers who wanted to keep pace with the rapid changes of the Industrial Revolution. It played a crucial role in legitimizing science as a profession and a public interest in the United States.

The 1915 Pivot: From Scholarly Journal to "What’s New"

By the early 20th century, the original scholarly format of Popular Science began to struggle financially. In 1915, a dramatic shift occurred that would define the brand for the next hundred years. The academic portion of the publication was spun off into a separate title called The Scientific Monthly (which eventually merged with the journal Science).

The remaining Popular Science Monthly name was acquired by the Modern Publishing Company. Under the leadership of editor Waldemar Kaempffert, a former editor of Scientific American, the magazine reinvented itself.

Kaempffert understood that the general public was less interested in dense academic prose and more interested in how science and technology could change their daily lives. He introduced several key features that became PopSci staples:

  • Hundreds of Illustrations: The magazine moved away from long essays toward short, pithy articles accompanied by rich, detailed drawings.
  • The Home Craftsman Focus: PopSci began catering to the DIY (Do-It-Yourself) enthusiast. It featured blueprints for building furniture, repairing cars, and understanding household appliances.
  • Forward-Looking Predictions: The magazine became famous for its "The Future Now" tagline, predicting everything from flying cars to personal computers decades before they became reality.

This transition was an overwhelming success. Circulation doubled within the first year of the redesign, and Popular Science became the "gold standard" for accessible tech journalism.

The Golden Age of Gadgetry and DIY

Throughout the mid-20th century, Popular Science occupied a unique space in American culture. It was the magazine found in waiting rooms, school libraries, and on the workbenches of hobbyists. It chronicled the Space Race, the rise of the automobile, and the birth of the digital age.

Iconic Columns and Features

One of the most enduring elements of the magazine was its regular columns that built a loyal community of readers.

  • Gus Wilson’s Model Garage: Running from the 1920s to the 1970s, these fictional stories centered on a master mechanic who solved complex car problems. It was a clever way to teach readers about automotive engineering.
  • Wordless Workshop: Created by Roy Doty, this comic-style feature showed a character solving household problems through DIY projects without using a single word of text. It ran for nearly 40 years.
  • The "What’s New" Section: This was the heart of the magazine for decades, featuring a curated selection of the latest inventions, tools, and gadgets from around the world.

During the 1950s and 60s, Popular Science captured the optimism of the post-war era. Its covers often featured vibrant, futuristic illustrations of nuclear-powered ships, moon bases, and experimental jet planes. It wasn't just reporting on the news; it was selling a vision of progress.

Navigating the Digital Disruption

Like many legacy publications, Popular Science found itself challenged by the rise of the internet in the late 1990s. The brand launched PopSci.com in 1999, but the transition from a profitable print subscription model to a digital-first strategy was fraught with ownership changes and shifting editorial priorities.

Ownership Changes

The stability of the magazine was impacted by a series of corporate acquisitions:

  • Times Mirror to Time Inc. (2000): A merger that placed PopSci in a massive media portfolio.
  • Bonnier Magazine Group (2007): The Swedish media giant acquired PopSci and several other specialty titles. Under Bonnier, the magazine experimented with early tablet versions and award-winning "Special Issues."
  • Recurrent Ventures (2020): The current owners acquired the brand during the height of the pandemic, eventually leading to the decision to shutter the magazine format entirely.

The Struggle for Identity

In its final decade as a magazine, Popular Science attempted to find its footing by oscillating between "pithy tech news" and "prestige long-form journalism." Under editors like Joe Brown and Corinne Iozzio, the magazine won several National Magazine Awards. The "Tiny Issue" and the "Heat" issue were critical successes, proving that the team could still produce world-class investigative science journalism.

However, the economic reality of high-quality print production in a world of free digital content proved insurmountable. The cost of maintaining a subscription database, mailing physical issues, and attracting advertisers who were moving to social media platforms meant that the magazine format was no longer viable for its owners.

Popular Science in the Current Digital Landscape

While the magazine issues are no longer produced, Popular Science lives on as a digital-first media brand. For current readers, the experience of "Popular Science" has moved from a physical object to a multi-platform ecosystem.

Daily News and Deep Dives at PopSci.com

The website remains the primary hub for the brand. It focuses on four main pillars:

  1. Science: Covering space exploration, climate change, health, and fundamental physics.
  2. Technology: Reviews of consumer electronics, news on AI developments, and software updates.
  3. DIY: Maintaining the legacy of the "Home Craftsman" with guides on home automation, repair, and creative builds.
  4. Gear: A significant portion of the current business model involves "Best of" lists and product reviews, helping consumers make informed purchasing decisions.

