Scientific Magazines: Best Gift Ideas for Bright & Curious Teenagers

[DrClaude]

Once upon a time, I was subscribed to Scientific American. Once upon another time, I use to regularly read the New Scientist at a library.

Does any know the quality of these magazines these days? I am looking for gift ideas for a bright and curious teenager.

 

[Vanadium 50]

Scientific American is nowhere near what it was.

 

[berkeman]

I subscribed to Science News for a number of years (back before the Internet), and really enjoyed it. Each issue was small enough to read from cover-to-cover in a couple of hours, and I generally was able to keep up with the issues. I don't know how the current on-line version compares, but it does look like they offer subscriptions:

https://www.sciencenews.org/

 

[DrClaude]

I subscribed to Science News for a number of years (back before the Internet), and really enjoyed it. Each issue was small enough to read from cover-to-cover in a couple of hours, and I generally was able to keep up with the issues. I don't know how the current on-line version compares, but it does look like they offer subscriptions:

https://www.sciencenews.org/

I had never heard of Science News, but it looks great.

 

[Keith_McClary]

There is more online than I can keep up with.
From my bookmarks:
http://www.sciencealert.com/
https://www.sciencenews.org/
http://www.sciencemag.org/
http://www.blastr.com/tags/bad-astronomy
https://arstechnica.com/science/
https://www.sciencedaily.com/
http://nautil.us/
https://www.quantamagazine.org/
http://physicsworld.com/
https://www.scientificamerican.com/
http://www.physorg.com/

 

[DaveC426913]

There is more online than I can keep up with.
From my bookmarks:
http://www.sciencealert.com/
https://www.sciencenews.org/
http://www.sciencemag.org/
http://www.blastr.com/tags/bad-astronomy
https://arstechnica.com/science/
https://www.sciencedaily.com/
http://nautil.us/
https://www.quantamagazine.org/
http://physicsworld.com/
https://www.scientificamerican.com/
http://www.physorg.com/

 

[Fervent Freyja]

Maybe finding what will excite him and initiate his own learning depends on how he prefers to take in information? Some people cannot tolerate learning from popular sources! And that’s all many people can tolerate! Does he prefer and enjoy complexity? Like working through textbooks, reading papers? Maybe he needs something hands-on with learning? And in that case, maybe instruments and adult “toys” concerning his primary interests, with accompanying literature?

It’s tough, all you can do is try to find the best gift that you think will trigger even more curiosity and learning—- literature surroundings mysteries in science seems to be a good driver for that age. If he’s already bright and curious then the simple act of support with any science-related gift could be highly encouraging, especially if that’s lacking from other adults around him!

One thing that would probably excite him and help you mentor him remotely throughout the years is occasionally sending used books that you love yourself or that you really think he’d love. I’ve been doing this for years for my nephew.

Some great links were listed above- you could probably print that out and put it in a card in addition to the gift you choose!

 

[bhobba]

Scientific American is nowhere near what it was.

Absolutely. When I was very young - early teens or so - avidly read every issue. But for some reason switched to Omni. When it folded went back to Scientific America and noticed a definite drop. Now I do not read any general science magazine. I think there is a 'niche' for a magazine more like Susskind's books that use some math.

Thanks
Bill

 

[Vanadium 50]

Absolutely. When I was very young - early teens or so - avidly read every issue. But for some reason switched to Omni.

So did Scientific American! <rimshot>

 

[Tom.G]

Scientific American used to have stuff you could actually DO in it; for instance the Amateur Scientist column.

Since it was purchased by Springer it is now a 'popular' version of Nature magazine, with the same boring format, i.e. Each article is presented three times: First there is a paragraph or three of all the articles grouped together, followed by a page or so about each article, finally comes the article itself, which generally just reports some research.

I find it not conducive to any creativity. I read- subscribed to- it since about 1960 and gave up about 18 months after it was bought out.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I subscribed to Science News for a number of years (back before the Internet), and really enjoyed it. Each issue was small enough to read from cover-to-cover in a couple of hours, and I generally was able to keep up with the issues. I don't know how the current on-line version compares, but it does look like they offer subscriptions:

https://www.sciencenews.org/

I had every copy going back many years. I subscribed to many periodicals including Scientific American, for decades. But by far I got the biggest bang for the buck out of Science News.

 

[collinsmark]

About six or seven months ago I renewed my subscriptions to Astronomy and Sky and Telescope. They're still pretty good, I suppose. (If I had to choose between the two, I might choose Sky and Telescope, but that would toss up. And I own a telescope, so I guess that's another reason.)

And while I don't have any direct evidence, I'm willing to bet that their subscriptions rates (as in number of people subscribed -- not the subscription price) have gone through the roof lately, based in part on the unprecedented backorder times of any and all amateur astronomy equipment. Higher subscription rates can only help their financials, and hopefully will result in improved content.

Of course, getting a magazine subscription is easy; finding a quality telescope without waiting for many months is a different story.

[Edit: Oh, and yes, part of the reason for long backorders for astronomy equipment is surely the pandemic itself. That said, I'm also led to believe that the general interest in astronomy is higher now than it has been in many decades.]

 

[DrClaude]

Thanks to all that have replied so far.

To be clear, I am asking only about printed magazines.

I am currently leaning towards Science News is the "news" aspect. Many magazines tend to have themed issues ("What is intelligence?", "Black holes", etc.) that simply give brief presentations of topics that are better covered in books.

 

[Ygggdrasil]

I've seen some good articles come out of MIT Technology Review magazine, though I've mainly only read their coverage of the biomedical sciences: https://www.technologyreview.com/