Science & Vie
Encyclopedia
Science & Vie is a monthly science magazine
issued in France
since 1913 when its name was La Science et la Vie. In 1982, a spinoff computer magazine, Science & Vie Micro (SVM) was launched. Another spinoff for teenagers, Science & Vie Junior was started in 1986. It was first published by Excelsior Publications until the latter was bought by Emap Plc
in 2003. Since 2006, it is published by Mondadori France.
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 ZX 81, 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 eductation of its readers) than La Recherche
or 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 criticized strongly 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 Henri Broch'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 to be used only
by the gullible). Since being bought by Mondadori, the magazine has adopted a less skeptical line.
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Science Magazine
Science Magazine was a half-hour television show produced by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation from 1975 to 1979.The show was hosted by geneticist David Suzuki, who previously hosted the daytime youth programme Suzuki On Science...
issued in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
since 1913 when its name was La Science et la Vie. In 1982, a spinoff computer magazine, Science & Vie Micro (SVM) was launched. Another spinoff for teenagers, Science & Vie Junior was started in 1986. It was first published by Excelsior Publications until the latter was bought by Emap Plc
EMAP
Emap Limited is a British media company, specialising in the production of business-to-business magazines, and the organisation of business events and conferences...
in 2003. Since 2006, it is published by Mondadori France.
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
BASIC
BASIC is a family of general-purpose, high-level programming languages whose design philosophy emphasizes ease of use - the name is an acronym from Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code....
, one on video games (first for the Sinclair ZX 81, and then the ZX Spectrum
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
) and another of elementary numerical analysis, Le Micro de l'Ingénieur (with listings for the Apple II
Apple II
The Apple II is an 8-bit home computer, one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products, designed primarily by Steve Wozniak, manufactured by Apple Computer and introduced in 1977...
). This made Science & Vie a more popular magazine (both in terms of circulation and
in terms of the level of eductation of its readers) than La Recherche
La Recherche
La Recherche is a monthly French language popular science magazine covering recent scientific news. It is published by the Société d'éditions scientifiques , a subsidiary of Financière Tallandier....
or Pour la Science
Scientific American
Scientific American is a popular science magazine. It is notable for its long history of presenting science monthly to an educated but not necessarily scientific public, through its careful attention to the clarity of its text as well as the quality of its specially commissioned color graphics...
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
Astrology
Astrology consists of a number of belief systems which hold that there is a relationship between astronomical phenomena and events in the human world...
, homeopathy
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine in which practitioners claim to treat patients using highly diluted preparations that are believed to cause healthy people to exhibit symptoms that are similar to those exhibited by the patient...
, and pseudoscience
Pseudoscience
Pseudoscience is a claim, belief, or practice which is presented as scientific, but which does not adhere to a valid scientific method, lacks supporting evidence or plausibility, cannot be reliably tested, or otherwise lacks scientific status...
. With the help of magician Gérard Majax
Gérard Majax
Gérard Faier, known as Gérard Majax is one of the most famous French illusionist.He has appeared in many television programs, magic demonstrations, and movies....
, it has exposed the tricks used by Uri Geller
Uri Geller
Uri Geller is a self-proclaimed psychic known for his trademark television performances of spoon bending and other supposed psychic effects. Throughout the years, Geller has been accused of using simple conjuring tricks to achieve the effects of psychokinesis and telepathy...
to bend spoons and make small objects fly. In 1989, it criticized strongly the claims of Jacques Benveniste
Jacques Benveniste
Jacques Benveniste was a French immunologist. In 1979 he published a well-known paper on the structure of platelet-activating factor and its relationship with histamine...
of having observed water memory
Water memory
Water memory is the claimed ability of water to retain a "memory" of substances previously dissolved in it to arbitrary dilution. No scientific evidence supports this claim. Shaking the water at each stage of a serial dilution is claimed to be necessary for an effect to occur...
. The magazine also uncovered the fabrication of the autopsy of an alien body supposedly discovered in Roswell, New Mexico
Roswell UFO incident
The Roswell UFO Incident was the recovery of an object that crashed in the general vicinity of Roswell, New Mexico, in June or July 1947, allegedly an extra-terrestrial spacecraft and its alien occupants. Since the late 1970s the incident has been the subject of intense controversy and of...
.. The magazine was also very supportive of Henri Broch'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 to be used only
by the gullible). Since being bought by Mondadori, the magazine has adopted a less skeptical line.
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
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