Podcasts and Audio Storytelling

Recognizing the shift in how audiences consume information, PopSci has invested heavily in audio.

  • "The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week": This hit podcast features editors sharing bizarre and obscure facts they uncovered during their research. It maintains the "curiosity-driven" spirit of the original magazine.
  • "Ask Us Anything": A shorter format where the team answers specific, often outlandish, scientific questions from the audience.

Video and Social Media

Popular Science has a robust presence on YouTube and TikTok, where they produce short explainers and documentary-style features. These videos often tackle the "how things work" aspect that made the magazine's illustrations so popular in the 20th century.

The Evolving Standard of Science Communication

The story of Popular Science is a reflection of the broader history of science communication. In 1872, the barrier to scientific knowledge was access to the research itself. In 2024, the challenge is not access, but the ability to filter truth from misinformation in an overwhelming sea of data.

Popular Science’s current role is to act as a "translator." The editorial team, consisting of seasoned journalists with decades of experience, takes dense academic research and turns it into something approachable. This mission—to "demystify the world"—is perhaps more important now than it was in the 19th century.

Comparing Popular Science to Other Science Publications

While PopSci has moved away from the magazine format, other publications in the space have taken different paths. Understanding these differences helps contextualize where PopSci fits today.

Scientific American

Founded in 1845, Scientific American is the oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the U.S. Unlike PopSci, it has maintained its print and digital magazine subscription model. Its content remains slightly more academic, often featuring articles written by the scientists themselves.

National Geographic

While primarily focused on geography and culture, National Geographic is a major player in science journalism. It relies heavily on high-end photography and a legacy of exploration, supported by a partnership with Disney.

New Scientist and Science News

These publications focus more on the "news" aspect of the scientific community, providing frequent updates on research breakthroughs. They cater to a more professional or highly enthusiast audience compared to the general-interest focus of PopSci.

PopSci differentiates itself by leaning into the "Tech and DIY" angle. It is less about "pure science" and more about "science applied to life."

The Impact on STEM and Education

For generations, Popular Science was a primary tool for encouraging young people to enter STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields. By making science look "cool" and "accessible," it inspired countless engineers and astronauts.

Even without the physical magazine, the brand’s "Brilliant 10" franchise—which highlights the work of early-career scientists—continues to celebrate innovation. The transition to digital platforms allows this inspiration to reach a much younger, more global audience that might never have picked up a paper magazine at a newsstand.

Summary: The Legacy of a Pioneer

Popular Science has survived for over 150 years by being willing to change. From a scholarly journal to a DIY manual, and from a "What’s New" magazine to a digital content hub, its core identity has always been about curiosity.

While the end of the magazine format in 2023 is a loss for fans of long-form print journalism, it represents the brand’s attempt to survive in a challenging economic environment. Popular Science is no longer a thing you hold in your hands; it is a stream of information you access on your screen, a voice in your earbuds, and a guide for your next DIY project.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Popular Science magazine still being published?

No, the magazine format was discontinued in November 2023. There are no longer monthly or quarterly issues available via subscription or newsstands.

Where can I read Popular Science articles now?

You can find all new content, including daily news, gear reviews, and DIY guides, at the official website, popsci.com.

What happened to my Popular Science magazine subscription?

Following the discontinuation of the digital magazine in 2023, subscriptions were typically handled by Recurrent Ventures. Most active subscriptions were either fulfilled with digital access to the website's archives or terminated.

Does Popular Science still have a podcast?

Yes, Popular Science continues to produce popular podcasts, most notably "The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week," which is available on all major audio platforms.

Can I buy old issues of Popular Science?

Physical back issues can often be found on secondary markets like eBay or in library archives. Some digital archives are available to members through the official website, covering decades of historical content.

Who owns Popular Science today?

Popular Science is currently owned by Recurrent Ventures, a digital media company that acquired the brand from Bonnier Corporation in 2020.

Why did the magazine stop printing in 2020?

The move to digital-only in 2020 was driven by a decline in print advertising revenue and the high costs of physical distribution, a trend that affected the entire magazine industry.

Is the "Brilliant 10" still a thing?

Yes, Popular Science continues to run its "Brilliant 10" feature, which identifies and celebrates the most promising early-career scientists and engineers, though it is now published as a digital feature rather than a special magazine issue.

Is Popular Science the same as Scientific American?

No, they are separate publications. Popular Science traditionally focused more on technology, DIY, and "what’s new," while Scientific American tends to be more academic and research-oriented.

How can I contribute to Popular Science?

Popular Science occasionally works with freelance science and technology journalists. Interested writers typically reach out to the editorial team through the contact information provided on their "About Us" page, though they do not accept paid guest posts or unsolicited commercial content.