Science journalism has faced recurring crises, with a notable 'science crash' in 1986 when magazines folded, mirroring current layoffs at major outlets like Scientific American and The Washington Post. Scholars debating whether today's troubles represent cyclical panic or genuine decline find evidence of both: while 18 of 29 U.S. science magazines since the 1800s have closed, science journalism continued thriving after the 1980s downturn.
Science journalism has faced recurring crises, with a major 'science crash' occurring in 1986 when popular science magazines folded, and similar layoffs and closures happening again today at outlets like Scientific American and major newspapers. Scholars debate whether current concerns represent cyclical panic or a genuinely new threat, noting that while science magazines have always struggled, eight closures since 2000 suggest a potentially more serious decline than past downturns.