No, they are not. SA is a commercial publication, not a scientific journal, and the content, editing, style, pictures, etc. are chosen to satisfy a commercial market. A professional scientist can amaze himself with how little he can learn by reading a SA article.
But that does not matter. You would be astonished how incurious, obstinately ignorant, and ill-informed many scientists are on this subject.
Doesn’t surprise me in the least. I suspected the answers to both questions were what you responded, when I asked it. Good to have confirmation on my suspicions though, thanks.