Scientific American 1993-2013 Article Index

Scientific American 1993-2013 Article Index
1 of 147
http://www.davelo.net/sciam/regular-index.html

Home | Covers | 1993-2013 | 1970-1992 | Mind | Special | Presents | Online
2013 2012''''''''''' 2011''''''''''' 2010''''''''''' 2009''''''''''' 2008''''''''''' 2007''''''''''' 2006''''''''''' 2005''''''''''' 2004'''''''''''
2003''''''''''' 2002''''''''''' 2001''''''''''' 2000''''''''''' 1999''''''''''' 1998''''''''''' 1997''''''''''' 1996''''''''''' 1995''''''''''' 1994'''''''''''
1993'''''''''''
Title
Summary
Jan 2013
technology
The Future in 50, 100, and 150 Years
We asked leading scientists and science writers to look

forward to what the world will be like in the years 2063, 2113
and 2163 and tell us what role science and technology will
play in our future.
space
Starship Humanity
How future generations will make the voyage from our

earthly home to the planets and beyondand what it means
for our species
quantum physics
Strange and Stringy
Newly discovered states of matter embody what Einstein

called spooky action at a distance. They defy explanation,
but lately answers have come from a seemingly unrelated
corner of physics: string theory
medical engineering
Bionic Connections
A new way to link artificial arms and hands to the nervous

system could allow the brain to control prostheses as
smoothly as if they were natural limbs
life science
Small Wonders
Light microscopy reveals hidden marvels of the natural world
climate
The Coming Megafloods
Huge flows of vapor in the atmosphere, dubbed "atmospheric

rivers," have unleashed massive floods every 200 years, and
climate change could bring more of them
neuroscience
A Confederacy of Senses
Our many different senses collaborate even more than

previously realized. What we hear depends a lot on what we
see and feel
Dec 2012
innovation
World Changing Ideas
10 innovations that are radical enough to alter our lives
physics
The Unquantum Quantum
Quantum theorists often speak of the world as being

pointillist at the smallest scales. Yet a closer look at the laws
of nature suggests that the physical world is actually
continuousmore analog than digital
climate change
The Winters of Our Discontent
Loss of Arctic sea ice is stacking the deck in favor of harsh

winter weather in the U.S. and Europe
medical ethics
Is Drug Research Trustworthy?
The pharmaceutical industry funnels money to prominent

scientists who are doing research that affects its
productsand nobody can stop it
20/07/2015 03:22
2 of 147
space
Four Starry Nights
In the driest place on Earth, one astronomer sifts through

starlight to find clues about the Milky Way's evolution. Here
is her account of a typical trip, based on four days in March
2011
art conservation
The Case of the Disappearing
Daguerreotypes
As priceless images from the earliest days of photography

were dissolving in front of museumgoers' eyes, an unlikely
team set out to save them
neuroscience
Mind Theorist
Knowledge of how the brain intuits what someone else is

thinking helps Rebecca Saxe devise possible solutions to
seemingly intractable political and social conflict
Nov 2012
particle physics
The Inner Life of Quarks
What if the smallest bits of matter actually harbor an

undiscovered world of particles?
neuroscience
Grow Your Own Eye
Biologists have coaxed cells to form a retina, a step toward

growing replacement organs outside the body
Loss of ice, melting of permafrost and other climate effects

environment
Global Warming: Faster Than Expected? are occurring at an alarming pace
paleontology
The Strangest Bird
Recent fossil discoveries reveal the surprising evolutionary

history of penguins
science and society

America's Science Problem
The United States faced down authoritarian governments on

the left and right. Now it may be facing an even greater
challenge from within
biology
Autism and the Technical Mind
Children of scientists and engineers may inherit genes that

not only confer intellectual talents but also predispose them
to autism
quantum physics
A New Enlightenment
Quantum theory once seemed like the last nail in the coffin of
pure reason. Now it's looking like its savior
Oct 2012
science
State of The World's Science
A Measure of the Creativity of a Nation is how Well it Works

with those Beyond its Borders
neuroscience
The Language of the Brain
The brain makes sense of our experiences by focusing closely

on the timing of the impulses that flow through billions of
nerve cells
environment
Ecosystems on the Brink
To keep jellyfish, fungi and other creatures from overtaking

healthy habitats, scientists are exploring food webs and
tipping points
physics
The Higgs at Last
After a three-decade search, scientists appear to have found

the elusive particle. Its peculiar properties suggest a new era
in physics could be about to dawn
energy
Kinetic Kite
An airborne wind turbine turns sea breezes into electricity
psychology
The Wisdom of the Psychopaths
We can learn a lot from psychopaths. Certain aspects of their

personalities and intellect are often hallmarks of success
20/07/2015 03:22
3 of 147
biochemistry
Journey to the Genetic Interior
What was once known as junk DNA turns out to hold hidden
treasures, says computational biologist Ewan Birney
Sep 2012
Beyond Limits
How will we transcend today's barriers to get smarter, live

longer, and expand the power of human innovation
evolution
Super Humanity
Our drive to exceed our evolutionary limits sets us apart from

other beasts
intelligence
Can We Keep Getting Smarter?
Ever rising IQ scores suggest that future generations will

make us seem like dimwits in comparison
consciousness
The Case of the Sleeping Slayer
In the neurological netherworld between sleep and

wakefulness, the mind's delirium can turn tragically real
aging
How We All Will Live to Be 100
Two approaches to longevity research aim to extend the

average life span out to a century or more
neuroengineering
Mind in Motion
The idea that paralyzed people might one day control their
limbs just by thinking is no longer a Hollywood-style fantasy
technology
The Edge of Ambition
10 projects that push the boundaries of the engineered world
complexity
Machines of the Infinite
Whether or not machines can quickly answer yes-or-no

questions could affect everything from national security to
the limits of human knowledge
basic science
Questions for the Next Million Years
What would scientists learn if they could run studies that

lasted for hundreds or thousands of yearsor more?
ecology
The Great Climate Experiment
How far can we push the planet?
physics
Beyond the Quantum Horizon
Once viewed as imposing absolute limits on knowledge and

technology, quantum theory is now expanding the power of
computers and the vistas of the mind
Aug 2012
astrophysics
The Benevolence of Black Holes
The matter-eating beast at the center of the Milky Way may

actually account for Earth's existence and habitability
neuroscience
The Joyful Mind
A new understanding of how the brain generates pleasure

could lead to better treatment of addiction and
depressionand even to a new science of happiness
evolutionary biology
New Life for Ancient DNA
Biotechnology reveals how the woolly mammoth survived the

cold and other mysteries of extinct creatures
climate
Lakes on Ice
Scientists are tracking how water atop Greenland's ice sheet

pools and drains. The findings could help predict future rises
in sea level
atomosphere science
Deadly Rays from Clouds
Thunderstorms give out powerful blasts of gamma rays and

x-rays, shooting beams of particlesand even
antimatterinto space. The atmosphere is a stranger place
than we ever imagined
20/07/2015 03:22
4 of 147
education
Building a Better Science Teacher
Experience and degrees don't matter in the classroom nearly

so much as mastery of science and math and some plain old
smarts
health
Quiet Little Traitors
Cells that permanently stop dividing have long been

recognized as one of the body's defenses against cancer. Now
they are also seen as a sometime culprit in cancer and a cause
of aging
biodiversity
Which Species will Live?
Like battlefield medics, conservationists are being forced to

explicitly apply triage to determine which creatures to save
and which to let go
bacteriology
Phage Factor
Long ignored by mainstream researchers, the viruses that

infect bacteria have a role to play in modern medicine,
Vincent Fischetti says
Jul 2012
evolution
Why We Help
Far from being a nagging exception to the rule of evolution,

cooperation has been one of its primary architects
space
Reading the Red Planet
At 10:31 p.m. Pacific time on August 5, NASA'S Curiosity

rover will begin the first direct search for habitable
environments on Mars
health
Secrets of the HIV Controllers
A rare group of HIV-positive individuals need no medicine to

keep the virus in check. Their good fortune could point the
way to more powerful treatments--and perhaps a vaccine
engineering
Fleet Foot
Nimble robots like this Cheetah will help the military navigate
terrain too rocky for wheels
polar science
Witness to an Antarctic Meltdown
As glaciers collapse toward the sea, scientists struggle to

figure out how fast the southern continent is melting and what
that means for sea-level rise
physics
Nobel Pursuits
The tools of science have changed since the golden age of

physics, but many of the same questions remain
animal behavior
The Rat that Laughed
Do animals other than humans have a sense of humor?

Maybe so
artificial intelligence
Machines that Think for Themselves
New techniques for teaching computers how to learn are

beating the experts
Jun 2012
medicine
The Ultimate Social Network
Researchers who study the friendly bacteria that live inside

all of us are starting to sort out who is in chargemicrobes or
people?
astrophysics
Super Supernovae
The largest stars die in explosions more powerful than anyone

thought possiblesome triggered in part by the production of
antimatter
neuroscience
The Human Brain Project
Building a vast digital simulation of the brain could transform

neuroscience and medicine and reveal new ways of making
more powerful computers
20/07/2015 03:22
5 of 147
technology
Fusion's Missing Pieces
On the road to unlimited energy, the world's most complex

science experiment encounters a few potholes
ecology
Busy Bee
Orchid pollinators are surprisingly promiscuous about the

plants they like
infectious disease
Waiting to Explode
By concocting bird flu viruses that could potentially spread

easily among humans, researchers have ignited a debate
about the need for safety versus open inquiry
history of science
The Right Way to Get It Wrong
Most errors are quickly forgotten. Others end up remaking

the face of science
sociobiology
Life is a Shell Game
Like people, hermit crabs and other animals trade up by

treasuring what others leave behind
virology
Resistance Fighter
Thumbi Ndung'u has moved from Africa to Massachusetts

and back in a quest to halt the AIDS epidemic
May 2012
quantum physics
Loops, Trees and the Search for New
Physics
Maybe unifying the forces of nature isn't quite as hard as

physicists thought it would be
future health
Tomorrow's Medicine
A look at some of the most promising medical devices now in

development
evolution
Triumph of the Titans
The long-necked dinosaurs known as sauropods, once seen as

icons of extinction, thrived for millions of years all around the
world
neuroscience
Erasing Painful Memories
The caustic imprint of a traumatic memory may fade or

vanish with new drug and behavioral therapies
botany
What a Plant Smells
Botanists are getting a whiff of the ways that plants smell one
another. Some plants recognize injured neighbors by scent;
others sniff out a meal
forensic medicine
Telltale Hearts
Despite advances in medical imaging, an autopsy still gives

experts the best picture of what ails us
meteorology
A Better Eye On the Storm
New technology that increases the warning time for

tornadoes and hurricanes could potentially save hundreds of
lives every year
photonics
Nature's Color Tricks
Understanding seven clever tactics animals use to create

dazzling hues may lead to sophisticated new technologies
innovation
Professional Seer
The world's largest computer chipmaker employs a corporate

futurist, Brian David Johnson, to guess what gadgetry and
computing will look like in 2020 and beyond
Apr 2012
human evolution
First of Our Kind
Sensational fossils from South Africa spark debate over how

we came to be human
physics
Quantum Gravity in Flatland
Imagine space were 2-D rather than 3-D. How would the
force of gravity work? The surprising answers are guiding
physicists to a unified theory of nature
20/07/2015 03:22
6 of 147
neuroscience
This Is Your Brain in Meltdown
Neural circuits responsible for conscious self-control are

highly vulnerable to even mild stress. When they shut down,
primal impulses go unchecked and mental paralysis sets in
space science
Bound for the Moon
The next rover to roam the moon's surface may come not
from NASA and its rocket scientists but from college students
and private companies working on a shoestring
medicine
Polio's Last Act
As the number of cases of the paralytic disease fall, world

health officials have to grapple with a vexing problem: a
component of the most widely used polio vaccine now causes
more disease than the virus it is supposed to fight
medicine
Birth of a Cold War Vaccine
While the superpowers were busy threatening to destroy each

other with nuclear weapons, Albert B. Sabin turned to a
surprising ally to test his new oral polio vaccinea Soviet
scientist
paleontology
Time Traveler
Artist Charles R. Knight drew on his vast experience

depicting living animals to bring prehistoric creatures to
lifea practice that made him keenly aware of the finality of
extinction
physiology
The Limits of Breath Holding
It's logical to think that the brain's need for oxygen is what
limits how long people can hold their breath. Logical, but not
the whole story
Mar 2012
neuroscience
What Makes Each Brain Unique
How can identical twins grow up with different personalities?

"Jumping genes" move around in neurons and alter the way
they work
astrophysics
The Far, Far Future of Stars
Some say its glory days are long gone, but the universe has
life in it yet. Brand-new types of celestial phenomena will
unfold over the coming billions and trillions of years
paleontology
Dinosaurs of the Lost Continent
The American West once harbored multiple communities of

dinosaurs simultaneouslya revelation that has scientists
scrambling to understand how the land could have supported
so many behemoths
energy
Gather the Wind
If renewable energy is going to take off, we need good ways

of storing it for the times when the sun isn't shining and the
wind isn't blowing
medicine
Blocking HIV's Attack
Scientists have rid one man of HIV by preventing the virus

from entering certain immune cells. But the treatment was
dangerous and likely unrepeatable. Can they figure out a
safer, more broadly achievable way to help millions more?
info tech
The Shadow Web
Governments and corporations have more control over the

Internet than ever. Now digital activists want to build an
alternative network that can never be blocked, filtered or shut
down
biotechnology
Lifting the Black Cloud
Existing antidepressants leave a lot to be desired. They can

take weeks to start working, and they fail many people.
Researchers are scouting for better options
20/07/2015 03:22
7 of 147
climate
Hit Them with the Hockey Stick
Michael E. Mann set out looking for a big scientific problem

and wound up at the center of a political storm over climate
change. Now he tells his side of the story
Feb 2012
physics
Is Space Digital?
An experiment going up outside of Chicago will attempt to

measure the intimate connections among information, matter
and spacetime. If it works, it could rewrite the rules for
21st-century physics
medicine
The Great Prostate Cancer Debate
Evidence shows that screening does more harm than good.

Now what?
environment
Swept From Africa to the Amazon
What the journey of a handful of dust tells us about our

fragile planet
public health
Sleeping With the Enemy
Bed bugs are back. Can science stop them?
citizen science
All Hands on Deck
Volunteers are combing through the logbooks of World War

I-era ships to help researchers fill holes in the earth's climate
record
sustainable agriculture
The Future of Chocolate
Researchers are racing to fortify the embattled cacao tree and

to meet increasing demand for cocoa made from its seeds
brain science
The Collision Syndrome
Football players diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease may

suffer from the effect of repeated blows to the head,
controversial new research says
anatomy
Fetal Armor
The placenta does more than nourish offspring in the

wombit actively shapes brain development
bioengineering
The Brittle Star's Apprentice
Chemist Joanna Aizenberg mines the deep sea and the forest
wetlands for nature's design secrets and uses them to fashion
new materials that may change the world
Jan 2012
biology
A New Path to Longevity
Researchers have uncovered an ancient mechanism that

retards aging. Drugs that tweaked it could well postpone
cancer, diabetes and other diseases of old age
cosmology
Goldilocks Black Holes
Tipping the scales at less than about a million suns in mass,

middleweight black holes may hold clues to how their much
larger siblings, and galaxies, first formed
animal behavior
The Compass Within
Animals' magnetic sense is real. Scientists are zeroing in on

how it works
immunology
The Patient Scientist
When Ralph M. Steinman developed pancreatic cancer, he

put his own theories about cancer and the immune system to
the test. They kept him alive longer than expected--but three
days short of learning he had won the Nobel Prize
health
Five Hidden Dangers of Obesity
Excess weight can harm health in ways that may come as a

surprise
20/07/2015 03:22
8 of 147
technology
The Department of Pre-Crime
In cities across the U.S. data-rich computer technology is

telling cops where crimes are about to happen. Crime is
down, and the technology is spreading. But does it really
work?
physics
The Science of the Glory
One of the most beautiful phenomena in meteorology has a

surprisingly subtle explanation. Its study also helps to predict
the role that clouds will play in climate change
sustainability
More Food, Less Energy
Changes in agriculture, policy and personal behaviors can

reduce the energy a nation uses to feed itself and the
greenhouse gases it emits
environment
Dust Up
Biologist Jayne Belnap warns of the consequences for the

