Editing New Scientist (section)

===General history===
Originally, the cover of ''New Scientist'' listed articles in plain text.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ca1QDXCpElgC |title=''The New Scientist'' (on Google Books) |date=7 January 1960 |volume=7 |issue=164 |magazine=New Scientist |access-date=23 October 2015 |archive-date=2 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220102092455/https://books.google.com/books?id=ca1QDXCpElgC |url-status=live }}</ref> Initially, page numbering followed academic practice with sequential numbering for each quarterly volume. So, for example, the first page of an issue in March could be 649 instead of 1. Later issues numbered issues separately. From the beginning of 1961 "''The''" was dropped from the title. From 1965, the front cover was illustrated.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X6XezBQCg5wC |title=Back issues of ''New Scientist'' on Google Books |date=22 November 1956 |access-date=4 July 2019 |archive-date=2 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220902173507/https://books.google.com/books?id=X6XezBQCg5wC |url-status=live }}</ref> Until the 1970s, colour was not used except on the cover.

Since its first issue, ''New Scientist'' has written about the applications of science, through its coverage of technology. For example, the first issue included an article "Where next from Calder Hall?" on the future of nuclear power in the UK, a topic that it has covered throughout its history. In 1964, there was a regular "Science in British Industry" section with several items.<ref name=ns19640312>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c2iCzjpnd4EC |title=''New Scientist'' (on Google Books) |date=12 March 1964 |volume=21 |issue=382 |magazine=New Scientist |access-date=23 October 2015 |archive-date=2 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220102092449/https://books.google.com/books?id=c2iCzjpnd4EC |url-status=live }}</ref>

Throughout most of its history, ''New Scientist'' has published cartoons as light relief and comment on the news, with contributions from regulars such as [[Mike Peyton]] and [[David Austin (cartoonist)|David Austin]]. The ''[[Grimbledon Down]]'' comic strip, by cartoonist [[Bill Tidy]], appeared from 1970 to 1994. The Ariadne pages in ''New Scientist'' commented on the lighter side of science and technology and included contributions from [[David E. H. Jones]], [[David E. H. Jones|Daedalus]]. The fictitious inventor devised plausible but impractical and humorous inventions, often developed by the (fictitious) DREADCO corporation.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XI67f03u6wgC |title=''New Scientist'' (on Google Books) |date=19 January 1978 |volume=77 |issue=1086 |magazine=New Scientist |access-date=23 October 2015 |archive-date=2 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220902173514/https://books.google.com/books?id=XI67f03u6wgC |url-status=live }}</ref> Daedalus later moved to ''[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]''.

In the first half of 2013, the international circulation of ''New Scientist'' averaged 125,172. While this was a 4.3% reduction on the previous year's figure, it was a much smaller reduction in circulation than many mainstream magazines of similar or greater circulation.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/magazine-abcs-full-circulation-round-first-half-2013 |title=Mag ABCs: Full circulation round-up for the first half of 2013 |date=15 August 2013 |work=[[Press Gazette]] |access-date=4 July 2019 |archive-date=4 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704084112/https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/magazine-abcs-full-circulation-round-first-half-2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> UK circulation fell by 3.2% in 2014, but stronger international sales increased the circulation to 129,585.<ref name=circulation>{{cite news |title=UK magazine combined print/digital sales figures for first half 2014: Complete breakdown |url=http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/uk-magazine-combined-printdigital-sales-figures-first-half-2014-complete-breakdown |access-date=12 December 2014 |first=Dominic |last=Ponsford |work=[[Press Gazette]] |date=14 August 2014 |archive-date=20 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220162028/http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/uk-magazine-combined-printdigital-sales-figures-first-half-2014-complete-breakdown |url-status=live }}</ref>

A monthly Dutch edition of ''New Scientist'' was launched in June 2015. It replaced the former ''{{ill|Natuurwetenschap & Techniek|nl}} (NWT)'' magazine, adopting its staff and subscribers. The editorially independent magazine is published by Veen Media.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nu.nl/media/3352634/tijdschrift-new-scientist-nederland.html|title=Tijdschrift New Scientist naar Nederland|date=26 February 2013|access-date=6 November 2015|publisher=nu.nl|archive-date=3 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403043404/http://www.nu.nl/media/3352634/tijdschrift-new-scientist-nederland.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newscientist.nl/|title=New Scientist – Dutch Edition|access-date=6 November 2015|archive-date=25 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151025163006/http://www.newscientist.nl/|url-status=live}}</ref> It contains mainly translations of articles in the English-language edition, but also its own articles. These are typically focused on research in the Netherlands and Belgium, the main countries where it is purchased.