FAQ

��˲�Ʊ is the world’s most popular weekly science and technology publication
Our website, app and print editions cover international news from a scientific standpoint, and ask the big-picture questions about life, the universe and what it means to be human. If someone in the world has a good idea, you will read about it in ��˲�Ʊ
Since the magazine was founded in 1956 for “all those interested in scientific discovery and its social consequences”, it has expanded to include newsletters, videos, podcasts, courses and live events in the UK, US and Australia, including ��˲�Ʊ Live, the world’s greatest festival of science
��˲�Ʊ is based in London and New york, with operations elsewhere in the UK, the US and Australia

What is included in my ��˲�Ʊ subscription?
Make sure you’re logged in, then visit newscientist.com/benefits to see your full list of subscriber benefits.

A digital subscription includes:

Unlimited access to newscientist.com, featuring over 115,000 articles, searchable archive, hundreds of insightful videos and our weekly crossword puzzles
The ��˲�Ʊ app ensures you stay informed with the latest scientific stories wherever you are, with the option to listen to audio versions of stories when you’re on-the-go plus an archive of back issues dating back to January 2021
Plus, a range of other benefits exclusive to subscribers, including subscriber-only newsletters. Find out more at newscientist.com/benefits

A bundle subscription includes all of the above plus the weekly print magazine delivered to your door.

Where can I find my subscriber-only benefits?
Make sure you’re logged in, then visit newscientist.com/benefits to see your full list of subscriber benefits.

What is a subscriber-only event?
Subscribers to ��˲�Ʊ have access to a number of additional benefits as part of your subscription, including online subscriber-only events. Visit the benefits page for these and more, ensure you are logged in to your ��˲�Ʊ account.

I have another subscriber benefits query
If you can’t find the answer to your question here, please contact our customer service team.

How do I subscribe to ��˲�Ʊ?
, or contact our customer service team if you’d prefer to subscribe over the phone.

What payment types do you accept?
We accept credit card, PayPal and Apple Pay. New subscriptions are on a continuous payment only. For new online orders we no longer accept Direct Debit payment.

Gift subscriptions can be paid for by cheque or credit/debit card as a one-off payment. Payment types and subscription durations may be restricted for promotional offers.

What currencies do you accept?
The currency you transact in is automatically selected based on either the region you are purchasing from, or for a gift subscription, the country in which the recipient of the gift subscription resides. Currencies are as follows:

United Kingdom: Sterling
Europe: Euros
United States and Canada: US Dollars
Australia and New Zealand: Australian Dollars
All other countries: US Dollars

How will my payment show on my bank statement?
Your statement will show as any of the following:

NEWSCI* NS
NEWSCIENTIST
NEWSCI
Newscientist.com
NEWSCI* NEW

Will I receive an order confirmation?
Yes, you will receive an email order confirmation which will include the subscription package, the length of the subscription and your subscription number. For subscriptions including print this will also include delivery details and the first issue delivery date. Please check your junk email folder if this has not reached your inbox.

I haven’t received an email confirmation
Please check your spam or junk email folder if this has not reached your inbox. If you still cannot locate your confirmation email, please contact our customer service team.

I am having problems ordering online, how else can I order?
Please contact our customer service team and they will help you with your subscription. If possible, it would be useful if you could provide a screenshot of the problem so we can resolve it. Please note we cannot take payment information by email.

How does the trial subscription work?
We offer trial subscriptions to new subscribers at a discounted rate so you can see if you like it before you commit. Trials are auto renewed once the trial period e.g. 6 issues or 10 issues has ended. The subscription will roll onto the standard subscription rate. You won’t receive notification of this, as the follow-on price is included in your acknowledgment.

If you do not wish to continue your subscription after the initial term of issues, please cancel your subscription in my account or contact our customer service team and we will cancel the automatic renewal. If you do not contact us, the subscription will automatically renew.

Do you have a subscription offer for students?
View our student offers.

Do you have a subscription offer for retirees?
This is not something we currently offer but you can find our .

Can I buy a single issue of ��˲�Ʊ magazine?
Single issues are available to buy from the or from the newsstand.

Where can I buy a copy on the newsstand?

��˲�Ʊ can be found in selected supermarkets, newsagents and bookstores in the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In Canada, ��˲�Ʊ can be found in selected outlets of .