American West if we don't preserve a home for the minute
organisms that live in desert topsoil
Dec 2011
technology
10 new technologies that will make a difference
technology
The Machine That Would Predict the
Future
If you dropped all the world's data into a black box, could it
become a crystal ball that would let you see the futureeven
test what would happen if you chose A over B? One
researcher thinks so, and he could soon get a billion euros to
build it
space exploration
This Way to Mars
By adapting ideas from robotic planetary exploration, the

human space program could get astronauts to asteroids and
Mars cheaply and quickly
biology
Dazzling Miniatures
Small worlds writ large under the microscope
climate change
After the Deluge
A spate of floods, droughts and heat waves is prompting city

and state leaders to take bold steps to protect their people and
property
neuroscience
Hidden Switches in the Mind
Experience may contribute to mental illness in a surprising

way: by causing "epigenetic" changesones that turn genes
on or off without altering the genes themselves
animal behavior
Ants & the Art of War
Battles among ants can be startlingly similar to human

military operations
forensics
Arm in the Ice
New fingerprint- and DNA-identification techniques solve a

mystery from a 60-year-old plane crash
education
Speaking Out on the "Quiet Crisis"
Strengthening science education is the key to securing our

energy future, says Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's
president
Nov 2011
archaeology
The 1st Americans
Humans colonized the New World earlier than previously

thoughta revelation that is forcing scientists to rethink
long-standing ideas about these trailblazers
20/07/2015 03:22
9 of 147
planetary science
Digging Mars
The Mars Phoenix mission revived hopes that the Red Planet
may be habitable, preparing the way for a new rover to be
launched this month
planetary science
The Smallest Astronauts
Did space rocks seed Earth with life? To test that idea, a
Russian probe is about to see whether microbes can survive a
round-trip to Mars
experimental philosophy
Thought Experiments
Some philosophers today are doing more than thinking

deeply. They are also conducting scientific experiments
relating to the nature of free will and of good and evil
sustainability
Can We Feed the World & Sustain the
Planet?
A five-step global plan could double food production by 2050

while greatly reducing environmental damage
geology
Sleeping Giant
The volcano beneath this calm-looking lake has grown

restive, inspiring a rare collaboration between Chinese and
Korean scientists
biotechnology
The Wipeout Gene
A new breed of genetically modified mosquitoes carries a

gene that cripples its own offspring. They could crush native
mosquito populations and block the spread of disease. And
they are already in the airthough that's been a secret
computing
A Formula for Economic Calamity
Despite the lessons of the 2008 collapse, Wall Street is betting

our future on flimsy science
energy
The Truth About Fracking
Fracturing a deep shale layer one time to release natural gas

might pose little risk to drinking-water supplies, but doing so
repeatedly could be problematic
diagnostics
The Medical Sleuth
As a disease detective at the NIH, William A. Gahl unravels

the cause of illnesses that have stumped other doctors
Oct 2011
astrophysics
The Dark Side of The Milky Way
Dark matter is not just a puzzle. It is a solution
chemistry
Atom Power
2011 is the International Year of Chemistrya well-deserved

celebration of that science's profound power
chemistry
10 Unsolved Mysteries
Many of the most profound scientific questionsand some of

humanity's most urgent problemspertain to the science of
atoms and molecules
chemistry
The Scent of Your Thoughts
Although we are usually unaware of it, we communicate

through chemical signals just as much as birds and bees do
geology
Afghanistan's Buried Riches
Geologists say newfound deposits in the embattled country

could fulfill the world's desire for rare-earth and critical
minerals and end opium's local stranglehold in the process
medicine
A New Ally against Cancer
The FDA recently okayed the first therapeutic cancer

vaccine, and other drugs that enlist the immune system
against tumors are under study
forensics
How Skulls Speak
New 3-D software is helping scientists identify the sex and

ancestral origins of human remains with greater speed and
20/07/2015 03:22
10 of 147
precision
physics
Waiting for the Higgs
Even as the last protons spin through the most successful

particle accelerator in history, physicists hope to conjure one
final triumph
paleontology
The Dinosaur Baron of Transylvania
A maverick aristocrat's ideas about dinosaur evolution turn

out to have been decades ahead of their time
biology
Actuary of the Cell
Building on her Nobel Prize-winning research on cell

function, Elizabeth H. Blackburn is trying to find a simple
measure of a person's health risks
Sep 2011
Street-Savvy
Meeting the biggest challenges starts with the city
The Social Nexus
The best way to harness a city's potential for creativity and

innovation is to jack people into the network and get out of
the way
Engines of Innovation
Most of humanity now lives in a metropolis. That simple fact

helps to fuel our continued success as a species
Global Bazaar
Shantytowns, favelas and jhopadpattis turn out to be places

of surprising innovation
Brains Over Buildings
To rejuvenate urban centers, look to teachers and

entrepreneurs
How Green Is My City
Retrofitting is the best way to clean up urban living
All Climate Is Local
Mayors are often better equipped than presidents to cut

greenhouse gases
The Efficient City
Municipalities worldwide are exploiting a host of creative

solutions to reduce energy consumption, water use, waste and
emissions, while also making it easier for people to get around
Castles in the Air
The attacks of 9/11 supposedly ended the age of the

skyscraper. A decade on we're building more than ever
Street Talk
What innovation -- technological or otherwise -- would make

any city a substantially more livable place? We put this
question to urban leaders and our own readers. Here's what
they said
Life in the Meta City
We walk a line between the anarchy of choice and Disneyfication, says the author of Neuromancer
Aug 2011
cosmology
Does the Multiverse Really Exist?
Proof of parallel universes radically different from our own

may still lie beyond the domain of science
human origins
The Evolution of Grandparents
Senior citizens may have been the secret of our species'

success
neuroscience
How To Build a Better Learner
Brain studies suggest new ways to improve reading, writing

and arithmeticand even social skills
20/07/2015 03:22
11 of 147
energy
The False Promise of Biofuels
The breakthroughs needed to replace oil with plant-based

fuels are proving difficult to achieve
life science
Treasure in the Trees
Nests offer clues about natural history, climate change and

their owners' mating habits
medicine
A Breath of Fresh Air
Fundamental understanding of basic biology has set the stage

for new treatments for cystic fibrosis
sociology
How New York Beat Crime
With its judicious use of cops and innovative methods, the

Big Apple is a model for how to stem homicides, muggings
and other ills
philosophy of science
Why Math Works
Is math invented or discovered? A leading astrophysicist

suggests that the answer to the millennia-old question is both
archaeology
Zahi Hawass, Egypt's Indiana Jones and
One-Time Mubarak Ally, Tries to Cozy
Up to Pro-Democracy Activists
Egypt had a revolution, but Zahi Hawass, the larger-than-life

minister of antiquities, is still calling his own shots and
making no apologies
Jul 2011
neuroscience
The Limits of Intelligence
The laws of physics may well prevent the human brain from
evolving into an ever more powerful thinking machine
astrophysics
The Periodic Table of the Cosmos
A simple diagram, which celebrates its centennial this year,

continues to serve as the most essential conceptual tool in
stellar astrophysics
health care
The Best Medicine
A quiet revolution in comparative effectiveness research just

might save us from soaring medical costs
climate change
The Last Great Global Warming
Surprising new evidence suggests the pace of the earth's most

abrupt prehistoric warm-up paled in comparison to what we
face today. The episode has lessons for our future
engineering
Underground Railroad
A peek inside New York City's subway line of the future
biology
Evolution of the Eye
Scientists now have a clear vision of how our notoriously

complex eye came to be
cybersecurity
Hacking the Lights Out
Computer viruses have taken out hardened industrial control

systems. The electrical power grid may be next
disease control
Scent of a Human
Decoding how a mosquito sniffs out human targets could lead

to better traps and repellents that cut malaria's spread
cosmology
Bad Boy of Physics
Leonard Susskind rebelled as a teen and never stopped.

Today he insists that reality may forever be beyond reach of
our understanding
Jun 2011
physics
Living In A Quantum World
Quantum mechanics is not just about teeny particles. It

applies to things of all sizes: birds, plants, maybe even people
neuroscience
A Test for Consciousness
How will we know when we've built a sentient computer? By

making it solve a simple puzzle
20/07/2015 03:22
12 of 147
nuclear energy
Planning for the Black Swan
The surprising accident at Fukushima puts the spotlight on a

new generation of U.S. nuclear reactors. Are they safe
enough?
biology
A Nobel Celebration
As Nobel Prize winners gather this month to share their

wisdom with younger researchers, Scientific American recalls
some of the articles that Nobel laureates have published in
our pages
technology
Inside the Meat Lab
A handful of scientists aim to satisfy the world's growing

appetite for steak without wrecking the planet. The first step:
grab a petri dish
microbiology
The Smartest Bacteria on Earth
One species of soil microbe makes unusually wise communal

decisions
health
The Devil's Cancer
A contagious tumor threatens to wipe out the famous

Tasmanian devil. Could similarly "catching" cancers arise in
humans, too?
history of science
Greater Glory
In the race to the South Pole, explorer Robert F. Scott refused

to sacrifice his ambitious science agenda
global warming
"I Stick to Science"
Why Richard A. Muller wouldn't tell House climate skeptics

what they wanted to hear
May 2011
sustainability
7 Radical Energy Solutions
The failure rate may be 90 percent, but if any of these exotic

technologies succeeds it could significantly improve energy
security and efficiency
cosmology
The Lost Galaxies
By the latest estimate, the observable universe contains 200

billion galaxies. Astronomers wonder: Why so few?
neuroscience
The Hidden Organ In Our Eyes
Our bodies adjust to the cycle of day and night thanks to

specialized neurons in our eyes. Ongoing study of these cells
could lead to new treatments for winter depression and other
conditions
A forgotten number system invented in the 19th century may

mathematics
provide the simplest explanation for why our universe could
The Strangest Numbers in String Theory
have 10 dimensions
medicine
Fast Track to Vaccines
Analyzing all the layers of the immune system at once speeds

design and may one day deal a decisive blow against HIV
physics
The Space Station's Crown Jewel
A fancy cosmic-ray detector, the Alpha Magnetic

Spectrometer, is about to scan the cosmos for dark matter,
antimatter and more
agriculture
The Growing Menace from Superweeds
Pigweed, ragweed and other monsters have begun to

outsmart the advanced technologies that protect the biggest
U.S. cash crops
natural history
Masters of Disguise
Animal mimicry takes many formsincluding chemical and

acoustic varietiesand offers unique insights into evolution
creativity
Inner Sparks
Hearing specialist and sax player Charles J. Limb says that

studying the brain during flights of improvisation may provide
20/07/2015 03:22
13 of 147
new understanding of creativityas well as insight into the

musical genius of John Coltrane
Apr 2011
cosmology
The Inflation Debate
Is the theory at the heart of modern cosmology deeply

flawed?
medicine
The Enemy Within
A new pattern of antibiotic resistance that is spreading

around the globe may soon leave us defenseless against a
frighteningly wide range of dangerous bacterial infections
imaging
Neuroscience in the Courtroom
Brain scans and other types of neurological evidence are

rarely a factor in trials today. Someday, however, they could
transform judicial views of personal credibility and
responsibility
environment
Can the Dead Sea Live?
Irrigation and mining are sucking the salt lake dry, but
together Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority could
save the sacred sea
artificial intelligence
Solving the Cocktail Party Problem
Computers have great trouble deciphering voices that are

speaking simultaneously. That may soon change
cell biology
The Orderly Chaos of Proteins
To do their magic in the cell, proteins must fold into rigid

shapesor so standard wisdom says. But a more tangled
story is beginning to emerge
seismology
Seconds Before the Big One
Earthquake detection systems can sound the alarm in the

moments before a big tremor strikestime enough to save
lives
sustainability
Food Fight
Genetically modified crops, says agro-research czar Roger

Beachy, receive an unjustified shellacking from
environmentalists
animal behavior
Natural-Born Killer
Lethal from day one, the tentacled snake uses surprisingly sly
tactics to capture fish
Mar 2011
psychology
The Neuroscience of True Grit
When tragedy strikes, most of us ultimately rebound

surprisingly well. Where does such resilience come from?
space science
Journey to the Innermost Planet
Mercury has never been orbited by a spacecraft before. That

will change this month
medicine
Diseases in a Dish
A creative use of stem cells made from adult tissues may

hasten drug development for debilitating diseases
imaging
Signals in a Storm
A new computer imaging technique shows researchers how

brain cells communicateone molecule at a time
archaeology
Putting Stonehenge in Its Place
An increasingly accepted view holds that the great stone

circle may have been just part of a much larger ceremonial
landscape
physics
Demons and the Quest Entropy for
Absolute Zero
A 19th-century thought experiment has turned into a real

technique for reaching ultralow temperatures, paving the way
to new scientific discoveries as well as to useful applications
20/07/2015 03:22
14 of 147
climate change
A Shifting Band of Rain
By mapping equatorial rainfall since A.D. 800, scientists have

figured out how tropical weather may change through 2100
public health
Not Just an Illness of the Rich
Recent global health campaigns have focused on HIV,

tuberculosis and malaria. Tackling the growing threat from
cancer, says medical anthropologist Paul Farmer, could
improve health care more broadly
paleontology
Dinosaur Death Trap
On a trip to the Gobi Desert, a team of fossil hunters unearths

a death scene that reveals new clues about how dinosaurs
lived
Feb 2011
health
How to Fix the Obesity Crisis
Although science has revealed a lot about metabolic

processes that influence our weight, the key to success may
lie elsewhere
space
Citizen Satellites
Tiny, standardized spacecraft are making orbital experiments

affordable to even the smallest research groups
sustainability
The Blue Food Revolution
New fish farms out at sea, and cleaner operations along the
shore, could provide the world with a rich supply of much
needed protein
cognitive psychology
How Language Shapes Thought
The languages we speak affect our perceptions of the world
biology
The Inner Life of the Genome
The way our genes are arrayed and move in the 3-D space of
the cell nucleus turns out to profoundly influence how they
function, in both health and disease
ecology
A Friend to Aliens
Buckthorn, garlic mustard and many other invasive species

do not pose as big a threat as some scientists think, says
ecologist Mark Davis
astrophysics
X-Ray Vision
Thanks to amazing nested mirrors, NASA's NuSTAR

telescope is set to reveal hidden phenomena in the cosmos
neuroprosthetics
Mind Out of Body
In an exclusive excerpt from his new book, a pioneering

neuroscientist argues that brain-wave control of machines will
allow the paralyzed to walk and portends a future of mind
melds and thought downloads
history of science
Jefferson's Moose
Thomas Jefferson waged a second revolution, fighting the

image created by European naturalists of a degenerate
America
Jan 2011
evolution
Dawn of the Deed
Fish fossils push back the origin of copulation in backboned

animals and suggest that it was a key turning point in our
evolution
space
Contact The Day After
If we are ever going to pick up a signal from E.T., it is going

to happen soon, astronomers say. And we already have a
good idea how events will play out
infectious disease
Flu Factories
The next pandemic virus may be circulating on U.S. pig

farms, but health officials are struggling to see past the front
20/07/2015 03:22
15 of 147
gate
energy
In Search of the Radical Solution
The greatest energy payoffs, says investor Vinod Khosla, will

come from fundamentally reinventing mainstream
technologies
ecology
Seeds of the Amazon
Botanists have collected seeds from one of the most

biologically diverse places on earth
neuroscience
100 Trillion Connections
The noise of billions of brain cells trying to communicate with

one another may hold a crucial clue to understanding
consciousness
environment
Casualties of Climate Change
Shifts in rainfall patterns and shorelines will contribute to

mass migrations on a scale never before seen
computer science
Rise of the Robo Scientists
Machines can devise a hypothesis, carry out experiments to

test it and assess resultswithout human intervention
public health
Radioactive Smoke
The tobacco industry has known for decades how to remove

a dangerous isotope from cigarettes but has done nothing
about it. The government now has the power to force a
change
Dec 2010
innovation
Ten thoughts, trends and technologies that have the power to

transform our lives
physics
A Geometric Theory of Everything
Deep down, the particles and forces of the universe are a

manifestation of exquisite geometry
paleontology
Blood from Stone
Mounting evidence from dinosaur bones shows that, contrary

to common belief, organic materials can sometimes survive in
fossils for millions of years
biology
Life Unseen
Microscopic landscapes show a surprising diversity of forms
health
Hallucinogens as Medicine
In a matter of hours, mind-altering substances may induce

profound psychological realignments that can take decades to
achieve on a therapist's couch
info science
Long Live the Web
The Web is critical not merely to the digital revolution but to

our continued prosperityand even our liberty. Like
democracy itself, it needs defending
life science
Jane of the Jungle
Primatologist Jane Goodall shares insights from her 50 years

among chimpanzees
space exploration
Jump-Starting the Orbital Economy
Why NASA's plan to get out of the manned spaceflight

business may (finally) make space travel routine
robotics
Cyborg Beetles
Tiny flying robots that are part machine and part insect may
one day save lives in wars and disasters
Nov 2010
cosmology
Dark Worlds
A shadow cosmos, woven silently into our own, may have its
own rich inner life
20/07/2015 03:22
16 of 147
neuroscience
Controlling the Brain with Light
With a technique called optogenetics, researchers can probe

how the nervous system works in unprecedented detail. Their
findings could lead to better treatments for psychiatric
problems
engineering
How to Build the Supergrid
The U.S. needs a new electric transmission system to deliver

cleaner, more reliable power nationwide. Four steps could
clear hurdles
ecology
Phosphorus Lake
Strip-mining Florida to fertilize the nation
physics
Dr. Unification
For years the cosmos and the atom have been at odds with
one another. If any physicist can reconcile them, it's Steven
Weinberg
A new malaria vaccine, a plan to immunize mosquitoes and

medicine
other "crazy" ideas have brightened prospects for
Halting the World's Most Lethal Parasite
vanquishing this killer
technology
From Silk Cocoon to Medical Miracle
Scientists are crafting arteries, ligaments, circuitry and

holograms from worm yarn
environment
Climate Heretic
Why can't we have a civil conversation about climate?
Oct 2010
evolution
How We Are Evolving
New analyses suggest that recent human evolution has

followed a different course than biologists would have
expected
astronomy
Origami Observatory
NASA is building an innovative and risky space telescope

that promises to surpass the hugely successful Hubble. Here's
an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the most audacious
space project in decades
poll
In Science We Trust
Our Web survey of readers suggests that the scientifically

literate public still trusts its expertswith some important
caveats
medicine
Revolution Postponed
The Human Genome Project has failed so far to produce the

medical miracles that scientists promised. Biologists are now
divided over what, if anything, went wrongand what needs
to happen next
physics
The (Elusive) Theory of Everything
Physicists have long sought to find one final theory that

would unify all of physics. Instead they may have to settle for
several
robotics
Robot Be Good
Autonomous machines will soon play a big role in our lives.

