Scientific Myths on the Covers of the Polish Edition of “Scientific American”

The purpose of this article is a semiotic analysis of the covers of the Polish edition of "Scientific American" magazine in the context of scientific myths.It is an attempt to understand how scientific ideas and images are transformed into cultural symbols that carry additional meanings and values.The study is based on a semiotic analysis of 60 covers of the Polish edition of "Scientific American" from the last five years (2019)(2020)(2021)(2022)(2023)(2024).The commutation test technique and the artificial intelligence application The Semiotic Engine were used to prepare descriptions of each cover.The covers were categorized into larger thematic groups, and the dominant themes were presented in the form of a cross tabulation in relation to the scientific myths analyzed.The analysis showed that the scientific myths present on the covers of Scientific American have a significant impact on society, shaping our understanding of science and technology.These myths can both inspire and mislead, simplifying complex issues and giving them sensational or ideological meanings.Examples of myths include the image of the scientist as hero and technology as salvation.The article offers a new perspective to the study of science popularization and media education, showing how semiotic analysis of journal covers can reveal hidden cultural meanings and values.The work underscores the need for critical analysis of media messages to better understand how culture influences our perception of science and its role in society.