FAQ

How do I set up a new subscription to the magazine?
Subscribe now in our online subscriptions centre or Australia and New Zealand subscriptions centre. Alternatively, contact the subscriptions department.

For more details, take a look at the Subscriptions Frequently Asked Questions.

How do I change my subscription details?
Many subscribers can update their details by logging in to "My New Scientist" and clicking on "Update my details". If this does not work for you, or if you are in Australia or New Zealand, please contact our subscriptions department in your country:

UK/Rest of world: Email customer services; Tel +44 (0)1444 475 636; Fax +44 (0)8456 760030

USA/Canada: Email customer services USA; Tel: 888 822 3242; Fax: 800 327 9021

Australia/New Zealand: Email customer services Australia Tel. +61 (0) 2 9422 8559 / 1300 534 178

For more details, take a look at the Subscriptions Frequently Asked Questions.

How do I advertise with New Scientist?
For further information about our advertising packages, please see our media information. Find this at any time by clicking the "Advertise" link at the bottom of every page.

How can I contact the author of an article?
A list of contact information for New Scientist is located here. You can email the section the article appeared in for further information. (Features, News, Opinion, Letters, Feedback or The Last Word.

Remember that the easiest way to contact companies mentioned in the text of an article is to call directory enquiries for a number, as our journalists are very busy and may take some time to get back to you with information. Likewise, reports or articles referred to in news stories are best obtained from the publisher of the individual report or article, rather than New Scientist, which is simply writing about the report.

I have a product/discovery I would like New Scientist to cover. Where should I send the information?
Press releases should be sent to our news desk. We regret that due to the number of press releases received, a personal reply will not usually be possible.

How do I get in touch with an expert on my illness?
The staff at New Scientist magazine are not medical experts, and as such we are not equipped to advise on medical matters. If you have questions about your illness, then you should approach your family doctor, who will be best placed to advise you about your own condition.

One of your articles mentioned a product I would like to buy, how can I get in touch with the supplier?
If an article mentions a product, the article itself will usually contain all the necessary information to track down the research team or company developing the product, and online articles will often have a link. It is unlikely that we have any further details we would be able to disclose.

I would like to have my letter published in the magazine's Letters section. What are the terms and conditions?
Letters to the Editor are for publication. Include your full postal address and telephone number, and a reference (issue, page number, title) to articles. We reserve the right to edit letters. Reed Business Information reserves the right to use any submissions sent to the letters column of New Scientist magazine, in any other format. If you want to send a private message about the content of an article, you should contact the appropriate department using this form. Due to the volume of correspondence we receive, we regret that we cannot guarantee a reply.

What is registered user access?
Registered user access is a free level of access which allows you to subscribe to the newsletter, and also gives you time-limited access to a selection of articles each week. If you are a registered user, you can control your newsletter preferences and view a full list of the articles available to you on your My New Scientist page. Register now

How do I register?
You can register here.

What is paid content - full online access?
In 2005, we added content from the magazine to our main site, which was previously only available in a separate Archive. It has always been available only to subscribers. These are the very best articles from the world's leading science and technology news weekly and its daily news service.

Full online access articles are available free of charge to subscribers to New Scientist, while non-subscribers can register free to view a special selection of these. Obviously, you can also read these articles by buying the magazine at the news stand, or ordering a back issue.

Subscribe now in our online subscriptions centre or Australia and New Zealand subscriptions centre to New Scientist magazine and get full online access to the entirety of newscientist.com, including the archive.

If you are already a subscriber, activate your subscription now. Unfortunately, subscription to the digital edition from Zinio does not include full access to newscientist.com.

How do I get full online access?
Full online access for personal subscribers to the Print Edition
If you subscribe to the print edition of New Scientist you can access all paid content (full online access) free of charge. If you already hold a subscription and do not have a password, please activate your subscription now. Unfortunately, subscription to the digital edition from Zinio does not include full access to newscientist.com.

You will need ALL of the following:

Your surname, as it is spelled on your magazine mailing label (even if it's not quite right)
Your subscriber number from your magazine mailing label (instructions on finding this are on the registration page).
If you subscribed online, the email address you used when you subscribed.

Full online access for Institutions
If you are interested in accessing full online access on behalf of a school, college of FE/HE, charity, university, public sector department, corporation, company or government department, you will need to apply for an institutional licence. Contact us for additional information.

Full online access for Athens users
You can log in using your Athens authentication details if you have subscribed to New Scientist via Eduserv. If you are having problems logging via this page, please contact your Athens Administrator in the first instance.

