Science Et Vie

''Science & Vie'' (; ''Science and Life'') is a monthly science magazine published in France. Its headquarters is in Paris.

History and profile

The magazine was started in 1913 with the name ''La Science et la Vie''. In 1982, a spinoff computer magazine, ' (''SVM'') was launched. The first magazine was published at the end of 1983 and was such a success that the number of copies were insufficient on the market. Another spinoff for teenagers, ''Science & Vie Junior'' was started in 1986. It was first published by until the latter was bought by Emap Plc in 2003. In June 2006 the magazine became part of Mondadori France. In July 2019, the magazine was sold to Reworld Media.

''Science & Vie'' was divided in three sections, ''Science'' (Sciences), ''Technologie'' (Technology), ''Vie Pratique'' (Daily life). While the ''Science'' section reported on recent scientific progress, the ''Technology'' section would report on recent technical advances. ''Science & Vie'' covered technical advances in industry, but also in military technology. In particular, it featured articles on explosives, firearms, chemical weapons and nuclear weapons. The ''Vie Pratique'' section was concerned with technology in daily life. It included articles on photography, personal computers, video recording equipment or television. Besides these three sections, ''Science & Vie'' contained a section on amateur electronics by Henri-Pierre Penel, a section on amateur astronomy ''La Calculette de l'Astronome'', and two sections on computer programming in BASIC, one on video games (first for the Sinclair ZX81, and then the ZX Spectrum) and another of elementary numerical analysis, ''Le Micro de l'Ingénieur'' (with listings for the Apple II). This made ''Science & Vie'' a more popular magazine (both in terms of circulation and
in terms of the level of education of its readers) than ''La Recherche'' or ''Scientific American, Pour la Science'' which are only concerned with science, or ''Industries & Techniques'' which only deals with applications of technology in industry.

Another important distinctive feature of ''Science & Vie'' was its willingness to tackle the issue of pseudoscience. The magazine was very critical of astrology, homeopathy, and pseudoscience. With the help of magician Gérard Majax, it has exposed the tricks used by Uri Geller to bend spoons and make small objects fly. In 1989, it strongly criticized the claims of Jacques Benveniste of having observed water memory. The magazine also uncovered the fabrication of the autopsy of an alien body supposedly discovered in Roswell, New Mexico. The magazine was also very supportive of 's debunking of paranormal claims. In general, articles on paranormal topics were marked as ''Blurgs'', an acronym for ''Balivernes lamentables à l'usage réservé des gogos'' ("deplorable nonsense reserved for use by the gullible"). Since being bought by Mondadori, the magazine has adopted a less skeptical line.

In 2004 ''Science & Vie'' sold 361,273 copies. In 2010 the circulation of the magazine was 281,000 copies.

References

External links

''Science & Vie'' website

''Science & Vie Micro'' website

''Science & Vie Junior'' website

Index of past issues of ''Science & Vie''

Index of past issues of ''Science & Vie Micro''

{{DEFAULTSORT:Science and Vie
1913 establishments in France
Magazines published in France
French-language magazines
Monthly magazines published in France
Magazines established in 1913
Science and technology magazines
Magazines published in Paris