When was Scientific American first published?
Rufus Porter released the first issue of Scientific American on the 28th of August 1845. This four-page weekly newspaper appeared in New York City at a time when patent reports dominated its pages.
Questions about Scientific American
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who edited Scientific American from 1947 to 1984?
Dennis Flanagan edited Scientific American from 1947 to 1984 before Jonathan Piel assumed control in 1984. Gerard Piel joined three partners who purchased assets in 1948 to create a new version of the magazine.
Which foreign-language editions did Scientific American launch after 1960?
An Italian version called Le Scienze launched in 1968 followed by a Japanese edition named Nikkei Science in 1971. Spain received a revival of its Spanish-language publication Investigación y Ciencia in 1976 and France introduced Pour la Science that same year.
What happened to Laura Helmuth as editor-in-chief of Scientific American?
Laura Helmuth took the role in April 2020 following DiChristina's departure in September 2019. Laura Helmuth resigned in November 2024 following social media posts characterizing some Trump supporters as fascists.
When did Scientific American start its website?
Scientific American launched its website in March 1996 offering articles from current and past issues plus daily news updates. A paywall implementation occurred in April 2019 allowing readers to view limited free content monthly.