The Scientific American Goes Woke + Laura Helmuth's Resignation. By Michael Shermer

"An Unscientific American" discusses the resignation of Laura Helmuth from her position as editor-in-chief at Scientific American. The author, Michael Shermer, argues that her departure exemplifies the risks of blending facts with ideology in scientific communication.

Helmuth faced backlash after posting controversial remarks on social media regarding political views, which led to public criticism and her eventual resignation. Shermer reflects on how the magazine's editorial direction has shifted towards progressive ideology, suggesting this has compromised its scientific integrity. He notes that had Helmuth made disparaging comments about liberal viewpoints, her outcome would likely have been more severe.

The article critiques Scientific American for endorsing positions on gender and race that Shermer sees as ideologically driven rather than based on scientific evidence. He expresses concern that such ideological capture within scientific publications can distort facts and undermine credibility.

For more details, you can read the full article here.

About the Author
Michael Shermer is a prominent science writer and the founder of the Skeptics Society. He is known for his work promoting scientific skepticism and questioning pseudoscience. Shermer is also the author of several books on belief, morality, and the nature of science, including The Believing Brain and The Moral Arc.
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[markcarew]

I was a subscriber to "Scientific American" for 41 years, up until 2021. I canceled my subscription after the magazine became nothing more than a propaganda rag for the radical left. The final straw came when a regular columnist stated that "There needs to be fewer white males reading Scientific American." I followed the columnist's suggestion.

[brynduffy]

"those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities"
- Voltaire

[harrymills]

Neil deGrasse Tyson said "They fired her, didn't they?" Bill Maher said "But they published this crap!" which is the most important thing. The fact that such a person could rise to editor-in-chief of Scientific American says it's not worth the paper it's printed on.

[iyziejane]

We're decades into the problem of giving PhDs to people who do not deserve them. Almost all PhDs now are just normal average people who don't have the slightest inkling of what it means to be a doctor of philosophy.

[wetwingnut]

Scientific American changed my life in high school and into college.
A couple of years ago, when my son was in the 8th grade, I bought him a subscription remembering how much it taught me.
When the first issue came he brought it to me asking why on earth I got this for him. When I skimmed through the issue we tossed it in the trash.

[jandejong]

Not American and certainly not Scientific for at least 2 decades.

[lostarrow]

New Scientist mag went the same way and National Geographic has become plain nauseating with wokery.

[tommyrq]

Never thought I’d see Lysenkoism happen in America but that was only my ignorance. As it turns out, science is quite easily co-opted by political and ideological stupidity and the only difference between Scientific American and all the others is that they aren’t sending those who disagree to actual forced labor camps in Siberia…so we have that going for us, which is nice…

[Sky]

As a long term subscriber I cancelled a few years ago, as Climate Change articles became dogmatic, not scientific.

[davereesor]

I canceled the magazine 10 years ago because of its incessant promotion of the climate alarmism industry.

[BOPBOY]

Her " scientific " acumen will be most welcomed at The View

[raymondswenson]

Mr Shermer: Sadly, the needle had already started moving away from objective science when SA refused to publish any criticisms of the orthodox doctrine of Global Warming.

[wolfgangmarvelous]

I have not read Scientific American for many years. I had no idea they were publishing these garbage, woke articles. Excellent essay by Michael Shermer.

[deanedge]

The Lancet in the UK is another example of the rising tide of structured embedded ignorance.

[AlmostEthical]

I once made a quiet point on a podcasting professor that universities were increasingly prescriptive in telling students what they should think. I was met with a stream of insults and foul-mouthed invective. It's odd how many intellectuals(?) think that abusing those they disagree with is appropriate or helpful, as opposed to arguing lucidly.

[RandallMeals]

Maybe Musk, Thiel, and Andreessen should get together and buy Scientific American to put Scientific back into American again.

[punkeasy]

Legend has it:
She thought she was working at ministry of truth magazine.

[aninterpreter]

I was a subscriber to Scientific American until I could no longer put up with its feminist bias.

[daveh]

I ended my subscription to Scientific American years ago when I started reading this kind of stuff. Thank you for exposing what the journal has become.

[uberdonkey]

Yup I couldn't believe it when I started reading some of the political articles in scientific American. As a scientist I was disgusted. Never read it again