Cycle World Issue 1 2020 is available now.

SHARPEST BLADE 

Honda’s history is deeply rooted in racing, and the long-awaited redesign of Honda’s open-class superbike exemplifies what the company has learned through years of handcrafting works machines. Cycle World’s Road Test Editor takes readers behind the scenes on the magazine’s exclusive first ride on the Honda Fireblade SP. Everything about this Fireblade is built to strive for the perfect lap and reassert Honda’s domination in the World Superbike championship, not to mention bring MotoGP technology to the masses. PLUS: DEMOCRACY OF TECHNOLOGY When a stunning new model appears, wouldn’t you like to know how it came to be? Cycle World’s Technical Editor, Kevin Cameron, certainly does, and he’s specifically curious about the Fireblade. To him, Honda Racing Corporation seemed to be the key, and he went all the way to HRC’s shop in Japan to get a glimpse inside HRC to see how its work influences production motorcycles. 

FROM SCRATCH

Max Hazan didn’t really mean to become a custom motorcycle builder. After a bad racing accident left him with plenty of time on his hands building a bike was just a project to keep him busy, but after a bit more tinkering and a trial year in LA, he started to gain momentum. A decade later, Hazan has a list of enthusiastic patrons waiting as he completes bikes at the rate of six months per build. Cycle World got a look at his latest task: a near-complete racing-inspired build with a unique, highly modified S&S Knucklehead V-twin as the powerplant. “Nobody could build this bike but Hazan—and perhaps nobody would try. It’s a balance of taste and style—always thinking about how to make the bike better, not just add more to it,” says Morgan Gales, Custom and Culture Editor. 

RICKEY GADSON MEETS THE TRIUMPH ROCKET 3 R

At the end of 2018, rumors began to swirl that Triumph Motorcycles was working on a new Rocket 3, the company’s biggest and most powerful motorcycle. This caught the attention of 11-time motorcycle drag racing champion Rickey Gadson as much as it did the editors of Cycle World—so they teamed up. No longer is the Rocket a cruiser with a tractor engine. “It’s now a street bruiser; and everyone who looks at it knows it,” Gadson says. After a street test, Gadson hit the Silver Dollar Motorsport Park for a track day to show readers how to get the quickest quarter-mile on the 2020 Rocket 3 R. 

INFLATION 

The full-face helmet is only about 50 years old, and today many riders wouldn’t ride with anything less. Could wearable airbag protection in your riding jacket or race suit become the new safety standard? Gear companies Dainese and Alpinestars have each been developing programs and products for over two decades, resulting in the Dainese’s D-Air and Alpinestars’ Tech-Air Project. What you get is the latest safety technology derived from MotoGP racing, millions of real-world testing miles, and thousands of analyzed air-bag deployments—all optimized with algorithms specialized in detecting accidents found in real-world scenarios, even at a standstill. While the price point is still a barrier, as KTM Factory MotoGP Racer Pol Espargaro says, “Once you’ve tried the D-air, it’s something you can’t do without.” 

PLUS: The Lensman, a Photo Essay; The Story of Harley-Davidson’s lost KRTT Prototype; a Q&A with Markus Schramm; and more

What Came Before?

The Origins Issue of Popular Science is available now. 

THE MISSING MICROBE

An estimated 95 percent of Mongolians are, genetically speaking, lactose-intolerant. Yet in the frost-free summer months, they may be getting up to half their calories from milk products. PopSci chronicles archaeogeneticist Christina Warinner’s quest to get to the bottom of this. Warinner is convinced that the Mongolian affinity for dairy might be made possible by a mastery of bacteria 3,000 years or more in the making.

SHOULD RIVERS FLOW FREE ONCE AGAIN? 

America was shaped by its rivers—more than 250,000 in all—and since Colonial times, we have bent them to our will. Dams fueled America’s growth by choking its rivers, but lately, people have started to notice the toll this has taken on wildlife. About 40 percent of the approximately 800 varieties of freshwater fish in the US, and more than two-thirds of native mussels, are rare or endangered, in part because man-made barriers have altered their ecosystems. Is it time to restore nature’s infrastructure?

AGE-OLD CLIMATE SOLUTIONS 

Agriculture is the single largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. So, to curb their climate impact, farmers are turning back the clock to tap ancient techniques that catch more carbon than they spew. From a stead in North Carolina where 100 acres are dedicated to silvopasture (using trees to cover cow pasture and siphon CO2 from the sky) to a farm in Iowa that stopped plowing and begun planting cover crops, methods that help cancel out carbon emissions are gaining traction across the industry. This type of pollution trapping could get us most, if not all, of the way to the goals of the Paris Agreement. “I feel like I’m farming with a clear conscience,” says fifth-generation Iowa farmer Justin Jordan.