How can I get a back issue of the printed magazine?

We have back issues from the past 4 months available to purchase at . For older issues please visit . You can email Mags UK on support@mags-uk.com, or call them on 01795662976 (09:30-13:30 GMT Mon-Fri).

Back issues are also available to read digitally on the ��˲�Ʊ App. If you have an active subscription, you can log into the app, click the “Magazine” tab and scroll to the issue you want. If you do not have an active subscription you can purchase single issues from the app.

Where can I read Essential Guides?
Essential Guides were published 5 times a year 2020 – 2024. All issues are available to or issues can be purchased digitally in the ��˲�Ʊ app, in the “Magazine” section. Subscribers can read these in the app as part of their subscription.

Where can I read How to Think About?
How to Think About first published in 2025. All issues are available to or subscribers can read them digitally in the ��˲�Ʊ app in the “Magazine” section. These are not available to purchase digitally.

Managing my subscription

When does my subscription start?
Your subscription will start from the next available issue, or you can select a future date when you subscribe. We are unable to start a subscription for a previous issue or the latest copy on sale in shops. You can view your first or next issue in my account.

While you wait for your first issue, you have immediate access online, including the latest issue.

When does my subscription end?
If you subscribed with a one-off payment, we will send you a renewal notification by post or email approximately 10 weeks before your subscription is due to end, to remind you to renew. If you paid on auto-renew, your subscription will automatically continue to renew until we receive instruction from you to cancel.

You can check your subscription end date, remaining issues or renew in my account. If you cannot locate your subscription number, please contact our customer service team.

Where can I find my subscription number?
Your subscription number, a 10-digit number, can be found on all correspondence from us including your order confirmation email, welcome letter and above your address on the print issue.

Alternatively, you can find your subscription number in my account. If you cannot locate your subscription number, please contact our customer service team.

Can I subscribe to unlimited online access only and not the print magazine or ��˲�Ʊ app?
Yes, you can manage your subscription by signing into my account. You need your username and password. Or select the green “Your account” button at the top of newscientist.com and go to manage my subscription.

Once you have logged in to your account you can:

View your subscription details
View your future and past magazine dispatch dates and request any missed issues
Update your personal information including address
Update payment details
Renew your subscription (if applicable)
Cancel your subscription

How do I update my details?
Log in to newscientist.com and click the green “Your account” button at the top of the page. Here you can manage your subscription details. If you need further assistance, please contact our customer service team.

I’m moving to a different country and I am a current subscriber, can I still receive my subscription when I move?
Please contact our customer service team who can update your address, we will prorate your subscription to the rate in the new country, so this may reduce or extend how many issues you have left, the customer service team will able to advise.

Does my subscription automatically renew?
If you paid by Continuous Credit Card or Direct Debit, the subscription will renew automatically.

If you paid with a one-off payment, your subscription will not automatically renew. You will receive renewal reminders by email and post.

My payment failed, what do I do?
We will contact you by email/letter if your payment fails. You can update your payment in my account or contact our customer service team to provide alternative payment details.

How can I check if my subscription is still active?
You can check the status of your subscriptions in my account or contact our customer service team.

How do I renew my subscription?
You can renew online in my account or contact our customer service team. Please note we cannot take payment details over email.

How do I cancel my subscription?
Cancel online using the “Help” tab in my account or contact our customer service team by phone.

Will you refund my subscription if I cancel my subscription?
��˲�Ʊ will offer you a refund if you cancel during your cooling off period, within 14 days of a payment being taken. We will refund unsent issues.

I’ve cancelled my subscription, why am I still receiving issues?
If you paid for your subscription by Direct Debit or Continuous Credit Card, this may be cancelled at any time, however depending on when you cancel, you may continue to receive monthly issues until the end of your last payment period.  You can check when your subscription will end in my account or contact our customer service team.

Can I pause my subscription?
Unfortunately, we are unable to pause subscriptions.

Delivery

When will my first issue arrive?
If you do not select a future date your first magazine will be the next issue available. We are unable to start a subscription for a previous issue or the latest copy on sale in shops. You can view your first or next issue in my account. We will confirm your start issue in your welcome email or letter.

Delivery time depends on the country your subscription is being sent to please see below.