It's time they learned how to behave ethically
biology
Sensational Sucker
The octopus sucker can feel, taste, grip, manipulateand act

of its own accord
mind
Desperate for an Autism Cure
Diagnoses have soared, but valid treatments are few. Parents

have turned instead to dubious, and often risky, alternative
therapies
20/07/2015 03:22
17 of 147
energy
Reinventing the Leaf
The ultimate fuel may come not from corn or algae but
directly from the sun itself
info science
Digitizer in Chief
The first step toward transparent government, says White

House information czar Vivek Kundra, is to make all its
information freely available on the Web
Sep 2010
Eternal Fascinations with the End
Why we're suckers for stories of our own demise
medicine
Why Can't We Live Forever
As we grow old, our own cells begin to betray us. By

unraveling the mysteries of aging, scientists may be able to
make our lives longer and healthier
bioethics
When Does Life Belong to the Living?
With thousands of people on the waiting lists for organs,

doctors are bending the rules about when to declare that a
donor is dead. Is it ethical to take one life and give it to
another?
forensics
Dust to Dust
The brief, eventful afterlife of a human corpse
anthropology
Last of Their Kind
The world's cultures have been disappearing, taking valuable

knowledge with them, but there is reason to hope
technology
Good Riddance
A highly selective list of human creations the world would be

better off without
environment
How Much is Left?
A graphical accounting of the limits to what one planet can

provide
risk analysis
Laying Odds on the Apocalypse
Could modern civilization really come to an end? Experts

take stock of eight doomsday scenarios
cosmology
Could Time End?
Yes. And no. For time to end seems both impossible and
inevitable. Recent work in physics suggests a resolution to the
paradox
trends
What Comes Next
The flip side to every ending is a new beginning. We asked

the visionary scientists on our advisory board what new
trends will shape the decades to come
Aug 2010
space
Planets We Could Call Home
The night skies are littered with distant planets, but what are
they really like? Theoretical models suggest that a surprising
number of "exoplanets" could be similar to Earthand may
even support life
special
Origins
Sometimes we forget where a story really starts. Are electric

cars new? Were did malaria start? Who invented spaghetti?
Read on, for the surprising origins of many strange and
familiar things.
anthropology
When the Sea Saved Humanity
Shortly after Homo sapiens arose, harsh climate conditions

nearly extinguished our species. Recent finds suggest that the
small population that gave rise to all humans alive today
survived by exploiting a unique combination of resources
along the southern coast of Africa
20/07/2015 03:22
18 of 147
medicine
Robot Pills
A voyage through the human body is no longer mere fantasy.

Tiny devices may soon perform surgery, administer drugs and
help diagnose disease
environment
Threatening Ocean Life from the Inside
Out
Carbon dioxide emissions are making the oceans more acidic,

imperiling the growth and reproduction of species from
plankton to squid
imaging
Filming the Invisible in 4D
Picture this: a movie revealing the inner workings of a cell or

showing a nanomachine in action. A new microscopy is
making such imaging possible
technology
The Hacker in Your Hardware
As if software viruses weren't bad enough, the microchips

that power every aspect of our digital world are vulnerable to
tampering in the factory. The consequences could be dire
environment
Plastic Surf
Small remnants of toys, bottles and packaging have an

unhealthful afterlife in the ocean
Jul 2010
cosmology
Is The Universe Leaking Energy?
Total energy must be conserved. Every student of physics

learns this fundamental law. The trouble is, it does not apply
to the universe as a whole
medicine
DNA Drugs Come of Age
After years of false starts, a new generation of DNA vaccines

and medicines for HIV, influenza and other stubborn illnesses
is now in clinical trials
transportation
The Dirty Truth About Plug-In Hybrids
How green is that electric car? Depends on where you plug it

in
robotics
War of the Machines
Robots on and above the battlefield are bringing about the

most profound transformation of warfare since the advent of
the atom bomb
energy
Clean Energy From Filthy Water
California cities are pumping their treated wastewater

underground to create electricity
evolution
Winged Victory
Modern birds, long thought to have arisen only after the

dinosaurs perished, turn out to have lived alongside them
psychology
How Babies Think
Even the youngest children know, experience and learn far

more than scientists ever thought possible
environment
The Drillers Are Coming
Companies and regulators are squaring off over a

controversial technique that yields natural gas but threatens
to pollute water supplies
Jun 2010
Several events, both natural and man-made, can happen
suddenly and at any time, completely transforming societies.
future
12 Events That Will Change Everything Many of these events will not unfold the way popular
conceptions have imagined they will.
medicine
Alzheimer's - Forestalling the Darkness
Interventions before symptoms appear could be key to

slowing or stopping the leading cause of dementia
20/07/2015 03:22
19 of 147
physics
Is Time An Illusion?
The concepts of time and change may emerge from a

universe that, at root, is utterly static
environment
Washing Carbon Out of the Air
Machines could absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere,

slowing or even reversing its rise and reducing global
warming
archaeology
Did Neandertals Think Like Us?
Joo Zilho defends his controversial view that our

oft-maligned relatives shared our cognitive abilities
earth science
The Earth's Missing Ingredient
The discovery of a novel high-density mineral means that the

earth's mantle is a more restless place than scientists
suspectedand offers new clues to the planet's history
security
Fake Botox, Real Threat
A booming market for a counterfeit beauty product could put

a deadly biological weapons agent in the wrong hands
May 2010
astrophysics
Through Neutrino Eyes
Neutrinos are no longer just a curiosity of physics but a

practical tool for astronomy
medicine
Your Inner Healers
Reprogramming cells from your own body could give them

the therapeutic power of embryonic stem cells, without the
political controversy
transportation
Revolutionary Rail
High-speed trains are coming to the U.S.
neuroscience
Uncanny Sight in the Blind
Some people who are blind because of brain damage have

"blindsight": an extraordinary ability to react to emotions on
faces and even navigate around obstacles without knowing
they can see anything
climate change
Arctic Plants Feel the Heat
Global warming is dramatically revamping not only the ice

but also tundra and forests at the top of the world, greening
some parts and browning others. The alterations could
exacerbate climate change
innovations
A Better Lens on Disease
Computerized pathology slides may help doctors make faster

and more accurate diagnoses
food science
Breeding Cassava to Feed the Poor
The world's third-largest source of calories has the potential

to become a more productive and more nutritious crop,
alleviating malnutrition in much of the developing world
Apr 2010
astronomy
8 Wonders of the Solar System
Artist Ron Miller takes us on a journey to eight of the most

breathtaking views that await intrepid explorers of our solar
system. The scale of these natural wonders dwarfs anything
Earth has to offer. What might we see and feel if we could
travel to these distant domains? The artist's eyeinterpreting
data from probes such as NASA's Cassini, which is now
exploring the Saturnian system, and MESSENGER, which
has flown by Mercury three times and goes into permanent
orbit next Marchallows us an early visit to these
unforgettable locales.
20/07/2015 03:22
20 of 147
neuroscience
Faulty Circuits
Neuroscience is revealing the malfunctioning connections

underlying psychological disorders and forcing psychiatrists
to rethink the causes of mental illness
sustainability
Boundaries for a Healthy Planet
Humankind has fundamentally altered the planet. But new

thinking and new actions can prevent us from destroying
ourselves. Scientists have set thresholds for key
environmental processes that, if crossed, could threaten
Earth's habitability
sustainability
Solutions to Environmental Threats
Ominously, three thresholds for key environmental processes

have already been exceeded. Experts tell Scientific American
which actions will keep key processes in bounds
sustainability
Breaking the Growth Habit
Society can safeguard its future only by switching from

reckless economic growth to smart maintenance of wealth
and resources
medicine
Regaining Balance with Bionic Ears
Electronic implants in the inner ear may one day restore clear
vision and equilibrium in some patients who experience
disabling unsteadiness
technology
The Rise of Instant Wireless Networks
Wireless networks that do not depend on a fixed

infrastructure will allow for ubiquitous connectivity
regardless of the situation
biology
The Hidden Life of Truffles
Not just for gourmands, truffles play essential roles in the

health of ecosystems
Mar 2010
planetary science
The Moon That Would Be A Planet
Titan, Saturn's largest natural satellite, scarcely deserves to be

a called a mere moon. It has an atmosphere thicker than
Earth's and a surface that is almost as varied
neuroscience
The Brain's Dark Energy
Brain regions active when our minds wander may hold a key
to understanding neurological disorders and even
consciousness itself
energy
Fusion's False Dawn
Scientists have long dreamed of harnessing nuclear

fusionthe power plant of the starsfor a safe, clean and
virtually unlimited energy supply. Even as a historic milestone
nears, skeptics question whether a working reactor will ever
be possible
geology
Evolution of Minerals
Looking at the mineral kingdom through the lens of deep time

leads to a startling conclusion: most mineral species owe their
existence to life
medicine
Toxic Gas, Lifesaver
Hydrogen sulfide, a lethal gas best known for smelling like

rotten eggs, turns out to play key roles in the bodya finding
that could lead to new treatments for heart attack victims and
others
animal behavior
Worm Charmers
As Charles Darwin had suspected, earthworms that flee from

ground vibrations do so to escape hungry moleseven
though sometimes it is humans chasing them
20/07/2015 03:22
21 of 147
environment
Climate Change: A Controlled
Experiment
Scientists have carefully manipulated grasslands and forests

to see how precipitation, carbon dioxide and temperature
changes affect the biosphere, allowing them to forecast the
future
Feb 2010
astronomy
Cloudy with a Chance of Stars
Making a star is no easy thing
evolution
The Naked Truth
Recent findings lay bare the origins of human

hairlessnessand hint that naked skin was a key factor in the
emergence of other human traits
transportation
Better Mileage Now
Emerging technologies could make the internal-combustion

engine substantially more fuel-efficient, even as green
vehicles make inroads
medicine
The Art of Bacterial Warfare
New research reveals how bacteria hijack our body's cells

and outwit our immune systemand how we can use their
own weapons against them
environment
Fixing the Global Nitrogen Problem
Humanity depends on nitrogen to fertilize croplands, but

growing global use is damaging the environment and
threatening human health. How can we chart a more
sustainable path?
perception
Seeing Forbidden Colors
People can be made to see reddish green and yellowish

bluecolors forbidden by theories of color perception. These
and other hallucinations provide a window into the
phenomenon of visual opponency
life science
The Prolific Afterlife of Whales
On the deep seafloor, the carcasses of the largest mammals

give life to unique ecosystems
Ask the Experts
Can people ever lose their fingerprints?
Jan 2010
cosmology
Looking for Life in the Multiverse
Universes with different physical laws might still be habitable
biology
The Rise and Fall of Nanobacteria
Once believed to be the smallest pathogens known,

nanobacteria have now proved to be something almost as
strange. They do play a role in healthjust not the one
originally thought
earth science
Violent Origins of Continents
Did asteroid strikes during the earth's youth spawn the

earliest fragments of today's landmasses?
info tech
Real Money from Virtual Worlds
Online fantasy games enable developing world entrepreneurs

to make a living by trading stashes of make-believe gold for
hard cash
environment
Local Nuclear War, Global Suffering
Worry has focused on the U.S. versus Russia, but a regional

nuclear war between India and Pakistan could blot out the
sun, starving much of the human race
computers
The Next 20 Years of Microchips
Designers are pushing all the boundaries to make integrated

circuits smaller, faster and cheaper
20/07/2015 03:22
22 of 147
medicine
A Plan to Defeat Neglected Tropical
Diseases
The poorest people are not only poor. They are also
chronically sick, making it harder for them to escape poverty.
A new global initiative may break the vicious cycle
Dec 2009
astronomy
Portrait of a Black Hole
By adapting a global network of telescopes, astronomers will

soon get their first look ever at the dark silhouette of a black
hole
innovation
20 ways to build a cleaner, healthier, smarter world
origin of life
Expanding the Limits of Life
Analyses of a recently discovered type of hot vent ecosystem

in the seafloor suggest new possibilities for how life evolved
environment
Methane: A Menace Surfaces
Arctic permafrost is already thawing, creating lakes that emit

methane. The heat-trapping gas could dramatically accelerate
global warming. How big is the threat? What can be done?
archaeology
Decoding an Ancient Computer
New explorations have revealed how the antikythera

mechanism modeled lunar motion and predicted eclipses,
among other sophisticated tricks
medicine
The Double Life of ATP
The molecule ATP, famous as an essential energy source

inside cells, also carries critical messages between cells. That
dual role is suggesting fresh ideas for fighting human diseases
microscopy
Illuminating the Lilliputian
A gallery of images captured by light microscopy reveals the

high art of the natural world
Ask the Experts
Why did NASA decide to launch space shuttles from

weather-beaten Florida?
Nov 2009
astronomy
The Long Lost Siblings of the Sun
The sun was born in a family of stars. What became of them?
neuroscience
New Culprits in Chronic Pain
Glia are nervous system caretakers whose nurturing can go

too far. Taming them holds promise for alleviating pain that
current medications cannot ease
energy
A Path to Sustainable Energy by 2030
Wind, water and solar technologies can provide 100 percent

of the world's energy, eliminating all fossil fuels. Here's how
human evolution
Rethinking the Hobbits of Indonesia
New analyses reveal the mini human species to be even

stranger than previously thought and hint that major tenets of
human evolution need revision
info tech
The Everything TV
Modern insights into the immune system have revived

interest in adding ingredients that can supercharge old
vaccines and make entirely new ones possible
sustainability
The Rise of Vertical Farms
Growing crops in city skyscrapers would use less water and

fossil fuel than outdoor farming, eliminate agricultural runoff
and provide fresh food
auto tech
The Future of Cars
Industry Leaders Look Way Down the Road
20/07/2015 03:22
23 of 147
Ask the Expert
How Does the Coast Guard Find People Lost at Sea?
Oct 2009
astrophysics
Black Stars, Not Holes
Quantum effects may prevent true black holes from forming

and give rise instead to dense entities called black stars
neuroscience
Turbocharging the Brain
Will a pill at breakfast improve concentration and

memoryand will it do so without long-term detriment to
your health?
energy
Squeezing More Oil from the Ground
Amid warnings of a possible "peak oil," advanced

technologies offer ways to extract every last possible drop
archaeology
Lost Cities of the Amazon
The Amazon tropical forest is not as wild as it looks
medicine
Boosting Vaccine Power
Modern insights into the immune system have revived

interest in adding ingredients that can supercharge old
vaccines and make entirely new ones possible
security
Privacy and the Quantum Internet
Courtesy of some of the weirdest laws of physics, we may

someday be able to search and surf the Web without anyone
collecting our data
industry
Biotech's Plans to Sustain Agriculture
Popular movements may call for more organic methods, but

the agricultural industry sees biotechnology as a crucial part
of farming's future
Ask the Experts
Why do whales beach themselves
Sep 2009
cosmology
Origin of the Universe
Cosmologists are closing in on the ultimate processes that

created and shaped the universe
neuroscience
Origin of the Mind
The first step in figuring out how the human mind arose is
determining what distinguishes our mental processes from
those of other creatures
biology
Origin of Life on Earth
Fresh clues hint at how the first living organisms arose from
inanimate matter
info tech
Origin of Computing
The information age began with the realization that machines

could emulate the power of minds
innovations, history
Origins - The Start of Everything
Where do rainbows come from? What about flying cars, love

and LSD?
Aug 2009
human evolution
Twilight of the Neandertals
Paleoanthropologists know more about Neandertals than any

other extinct human. But their demise remains a mystery, one
that gets curiouser and curiouser
physics
Adventures in Curved Spacetime
The possibility of "swimming" and "gliding" in curved, empty

space shows that, even after nine decades, Einstein's theory
of general relativity continues to amaze
energy policy
What Now for Nuclear Waste?
Yucca Mountain was supposed to be the answer to the U.S.'s

nuclear waste problem, but after 22 years and $9 billion, that
20/07/2015 03:22
24 of 147
vision is dead. Now some say that doing nothing in the near
term may be the smartest solution
medicine
Surprises from Celiac Disease
Study of a potentially fatal food-triggered disease has

uncovered a process that may contribute to many
autoimmune disorders
electronics
An Iron Key to High-Temperature
Superconductivity?
The discovery that compounds known as iron pnictides can

superconduct at 50 degrees above absolute zero has reignited
physicists' quest for better high-temperature superconductors
and may offer clues to unlocking a 20-year mystery
innovations, medicine
A New Kind of Drug Target
An emerging class of medicines works its magic by targeting

unusual sites on biological molecules
Ask the Experts
How does bathwater well below the boiling point give off
steam?
Jul 2009
space exploration
From the Moon to Mars
The only scientist and field geologist ever to visit the moon
offers some pointers to those who will one day visit Mars
medicine
New Ways to Squash Superbugs
Scientists are using new tools and tactics in the race to

discover novel antibiotics
biofuels
Grassoline at the Pump
Scientists are turning agricultural leftovers, wood and

fast-growing grasses into a huge variety of biofuelseven jet
fuel. But before these next-generation biofuels go
mainstream, they have to compete with oil at $60 a barrel
neuroscience
Origins of the Left & Right Brain
The division of labor by the two cerebral hemispheresonce

thought to be uniquely humanpredates us by half a billion
years. Speech, right-handedness, facial recognition and the
processing of spatial relations can be traced to brain
asymmetries in early vertebrates
conservation
The Ivory Trail
The illegal slaughter of African elephants for ivory is now

worse than it was at its peak in the 1980s. New forensic tools
based on DNA analysis can help stop the cartels behind this
bloody trade
economics
The Science of Bubbles & Busts
The worst economic crisis since the Great Depression has

prompted a reassessment of how financial markets work and
how people make decisions about money
Ask the Experts
Why haven't humans evolved eyes in the back of the head?;

