Popular Science magazine first published

Background. The publication was originally called Popular Science Monthly and was founded in May 1872. Its print magazine ran from 1872 to 2020, was translated into over 30 languages, and was distributed to at least 45 countries. The modern Popular Science is described as an American popular science website covering science and technology topics geared toward general readers; that description applies to the publication's later form rather than to the 1872 founding. The legacy row's January 1 date is a placeholder, and the supplied passage confirms the founding month as May 1872.

Founding and Name Changes. Popular Science Monthly was founded in May 1872 by a founder whose name is truncated in the supplied evidence at 'Edward L.' In a September 1915 editorial, Cattell related 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. After further name changes that caused confusion among librarians, the Modern Publishing Company purchased the Popular Science Monthly name to provide a clear signifier of the publication's focus on popular science.

Legacy Date Correction. The legacy row lists a specific date of January 1, 1872, which is identified as a placeholder. The supplied passage explicitly states the founding occurred in May 1872. Therefore, the date is corrected to May 1872, with precision set to month. The location is New York City, as indicated by the legacy row and the context of the publication's origin.