BIGGEST DIG EVER 

The initial 143-mile leg of the UK’s HS2 high-speed rail project will connect London with northern towns en route to Birmingham, but it will also run through more than 60 historic sites. “It’s very difficult to dig a hole anywhere in the UK without finding something that directly relates to human history in these islands,” says archaeologist Caroline Raynor. From late Bronze Age settlements to a battlefield from the Wars of the Roses, HS2’s route is filled with history that researchers, archaeologists, excavators, and more are rushing to preserve and analyze—while also struggling to find space to hold it all.

PLUS: Dogs, a Love Story; How Do We Know What Dinosaurs Look Like?; Products that Were Perfect on Their First Try; Why Are We Nostalgic?; History of Garbage; and More

BONNIER CORP. SIGNS LICENSING PARTNERS FOR OUTDOOR LIFE BRAND

March 17, 2020 (New York, NY)—Bonnier Corp. has partnered with several leading manufacturers to produce Outdoor Life licensed apparel and lifestyle products, it was announced today by Elise Contarsy, Senior Vice President, Bonnier Consumer Products Group.  

Bonnier Consumer Products Group plans to showcase the range of Outdoor Life products from licensees, and meet with retail buyers, at the June 2020 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market in Denver, Colorado. “Whether it’s fishing, hunting or a weekend camping trip, Outdoor Life is the authoritative voice for the outdoor adventure-seeker,” Contarsy said. “Outdoor Life has been a trusted resource in the outdoor space for over 120 years, and the branded products produced by these partnerships will allow us to continue to connect with enthusiasts in a meaningful way.” 

Bonnier Consumer Products Group is proud to announce the following licensees:  

• The Levy Group Inc.: sportswear, outerwear, bags
• 540 Brands: graphic T-shirts, sweatshirts, headwear
• Balanced Tech Corp.: base layer, underwear, sleepwear, cold-weather accessories
• Sunshine Leisure Products Co. Ltd.: camping and beach chairs, tables, cots
• Master Cutlery LLC: hunting knives, axes, related knife-edge products
• Lifetime Brands Inc.: hydration, coolers, tableware, cutlery, cookware

Bonnier Consumer Products Group is looking forward to this meaningful expansion for the Outdoor Life brand and will continue to onboard additional licensees. For additional information about available categories, please send all inquiries to Richard Oren, [email protected]

###

ABOUT BONNIER CORP. 

Bonnier Corp. is one of the largest special-interest publishing groups in America, with more than 20 multichannel brands extending into all platforms, including magazines, digital media, events and product licensing. Bonnier Corp.’s brands include Popular Science, Saveur, Field & Stream, Yachting, Flying, Salt Water Sportsman, Cycle World, Working Mother and Outdoor Life. Bonnier Corp. is owned by Sweden-based Bonnier AB, a multichannel media conglomerate operating in 12 countries.

New York, NY (March 12, 2020) Bonnier Corp. has signed an exclusive licensing-agency agreement for Popular Science with Evolution USA, it was announced today by Elise Contarsy, Senior Vice President, Bonnier Consumer Products Group. 

Evolution will be actively seeking new licensing opportunities for Popular Science in a wide range of industries. Additionally, Evolution will work to expand distribution for the recently launched Popular Science line of STEM toys that are now in production.

“Popular Science is a legacy brand that has both an active fan base and a nostalgic appeal to consumers,” Contarsy said. “Evolution is an innovative group that offers us the opportunity to maximize and accelerate the brand’s exposure to potential licensing partners. We could not be happier about this partnership, and we’re looking forward to seeing where Evolution can help take Popular Science.”

“We are extremely excited to partner with the entire team at Bonnier Consumer Products Group for the strategic expansion of the Popular Science brand,” said Travis J. Rutherford, Evolution’s co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer. “The strength and deeply established consumer awareness of the brand via the magazine and online subscriber base lends itself perfectly to a wide range of tech-forward, branded consumer products, including audiovisual and speakers, power solutions, electronic accessories, lighting, home appliances, home security, home furnishings and housewares, personal care and automotive.”   

Evolution is seeking both big-box retail and manufacturing partners, and will premiere the new brand-expansion initiative at the upcoming International Licensing Expo at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, May 19-21, in Booth C-142. Popular Science was recognized at last year’s Expo as License Global’s “One to Watch,” which serves to recognize and reward innovation from new Licensing Expo exhibitors. For additional information, contact [email protected].

###

ABOUT BONNIER CORP. 

Bonnier Corp. is one of the largest special-interest publishing groups in America, with more than 25 multichannel brands extending into all platforms, including magazines, digital media, events and product licensing. Bonnier Corp.’s brands include Popular Science, Saveur, Field & Stream, Yachting, Flying, Salt Water Sportsman, Cycle World, Working Mother and Outdoor Life. Bonnier Corp. is owned by Sweden-based Bonnier AB, a multichannel media conglomerate operating in 15 countries.