Instead of sequestering carbon dioxide to reduce its effects on
global climate, why don't we split it into harmless carbon and
oxygen?
Jun 2009
astronomy
Improbable Planets
Astronomers are finding planets where there were not

supposed to be any
medicine
The Price of Silent Mutations
Small changes to DNA that were once considered innocuous

enough to be ignored are proving to be important in human
diseases, evolution and biotechnology
20/07/2015 03:22
25 of 147
sustainability
Phosphorus: A Looming Crisis
This underappreciated resourcea key part of fertilizersis

still decades from running out. But we must act now to
conserve it, or future agriculture will collapse
tech leaders
Scientific American 10
Certain researchers, politicians, business executives and

philanthropists have recently demonstrated outstanding
commitment to making sure that the benefits of new
technologies and knowledge will accrue to humanity
evolution
The Taming of the Cat
Genetic and archaeological findings hint that wildcats became

house cats earlier--and in a different place--than previously
thought
info tech
Data in the Fast Lanes of Racetrack
Memory
A device that slides magnetic bits back and forth along

nanowire "racetracks" could pack data in a three-dimensional
microchip and may replace nearly all forms of conventional
data storage
Ask the Experts
What causes albinism? Are there any treatments for it?; Why
do two things I like to eat sometimes taste so bad when eaten
together?
May 2009
planetary science
The Planetary Air Leak
As Earth's atmosphere slowly trickles away into space, will

our planet come to look like Venus?
evolution
What Makes Us Human?
Comparisons of the genomes of humans and chimpanzees are

revealing those rare stretches of DNA that are ours alone
environment
Could Food Shortages Bring Down
Civilization?
The biggest threat to global stability is the potential for food

crises in poor countries to cause government collapse. Those
crises are brought on by ever worsening environmental
degradation
security
How to Steal Secrets
Information thieves can now do an end run around

encryption, networks and the operating system
biotech
Progress in Tissue
Pioneers in building living tissue report important advances

over the past decade
nanotech
Powering Nanorobots
Catalytic engines enable tiny swimmers to harness fuel from

their environment and overcome the weird physics of the
microscopic world
Ask the Experts
How does food irradiation work? Is it safe? Indoor plants tend

to grow toward the light, so why do trees outdoors grow
straight instead of leaning toward the equator?
Apr 2009
life science
Saving the Honeybee
The mysterious ailment called colony collapse disorder has

wiped out large numbers of the bees that pollinate a third of
our crops. The causes turn out to be surprisingly complex, but
solutions are emerging
cosmology
Does Dark Energy Really Exist?
Maybe not. The observations that led astronomers to deduce

its existence could have another explanation: that our galaxy
lies at the center of a giant cosmic void
20/07/2015 03:22
26 of 147
evolution
The Evolution of Primate Color Vision
Analyses of primate visual pigments show that our color

vision evolved in an unusual way and that the brain is more
adaptable than generally thought
psychology
The Post-Traumatic Stress Trap
A growing number of experts insist that the concept of

post-traumatic stress disorder is itself disordered and that
soldiers are suffering as a result
materials science
The Dawn of the Miniature Green
Lasers
Semiconductors can generate laser light in all colors except

one. But new techniques for growing laser diodes could soon
make brilliant full-spectrum displays a reality
public health
Preventing the Next Pandemic
An international network for monitoring the flow of viruses

from animals to humans might help scientists head off global
epidemics
Ask the Experts
If galaxies are all moving apart at ever increasing speed, how

can they collide? If normal body temperature is about 98
degrees Fahrenheit, why do we feel hot at that air
temperature?
Mar 2009
physics
A Quantum Threat to Special Relativity
Entanglement, like many quantum effects, violates some of

our deepest intuitions about the world. It may also undermine
Einsteins special theory of relativity
nanotech
The World's Smallest Radio
A single carbon nanotube can function as a radio that detects

and plays songs
neuroscience
Saving New Brain Cells
Fresh neurons arise in the adult brain every day. New

research suggests that the cells ultimately help with learning
complex tasksand the more they are challenged, the more
they flourish
energy
The Power of Renewables
The need to tackle global climate change and energy security

makes developing alternatives to fossil fuels crucial.
medicine
New Tactics Against Tuberculosis
The pandemic is growing in many places, and strains resistant

to all existing drugs are emerging. To fight back, biologists are
applying a host of cutting-edge drug development strategies
security
Monitoring for Nuclear Explosions
Detecting a test of a nuclear weapon has become so effective

and reliable that no nation could expect to get away with
secretly exploding a device having military significance
Insights: Escape from the Killing Fields
As the world warms up, some species cannot move to cooler

climes in time to survive. Camille Parmesan thinks humans
should helpeven if it means creating invasive species
Ask the Experts
How do spacecraft orient themselves in the absence of

magnetic poles? Is there any truth to the system they use on
Star Trek?; How long will global uranium deposits fuel the
worlds nuclear reactors at present consumption rates?
Feb 2009
physics
Naked Singularities
The black hole has a troublesome sibling, the naked

singularity. Physicists have long thought--hoped--it could
never exist. But could it?
20/07/2015 03:22
27 of 147
medicine, nanotech
Nanomedicine Targets Cancer
Viewing each human body as a system of interacting

molecular networks and targeting disruptions in the system
with nanoscale technologies can transform how disease is
understood, attacked and possibly prevented
earth science
The Origin of the Land Under the Sea
The deep basins under the oceans are carpeted with lava that
spewed from submarine volcanoes and solidified. Scientists
have solved the mystery of how, precisely, all that lava
reaches the seafloor
space science
New Dawn for Electric Rockets
Efficient electric plasma engines are propelling the next

generation of space probes to the outer solar system
neuroscience
Sculpting the Brain
New studies are revealing how the brains convolutions take

shapefindings that could aid the diagnosis and treatment of
autism, schizophrenia and other mental disorders
climate change
The Greenhouse Hamburger
Producing beef for the table has a surprising environmental

cost: it releases prodigious amounts of heat-trapping
greenhouse gases
Insights: Chaos and the Catch of the

Day
There are fewer fish in the sea than ever. Complexity theory,
argues mathematician George Sugihara, provides a
counterintuitive way to revitalize the worlds fisheries
Working Knowledge: Smart Phones
Touch Screens Redefine the Market
Ask the Experts
Why do wind turbines have three narrow blades, whereas my

fan at home has five wide blades?; What happens to the
donors DNA in a blood transfusion?
Jan 2009
evolution
Darwin's Living Legacy
A Victorian amateur undertook a lifetime pursuit of slow,

meticulous observation and thought about the natural world,
producing a theory 150 years ago that still drives the
contemporary scientific agenda
evolution
Testing Natural Selection
Biologists working with the most sophisticated genetic tools

are demonstrating that natural selection plays a greater role in
the evolution of genes than even most evolutionists had
thought
evolution
From Atoms to Traits
Charles Darwin saw that random variations in organisms

provide fodder for evolution. Modern scientists are revealing
how that diversity arises from changes to DNA and can add
up to complex creatures or even cultures
evolution
The Human Pedigree
Some 180 years after unearthing the first human fossil,

paleontologists have amassed a formidable record of our
forebears
evolution
This Old Body
Evolutionary hand-me-downs inherited from fish and

tadpoles have left us with hernias, hiccups and other maladies
evolution
What Will Become of Homo sapiens?
Contrary to popular belief, humans continue to evolve. Our

bodies and brains are not the same as our ancestors
wereor as our descendants will be
20/07/2015 03:22
28 of 147
evolution
Four Fallacies of Pop Evolutionary
Psychology
Some evolutionary psychologists have made widely

popularized claims about how the human mind evolved, but
other scholars argue that the grand claims lack solid evidence
evolution
Evolution in the Everyday World
Understanding of evolution is fostering powerful technologies

for health care, law enforcement, ecology, and all manner of
optimization and design problems
evolution
The Science of Spore
A computer game illustrates the difference between building

your own simulated creature and real-life natural selection
evolution
The Latest Face of Creationism
Creationists who want religious ideas taught as scientific fact

in public schools continue to adapt to courtroom defeats by
hiding their true aims under ever changing guises
Insights: A Theory of a Deadly Fusion
The ability to spread underlies the killing power of cancer.

The process occurs, John Pawelek thinks, when tumor cells
fuse with white blood cells an idea that, if right, could yield
new therapies
Working Knowledge: New Designs

Going Up
Elevators
Ask The Experts
How does solar power work? Why does my voice sound so

different when it is recorded and played back?
Dec 2008
planetary science
The Restless World of Enceladus
Wrinkled landscapes and spouting jets on Saturns sixthlargest moon hint at underground waters
biotech
A New Molecule of Life
Peptide nucleic acid, a synthetic hybrid of protein and DNA,

could form the basis of a new class of drugsand of artificial
life unlike anything found in nature
neuroscience
The Magic and the Brain
Magicians have been testing and exploiting the limits of

cognition and attention for hundreds of years. Neuroscientists
are just beginning to catch up
microscopy
The Light Fantastic
Biological specimens yield extraordinary images in the hands

of talented light microscopists
auto tech
Driving Toward Crashless Cars
Next-generation automotive safety technology could give us

vehicles that are difficult to crashand eventually may not
need drivers at all
biology
Taking Wing
At last, fossil and genetic findings elucidate the evolution of

bats--and settle a long-standing debate over the origins of
flight and echolocation
info tech
Can Phishing be Foiled?
Understanding the human factors that make people

vulnerable to online criminals can improve both security
training and technology
Insights: Turning Back the Cellular

Clock
Shinya Yamanaka discovered how to revert adult cells to an

embryonic state. These induced pluripotent stem cells might
soon supplant their embryonic cousins in therapeutic promise
Working Knowledge: Global Positioning

Where on Earth You Are
System
20/07/2015 03:22
29 of 147
Nov 2008
geoengineering
A Sunshade for Planet Earth
Global warming has become such an overriding emergency

that some climate experts are willing to consider schemes for
partly shielding the planet from the suns rays. But no such
scheme is a magic bullet
neuroscience
Jacking into the Brain
How far can science advance brain-machine interface

technology? Will we one day pipe the latest blog entry or
NASCAR highlights directly into the human brain as if the
organ were an outsize flash drive?
physics
The Long Arm of the Second Law
In seeming defiance of the second law of thermodynamics,

nature is filled with examples of order emerging from chaos.
A new theoretical framework resolves the apparent paradox
medicine
The Vaccine Search Goes On
The unfinished quest for an AIDS vaccine has become a

search for new approaches to the problem
medicine
Can HIV Be Cured?
Eliminating HIV from the body would require flushing the

virus out of its hiding places and preventing those reservoirs
from being refilled. A tall order but perhaps not impossible
information science
DNA Computers for Work and Play
Logic gates made of DNA could one day operate in your

bloodstream, collectively making medical decisions and
taking action. For now, they play a mean game of in vitro
tic-tac-toe
innovations
The Incredible Shrinking Scanner
A portable version of a room-size nuclear magnetic resonance

machine can probe the chemistry and structure of objects
ranging from mummies to tires
Insights: The Christian Man's Evolution
A geneticist ordained as a Dominican priest, Francisco J.

Ayala sees no conflict between Darwinism and faith.
Convincing most of the American public of that remains the
challenge
Working Knowledge: Dinner and a

Show
Microwave Ovens
Oct 2008
cosmology
Follow the Bouncing Universe
Our universe may have started not with a big bang but with a
big bouncean implosion that triggered an explosion, all
driven by exotic quantum-gravitational effects
neuroscience
Lighting Up the Brain
A clever combination of optics and genetics is allowing

neuroscientists to mapand even controlbrain circuits
with unprecedented precision
geology
Birth of an Ocean
Formation of an ocean is a rare event, one few scientists have

ever witnessed. Yet this geophysical nativity is unfolding
today in one of the hottest and most inhospitable corners of
the globe. Visit the site in safety through this extraordinary
photographic essay
neuroscience
The Search for Intelligence
IQ is easy to measure and reflects something real. But

scientists hunting among our genes for the factors that shape
intelligence are discovering they are more elusive than
20/07/2015 03:22
30 of 147
expected
info tech
Web Science Emerges
Studying the Web will reveal better ways to exploit

information, prevent identity theft, revolutionize industry and
manage our ever growing online lives
life science
Barcode of Life
Inspired by commercial barcodes, DNA tags could provide a

quick, inexpensive way to identify species
innovations
With Open-Source Arms
A community of engineers, designers and innovators is

collaborating online to make better prosthetic hands and arms
for amputees. One of the lead engineers lost his own arm in
Iraq
How did self-replicating molecules come to dominate the

Insights: Outcalculating the Competition early earth? Using the mathematics of evolutionary dynamics,
Martin A. Nowak can explain the change from no life to life
Working Knowledge: Competing
Candidates
Voting machines
Sep 2008
technology
Privacy in an Age of Terabytes and
Terror
Our jittery state since 9/11, coupled with the Internet

revolution, is shifting the boundaries between public interest
and "the right to be let alone"
technology
Reflections on Privacy 2.0
Many issues posing as questions of privacy can turn out to be

matters of security, health policy, insurance or
self-presentation. It is useful to clarify those issues before
focusing on privacy itself
technology
Brave New World of Wiretapping
As telephone conversations have moved to the Internet, so

have those who want to listen in. But the technology needed
to do so would entail a dangerous expansion of the
governments surveillance powers
medicine
Keeping Your Genes Private
In spite of recent legislation, tougher laws are needed to

prevent insurers and employers from discriminating on the
basis of genetic tests
surveillance
Tools of the Spy Trade
Night-vision cameras, biometric sensors and other gadgets

already give snoops access to private spaces. Coming soon:
palm-size "bug-bots"
technology
RFID Tag--You're It
Tiny radio-frequency identification tags, long used for

tracking supplies and inventory, are now appearing in a
growing range of consumer items. A privacy activist argues
that the devices pose new security risks to those who carry
them, often unwittingly
biometrics
Beyond Fingerprinting
Security systems based on anatomical and behavioral

characteristics may offer the best defense against identity
theft
computing
Information of the World, Unite
Mashing everyones personal data, from credit-card bills to

cell phone logs,into one all-encompassing digital dossier is the
stuff of Orwellian nightmares. But it is not as easy as most
people assume
20/07/2015 03:22
31 of 147
cryptography
How to Keep Secrets Safe
A versatile range of software solutions can protect the

privacy of your information and online activities to any
desired degree
Improving Online Security
To protect against more numerous and sophisticated attacks

by hackers, security professionals call for upgraded
technology along with more attention to human and legal
factors
The End of Privacy
Young people share the most intimate details of personal life

on social-networking Web sites, portending a realignment of
the public and the private
Insights: Safety Dance over Plastic
Just how harmful are baby bottles, eyeglasses and other

bisphenol-A plastics? Patricia Hunt, who helped to bring the
issue to light a decade ago, is still trying to sort it all out
Working Knowledge: Dry Dyes
Instant photo developing
Aug 2008
environment
Facing the Freshwater Crisis
As demand for freshwater soars, planetary supplies are

becoming unpredictable. Existing technologies could avert a
global water crisis, but they must be implemented soon
medicine
Why Migraines Strike
Biologists finally are unraveling the medical mysteries of

migraine, from aura to pain
quantum physics
Quantum Computing with Ions
Researchers are taking the first steps toward building

ultrapowerful computers that use individual atoms to perform
calculations
public health
China's Children of Smoke
Epidemiologists find molecular clues to air pollution's impact

on youngsters
planetary science
Bracing for a Solar Superstorm
A recurrence of the 1859 solar superstorm would be a cosmic

Katrina, causing billions of dollars of damage to satellites,
power grids and radio communications
materials science
Self-Cleaning Materials
The lotus plant's magnificent ability to repel dirt has inspired

a range of self-cleaning and antibacterial technologies that
may also help control microfluidic "lab-on-a-chip" devices
innovations
Magnifying Taste
Compounds that enhance the sweet and salty flavors of foods

could combat obesity and heart disease
Insights: No More Cloning Around
Like many stem cell pioneers, Ian Wilmut, the creator of

Dolly the sheep, has jumped to an alternative approach. Is
this the beginning of the end for embryonic cloning?
Working Knowledge: Warming and