When I try to activate my subscription, I get a message telling me to "Enable Cookies"
First of all, follow the instructions on that page to make sure that cookies are enabled. If it still doesn't seem to be working, set up a free registration. This does not require cookies, and once you have a login, it is straightforward to link it to your subscription.

I am a subscriber, but when I log in, I don't get access to all articles.
The login you are using is not yet associated with your current subscription. Log in and link your subscription.

Unfortunately, subscription to the digital edition from Zinio does not include full access to newscientist.com.

Will New Scientist be providing access via the UK Access Federation?
We have no plans to implement Shibboleth or provide federated access at present.

Customers moving from Athens to the Access Federation may wish to consider another access route, such as an institutional archive licence with IP access, or renegotiating Athens access with Eduserv.

Why can't I access all content?
Full online access is available free to personal subscribers to the print edition. If you are not a subscriber, then subscribe now in our online subscriptions centre or Australia and New Zealand subscriptions centre to New Scientist magazine and get full online access to the entirety of newscientist.com, including the archive.

If you are a subscriber, then simply log in with your email address and password when prompted. If you don't have a password yet, please activate your subscription now. Unfortunately, subscription to the digital edition from Zinio does not include full access to newscientist.com.

If you have forgotten your password, a reset service is available.

We will also need to be able place a cookie on your computer to maintain your full online access. If you are experiencing technical difficulties staying logged on, please check here for further information.

Can I subscribe to all paid content - full online access - and not the magazine?
We are currently piloting this option in certain geographical areas where we know there are problems with distribution. If the option is available in your area, it will be shown when you try to subscribe. If you are interested in this option and it is not available in your area, please contact us stating clearly your interest in such a service and we will keep your email address on file so that we can contact you in the event that such a subscription becomes available. We will not pass it on for any other reason.

We also have a digital edition, suitable for a wide range of devices, including the iPad, available from Zinio. Unfortunately, subscription to the digital edition from Zinio does not include full access to newscientist.com.

Why do I have to log in every time I click on a new article?
You will be logged out after 20 minutes of inactivity, if you close all your browser windows, or if you click "log out". If you find that you are being logged out more often than this, you may need to adjust settings on your computer so that we can set a session cookie. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use cookies and how to adjust your settings.

I am returned to the home page every time I log in. Why is this?
You may need to adjust settings on your computer so that we can set a session cookie. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use cookies and how to adjust your settings.

When I try to log in, my details aren't recognised
If you get the error message "Your email address and/or password were not recognised, please check and try again", then you have almost certainly miskeyed your details. If the problem persists, please reset your password and try copying and pasting the details from the reset email. Remember that your details are case-sensitive.

I have forgotten my password for full online access.
Please try resetting your password.

When I try to reset my password, my email address is not recognised.
If you already set a password, then there may be a typographical error in the email address we have on file for you, or you may you have registered using a different email address. Try some of your previous email addresses, if you have them. If you are a subscriber and need to update your email address, you can do so on the subscriptions website or by contacting the subscription department.

How do I change my password?
While logged in, you can change your password on your My New Scientist page if you are a registered user or Edit My Settings page if you are a subscriber.

How do I change the email address I use to log in?
To update your email address, you need to log in to "My New Scientist". If you're a registered user, look under "Update your details" on the right-hand side - change any of the details there, and click "Update my details". If you're a subscriber, you can update your email address and any other of your subscription details by clicking on "Update my details".

What happened to the New Scientist podcast?
Weekly updates to the podcast have been discontinued.

I can't find the article I'm looking for.
The archive officially starts from 1 April 1989. Some issues since then have not yet been added to the archive due to technical difficulties. Inside Science articles, the first of which was published in 1987, are also all available.

Usually you can find articles since 1989 by searching for them. Put as many relevant words as you can in the keywords box.

If you notice an article missing that you feel should be there, please contact us with as much information about it as possible. This should include issue, date, title and page number and we will endeavour to get the article online as fast as possible.

Is there a subscription fee for your website? Do you have to register to use it?
Many of our web services require no registration. However, registered users have free access to a special selection of content every week, our weekly newsletter, and exclusive offers and competitions. Register now. To access all content if you are a subscriber, please activate your subscription now. Unfortunately, subscription to the digital edition from Zinio does not include full access to newscientist.com.

Elsewhere in the NewScientist network, New Scientist Jobs and The Last Word require separate registration.