ABOUT EVOLUTION

Evolution is a leading brand-monetization agency, headquartered in Calabasas, California, servicing the popular culture, media, gaming, toy, personality, character and lifestyle industry verticals. Evolution offers bespoke turnkey solutions, including strategic brand planning, market analysis, contract negotiations, legal support, product development, retail development, royalty collections, contract compliance and inventor relations, as well as providing manufacturers a full-service licensing-acquisitions team. Evolution monetizes and enhances brand value via licensing, direct-to-retail partnerships, collaborations, experiential retail and direct-to-consumer sales.

The agency’s clients include Gaumont Television USA, Skydance Media, Stampede Ventures, Pressman Films, Bonnier Corp., ITV Studios, Rovio, TinyBuild Games, System Era, Klei Games, Tilting Point, OLO Industries and the Ella Fitzgerald Estate, among others.

PRESS CONTACT

Cathy Hebert, [email protected], 212-779-5023

CORINNE IOZZIO NAMED EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF POPULAR SCIENCE

New York, NY (March 10, 2020) — Corinne Iozzio has been named Editor-in-Chief of Popular Science, it was announced today by Gregory Gatto, Executive Vice President of Bonnier Media. Her promotion is effective immediately.  

Iozzio joined Popular Science in 2009 as Associate Editor, and became Senior Associate Technology Editor before she left in 2014. She returned to Popular Science in 2017 as the magazine’s Managing Editor, before she was promoted to Deputy Editor in 2018 and Executive Editor in 2019. 

“Corinne has been vital to Popular Science’s recent success across all of our multimedia extensions,” Gatto said. “She is a terrific editor who has a deep understanding of science and technology, and a tremendous passion for this brand. We’re looking forward to seeing where Corinne’s vision leads us.”

“Popular Science has been an important force in my career for more than a decade—and, in my life, for long before that,” Iozzio said. “It’s a privilege to lead this extraordinary and dedicated team as we build on a 147-year-old foundation, and continue to grow a brand that evolves and informs in a rapidly changing world.”

Iozzio has a B.A. in Communications and Media Studies from Fordham University.

###

ABOUT POPULAR SCIENCE

As one of America’s oldest and most trusted magazines, Popular Science has spent a century and a half bringing readers the most amazing innovations and discoveries. From thought leaders to skeptics, from digital natives to print devotees, Popular Science’s audience is as diverse as the stories in and on our pages. And we all have one thing in common: a boundless sense of wonder. Established in 1872, Popular Science is published by Bonnier Corp. Bonnier Corp. is one of the largest consumer publishing groups in the United States, and is the leading media company serving passionate, highly engaged audiences with more than 20 special-interest magazines and related multimedia projects and events.

PRESS CONTACT: Cathy Hebert, [email protected], 212-779-5023

The Wilderness Issue—“I like to think of wilderness as any place where you can escape cellphone service, traffic noise, and other people altogether. Wilderness should also scare you a little. There, stupid mistakes are amplified. The freedom to live in the moment—not the glow of your social media feed, but the real life-and-death, bloody-hands, muddy-boots moment—is the true gift of a wilderness experience. If we destroy our last wild places, we’ll also lose the last of our wild selves.”

—Alex Robinson, Editor-in-Chief

RULES OF THE WILD

Public land is owned by everyone, but wilderness only truly belongs to those who are willing to brave it. Outdoor Life contributor Aram von Benedikt has spent years doing that in his home state of Utah, but he was willing to share his secret elk spot and an epic, snow-filled hunt with Senior Editor Natalie Krebs. “A longing for open, untouched country remains among many who were born into crowded counties or work in cities where Rottweiler-size raccoons have replaced wild game, and office buildings block the sky,” Krebs writes. “The knowledge that I can hunt a place like this keeps me going when I’m stuck in traffic, and it revives me fully once I’m here. This particular place will always be Aram’s. Yet in a way, it belongs to me now too.”

THE FIRST FRONTIER 

A knowledgeable guide and a good boat will go a long way in Greenland. Outdoor Life Hunting Editor Andrew McKean traversed the craggy, beautiful coastline of North America’s largest island in search of musk ox, caribou, and miles of empty country.

 A WILDERNESS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK (page 90)

At 17 million acres, the Tongass National Forest is one of the largest temperate rainforests in the world. It’s also a hunting and fishing paradise, and its tourism and seafood economies support 25 percent of jobs in the region. But the U.S. Forest Service announced plans to exempt the Tongass from the Clinton-era Roadless Rule to allow more old-growth logging and development on 9.2 million acres that are currently protected. Editor-in-Chief Alex Robinson put boots on the ground in Alaska to hunt and fish with locals, unpack the debate, and report on the ways this rollback will impact the local environment and economy. 

HOOKED 

Fishing helped save Lance Clinton’s life from drugs and despair, and propelled him to become one of the top big-game kayak anglers in the world. Contributor Michael Shea traveled to Clinton’s hideaway in Costa Rica to chase tuna, dorado, and mahi on the open waters, and learn about this recovered addict’s gospel of the surf.

PLUS 100 Rams; Hunting the High Seas; Wyoming’s Wilderness Problem; the Ultimate Open-Country Hunting Rifle; the Gear You Need for the Backcountry; and more.