Cooling
Home heat pumps
Jul 2008
physics
The Self-Organizing Quantum
A new approach to the decades-old problem of quantum

gravity goes back to basics and shows how the building
blocks of space and time pull themselves together
20/07/2015 03:22
32 of 147
medicine
New Jobs for Ancient Chaperones
Protective heat shock proteins present in every cell have long

been known to counteract stress. Newly recognized roles in
cancer and immunity make them potential therapeutic allies
anthropology
Traces of a Distant Past
DNA furnishes an ever clearer picture of the multimillennial

trek from Africa all the way to the tip of South America
innovations
Hands On Computing
Multi-touch screens could improve collaboration without a

mouse or keyboard
agriculture
No-Till: The Quiet Revolution
The age-old practice of turning the soil before planting a new

crop is a leading cause of farmland degradation. Many
farmers are thus looking to make plowing a thing of the past
neuroscience
The Neuroscience of Dance
Recent brain-imaging reveal some of the complex neural

choreography behind our ability to dance
mathematics
Simple Groups at Play
A new set of puzzles inspired by Rubiks Cube offers puzzle

lovers the chance to get acquainted with the secret twists and
turns of mathematical entities called sporadic simple groups
Going with His Gut Bacteria
The body and its intestinal flora produce chemicals with

hidden health information, Jeremy Nicholson has found.
Someday treating disease may mean treating those bacteria
Working Knowledge: Nimble

Skyscrapers at Sea
Cruise ships
Jun 2008
cosmology
The Cosmic Origins of Time's Arrow
One of the most basic facts of life is that the future looks
different from the past. But on a grand cosmological scale,
they may look the same
medicine
Gaining Ground on Breast Cancer
The newest targeted therapies are helping doctors to tailor

increasingly effective treatments to individual patients
info tech
Digital Image Forensics
Modern software has made manipulation of photographs

easier to carry out and harder to uncover than ever before,
but the technology also enables new methods of detecting
doctored images
biology
What Is a Species?
To this day, scientists struggle with that question. A better

definition can influence which animals make the endangered
list
astronomy
The Tunguska Mystery
Finding a piece of the elusive cosmic body that devastated a

Siberian forest a century ago could help save the earth in the
centuries to come
neuroscience
The Neurobiology of Trust
Our inclination to trust a stranger stems in large part from

exposure to a small molecule known for an entirely different
task: inducing labor
policy
The Ethics of Climate Change
Weighing our own prosperity against the chances that climate

change will diminish the well-being of our grandchildren calls
on economists to make hard ethical judgments
Walter Fiers found a protein segment on the influenza virus

Insights: Beating the Flu in a Single Shot that could lead to a universal flu vaccine, which would end
20/07/2015 03:22
33 of 147
seasonal shots and provide pandemic protection

Working Knowledge: Library to Go
E-Book Readers
May 2008
astronomy
The Genesis of Planets
Theorists long imagined that the formation of young solar

systems was a serene process with a stately progression, in
which the eventual appearance of planets was a foregone
conclusion. The latest evidence, however--including
observations of worlds circling other stars--argues that planet
formation is startlingly chaotic
evolution
Regulating Evolution
Most animals share similar genes. The staggering diversity in

their physical forms springs from switches in the DNA that
govern where and when those genes are active
info tech
Science 2.0
Is posting raw experimental data online, for all to see, a great

tool or a great risk?
biology
How Cells Clean House
Autophagy, a process that normally keeps cells in good

working order, seems to be linked to aging and diseases such
as Alzheimer's
neuroscience
Hooked from the First Cigarette
Cigarette addiction can arise astonishingly fast. New research

could help make quitting easier
nuclear policy
Rethinking Nuclear Fuel Recycling
Plans are afoot to reuse spent reactor fuel in the U.S. But the
advantages of the scheme pale in comparison with its dangers
health
Fighting Killer Worms
Bloodsucking worms called schistosomes are among the

world's most worrisome human parasites. A new genome
sequence and powerful genetic tools promise to help crack
their secrets
Insights: Dark Forces at Work
The universe will expand forever at an ever faster rate,

thanks to an unseen energy. Astronomer Saul Perlmutter
expects that new observations will soon illuminate the
universe's dark side
Working Knowledge: Living Cover
Green roofs
Apr 2008
space science
The Color of Plants on Other Worlds
If it isn't easy being green on Earth, where chlorophyll is well

tuned to absorb most of the energy in our sun's yellow light,
imagine the difficulties elsewhere in the galaxy. Plants
growing on worlds around cooler, brighter or more
tempestuous stars would need to rely on red, blue or even
black pigments to survive. That insight offers astronomers
new clues about what to look for in their search for
extraterrestrial life
medicine
Regrowing Human Limbs
The ability to regenerate lost body parts--salamanderstyle--could revolutionize the treatment of amputations and
major wounds
ecology
Reclaiming the Aral Sea
Mismanagement turned the world's fourth-largest lake into a

dry, toxic wasteland. Now the northern part, at least, is
coming back
20/07/2015 03:22
34 of 147
physics
Rulers of Light
A kind of laser light called an optical frequency comb can

make atomic clocks and other instruments much more precise
psychology
The Doping Dilemma
Game theory suggests how to stop the pervasive abuse of

drugs in cycling, baseball and other sports
materials science
Carbon Wonderland
A newly recognized form of carbon--single sheets of atoms-provides a rich lode of novel theoretical physics and practical
applications
national security
Detecting Nuclear Smuggling
Radiation monitors at U.S. ports cannot reliably detect highly

enriched uranium, which onshore terrorists could assemble
into a nuclear bomb
Insights: At the Edge of Life's Code
What happens in the black box between DNA and the

proteins it produces? Chris Wiggins uses machine-learning
techniques to peer inside
Working Knowledge: Weapons

Revealed
Whole-body scanning for airline passengers
Mar 2008
economics
When Markets Beat the Polls
Internet-based financial markets may predict elections more

reliably than polls do. They can augur future box-office
returns and flu seasons, too.
cosmology
The End of Cosmology?
"Will the big bang be forgotten? The accelerating cosmic

expansion is wiping away every trace of the universe's
origin."
neuroscience
White Matter Matters
Long regarded as passive support for cogitating neurons, the

brain's white matter shows that it actively affects learning and
mental illness.
info tech
The Limits of Quantum Computers
Futuristic quantum computers could be exceptionally fast at

certain tasks, but for most problems they would only
modestly outclass today's conventional machines.
environment
The Bluefin in Peril
The only way to save the bluefin tuna, a marvelous but

dwindling ocean fish, may be to domesticate it.
defense
Space Wars
Recent pronouncements and actions by the U.S. and China

threaten to ignite a new arms race in space that would be
contrary to everyone's interests.
public health
Soliving the Massive Worker Health
Puzzle
A sophisticated industrial health study--the largest one ever-struggles with an apparent cancer cluster and highlights why
science cannot always protect workers on the job.
Insights: Not Tonight, Dear, I Have to

Reboot
Is love and marriage with robots an institute you can

disparage? Computing pioneer David Levy doesn't think
so--he expects people to wed droids by midcentury. Is that a
good thing?
Working Knowledge: The Switch Is On
The switch is on to compact fluorescents.
Feb 2008
20/07/2015 03:22
35 of 147
physics
The Discovery Machine
The Large Hadron Collider, the biggest and most complicated

particle physics experiment ever seen, is nearing completion
and is scheduled to start colliding protons this year
physics
The Coming Revolutions in Particle
Physics
No matter what the Large Hadron Collider finds, it is going to

take physics into new territory
physics
Building the Next-Generation Collider
To further investigate the intricacies of high-energy particle

physics, researchers must construct a more powerful
electron-positron collider
climate change
The Unquiet Ice
Abundant liquid water discovered underneath the great polar

ice sheets could catastrophically intensify the effects of
global warming on the rise of sea level around the world
innovations
RFID Powder
Radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags label all kinds of

inventoried goods and speed commuters through toll plazas.
Now tiny RFID components are being developed with a
rather different aim: thwarting counterfeiters
medicine
Your Cells Are My Cells
Many, perhaps all, people harbor a small number of cells from

genetically different individuals--from their mothers and, for
women who have been pregnant, from their children. What in
the world do these foreigners do in the body?
science and society

Building a Future on Science
Brazilian neuroscientist Miguel A. L. Nicolelis taps into the

chatter of neurons to drive robotic prosthetics. Now he hopes
to tap the potential of his country's population by building a
network of "science cities"
Insights: Maverick against the

Mendelians
Autistic people generally do not have children, so why do

autism genes persist? Michael Wigler thinks that he knows
Working Knowledge: Leap of Faith
The video magic of blue screen
Jan 2008
tech leaders
The SciAm 50
Which researchers, companies and architects of industrial

and government policy are leading the most important trends
shaping tomorrow's technologies? Our annual roundup of
world shakers gives credit where it is due
medicine
Taming Vessels to Treat Cancer
Drugs that restore order to the chaotic blood vessels inside a

tumor open a window of opportunity for attacking it
energy
A Solar Grand Plan
An ambitious scheme would enable solar power to end U.S.

dependence on foreign oil and slash greenhouse gas emissions
by 2050
public health
Second Thoughts about Fluoride
New research indicates that a cavity-fighting treatment could

be risky if overused
nanotech
Self-Powered Nanotech
Tiny systems that draw waste energy from their surroundings

could power nanosize machines
earth science
Hotspots Unplugged
Long considered fixed founts of molten material from deep

within the planet, the hotspots that raise islands now join the
list of the earth's moving parts
20/07/2015 03:22
36 of 147
physiology
The Human Instrument
When judged by its size, our vocal system fails to impress as

a musical instrument. How, then, can it produce all those
remarkable sounds?
Insights: Cooking Up Bigger Brains
Our hominid ancestors could never have eaten enough raw

food to create our large, calorie-hungry brains, Richard
Wrangham claims. The secret to our evolution, this
anthropologist says, is cooking
Working Knowledge: Perpetual Reset

Machine
The striking mechanics of bowling pinsetters
Dec 2007
astronomy
Window on the Extreme Universe
The GLAST satellite is about to open up an unexplored

region of the electromagnetic spectrum, where dark matter
and other mysteries might be seen
biology
Are Aliens among Us?
All life on Earth is generally understood to have descended

from a common ancestor. But if cells evolved independently
more than once, some microbes radically different from all
known organisms might still survive in extreme environments
of our planet. The search is on for evidence of these strangers
environment
Making Carbon Markets Work
Limiting climate change without damaging the world

economy depends on stronger and smarter market signals to
regulate carbon dioxide
gallery
Radiant Information
State-of-the-art light microscopy from the Olympus

BioScapes competition illuminates life exquisitely
genetics
Diet Advice from DNA?
Are personalized diets based on genetic tests cutting-edge

science or high-tech horoscopes?
info tech
The Semantic Web in Action
Networks that handle data more intelligently are already here
physics
The Many Worlds of Hugh Everett
Whatever became of the creator of the now celebrated

quantum theory of multiple universes?
Working Knowledge: Progress

Accelerates
Adaptive cruise control
Nov 2007
cosmology
The Great Cosmic Roller-Coaster Ride
Could cosmic inflation be a sign that our universe is in a far

vaster realm?
biology
Cell Defenses and the Sunshine Vitamin
Scientists now recognize that vitamin D does much more than

build strong bones and that many people are not getting
enough of it
weaponry
Nuclear Weapons in a New World
Countries are altering their nuclear arsenals, prompting the

U.S. to refurbish its own warheads
weaponry
The Nuclear Threat
A look at strike capabilities worldwide, and how a bomb

would affect single cities and people
weaponry
A Need for New Warheads?
The U.S. government's proposal to build the first new muclear

warhead in two decades raises a host of questions
20/07/2015 03:22
37 of 147
medicine
Playing Defense against Lou Gehrig's
Disease
Researchers have proposed potential therapies for a

paralyzing disorder once thought to be untreatable
info tech
Brilliant Displays
A new technology can make cell phone and other displays

bright and clear, even in the sun's glare
science and society

The Science of Doing Good
Information technology, satellite imaging and research carried

out in disaster-relief areas have begun to transform
humanitarian aid into a more efficient endeavor
Working Knowledge: Two Technologies

Shine
Digital projectors shine
Oct 2007
environment
Conservation for the People
Pitting nature and biodiversity against people makes little

sense. Many conservationists now argue that human health
and well-being should be central to conservation efforts
space exploration
The Future of Space Exploration
The launch of the Soviet Sputnik satellite half a century ago

inaugurated the Space Age. What comes next?
space exploration
To the Moon and Beyond
Humans are returning to the moon. This time the plan is to

stay a while
space exploration
Five Essential Things to Do in Space
Planetary scientists have a quintet of goals for exploring the

solar system
psychology
How Does Consciousness Happen?
One of the greatest mysteries in science is how brain activity

gives rise to subjective experience. Two leading
neuroscientists compare their differing theories
physics
The Diamond Age of Spintronics
Revolutionary electronic devices can harness the spins of

electrons instead of their charge. Such devices might one day
enable room-temperature quantum computers--made of
diamond
medicine
Experimental Drugs on Trial
A controversial lawsuit challenges the FDA's system of

controlling access to experimental drugs and, some say, the
scientific basis of drug approval
innovations
Big Lab on a Tiny Chip
Squeezing a chemistry lab down to fingernail size could

provide instant medical tests at home and on the battlefield
Working Knowledge: Heating Up
Geothermal energy
Sep 2007
sustainability
A Question of Sustenance
Globalization ushered in a world in which more than a billion

are overfed. Yet 800 million or so still suffer from hunger's
persistent scourge
nutrition
Eating Made Simple
How do you cope with a mountain of conflicting diet advice?

Also: Paul Raeburn reviews the best scientific guidance on
weight loss
health
Can Fat Be Fit?
Popular books have questioned the ill effects of being

overweight. They are probably wrong
20/07/2015 03:22
38 of 147
physiology
What Fuels Fat
Understanding obesity as a breakdown in the body's weight

regulation could yield new ways to fight fat
nutrition
This Is Your Brain on Food
Neuroimaging reveals what chocoholics have in common

with drug addicts. Interview with Nora D. Volkow
public health
The World Is Fat
How can the poorest countries fight obesity?
nutrition
Still Hungry
One eighth of the world does not have enough to eat
biotech
Sowing a Gene Revolution
A new green revolution based on genetically modified crops

could help reduce poverty and hunger, but only if formidable
institutional challenges are met
security
Is Your Food Contaminated?
New approaches to protect the food supply
Working Knowledge: Fresh from the Sea Desalination of seawater

Aug 2007
policy
Race in a Bottle
Drugmakers are eager to develop medicines targeted at ethnic

groups, but so far they have made poor choices based on
unsound science
modelling
Predicting Wildfires
Fires are burning more acres than ever. Where will the next
blazes ignite? Can we prevent them? Should we?
neuroscience
Windows on the Mind
Tiny flicks of the eyes underpin much of our ability to see.

They may also reveal subliminal thoughts
environment
The Physical Science behind Climate
Change
Why climatologists are now so confident that human activity

is to blame for a warming world
biology
The Shark's Electric Sense
An astonishingly sensitive detector of electric fields helps

sharks zero in on prey
agriculture
Future Farming: A Return to Roots?
Agriculture would become more sustainable if major crop

plants built deep, lasting root systems
innovations
Data Center in a Box
A shipping container stuffed with servers could usher in the

era of cloud computing
Working Knowledge: Blu-ray vs. HD

DVD
High-definition video
Jul 2007
climate change
Warmer Oceans, Stronger Hurricanes
Evidence is mounting that global warming enhances a

cyclone's damaging winds and flooding rains
neuroscience
The Memory Code
Researchers are closing in on the rules that the brain uses to

lay down memories. Discovery of this memory code could
lead to new ways to peer into the mind
medicine
A Malignant Flame
Understanding chronic inflammation, which contributes to

heart disease, Alzheimer's and other ailments, may be a key
to unlocking the mysteries of cancer
20/07/2015 03:22
39 of 147
genetics
The Evolution of Cats
Genomic paw prints in the DNA of the world's wild cats have
clarified the feline family tree and uncovered several
remarkable migrations in their past
environment
An Earth without People
Interview with Alan Weisman. One way to examine

humanity's impact on the environment is to consider how the
world would fare if all the people disappeared
info tech
Broadband Room Service by Light
Encoded light transmissions can provide the wireless devices

in a room with multimedia Web services
science and society

Should Science Speak to Faith?
Two prominent defenders of science discuss how scientists

ought to approach believers
Working Knowledge: In or Out?
Hawkeye on the tennis court
Jun 2007
biology
A Simpler Origin for Life
Energy-driven networks of small molecules may be more

likely first steps for life than the commonly held idea of the
sudden emergence of large self-replicating molecules such as
RNA
medicine
Lifting the Fog around Anesthesia
Learning why current anesthetics are so potent and

sometimes dangerous will lead to a new generation of safer
targeted drugs
cosmology
When Fields Collide
The history of particle cosmology shows that science can

benefit from wrenching changes
ecosystems
Restoring America's Big, Wild Animals
Pleistocene rewilding--a proposal to bring back animals that

disappeared from North America 13,000 years ago--offers an
optimistic agenda for 21st-century conservation
info tech
Breaking Network Logjams
Network coding could dramatically enhance the efficiency of

communications networks
innovations
Seeing Triple
Anticipated for decades, machines are finally displaying

objects in three true dimensions
game theory
The Traveler's Dilemma
People playing this simple game consistently reject the

rational choice. In fact, by acting illogically, they end up
reaping a larger reward--an outcome that demands a new kind
of formal reasoning
Working Knowledge: The Write Type
Optical character recognition finds the write type
May 2007
space science
The Mystery of Methane on Mars and
Titan
Could the methane in the atmospheres of Mars and Titan be

caused by unusual geologic activity--or life?
medicine
Chromosomal Chaos and Cancer
Current wisdom on the role of genes in malignancy may not

explain some of the features of cancer, but stepping back to
look at the bigger picture inside cells reveals a view that just
might
energy
Preventing Blackouts
A smarter power grid that automatically responds to problems

could reduce the rising number of debilitating blackouts
20/07/2015 03:22
40 of 147
paleontology
South America's Missing Mammals
An unexpected menagerie of unique mammal fossils is

overturning long-held ideas about South America's geologic
history
info tech, nanotech

