For all their test tubes, microscopes, hypotheses and data points, scientists of every breed are, at heart, dreamers. What if? Why? Can this? Those questions and countless others challenge the thoughts of men and women to learn more about our world and how its forces can be better understood or even controlled.
Discover neatly addresses those questions in language easily understood by non-scientists, while still offering enough substance and new information to interest working scientists. Think of it as Time for the scientific world – not quite as news oriented as other magazines, but doing a good job of reporting on new trends.
Well, You Would Expect News About Discoveries, Right?
Every month’s issue is packed with columns and small feature articles that cover everything from the oldest sciences like astrology and biology to today’s hottest nanotechnology news. Discover is not a substitute for the technical journals prevalent in every scientific field, but can help specialists broaden their knowledge and educate the rest of us.
Columns such as R&D and Emerging Technology are especially noteworthy for the cutting-edge information they deliver. Vital Signs covers an interesting medical case each month that sometimes leaves non-physicians behind, but is still interesting if you sit near a dictionary. Each column, of course, highlights a discovery of some sort – even the discovery of a hypothesis.
The features, meanwhile, are beautifully illustrated, short enough to hold the reader’s attention and written in everyday language. Bold coverage in recent articles asked What if Einstein was wrong? and Can we trust research done on lab mice?. There are also book excerpts, some original reporting and some lovely features, such as a recent article about the gone-but-not-forgotten slide rule.
The magazine’s nature (not the magazine Nature) is to not only report on discoveries, but to ask the questions that cause people to think. Somehow the editorial staff manages to pull off this feat while using statistics and charts that are only slightly more complex than the average USA Today graphic.
Get Your Fix Of Mickey Mouse Science
Disney Publishing owns Discover and is characteristically tightlipped about the periodical’s demographics. According to some published figures, subscription sales were just under $30 million in 2000. That is a nice figure for a niche product, but peanuts for a general circulation publication. There are multiple versions of Discover available, including one for children and one for educators, as well as spin-off shows on the (unaffiliated) Discovery Channel. That may cut the overall subscription revenue somewhat, but the magazine is still relatively small.
There are countless free sample issue offers including one at the main site. Many of the magazine malls offer $5 or less subsidized subscriptions that allow publishers to build up their subscription ranks and charge more for advertising. At least, that is how I got my last subscription. If you pay regular price, you will fork out $29.95 for your first year and $19.95 for renewals.
The Bottom Line, Renewal Cards and All
Critics deride Discover for oversimplifying science, but I have always found the editorial content to be interesting and educational. I would be just as happy if there were fewer of the lighter features such as the “brain twisters” and optical illusion photographs, but this blend of Scientific American, Popular Mechanics and USA Today does a good job covering ancient and modern sciences for the rest of us.
Five Things To Remember From This Review
1. Discover is written for lay people.
2. The graphics are first-rate. This is one of the prettier magazines around.
3. Owned by Disney Publishing, Discover is still branching out into a variety of allied publications and media outlets.
4. If you are looking for hardcore science facts and figures, this is not the magazine for you.
5. Do not fall for the regular subscription rate. Shop around.
Joubert’s FunLink
Now that the Encyclopedia Britannica content is on the web, one of the niftiest features is a series of interactive timelines. Each entry links directly to an article. Check out the science timeline for some great web surfing by pointing your browser at the URL below and selecting “Timelines”.
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