While you wait for your first issue, you have immediate digital access at newscientist.com in the ��˲�Ʊ app.

How often is ��˲�Ʊ published?
��˲�Ʊ is published weekly. There are 51 issues per year with a double issue during Christmas. ��˲�Ʊ is on sale Thursday of each week with a cover date of the following Saturday.

How long will delivery take of my subscription copy?

UK: 2-3 days (Delivery should be Thursday-Saturday)
Europe: 4-8 days
USA/Canada: 2-3 days
Central & South America: 3-4 weeks
Africa & Asia: 3-4 weeks
Pacific Rim (Australian edition): 1-2 weeks
Middle East: 2-3 weeks

My magazine has arrived damaged, what do I do?
We’re sorry to hear that your issue arrived damaged. We would be happy to send a replacement.  You can order a replacement in my account under missing issue, or contact our customer service team.

My issue has not arrived, what do I do?
We are sorry to hear that your issue did not arrive. We would be happy to send a replacement. You can order a replacement in my account under missing issue, or contact our customer service team.

Do you use plastic to send subscription copies of ��˲�Ʊ?

Print magazines to the UK are sent in home compostable film that complies to BSEN13432. You are therefore able to put this into your compost bin, use as a food waste caddy liner or dispose of a in a green waste collection bin. From time to time UK copies are wrapped in Polyair™. This film is made from 100% recyclable, carbon neutral material. It is PAS2050 carbon neutral certified and can be recycled
Print magazines to Australia and New Zealand are wrapped in a bioWrap plastic wrap which is recyclable. We recommend you check whether your local council collects plastic wrap with its recycling but if not, the wrap can be recycled with plastic bags at larger supermarkets
Print magazines to US and Canada are sent without any additional packaging
Print magazines to the rest of the world are sent in paper wrap

We encourage all our customers to reuse, compost, or recycle packing materials where possible. We regularly review the options to ensure we balance sustainability with cost.

Subscription Gifts

How does a gift subscription work?
You can purchase a subscription as a gift, this will enable the recipient to receive the print issue delivered to their home, plus access the digital subscription, depending on the package you choose.

If I’m giving a gift subscription, will the recipient be notified?
All communication will be sent to you to pass on if you wish. Please note, in order for your recipient to access any digital content, we will require an email address for them which we request at the point of ordering. If you do not know what this is, the recipient can provide this later at . You will receive instructions in your confirmation email and you will need to forward this to your gift subscription recipient in order for them to set up their digital subscription.

Do you have gift cards?
We will send a gift card in the post along with a welcome letter.

How does the recipient access their digital subscription?
We will require an email address for the recipient which we request at the point of ordering. If you do not know what this is, the recipient can provide this later at . You will receive instructions in your confirmation email and you will need to forward this to your gift subscription recipient in order for them to set up their digital subscription.

How do I renew a gift subscription?
If you subscribed with a one-off payment, we will send you a renewal notification by post or email approximately 10 weeks before your subscription is due to end, to remind you to renew. If you paid on auto-renew, your subscription will automatically continue to renew until we receive instruction from you to cancel. Once the subscription has expired, we will contact the recipient directly with the option for them to renew.

You can check your subscription end date, remaining issues or renew in your account.

I bought a gift subscription for Christmas, when will the first issue arrive?
As we don’t want to spoil the surprise for the recipient, all gift orders placed between October & December are automatically enrolled to start in the New Year. You will receive a gift card to gift the recipient on Christmas Day. You can change this during the checkout process by changing your start date.

My free subscription gift has not arrived, what do I do?
We are sorry to hear that your free gift did not arrive. Please contact our customer care team who will check this for you and send a replacement if necessary.

Digital access: Newscientist.com

How quickly can I access my digital subscription?
If you place your order online, you will have instant access. Orders placed via the telephone or post will begin within 48 hours of your order being processed.

Do I need a subscription to access newscientist.com?
If you are not a subscriber, you have limited access to ��˲�Ʊ’s website.

Only subscribers to the Digital or Bundle packages will have full access to all content on the website.

What is a free ��˲�Ʊ a��ǳܲԳ�?
A free ��˲�Ʊ account gives you access to a limited selection of stories on newscientist.com plus our free newsletters.

If you have a ��˲�Ʊ a��ǳܲԳ�, log in to manage your account settings and newsletter preferences. If you don’t have an account yet, sign up here.

