Popular Mechanics

Popular Mechanics (often abbreviated as PM or PopMech) is a magazine of popular science and technology, featuring automotive, home, outdoor, electronics, science, do it yourself, and technology topics. Military topics, aviation and transportation of all types, space, tools and gadgets are commonly featured.

It was founded in 1902 by Henry Haven Windsor, who was the editor and—as owner of the Popular Mechanics Company—the publisher. For decades, the tagline of the monthly magazine was "Written so you can understand it." In 1958, PM was purchased by the Hearst Corporation, now Hearst Communications.

In 2013, the US edition changed from twelve to ten issues per year, and in 2014 the tagline was changed to "How your world works." The magazine added a podcast in recent years, including regular features Most Useful Podcast Ever and How Your World Works.

Popular Mechanics was founded as a weekly in Chicago by Henry Haven Windsor, with the first issue dated January 11, 1902. His concept was that it would explain "the way the world works" in plain language, with photos and illustrations to aid comprehension. For decades, its tagline was: "Written so you can understand it."

In September 1902, the magazine, formerly a weekly, became a monthly. The Popular Mechanics Company was owned by the Windsor family and printed in Chicago until the Hearst Corporation purchased the magazine in 1958. In 1962, the editorial offices moved to New York City.

In 2020, Popular Mechanics relocated to Easton, Pennsylvania, along with the two additional brands in the Hearst Enthusiast Group (Bicycling and Runner's World). That location has also included Popular Mechanics' testing facility, called the Test Zone.

From the first issue, the magazine featured a large illustration of a technological subject, a look that evolved into the magazine's characteristic full-page, full-color illustration and a small 6.5-by-9.5-inch (170 mm × 240 mm) trim size beginning with the July 1911 issue. It maintained the small format until 1975 when it switched to a larger standard trim size.^{[clarification needed]}

In 1915, Popular Mechanics adopted full-color cover illustrations, and the look was widely imitated by later technology magazines.