Superb!

Excellent magazine. The changes over the years has made this the best science magazine in the US. The articles are great, the illustrations superb, the writing style/editing is excellent, web sites and references are included, and the format appealing. The August 2003 issue illustrates the range of material in SciAm. The main articles include molecular biology (gene regulation), social implications of "have nots" in the digital world, the role of the cerebellum, cosmology, archeology, and anthropology. There were seven short "news scan" articles on equally diverse topics. There are two-page articles on "optical tweezers," diverse strange patents, an astronomer looking for asteroids heading for earth, and an article called the "skeptic" about a common misconception in our outlook on primitive people. All of the articles can be understood by most educated people but all are above the level you would find in "Discover" magazine. For example, the article on gene regulation would be better understood if you understood DNA, its role in producing proteins, as well as the role of enzymes. The excellent illustrations clarified all the major points in the article. Your background would tell you that the article is a summary about cutting edge research in one area of gene regulation. I was intrigued because I had no idea that RNA could regulate genes. There are several other elements to the magazine including a monthly puzzle, a "how it works" page, and reviews of a few good books. SciAm is an enjoyable way to continue your science education.