[3][4] The Popular Science Monthly, as the publication was originally called, was founded in May 1872[5] by Edward L. Youmans to disseminate scientific knowledge to the educated layman.

The journal became an outlet for writings and ideas of Charles Darwin, Thomas Henry Huxley, Louis Pasteur, Henry Ward Beecher, Charles Sanders Peirce, William James, Thomas Edison, John Dewey and James McKeen Cattell.

William Jay Youmans, Edward's brother, helped found Popular Science Monthly in 1872 and was an editor as well.

In a September 1915 editorial, Cattell related these difficulties to his readers and announced that the Popular Science Monthly name had been transferred to the Modern Publishing Company to start a new publication for general audiences.

Editor Kaempffert was writing for "the home craftsman and hobbyist who wanted to know something about the world of science."

[7] From the mid-1930s to the 1960s, the magazine featured fictional stories of Gus Wilson's Model Garage, centered on car problems.

From 1935 to 1949, the magazine sponsored a series of short films, produced by Jerry Fairbanks and released by Paramount Pictures.

From July 1952 to December 1989, Popular Science carried Roy Doty's Wordless Workshop as a regular feature.

In 2014, the magazine underwent a major redesign; its February 2014 issue introduced a new logo, and a new format featuring greater use of graphics and imagery, aiming to broaden its content to appeal to wider attention to the environment, science, and technology among a mass audience.

[18] During his tenure, Popular Science diversified its readership base,[19] was nominated for several National Magazine Awards, winning for The Tiny Issue in 2019, and named to AdWeek's Hot List in 2019.

[21] During her tenure, the brand moved from a print to a digital-only publication, produced extensive coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, celebrated its 150-year anniversary,[22] and relaunched its "Brilliant 10" franchise.

"[26][27] In June 2021, North Equity introduced Recurrent Ventures as the new parent company to its digital media portfolio.

[28] From April 27, 2021, the Popular Science publication was changed to a fully digital format and is no longer in physical print.

[32] On March 27, 2011, Popular Science magazine sold the 10,000th subscription to its iPad edition, nearly six weeks after accepting Apple's terms for selling subs on its tablet.

After just one episode, Apple Podcasts included "Weirdest Thing" on their weekly "New & Noteworthy" list, and over the years it has hosted a number of live events.

In early 2010, Bonnier partnered with London-based design firm BERG to create Mag+, a magazine publishing platform for tablets.

[40] Australian Media Properties also launched www.popsci.com.au at the same time, a localised version of the Popular Science website.

Bets have included whether Facebook would have an initial public offering by 2008, when a touchscreen iPod would be launched, and whether Dongtan, China's eco-city, would be inhabited by 2010.