[1] The magazine was established in 1949[2] by several scientists, including José Reis, the dean of popularization of science in Brazil.
Its editorial philosophy was then changed to a magazine of general debate on issues of science and technology.
A brief attempt at publishing in English only was foiled and the magazine reverted to Portuguese as its publication language.
The journal's stated aims are "To act in the diffusion and scientific spreading and also the scene of the great cultural questions of our time, identifying trends and approaching proper subjects of the knowledge and the dynamics of its cultural, scientific and technological transformations."
Currently it is published both in printed and on-line forms, the last being in full text and with free access on the Brazilian electronic library SciELO.