How do I subscribe to the electronic newsletter?
Register now.

How do I unsubscribe from the electronic newsletter or update my other mailing preferences?
Log in to My New Scientist, check or uncheck the relevant boxes on the right-hand side, then click "Save changes". You will get a message on-screen if you were successful. Changes may take up to two weeks to take effect, as we generate most of our mailing lists in advance.

Why does newscientist.com sometimes carry intrusive advertising?
New Scientist accepts interactive advertising on our website as the revenue generated contributes to the development of the site.

Why does newscientist.com carry advertising in its RSS feeds?
New Scientist accepts advertising on its RSS feeds as the revenue generated contributes to the development of the site.

How can I get a back issue of the printed magazine?
Back issues can be ordered online from www.mags-uk.com, or, if you know the issue number or date of the magazine you are trying to get hold of, please call New Scientist Back Issues on +44 (0)1733 385 170 during normal UK business hours or email us using our online form. For delivery in the UK, issues less than one year old cost £4.00. For overseas delivery back issues cost £5.00. Issues are available up to three years old. Credit card orders can also be placed by fax - +44 (0)1733 239 356. If you do not know the issue number or date, you can search for it on our archive.

How do I get hold of an old article from the magazine?
If it is later than 1989, please search for it using the search box in the header above. Content from our archive is available on newscientist.com to all subscribers.

If it is earlier than 1989, it may be available in libraries.

How do I get permission to reuse New Scientist material?
If you are interested in re-using New Scientist material in print or on the web for any purpose, you should email New Scientist for permission, to make sure that you will not be violating copyright. If you just want to link from your site to ours or to a specific section of our site, that's fine, but we'd appreciate it if you'd let us know that you're doing it, as we like to keep track of return links to our site. Email us here.

Can I use one of your pictures/contact one of your artists?
Most of the photographs we use come from photo libraries--check the credit at the side of the picture in the magazine for the name of the company. The copyright on these pictures does not belong to us, and we can't give permission to use them. If you can't find a number for the photo library in question, you can email the picture desk for contact information. New Scientist does commission a lot of original artwork, but the copyright always belongs to the artist who did the work. If you're interested in one of these pieces or in the artist who created it, you should contact the art department by email and we'll pass your request along to the artist.

How do I send in an answer to an Enigma question?
Please send entries to the Enigma section to Enigma, New Scientist, Lacon House, 84 Theobald's Road, London, WC1X 8NS, or email your entry to us.

So tell me more about New Scientist magazine. What's your circulation / readership?
New Scientist is a science magazine for everyone, both young & old, amateur & professional. If you want more details, please see our media information.

Where can I buy a copy on the newsstand?
Find your nearest UK stockist with our new store locator.

US/Canada newsstands - New Scientist can be found in selected outlets of:

Do you provide work experience opportunities?
Unfortunately we do not accept people on work placements or work experience. Constraints on time and money prevent us from offering such opportunities. We receive many enquiries such as yours and have to respond to them all with the same bad news.

New Scientist Jobs is our searchable database of science jobs. See what it has to offer for you.

How do I apply for a permanent position at New Scientist?
When we are recruiting, advertisements appear both in the magazine and on our recruitment website, NewScientist Jobs. Look out for the ads, or sign up for our Jobs By Email service.

What is "sponsored content"?
Selected organisations sponsor New Scientist content in return for the display of their name and logo. New Scientist retains full editorial control, giving no sponsor any influence over any content, including choice of topics, the views expressed, or the style of presentation.

Can I send in an article for publication in New Scientist?
The vast majority of the news section of New Scientist magazine is written by staffers but we do publish the occasional freelance piece. Most of our feature articles are written either by researchers (who usually give first hand accounts of work in which they are involved) or by science journalists, but we are open to anyone who can write in our style on topics which we find exciting. We don't encourage people to send in full-length material out of the blue because we will often not have time to read it. If you have a good idea for a feature article, you should send a short synopsis - no more than 400 words - by email to the features editor. If you are a freelance journalist interested in pitching a news story, please check our Guide for Freelancers for further information. And everyone is welcome to send letters for publication though you must include a postal address for your letter to be published.

I am writing an essay, research paper or project and hope you can help.
The quickest way we are able to provide you with information for your project is via this web site. Please use the Search page to find articles of interest, or explore by subject to find the most up-to-date information on popular topics. Some articles are only available to subscribers.

Many libraries also hold back copies of the magazine for research purposes.