In this day and age, some of us prefer our touch-screen devices for instant information and news. However, when your device runs out of juice, or you don’t have wi-fi, it’s fun to sit back in an armchair and read the latest magazine you received in the mail. Magazines are generally divided into two main categories: entertainment and education. Entertainment magazines focus mainly on Hollywood, while educational magazines focus on facts that are actually worth knowing. Here are some educational magazines that deserve a glance:

Air and Space:
This magazine is for people with an interest in space or the military. The latest issue featured a lengthy story on the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom and an article on health in space, a reference to Scott Kelly’s upcoming mission to live a year on the International Space Station. Commercial aircraft topics sometimes make an appearance as well. I would recommend Air and Space to anyone with an interest in flying or mechanics.

The Economist:
Need a constant reliable source for current events? The Economist is perfect. It is chock full of articles that cover a variety of current world topics. And if you don’t feel like reading a 14-page special report, it has plenty of short blurbs on world news. Reading the Economist can broaden your perspective on world views and increase your knowledge of foreign affairs, both of which people should be knowledgeable about.

Scientific American:
Don’t be turned away by the name, because Scientific American is not just for geeks. The topics are diverse, and while the focus can be on in-depth studies, many articles pertain to daily life and current events. Medicine is a frequent topic, ranging from neuroscience to ebola. Another common topic is outer space and habitable planets. Anyone interested in general science should look into Scientific American.

Smithsonian:
The Smithsonian magazine dives in-depth into geography, history and nature, along with a variety of other topics. Previous stories about history have included the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and new clues about the disappearance of Amelia Earhart. Recently, an article covered the work of scientists helping to bring Siberian Tigers back from the brink of extinction.

The magazines mentioned above also have websites, where you can access some of the material in the print versions. These online articles are available to view without a subscription, which, if you don’t want to take out your wallet, is very convenient. However, while websites are helpful and super-fast, actual paper-and-ink versions of magazines seem that much more real.