Carbon Nanonets Spark New
Electronics
Random networks of tiny carbon tubes could make possible

low-cost, flexible devices such as "electronic paper" and
printable solar cells
neuroscience
Eyes Open, Brain Shut
Brain-imaging techniques yield a better understanding of

patients in the vegetative state
physics
A Do-It-Yourself Quantum Eraser
Carry out a home experiment to illustrate one of the weirdest

effects in quantum mechanics
Working Knowledge: Psst ... Hey, You
Beams of sound
Apr 2007
astronomy
The Ghosts of Galaxies Past
Strangely moving stars may be the remnants of past galaxies

devoured by our Milky Way
biotech
Seeking the Connections: Alcoholism
and Our Genes
Identifying the genetic influences on vulnerability to alcohol

addiction can lead to more targeted treatments and help
individuals make better-informed choices
info tech
The Promise of Plasmonics
A technology that squeezes electromagnetic waves into

minuscule structures may yield superfast computer chips,
ultrasensitive molecular detectors and perhaps even
invisibility cloaks
animal behavior
Just How Smart Are Ravens?
Recent experiments show that these birds use logic to solve

problems and that some of their abilities approach or surpass
those of the great apes
neuroscience
The Movies in Our Eyes
The retina processes information much more than anyone has

ever imagined, sending a dozen different movies to the brain
energy
Gassing Up with Hydrogen
Researchers are working on ways for fuel-cell vehicles to

hold the hydrogen they need for long-distance travel
medicine
A Cure for Rabies?
The survival of a Wisconsin teenager who contracted rabies

may point the way to a treatment for this horrifying disease
Working Knowledge: Steer Clear
Electronic stability control for autos
Technicalities: The Car Doctor Is In
A way to diagnose engine problems without ever having to

look under the hood
Mar 2007
astrophysics
Black Hole Blowback
A single black hole, smaller than the solar system, can control
the destiny of an entire cluster of galaxies
biotech
Mapping the Cancer Genome
The Cancer Genome Atlas will help chart a new course

across the complex landscape of human malignancies
info tech
A Digital Life
New systems may allow people to record everything that has

touched their lives and to store all these data in a personal
digital archive
20/07/2015 03:22
41 of 147
environment
Down Go the Dams
Many dams are being torn down these days, allowing rivers
and the ecosystems they support to rebound. But ecological
risks abound as well. Can they be averted?
medicine
New Predictors of Disease
Predictive autoantibodies appear in the blood years before

people show symptoms of various disorders. Tests that
detected these molecules could warn of the need to take
preventive action
energy
Diesels Come Clean
Improved engines and exhaust scrubbers, combined with a

new fuel, will make energy-efficient diesels nearly as green as
hybrids
neuroscience
Illusory Color and the Brain
The brain may not separate perception of color from

perception of form and depth
Working Knowledge: Restoring Flow
Left ventricular assist devices
Feb 2007
cosmology
The Universe's Invisible Hand
Dark energy does more than hurry along the expansion of the
universe. It also has a stranglehold on the shape and spacing
of galaxies
paleontology
Tracking an Ancient Killer
The case was cold--the bones in the mass grave were 70

million years old. But critical clues pointed to the killer's
identity
climate change
Methane, Plants and Climate Change
The surprising discovery that living plants produce a potent

greenhouse gas poses new questions for managing global
warming
info tech
Making Silicon Lase
Scientists have at last persuaded silicon to emit laser beams.

In a few years, computers and other devices will handle light
as well as electrons
innovations
Spice Healer
An ingredient in curry shows promise for treating

Alzheimer's, cancer and other diseases
consumer electronics
Digital TV at Last?
Analog TV broadcasting is set to end in two years, but its

legacy could make the digital transition anything but smooth
nanotech
Molecular Lego
Small molecular building blocks that snap together rigidly

enable chemists to design and manufacture nanometer-scale
structures in virtually any shape
Working Knowledge: Song Beams
Satellite radio
Technicalities: Power Walker
Nothing could match the Segway's initial hype, but how far
has it come since?
Jan 2007
astrophysics
What Is a Planet?
The controversial new official definition of "planet," which

banished Pluto, has its flaws but by and large captures
essential scientific principles
energy
Is Ethanol for the Long Haul?
Ethanol could displace gasoline, but it won't pay off until we

find a way to distill cornstalks, not corn.
20/07/2015 03:22
42 of 147
molecular biology
The Power of Riboswitches
Recently discovered RNA segments that act like on-off

switches for genes may be targets for new classes of drugs
info tech
A Robot in Every Home
Microsoft's founding CEO predicts that robotics is on the

verge of a grand awakening and that intelligent mobile
devices will soon be everywhere
life science
Evolved for Cancer?
Some scientists hope to find new clues to help fight cancer by

studying the evolutionary history of the disorder in our
species
earth science
The Mississippi's Curious Origins
Mountains once blocked the interior of North America from

the south. Geologic sleuthing reveals how that barrier was
breached, allowing the Mississippi to reach the Gulf of
Mexico
innovations
Better Ways to Target Pain
Improved understanding of the chemical pathway on which

aspirin and Vioxx act may lead to superior analgesics
Working Knowledge: Grass vs. Plastic
High-tech turf
Dec 2006
tech leaders
The Scientific American 50
Nanotech viruses, global warming, greener cars, stem cells

and innovative funding all take a bow in our fifth annual
salute to the research, business and policy leaders of
technology
planetary science
The Red Planet's Watery Past
For a billion years, liquid water may have covered much of

Mars
neuroscience
Seeking the Neural Code
How does a storm of electrical pulses in the brain translate

into information?
paleontology
Lucy's Baby
An amazing skeleton from 3.3 million years ago renews

debate over the evolution of upright walking
photonics
The Ultimate White Light
"Supercontinuum" laser light could drive optical data

transmission to record speeds
medicine
Cancer Clues from Pet Dogs
Studies of canine malignancies could improve medical care

for humans and man's best friend alike
metrology
Weighty Matters
Replacing the century-old standard reference for mass

measurement is a heavy challenge
Working Knowledge: Hot Commodity
Why lithium batteries can overheat
Nov 2006
cosmology
The Dark Ages of the Universe
Between the big bang and the formation of the first stars, the
cosmos was utterly lightless. But astronomers can finally start
peering into the darkness
neuroscience
Mirrors in the Mind
Mirror neurons, a special class of cells in the brain, may

mediate our ability to mimic, learn and understand the actions
and intentions of others
neuroscience
Broken Mirrors: A Theory of Autism
When the brain's mirror neuron system malfunctions, perhaps

lack of empathy and other characteristics of autism are the
result
20/07/2015 03:22
43 of 147
info tech
Malware Goes Mobile
Consumers, phone makers and security companies must

move quickly to quash the threat of new viruses targeting
mobile devices
ecology
Reviving Dead Zones
Around the world, nutrients in runoff are turning coastal sea

areas into oxygen-deprived dead zones hostile to life. But the
example of the Black Sea shows these regions can be saved
technology
Seeing with Superconductors
Sensors made of superconducting material can detect

individual photons and have applications ranging from
antiterrorism to astronomy
astronomy
The Origin of the Greek Constellations
Was the Great Bear constellation named before hunter

nomads first reached the Americas more than 13,000 years
ago?
Working Knowledge: Gunk-Free Fiber
The sticky problem of paper recycling
Oct 2006
astrophysics
How to Blow Up a Star
It is not as easy as you would think. Models of supernovae

have failed to reproduce these explosions--until recently
info tech, nanotech

Viral Nanoelectronics
Viruses that coat themselves in selected substances can

self-assemble into such devices as liquid crystals, nanowires
and electrodes
cell biology
Peacekeepers of the Immune System
Regulatory T cells keep the immune system from attacking

the body itself. Therapies using these cells could ease
conditions from diabetes to transplant rejection
earth science
Impact from the Deep
Strangling heat and gases from the earth and sea, not
asteroids, most likely caused several ancient mass extinctions.
Could the same conditions build again?
robotics
Ballbots
A new mode of locomotion would enable robots to stand tall

and move gracefully through busy everyday environments
anthropology
Hydraulic Engineering in Prehistoric
Mexico
Three thousand years ago precursors of the Aztecs built the

first large-scale water management systems in the New World
biotech
The Promise of Molecular Imprinting
Tiny plastic imprints and mimics of biological molecules

could speed drug discovery, warn of bioterror attacks and
remove toxins from the environment
Working Knowledge: Steady Cam
Image stabilization in digital cameras
Sep 2006
energy
A Climate Repair Manual
Coping with global warming will take innovations in both

energy technology and policy
energy
A Plan to Keep Carbon in Check
Multiple technologies, each taking a slice out of carbon

dioxide emissions, could slow warming
energy
Fueling Our Transportation Future
New technologies, lighter vehicles and alternative fuels can

lower greenhouse gas releases from cars and trucks
energy
An Efficient Solution
In buildings and in industrial processes, using power more

judiciously is the quickest, cheapest solution
20/07/2015 03:22
44 of 147
energy
What to Do about Coal
Coal is plentiful, but we must manage its environmental dark

side
energy
The Nuclear Option
Nuclear power could stave off more than a billion tons of

carbon emissions annually
energy
The Rise of Renewable Energy
Solar cells, wind turbines and biofuels are poised to become

major energy sources
energy
High Hopes for Hydrogen
Hydrogen-fueled cars could slash carbon emissions, but it

won't happen soon
energy
Plan B for Energy
Eventually, even more radical energy sources will be needed.

Here are some possibilities under consideration
Working Knowledge: Tall Task
A tall task for water towers
Aug 2006
astronomy
The Strangest Satellites in the Solar
System
With peculiar orbits that often move against the grain of the
rest of the solar system, an odd breed of planetary satellites is
reshaping ideas about the formation of the solar system
life science
The Real Life of Pseudogenes
Disabled genes, once dismissed as detritus on the genomic

landscape, trace the path of evolution--and may not always
be entirely dead
space science
Power for a Space Plane
Creating a revolutionary hypersonic jet engine that could

propel a space plane to orbit affordably and routinely is a
tough but seemingly achievable task
psychology, neuroscience
The Expert Mind
The mental processes of chess grandmasters are unlike those

of novices, a fact that illuminates the development of
expertise in other fields
New studies of the Himalaya and the Tibetan Plateau suggest

earth science
that climate and geology can be partners in a long, slow
Climate and the Evolution of Mountains
dance
info tech
A Great Leap in Graphics
Soon even home computers should be able to produce quick,

high-quality 3-D graphics, thanks to speedier new ways to
simulate the flight of light
ecology
The Fish and the Forest
Salmon carcasses left behind by predatory bears are

unexpectedly important sources of nutrients for forests
Working Knowledge: Going Vertical
How disk-drive makers raise storage capacities by making

bits stand on end
Technicalites: Weather Gets Personal
Here's the five-day forecast for your backyard
Jul 2006
astronomy
Hubble's Top 10
As they wait for the space telescope to be serviced one last

time, astronomers reflect on its discoveries over the past 16
years
medicine
Stem Cells: The Real Culprits in
Cancer?
A dark side of stem cells--their potential to turn malignant--is

at the root of a handful of cancers and may be the cause of
many more. Eliminating the disease could depend on tracking
down and destroying these elusive killer cells
20/07/2015 03:22
45 of 147
physics, optics
The Quest for the Superlens
Built from "metamaterials" with bizarre, controversial optical

properties, a superlens could produce images that include
details finer than the wavelength of light that is used
life science
What Birds See
Evolution has endowed birds with a system of color vision

that surpasses that of all mammals, including humans
energy
A Power Grid for the Hydrogen
Economy
Cryogenic, superconducting conduits could be connected into

a "SuperGrid" that would simultaneously deliver electrical
power and hydrogen fuel
forensics
CSI: Reality
Attorneys, investigators and educators have felt the impact of

television's popular forensics programs
info tech
A Farewell to Keywords
The reigning obsession with search technology has elicited

new ways of using images to track down information on the
Web
Working Knowledge: Expanding Use
Vascular stents
Jun 2006
earth science
The Secrets of Supervolcanoes
Microscopic crystals of volcanic ash are revealing surprising

clues about the world's most devastating eruptions
biotech
Engineering Life: Building a Fab for
Biology
Principles and practices learned from engineering successes

can help transform biotechnology from a specialized craft
into a mature industry
ecology
Wading in Waste
Thanks to unchecked development along America's coasts,

disease-causing microbes are increasingly fouling beaches
and shellfish beds
medicine
Toward Better Pain Control
Advances in understanding the cells and molecules that

transmit pain signals are providing new targets for drugs that
could relieve various kinds of pain--including those poorly
controlled by existing therapies
info tech
Dependable Software by Design
Computers fly our airliners and run most of the world's

banking, communications, retail and manufacturing systems.
Now powerful analysis tools will at last help software
engineers ensure the reliability of their designs
medicine, pharmacology
A New Assault on HIV
The constant search for weak points in the virus yields ideas
for a wholly new class of drug
mathematics
The Science behind Sudoku
Solving a Sudoku puzzle requires no math, not even

arithmetic. Even so, the game poses a number of intriguing
mathematical problems
Working Knowledge: Carbon Hooch
Oil refineries
Technicalities: The Ultimate Blood Test
A pricey way to determine health risks: 250 tests at once
May 2006
physics, cosmology
The First Few Microseconds
In recent experiments, physicists have replicated conditions

of the infant universe--with startling results
info tech, nanotech

Bringing DNA Computer to Life
Tapping the computing power of biological molecules gives

rise to tiny machines that can speak directly to living cells
20/07/2015 03:22
46 of 147
earth science
The Birth of the Mighty Amazon
Insight into how the world's largest river formed is helping

scientist explain the extraordinary abundance of plant and
animal life in the Amazon rain forest
biotech
Blockbuster Dreams
New understanding of the biology behind a successful cancer

therapy may lead to a drug that can treat an array of solid
tumors
astronomy
Giant Telescopes of the Future
The astronomical version of Moore's law says that telescopes

double in size every few decades. But today's designers think
they can build a telescope three, five or even 10 times bigger
within a decade
medicine
Shutting Down Alzheimer's
New research reveals strategies for blocking the molecular

processes that lead to this memory-destroying disease
mathematics
When Slide Rules Ruled
Before electronic calculators, the mechanical slide rule

dominated scientific and engineering computation
Working Knowledge: Cutting Work
Robot mowers
Apr 2006
astrophysics
The Mysterious Origins of Solar Flares
New observations are beginning to reveal what triggers these

huge explosions of the sun's atmosphere
medicine
New Hope for Defeating Rotavirus
Although its name is unfamiliar to many, rotavirus is the

leading cause of severe childhood diarrhea worldwide and a
frequent killer of young children in developing nations.
Now--after 30 years of investigation--vaccines that may well
conquer it are ready for market
info tech
Computing with Quantum Knots
A machine based on bizarre particles called anyons that

represents a calculation as a set of braids in spacetime might
be a shortcut to practical quantum computation
evolution
Why Are Some Animals So Smart?
The unusual behavior of orangutans in a Sumatran swamp

suggests a surprising answer
transportation
Hybrid Vehicles Gain Traction
As car buyers turn to fuel-sipping gasoline-electric hybrid

vehicles, a new generation of greener hybrids is just coming
over the horizon
biotech
An Antibiotic Resistance Fighter
A compound that tweaks a pivotal protein may quell

development of antibiotic resistance
economics
Does Globablization Help or Hurt the
World's Poor?
The answer is: both. The real question is how to maximize the
help and minimize the hurt
Working Knowledge: Big Squeeze
Jet engines
Technicalities: Sharp Shooter
Sony's R1 combines near pro-quality images with live

preview
Mar 2006
space science
Shielding Space Travelers
The perils of cosmic rays pose severe, perhaps

insurmountable, hurdles to human spaceflight to Mars and
beyond
20/07/2015 03:22
47 of 147
biotech
Unlocking the Secrets of Longevity
Genes
A handful of genes that control the body's defenses during

hard times can also dramatically improve health and prolong
life in diverse organisms. Understanding how they work may
reveal the keys to extending human life span while banishing
diseases of old age
ecology
The Dangers of Ocean Acidification
Much of the carbon dioxide given off from the burning of

fossil fuels goes into the ocean, where it changes the acid
balance of seawater. The repercussions for marine life may be
enormous
info tech
Cognitive Radio
Smart radios and other new wireless devices will avoid

transmission bottlenecks by switching instantly to nearby
frequencies that they sense are clear
mathematics
The Limits of Reason
Ideas of complexity and randomness originally suggested by

Gottfried W. Leibniz in 1686, combined with modern
information theory, imply that there can never be a "theory of
everything" for all mathematics
chemistry
Little Green Molecules
Chemists have invented a new class of catalysts that can

destroy some of the worst pollutants before they get into the
environment
innovations, computing
The Elusive Goal of Machine
Translation
Statistical methods hold tha promise of moving computerized

translation out of the doldrums
Working Knowledge: Spin and Swing
Tiny motors
Feb 2006
physics
Plasma Accelerators
A new method of particle acceleration in which the particles

