::The world of science made transparent::. Review on New Scientist

My relationship with science and technology magazines has always been of a fluctuated nature. Some five years ago, when I had attempted to pick one up off the newsstand, the jargon-full language instantly put me off and I had it back on the shelf 5 minutes after I had picked it up. One year later, when some science and sense entered my skull, again picked two or more such magazines, and expectedly survived 5 or 6 of them, but even they left me a bitter taste. Quite simply because whatever one issue termed as “path-breaking”, the very next one contradicted it, making the whole process of learning superficial and unnecessary.

My reaction [a bit immature] was…”First be sure of what you say, and then I’ll buy your views.” So for the next two years, I had again closed myself from such magazines.

Come 2002, and I had transmuted into a medical student, and however much I tried to ignore such magazines [thanks to that immature legend imprinted on my mind], the quench to find more was too overpowering to ignore this excellent piece of work called “New Scientist”.

.:: The New Scientist defined ::.

Simply putting it, New Scientist is a science and technology weekly [wrongly classified as an environment magazine at Mouthshut] that covers the latest developments in the before mentioned fields, on a global level. Though anybody remotely interested in technology can pick up a copy, its highly jargon-istic nature mean only hard-core techies and scientists can fully enjoy the content.

.:: Exploring the New Scientist ::.

Generally the New Scientist follows a definite format within which it masterfully casts its content, week after week. Although special issues have elongated cover stories, generally, the magazine consists of:

·This Week: Jetting off straight after an excellent editorial, this section covers the latest international research news and exclusives. From the latest of fossils to the newest bugs and viruses, you’ll find everything worthwile happening in the laboratories worldwide.

·Special Report and Frontiers: Carrying forward the legacy of research reporting, these two sections again contain a gamut of miscellaneous research articles.

·Cover Stories: Precisely 3 of them every week and each of them masterpieces in their own right. Loaded with some mind-numbing facts and backed up by feverishly detailed research findings, they make for an intriguing read. Actually, the June issue gave me ample food for argument with my professor. While the professor was busy preaching Darwin’s theory, I was busy arguing with him how shallow that is…and this is all thanks to New Scientist. Though evolution forms precious little of my course, the kind of articles that the magazine brings out on the topic week after week has me hooked.

Just for a taster, the June issue had 5 most-asked questions on Evolution: How did life begin? What’s God to do with it? Is evolution predicatble? How are new species formed? How does mutation lead to evolution? Not only the questions mystifying, but the answers that followed had me completely awestruck.

·The Last Pages: Mainly reviewing the latest science-fiction books, the ending pages particularly deal with amalgamating science with employment. Besides a critical analysis of a current trend (e.g. Shifting Techs in Germany, Jobs for postdocs), there are some 20 pages dedicated to those on a jobhunt in UK and the Ireland.

.:: Rating the New Scientist ::.

::Content: ::

Nothing can surpass the overwhelming streak of joy that one gains by the knowledge from a well-put up article. Sentences backed up by solid facts (and not mere estimations and guesses) and garnished with reports is primarily the way this magazine puts its words across which I have found to be both impressive and impactful. Though there are a hundred researchers, reporters, scientists and columnists penning their findings, all the articles carry the same level of readability and information, which is commendable.

::Presentation: ::

Frankly telling you, presentation is the last thing on my mind when I pick up a magazine of this stature and subject. Content is what’s foremost and content is what matters. That said, the New Scientist is neatly presented with logically laid out pictures and graphics all through the issue, which adds to the reading experience. However, unnecessary stretching of graphics and text is absent which seldom makes this magazine stretch for more than 70 pages. Cover design is again apt but might only invoke the most hardcore techies.

::Price: ::

For the sheer content that each issue of this magazine embodies, the New Scientist is worth every penny of the £2.40 spent every week on it. But because I have to fit in various other interests and magazines in my measly wages and pocket money, I pick up only those issues which have their cover-stories dedicated to the biological world. For the rest, I have the college library to bank upon.

::Web Presence: ::

A veteran magazine is bound to be backed up by an equally excellent website, and the New Scientist is spot on this count as well. The website, though doesn’t let you read each and every article of the magazine, is in itself a delight to browse thanks to hundreds of other free articles and fabulous science/technology news. Subscribers can register with the site to access the extensive collection of archives as well.

The URL to visit is: https://newscientist.com/

.::OVERALL: ::.

New Scientist represents a scientific world that’s free of illusions and contradictions, of alarmism and guesses and that’s what makes it so special. Considering the fact that research and development don’t really make up a large part of my course, and I still read it week after week is ample proof of the magazine's expertise. From Evolution to Nanotubes to Chemical weapons to bioterrorism to surveillance systems to air cars…the magazine explores and delves into every facet of science fantastically in a few well-written, well-presented pages. A must-read for professional and wannabe scientists!

Very Highly Recommended!!

….Hope you liked my review….Do comment if time permits…