Scientific American is turning a piece of its archive into a participatory experience. As part of celebrations for the magazine’s 180th anniversary, the publication has begun releasing jigsaw puzzles featuring iconic covers from its long run; the newest puzzle spotlights the June 1906 issue. The initiative is positioned as both a celebration of the magazine’s visual history and an effort to draw readers into a tactile appreciation of how scientific ideas were represented over time.

The puzzles appear alongside other offerings in the magazine’s games area, where readers can find logic and math challenges and interactive content that connects historical material with contemporary curiosity. Recent items in that section include a math puzzle titled “Measure the Moon” by Martin Gardner and shorter pieces that tie into current science events, such as a notice that a comet will make a close approach to Earth on October 21. The games page also features visually oriented explanatory graphics and reporting on climate and engineering topics, underscoring a blend of entertainment and education.

Editors say the project aims to make the archive accessible to a broader audience. By converting cover art into puzzles, the magazine is inviting readers to slow down and study details that might otherwise be missed in a quick scan. The format encourages concentration and discussion, and provides an entry point for people who might not typically navigate historical back issues or archival databases. It also serves a pedagogical function: educators and parents can use the puzzles to spark conversations about the history of technology, shifts in scientific priorities and the changing aesthetics of science communication.

The June 1906 puzzle is the latest in an ongoing rollout intended to showcase “some of our most fascinating magazine covers over the years.” The magazine notes that users can take a virtual tour of the covers published so far and invites feedback by asking readers to e‑mail games@sciam.com to share their experiences. That invitation positions the feature as an interactive experiment in audience engagement, one that could influence which covers are released next and how the games section evolves.

The move comes at a time when legacy publications are experimenting with new forms of digital engagement to retain and expand readership. By combining archival material with game mechanics, Scientific American is seeking to leverage nostalgia and curiosity while reinforcing its brand as a platform for science literacy. The approach raises questions about how cultural and scientific memory is curated and consumed in the digital age, and whether such playful formats can deepen public understanding of scientific history rather than reducing it to novelty.

For readers, the puzzles offer a low-barrier way to connect with the past and to reflect on the visual storytelling of science. For the magazine, they represent a creative adaptation of archival assets into community-oriented content that, if successful, could be expanded into educational packages or themed releases tied to topical issues.