"surf" on a wave of plasma promises to unleash a wealth of
applications
physiology, immunology
Intrigue at the Immune Synapse
Images of interacting immune cells reveal structured

connections similar to the ones neurons use to communicate.
Studying these synapses is providing new insights into how
the cells form an information-sharing network to fight disease
defense
Thwarting Nuclear Terrorism
Many civilian research reactors contain highly enriched

uranium that terrorists could use to build nuclear bombs
engineering
Protecting New Orleans
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the Gulf Coast. The

storm season starts again this June--and every June. Can
coastal communities ever be safeguarded?
innovations, nanotech
Miniaturized Power
With nanobatteries, power sources finally shrink with the rest

of electronics
biotech
Owning the Stuff of Life
Patents on DNA have not caused the severe disruption of

biomedical research and societal norms anticipated by critics.
But the deluge may be yet to come
info tech
Putting a Face on the First President
Solving a surprisingly long-standing mystery, a forensic

anthropologist reconstructs what George Washington looked
like as a young man
Working Knowledge: Into the Breach
Levees
20/07/2015 03:22
48 of 147
Technicalities: My Virtual War
A disturbing stroll through a simulated battlefield
Jan 2006
astrophysics
The Mystery of Brown Dwarf Origins
By throwinig a wrench into the theories of planet and star

formation, brown dwarfs may help fix them
biotech
Genomes for All
Next-generation technologies that make reading DNA fast,

cheap and widely accessible are coming in less than a decade.
Their potential to revolutionize research and bring about the
era of truly personalized medicine means the time to start
preparing is now
earth science
Tsunami: Wave of Change
In the tragic aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami of

December 2004, scientists and warning centers are now
better equipped to forecast and model these monstrous waves
robotics
Innovations from a Robot Rally
This year's Grand Challenge competition spurred advances in

laser sensing, computer vision and autonomous
navigation--not to mention a thrilling race for the $2-million
prize
neuroscience
The Maternal Brain
Pregnancy and motherhood change the structure of the

female mammal's brain, making mothers attentive to their
young and better at caring for them
info tech
Recognition Engines
New computer designs process networked "streams" of data

for better spam and virus detection
toxicology
Protecting More than Animals
Reducing animal suffering often has the unexpected benefit

of yielding more rigorous safety tests
Working Knowledge: No More Gears
Continuously variable transmission
Dec 2005
tech leaders
Flu preparedness, flexible electronics and stem cells all star in

our fourth annual salute to the research, business and policy
leaders of technology
physics
An Echo of Black Holes
Sound waves in a fluid behave uncannily like light waves in

space. Black holes even have acoustic counterparts. Could
spacetime literally be a kind of fluid, like the ether of
pre-Einsteinian physics?
medicine
Tackling Malaria
Interventions available today could lead to decisive gains in

prevention and treatment--if only the world would apply
them
energy
Smarter Use of Nuclear Waste
Fast-neutron reactors could extract much more energy from

recycled nuclear fuel, minimize the risks of weapons
proliferation and markedly reduce the time nuclear waste
must be isolated
public health
Sick of Poverty
New studies suggest that the stress of being poor has a

staggeringly harmful influence on health
evolution
Getting a Leg Up on Land
Recent fossil discoveries cast light on the evolution of

four-limbed animals from fish
20/07/2015 03:22
49 of 147
neuroscience
Inside the Mind of a Savant
Kim Peek possesses one of the most extraordinary memories

ever recorded. Until we can explain his abilities, we cannot
pretend to understand human cognition
Working Knowledge: Better Exposure
Digital x-rays
Technicalities: Easy Rider
Automatic transmission makes cycling a breeze
Nov 2005
medicine
Preparing for a Pandemic
One day a highly contagious and lethal strain of influenza will

sweep across all humanity, claiming millions of lives. It may
arrive in months or not for years--but the next pandemic is
inevitable. Are we ready?
physics
The Illusion of Gravity
The force of gravity and one of the dimensions of space

might be generated out of the peculiar interactions of
particles and fields existing in a lower-dimensional realm
planetary science
Did Life Come from Another World?
New research indicates that microorganisms could have

survived a journey from Mars to Earth
info tech, nanotech

Crossbar Nanocomputers
Crisscrossing assemblies of defect-prone nanowires could

succeed today's silicon-based circuits
earth science
The Workings of an Ancient Nuclear
Reactor
Two billion years ago parts of an African uranium deposit

spontaneously underwent nuclear fission. The details of this
remarkable phenomenon are just now becoming clear
neuroscience
The Neurobiology of the Self
Biologists are beginning to tease out how the brain gives rise
to a constant sense of being oneself
biotech
The Land of Milk and Money
The first drug from a transgenic animal may be nearing

approval
Working Knowledge: Case Cracked
Nuts
Oct 2005
astrophysics
Ripples in a Galactic Pond
Astronomers are coming to realize that the beautiful shapes

of galaxies are not merely incidental. They are essential to the
galaxies' growth and development
biotech
New Bull's-Eyes for Drugs
A familiar class of cell-surface receptors turns out to offer an

array of fresh targets that could yield new treatments for
disorders ranging from HIV to obesity
earth science
A Cool Early Earth?
The textbook view that the earth spent its first half a billion
years drenched in magma could be wrong. The surface may
have cooled quickly--with oceans, nascent continents and the
opportunity for life to form much earlier
neuroscience
The Forgotten Era of Brain Chips
The work of Jose Delgado, a pioneering star in brainstimulation research four decades ago, goes largely
unacknowledged today. What happened?
innovations
Better Than a Dog
The search is on for a sensor that bests a canine at detecting

explosives
20/07/2015 03:22
50 of 147
genetics
Founder Mutations
A special class of genetic mutations that often cause human

disease is enabling scientists to trace the migration and
growth of specific human populations over thousands of
years
info tech
Smart Wi-Fi
Wireless access to the Internet via Wi-Fi is increasingly

popular, so the technology is being upgraded to ensure that
users get prompt, reliable service
Working Knowledge: Paving the Way
Roads
Technicalities: Heavy-Metal Sweat
Does an infrared sauna really detoxify the body?
Sep 2005
anthropology
The Climax of Humanity
Demographically and economically, our era is unique in

human history. Depending on how we manage the next few
decades, we could usher in environmental sustainability--or
collapse
anthropology
Human Population Grows Up
As we swell toward nine billion in the next half a century,

humanity will undergo historic changes in the balance
between young and old, rich and poor, urban and rural. Our
choices now and in years ahead will determine how well we
cope with our coming of age
anthropology
Can Extreme Poverty Be Eliminated?
Market economics and globalization are lifting the bulk of

humanity out of extreme poverty, but special measures are
needed to help the poorest of the poor
ecology
Sustaining the Variety of Life
A new understanding of how species become extinct suggests

how to preserve them--and at a cost that doesn't break the
bank
energy
More Profit with Less Carbon
Focusing on energy efficiency will do more than protect

Earth's climate--it will make businesses and consumers richer
agriculture
The Big Potential of Small Farms
With the help of affordable irrigation and access to markets,

farmers in the developing world can grow more food and
climb out of poverty
public health
Public Health in Transition
Chronic disorders such as heart disease and diabetes, once

common only in the industrial nations, are now sweeping the
rest of the globe. Meanwhile the threat of infectious diseases
still looms large. New public health priorities are urgently
needed
economics
Economics in a Full World
The global economy is now so large that society can no

longer safely pretend it operates within a limitless ecosystem.
Developing an economy that can be sustained within the
finite biosphere requires new ways of thinking
policy
How Should We Set Priorities?
The world faces no shortage of problems--or of good ideas to

solve them. Which should we tackle next? Even as leaders
converge on some answers, new markets are being set up to
preempt politics
Working Knowledge: Private and Cool
Smart glass
Aug 2005
20/07/2015 03:22
51 of 147
biotech
Test-Tube Teeth
More complicated than they look, teeth are actually tiny

organs. If tissue engineers can manufacture living
replacement teeth, they would blaze a trail for engineering
larger organs while leading dentistry into the age of
regenerative medicine
paleontology
The Early Evolution of Animals
Tiny fossils reveal that complex animal life is older than we

thought--by at least as much as 50 million years
cosmology
Is the Universe Out of Tune?
Like the discord of key instruments in a skillful orchestra

quietly playing the wrong piece, mysterious discrepancies
have arisen between theory and observations of the "music"
of the cosmic microwave background. Either the
measurements are wrong or the universe is stranger than we
thought
info tech
Morphware
Magnetic logic may usher in an era in which computing

devices can change instantly from one type of hardware to
another
medicine
Beating a Sudden Killer
When a young woman nearly died from a ruptured aneurysm,

the author and the woman's husband began searching for
ways to save other aneurysm patients from catastrophe
psychology
Mindful of Symbols
On the way to learning that one thing can represent another,

young children often conflate the real item and its symbol.
These errors show how difficult it is to start thinking
symbolically
Nanobodies
Antibodies, often described as magic bullets, are actually

more like tanks: big, complicated and expensive. Tinier
"nanobodies," derived from camels and llamas, may be able
to infiltrate a wider range of diseases at lower cost. That is
the hope, at least, of one small start-up in Belgium
Working Knowledge: Ease the Grind
Ball bearings
Technicalities: Heavenly Music in Your

Hand
Portable satellite radio is a palmtop cornucopia of music
Jul 2005
planetary science
The Many Faces of Mars
One rover found an ancient desert; the other, a once watery

world. The Red Planet's diversity rivals Earth's
physics
The Mysteries of Mass
Physicists are hunting for an elusive particle that would

reveal the presence of a new kind of field that permeates all
of reality. Finding that Higgs field will give us a more
complete understanding about how the universe works
medicine
The Future of Stem Cells
A special report from Scientific American and Financial

Times
climate change
Can We Bury Global Warming?
Pumping carbon dioxide underground to avoid warming the

atmosphere is feasible, but only if several key challenges can
be met
paleontology
How Dinosaurs Grew So Large--and So
Overlooked clues to how fast the creatures grew and how

long they lived lurk in their bones
20/07/2015 03:22
52 of 147
Small
info tech
Shrinking Circuits with Water
Semiconductor manufacturers are giving their products a

dousing in the name of faster, smaller, cheaper
biotech
New Movement in Parkinson's
Recent genetic and cellular discoveries are among the

advances pointing to improved treatments for this
increasingly common disorder
archaeology
Simulating Ancient Societies
Computer modeling is helping unravel the archaeological

mysteries of the American Southwest
Working Knowledge: Make It Quick
Rapid prototyping
Jun 2005
biotech
Buying Time in Suspended Animation
An ability to put the human body on hold could safeguard the

critically injured or preserve donor organs for transport. Does
the power to reversibly stop our biological clocks already lie
within us?
cosmology
Inconstant Constants
Do the inner workings of nature change with time?
info tech
Conversational Computers
Efforts to make computers speak naturally will let machines

better communicate meaning
health
Obesity: An Overblown Epidemic?
A growing number of dissenting researchers accuse

government and medical authorities--as well as the media--of
misleading the public about the health consequences of rising
body weights
physics
Making Cold Antimatter
Low-energy atoms of antihydrogen will enable researchers to

test a fundamental property of the universe
archaeology
The Morning of the Modern Mind
Controversial discoveries suggest that the roots of our

vaunted intellect run far deeper than is commonly believed
policy
Doubt Is Their Product
Industry groups are fighting government regulation by

fomenting scientific uncertainty
Working Knowledge: Lean and Mean
Hybrid vehicles
Technicalities: The Multipath to Clarity
Receiving HDTV over the air takes luck and lots of patience
May 2005
neuroscience
His Brain, Her Brain
It turns out that male and female brains differ quite a bit in
architecture and activity. Research into these variations could
lead to sex-specific treatments for disorders such as
depression and schizophrenia
physics
Quantum Black Holes
Physicists could soon be creating black holes in the

laboratory
info tech
Neuromorphic Microchips
Compact, efficient electronics based on the brain's neural

system could yield implantable silicon retinas to restore
vision, as well as robotic eyes and other smart sensors
meteorology
A Bolt out of the Blue
New research shows that lightning is a surprisingly complex

and mystifying phenomenon
20/07/2015 03:22
53 of 147
medicine
Can Chlamydia Be Stopped?
Chlamydia is a rampant sexually transmitted disease, the

world's leading cause of preventable blindness and a possible
contributor to heart disease. Recent discoveries are
suggesting new ways to curtail its spread
planetary science
What Heated the Asteroids?
Collisions among asteroids in the early history of the solar

system may help explain why many of these rocky bodies
reached high temperatures
biotech
Molecular Treasure Hunt
A software tool elicits previously undiscovered gene or

protein pathways by combing through hundreds of thousands
of journal articles
Working Knowledge: Thin Is In
Slim TV
Apr 2005
info tech
Stopping Spam
What can be done to stanch the flood of junk e-mail

messages?
earth science
Probing the Geodynamo
Scientists have long wondered why the polarity of the earth's

magnetic field occasionally reverses. Recent studies of our
planet's churning interior are offering intriguing clues about
how the next reversal may begin
biotech, genetics
The Alternative Genome
The old axiom "one gene, one protein" no longer holds true.
The more complex an organism, the more likely it became
that way by extracting multiple protein meanings from
individual genes
policy
Shaping the Future
Scientific uncertainty often becomes an excuse to ignore

long-term problems, such as climate change. It doesn't have
to be so
psychology
How Animals Do Business
Humans and other animals share a heritage of economic

tendencies--including cooperation, repayment of favors and
resentment at being shortchanged
materials science
Low-Temperature Superconductivity Is
Warming Up
Magnesium diboride defies the once conventional wisdom

about what makes a good superconductor. It becomes
superconducting near the relativity warm temperature of 40
kelvins--which promises a variety of applications
innovations
A Toxin against Pain
For years, scientists have promised a new wave of drugs

derived from sea life. A recently approved analgesic that is a
synthetic version of a snail toxin has become one of the first
marine pharmaceuticals
Working Knowledge: Uniform Variety
Tennis balls
Technicalities: Hot Stuff
New thermal cameras show the world in infrared
Mar 2005
cosmology
Misconceptions about the Big Bang
Baffled by the expansion of the universe? You're not alone.

Even astronomers frequently get it wrong
climate change
How Did Humans First Alter Global
Climate?
A bold new hypothesis suggests that our ancestors' farming

practices kicked off global warming thousands of years
before we started burning coal and driving cars
20/07/2015 03:22
54 of 147
info tech
If Smallpox Strikes Portland
"EpiSims" unleashes virtual plagues in real cities to see how

social networks spread disease. That knowledge might help
stop epidemics
innovations
On the Road to Fuel-Cell Cars
Although fleets of fuel-cell prototypes are hitting the streets,

basic technical and market obstacles must be hurdled before
the clean, hydrogen-powered cars reach dealer showrooms
biotech
Taming Lupus
Teasing out the causes of this autoimmune disorder is a

daunting challenge. But the payoff should be better, more
specific treatments
biography
Inventor of Dreams
Nikola Tesla, the father of today's AC electrical system and

other key inventions, often failed to bring his visionary ideas
to real-world fruition
ecology
Endangered Wild Equids
Wild zebra, asses and horses are being killed for meat,
medicine and money. Combined with vanishing habitats and
naturally slow reproduction, such predation threatens
remaining populations
Working Knowledge: Take My Pixel
Digital photography
Feb 2005
biotech
An Endangered Species in the Stomach
Is the decline of Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium living in the

human stomach since time immemorial, good or bad for
public health?
physics
Atom Chips
Magnetic fields on a microchip can produce tiny, coherent

clouds of atoms called Bose-Einstein condensates. The chips
could have uses n ultraprecise sensors for aircraft and in
quantum computing
anthropology
The Littlest Human
A spectacular find in Indonesia reveals that a strikingly

different hominid shared the earth with our kind in the not so
distant past
info science
Seeking Better Web Searches
Deluged with superfluous responses to online queries, users

will soon benefit from improved search engines that deliver
customized results
neuroscience
Making Memories Stick
Some moments become lasting recollections while others just

evaporate. The reason may involve the same processes that
shape our brains to begin with
Nanotubes in the Clean Room
Talismans of a thousand graduate projects may soon make

their way into electronic memories
technology
The New College Try
Innovation is alive and kicking on campus
Working Knowledge: Reducing a Roar
Noise-canceling headphones
Technicalities: Every Breath You Take
Now a high-tech shirt can record your vital signs all day and
night
Jan 2005
20/07/2015 03:22
55 of 147
life science
Immunity's Early-Warning System
The innate immune response constitutes the first line of

defense against invading microbes and plays a role in
inflammatory disease. Surprising insights into how this system
operates could lead to new therapies for a host of infectious
and immune-related disorders
astrophysics
The Midlife Crisis of the Cosmos
Although it is not as active as it used to be, the universe is

still forming stars and building black holes at an impressive
pace
info science
Considerate Computing
Digital gadgets demand ever more of our attention with their

rude and thoughtless interruptions. Engineers are now testing
computers, phones and cars that sense when you're busy and
spare you from distraction
biotech
Capturing a Killer Flu Virus
The deadliest flu strain in history has been resurrected. What

can the 1918 virus reveal about why it killed millions and
where more like it may be lurking?
gallery
Eye of the Beholder
Wonders under the lens of the optical microscope
innovations, cryptography
Best-Kept Secrets
Quantum cryptography has marched from theory to

laboratory to real products
psychology
Exploding the Self-Esteem Myth
Boosting people's sense of self-worth has become a national

preoccupation. Yet surprisingly, research shows that such
efforts are of little value in fostering academic progress or
preventing undesirable behavior
Working Knowledge: Open Sesame
Keyless entry
Dec 2004
tech leaders
Our third annual salute to the people and institutions

brightening our future recognizes accomplishments in stem
cells, nanocomputers, mini fuel cells and more
medicine
The Brain's Own Marijuana
Research into natural chemicals that mimic marijuana's

effects in the brain could help to explain--and suggest
treatments for--pain, anxiety, eating disorders, phobias and
other conditions
science and art