How do I create a ��˲�Ʊ a��ǳܲԳ�?
You can create an account here.

What is unlimited online access to newscientist.com?
A limited number of stories are available for non-subscribers to read on newscientist.com, but with a subscription you can access our entire library of 115,000+ online articles, searchable archive, crosswords with new puzzles every week.

Can I share articles?
You can share articles using the share function on each article, but if you share with a non-subscriber they may not be able to read the article.

Why does newscientist.com have ads?
The advertising on newscientist.com supports our journalism and the technical development of our website.

How can I remove browser pop-ups or notifications?
We use web push notification software to send updates to our readers about articles and other news. Upon visiting our website for the first time, you will receive a pop-up in your browser (Safari or Chrome) asking if you would like to receive notifications from ��˲�Ʊ. We have no control over permissions once you have selected either ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. If you would like to remove these push notifications from your browser, please follow the instructions for your browser:

What are the small white boxes or pop up notifications on my web browser?
Notifications are a function of your web browser settings through Chrome or Safari or Firefox. To begin receiving them, you had opted in previously. To manage them, you can do within your browser settings. Here’s instructions how:

How do I get hold of an old article from the magazine?
If the article is from after 1989, you can use the search button at the top of the website. Content from our archive is available on newscientist.com to all subscribers. If the article is from earlier than 1989, you may be able to find it in libraries.

Why can’t I access all content?
Unlimited online access is only available to ��˲�Ʊ subscribers. If you are not a subscriber yet, you can find our latest subscription offers .

If you are already a subscriber, make sure you’re logged in. If you have forgotten your password, reset it here.

Unfortunately, subscriptions to the ��˲�Ʊ app purchased from the App Store, Google Play or Zinio do not include unlimited access to newscientist.com.

We will need to be able place a cookie on your computer to maintain your unlimited online access. If you are experiencing technical difficulties staying logged in, please check here for further information.

I have a subscription that lets me read ��˲�Ʊ in the Zinio / Apple / Amazon / Google Play app. Can I access the website?
Subscribers who have subscribed to ��˲�Ʊ through third parties such as Apple, Amazon, Google Pay or Zinio, do not have access to the website. Please contact these providers for subscription information, technical support and additional queries.

Can I subscribe to unlimited online access only and not the print magazine or ��˲�Ʊ a��?
You can find our . If you can’t find the package type that you’re looking for, please contact us using these details and we can help get your subscription set up.

Why am I returned to the home page every time I log in?
You may need to adjust settings on your computer so that we can set a session cookie. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use cookies and how to adjust your settings.

Why aren’t my details being recognised when I try to log in?
If you see the error message “The password or email you entered is incorrect”, then you may have mistyped your details. If the problem persists, please reset your password and try copying and pasting the details from the reset email. Remember that your details are case-sensitive.

I have forgotten my newscientist.com password
You can reset your password here.

When I try to reset my password, my email address is not recognised
If you already set a password, then there may be a spelling error in the email we have on file for you, or you may you have created an account using a different email. Try some of your previous email addresses, if you have any. If you are a subscriber and need to update your email, you can do this via my account, or contact our customer service team.

How do I change my password?
While logged in, you can change your password on the Account settings page if you have a ��˲�Ʊ account or a subscription. Or, you can reset your password here.

Where can I change the email I use to log in?
To update your email address, log in to your ��˲�Ʊ a��ǳܲԳ�. Once logged in, go to “Account settings” and select “Personal details”. Here you will be able to update your email account associated with your ��˲�Ʊ a��ǳܲԳ�.

I can’t find the article I’m looking for
To search for an article, use the ‘search keywords’ box located at the top of the website next to the account button, and enter as many relevant keywords relating to the article as you can. If you’re still unable to find a specific article that you believe should be on the website, please contact our customer service team

��˲�Ʊ

General subscription enquiries

Managing my subscription

Delivery

Subscription Gifts

Digital access: Newscientist.com

Digital Access: ��˲�Ʊ app

Subscription

Downloading

Back issues

Using in-app audio

Newsletters

Institutional Subscriptions

Editorial

Advertising

Data

Other

General subscription enquiries

Managing my subscription

Delivery

Subscription Gifts

Digital access: Newscientist.com