Optics and Realism in Renaissance Art
A much publicized assertion holds that 15th-century painters

achieved a new level of realism with the help of lenses and
mirrors. But recent findings cast doubt on that idea
paleontology
The Dinosaurs of Arctic Alaska
Seventy-five million years ago, a group of hardy dinosaurs

thrived in the harsh climate of what is now northern Alaska
astronomy
The Case of the Pilfered Planet
Did the British steal Neptune?
biology
Are Viruses Alive?
Although viruses challenge our concept of what "living"

means, they are vital members of the web of life
Working Knowledge: Crowded Skies
Air traffic control
Technicalities: More Than Just Music
Accessories can enhance the iPod music player
Nov 2004
20/07/2015 03:22
56 of 147
biotech
Rebuilding Broken Hearts
Biologists and engineers working together in the fledgling

field of tissue engineering are within reach of one of their
greatest goals: constructing a living human heart patch
physics
Black Hole Computers
In keeping with the spirit of the age, researchers can think of

the laws of physics as computer programs and the universe as
a computer
climate change
Abrupt Climate Change
Winter temperatures plummeting six degrees Celsius and

sudden droughts scorching farmland around the globe are not
just the stuff of scary movies. Such striking climate jumps
have happened before--sometimes within a matter of years
defense
Holes in the Missile Shield
The national missile defense now being deployed by the U.S.

should be replaced with a more effective system
info tech
Computing at the Speed of Light
Emerging ways to make photonic connections to electronic

microchips may dramatically change the shape of computers
in the decade ahead
neuroscience
Music and the Brain
What is the secret of music's strange power? Seeking an

answer, scientists are piecing together a picture of what
happens in the brains of listeners and musicians
innovations
A Split at the Core
Physics is forcing the microchip industry to redesign its most

lucrative products. That is bad news for software companies
Working Knowledge: Keep the Beat
Pacemakers
Oct 2004
astrophysics
A Universe of Disks
New research reveals the dynamics of the spinning disks of

gas that surround young stars and gargantuan black holes
molecular biology
The Hidden Genetic Program of
Complex Organisms
Biologists assumed that proteins alone regulate the genes of

humans and other complex organisms. But an overlooked
regulatory system based on RNA may hold the keys to
development and evolution
meteorology
Controlling Hurricanes
Can hurricanes and other severe tropical storms be

moderated or deflected?
info tech
The Internet of Things
The principles that gave rise to the Internet are now leading
to a new kind of network of everyday devices, an
"Internet-0"
physiology
Dying to See
Studies of the lens of the eye not only could reveal ways to
prevent cataracts but also might illuminate the biology of
Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other diseases in which cells
commit suicide
policy
Fixing the Vote
Electronic voting machines promise to make elections more

accurate than ever before, but only if certain problems--with
the machines and the wider electoral process--are rectified
biotech
Hitting the Genetic Off Switch
A host of start-ups is speeding development of a new class of

drugs that block the action of RNA
Working Knowledge: Shock Absorbed
Earthquake protection
20/07/2015 03:22
57 of 147
Technicalities: Gadget Envy
All-in-one cell phones can do just about anything
Sep 2004
physics
The Patent Clerk's Legacy
In 1905 the musings of a functionary in the Swiss patent

office changed the world forever. His intellectual bequest
remains for a new generation of physicists vying to concoct a
theory of everything
Everyday Einstein
Finding your way out of the woods with GPS? Hanging a

picture frame with a laser level? Making photocopies? Better
thank Einstein
technology
Atomic Spin-offs for the 21st Century
A new generation of technologies aims to put Einstein's

theories to work in computers, hospitals - even submarines
physics
Einstein's Compass
What was it about the magnetism of an iron bar that could

divert Einstein from perfecting his celebrated theory of
general relativity?
physics
A Cosmic Conundrum
A new incarnation of Einstein's cosmological constant may

point the way beyond general relativity
physics
The String Theory Landscape
The theory of strings predicts that the universe might occupy

one random "valley" out of a virtually infinite selection of
valleys in a vast landscape of possibilities
physics
Was Einstein Right?
Unlike nearly all his contemporaries, Albert Einstein thought

quantum mechanics would give way to a classical theory.
Some researchers nowadays are inclined to agree
physics
The Search for Relativity Violations
To uncover evidence for an ultimate theory, scientists are

looking for infractions of Einstein's once sacrosanct physical
principle
physics
A Century of Einstein
Scientific American has covered Einstein's theories - and the

refinements and reactions to them - ever since scientists
began to grasp the import of his landmark 1905 papers. Read
on for a sampling of our reports, some by leading physicists
of their times
Working Knowledge: String Theory
Yo-yo
Aug 2004
biotech
Back to the Future of Cereals
Genomic studies of the world's major grain crops, together

with a technology called marker-assisted breeding, could
yield a new green revolution
space science
Electrodynamic Tethers in Space
By exploiting fundamental physical laws, tethers may provide

low-cost eletrical power, drag, thrust, and artificial gravity for
spaceflight
medicine
Virtual-Reality Therapy
Patients can get relief from pain or overcome their phobias by

immersing themselves in computer-generated worlds
weaponry
Nuclear Bunker Buster Bombs
New burrowing nuclear weapons could destroy subterranean

military facilities - but their strategic and tactical utility is
questionable
20/07/2015 03:22
58 of 147
info tech
Next Stretch for Plastic Electronics
Organic semiconductor devices can make more than just

bendable displays. They will find use in wearable electronics,
chemical sensors, skin for robots and innumerable other
applications
cosmology
Questions That Plague Physics
Lawrence M. Krauss speaks about unfinished business
public health
Arsenic Crisis in Bangladesh
Arsenic in drinking water could severly poison 50 million

people worldwide. Strategies being tested in Bangladesh
might help prevent the problem
Working Knowledge: Seeing Inside
Medical imaging
Technicalities: Crippled but Not Crashed Neural networks can help pilots land damaged planes
Jul 2004
astronomy
The Extraordinary Deaths of Ordinary
Stars
The demise of the sun in five billion years will be a

spectacular sight. Like other stars of its ilk, the sun will unfurl
into nature's premier work of art: a planetary nebula
genetics
Gene Doping
Gene therapy for restoring muscle lost to age or disease is

poised to enter the clinic, but elite athletes are eyeing it to
enhance performance. Can it be long before gene doping
changes the nature of sport?
info tech, nanotech

Magnetic Field Nanosensors
Tiny devices that take advantage of a recently discovered

physical effect called extraordinary magnetoresistance could
be used in blazingly fast computer disk drives with huge
capacities and in dozens of other applications involving the
sensing of magnetic fields
earth science
When Methane Made Climate
Today methane-producing microbes are confined to

oxygen-free settings, such as the guts of cows, but in Earth's
distant past, they ruled the world
biotech
Detecting Mad Cow Disease
New tests can rapidly identify the presence of dangerous

prions - the agents responsible for the malady - and several
compounds offer hope for treatment
mathematics
The Shapes of Space
A Russian mathematician has proved the century-old

Poincar conjecture and completed the catalogue of threedimensional spaces. He might earn a $1-million prize
cryptography
The Mystery of the Voynich Manuscript
New analysis of a famously cryptic medieval document

suggests that it contains nothing but gibberish
Working Knowledge: Big Air
Pipe organs
Jun 2004
planetary science
Saturn at Last!
After a seven-year journey, the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft is

preparing to unveil the mysteries of Saturn, its rings and its
giant moon, Titan
nanotech
Nanotechnology and the Double Helix
DNA is more than just the secret of life - it is also a versatile

component for making nanoscopic structures and devices
ecology
Lessons from the Wolf
Bringing the top predator back to Yellowstone has triggered a

cascade of unanticipated changes in the park's ecosystem
20/07/2015 03:22
59 of 147
info tech
Smart Sensors to Network the World
An emerging class of pillbox-size computers, outfitted with

sensors and linked together by radios, can form perceptive
networks able to monitor a factory, a store - even an
ecosystem. Such devices will more intimately connect the
cyberworld to the real world
biotech
The Stem Cell Challenge
What hurdles stand between the promise of human stem cell

therapies and real treatments in the clinic?
weaponry
Nuclear Explosions in Orbit
The spread of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles raises

fears of atomic attacks on the global satellite system
Technicalities: Security at Your

Fingertips
Fingerprint sensors can guard your computer data
May 2004
cosmology
The Myth of the Beginning of Time
String theory suggests that the big bang was not the origin of
the universe but simply the outcome of a preexisting state
energy
Questions about a Hydrogen Economy
Much excitement surrounds the progress in fuel cells, but the

quest for a hydrogen economy is no trivial pursuit
biotech
Synthetic Life
Biologists are crafting libraries of interchangeable DNA parts

and assembling them inside microbes to create
programmable, living machines
neuroscience
Freud Returns
Neuroscientists are finding that their biological descriptions

of the brain may fit together best when integrated by
psychological theories Freud sketched a century ago. Also:
Counterpoint from J. Allan Hobson, who argues that Freud's
thinking is still highly suspect
From hikers navigating with handheld locators to pilots

landing in zero-visibility conditions, the Global Positioning
info tech
Retooling the Global Positioning System System now serves more than 30 million users. See what's
coming next
planetary science
The Transit of Venus
When Venus crosses the face of the sun this June, scientists
will celebrate one of the greatest stories in the history of
astonomy
Working Knowledge: Clear Favorite
Laser eye surgery
Puzzling Adventures: Jump Snatch
Jumping to a conclusion
Apr 2004
neuroscience
The Other Half of the Brain
Mounting evidence suggests that glial cells, overlooked for

half a century, may be nearly as critical to thinking and
learning as neurons are
planetary science
The Hidden Members of Planetary
Systems
The solar system consists of more than just planets; it is also a

beehive of asteroids and comets. Is that the case for other
planetary systems, too?
psychology
The Tyranny of Choice
Logic suggests that having options allows people to select

precisely what makes them happiest. But, as studies show,
abundant choice often makes for misery
20/07/2015 03:22
60 of 147
info tech
The First Nanochips
As scientists and engineers continue to push back the limits of

chipmaking technology, they have quietly entered into the
nanometer realm
biotech
Evolution Encoded
New discoveries about the rules governing how genes encode

proteins have revealed nature's sophisticated "programming"
for protecting life from catastrophic errors while accelerating
evolution
space science
Blastoffs on a Budget
Private ventures seeking to make routine access to space

affordable see big potential in going small
Working Knowledge: Complete Burn
Fuel injection
Technicalities: Plug-and-Play Robots
Personal robots may soon be as cheap and customizable as

personal computers
Puzzling Adventures: Bluffhead
The game of Bluffhead
Mar 2004
planetary science
The Spirit of Exploration
NASA's rover fights the curse of the Angry Red Planet
info tech, robotics

A New Race of Robots
Around the U.S., engineers are finishing one-year crash

projects to create robots able to dash 200 miles through the
Mojave Desert in a day, unaided by humans. Scientific
American tailed the odds-on favorite team for 10 months and
found that major innovations in robotics are not enough to
win such a contest. Obsession is also required
climate change
Defusing the Global Warming Time
Bomb
Global warming is real, and the consequences are potentially

disastrous. Nevertheless, practical actions, which would also
yield a cleaner, healthier atmosphere, could slow, and
eventually stop, the process
biotech
The Addicted Brain
Drug abuse produces long-term changes in the reward

circuitry of the brain. Knowledge of the cellular and
molecular details of these adaptations could lead to new
treatments for the compulsive behaviors that underlie
addiction
earth science
The Threat of Silent Earthquakes
A lack of rumbling does not necessarily make an earthquake

harmless. Some of the quiet types could presage devasting
tsunamis or larger, ground-shaking shocks
science and society

The Fairest Vote of All
All voting systems have drawbacks. But by taking into

account how voters rank candidates, one system gives the
truest reflection of the electorate's views
Working Knowledge: Rock Clock
Quartz watches
Puzzling Adventures: Grid Speed
Traffic on the grid
Feb 2004
biotech
Insights into Shock
Still a last step before death for thousands of people, shock is

shedding some of it medical mystery and becoming more
treatable
20/07/2015 03:22
61 of 147
cosmology
The Cosmic Symphony
New observations of the cosmic microwave background

radiation show that the early universe resounded with
harmonious oscillations
cosmology
Reading the Blueprints of Creation
The latest maps of the cosmos have surveyed hundreds of

thousands of galaxies, whose clustering has grown from
primordial fluctuations
cosmology
From Slowdown to Speedup
Distant supernovae are revealing the crucial time when the

expansion of the universe changed from decelerating to
accelerating
cosmology
Out of the Darkness
Maybe cosmic acceleration isn't caused by dark energy after

all but by an inexorable leakage of gravity out of our world
info tech
Better Displays with Organic Films
Light-emitting organic materials offer brighter and more

efficient displays than LEDs. An you'll be able to unroll them
across a tabletop
criminology
The Case of the Unsolved Crime
Decline
Criminologists have not yet cracked the case, but they now
know more about why U.S. crime rates plummeted in the
1990s - and how to help keep them down
Working Knowledge: Data Driven
Automobile black box
Technicalities: A Walk in the Woods
Satellites show the way in the new sport of geocaching
Puzzling Adventures: All or Nothing
Numerical messages
Jan 2004
astronomy
Our Growing, Breathing Galaxy
Long assumed to be a relic of the distant past, the Milky Way

turns out to be a dynamic, living object
neuroscience
Decoding Schizophrenia
A fuller understanding of signaling in the brain of people with

this disorder offers new hope for improved therapy
Already common in security systems and tollbooths, radioinfo tech

frequency identification tags and readers stand poised to take
RFID: A Key to Automating Everything
over many processes now accomplished by human toil
physics
Atoms of Space and Time
We perceive space and time to be continuous, but if the

amazing theory of loop quantum gravity is correct, they
actually come in discrete pieces
archaeology
Women and Men at atalhyk
The largest known Neolithic settlement yields clues about the

roles played by the two sexes in early agricultural societies
environment
Spring Forward
As temperatures rise sooner in spring, interdependent species

in many ecosystems are shifting dangerously out of sync
mathematics
The Curious History of the First Pocket
Calculator
It was called the Curta, and it proved lifesaving when its

inventor was trapped in a Nazi concentration camp
Working Knowledge: Phantom Gain
Virtual 1st down marker
Puzzling Adventures: Verifying Your

Circuits
Verifying circuits
Dec 2003
20/07/2015 03:22
62 of 147
tech leaders
Our second annual salute to the elite of research, industry and

politics whose accomplishments are shaping a better, wiser
technological future for the world
biology
Does Race Exist?
If races are defined as genetically discrete groups, no. But

researchers can use some genetic information to group
individuals into clusters with medical relevance
planetary science
The New Moon
Recent lunar missions have shown that there is still much to

learn about Earth's closest neighbor
aviation
The Equivocal Success of the Wright
Brothers
The Wrights used aerial control as the key to building and

flying the first airplane. But trying to refine their invention in
secret nearly cost them their glory
earth science
The Day the World Burned
The dinosaur-killing impact set off a wave of wildfires that

consumed Earth's forests
biotech
The Unseen Genome: Beyond DNA
DNA was once considered the sole repository of heritable

information. But biologists are starting to decipher a separate,
much more malleable layer of information encoded within the
chromosomes. Genetics, make way for epigenetics
Working Knowledge: At the Moment
Electronic skis
Technicalities: Science for Cops
A behind-the-scenes look at a high-tech police lab
Puzzling Adventures: You Don't Say!
Parallel repetition
Nov 2003
biotech
The Unseen Genome: Gems among the
Junk
Just when scientists thought they had DNA almost figured

out, they are discovering in chromosomes two vast, but
largely hidden, layers of information that affect inheritance,
development and disease
space science
The Asteroid Tugboat
To prevent an asteroid from hitting Earth, a space tug

equipped with plasma engines could give it a push
robotics
An Army of Small Robots
For robot designers these days, small is beautiful
physics
The Future of String Theory - A
Conversation with Brian Greene
The physicist and best-selling author demystifies the ultimate

theories of space and time, the nature of genius, multiple
universes, and more
evolution
Stranger in a New Land
Stunning finds in the Republic of Georgia upend

long-standing ideas about the first hominids to journey out of
Africa
aviation
Flying on Flexible Wings
Future aircraft may fly more like birds, adapting geometrics

of their wings to best suit changing flight conditions
neuroscience
Why We Sleep
The reasons that we sleep are gradually becoming less

enigmatic
Working Knowledge: Staying Power
Nails and staples
Puzzling Adventures: Liquid

Switchboard
Liquid switchboard
20/07/2015 03:22
63 of 147
Oct 2003
astronomy
The Unexpected Youth of Globular
Clusters
Conventional wisdom says that globular star clusters are the

stodgy old codgers of the universe, but it turns out that many
of these clusters are young
materials science
Artificial Muscles
Novel motion-producing devices - actuators, motors,

generators - based on polymers that change shape when
stimulated electrically are nearing commercialization
environment
Meltdown in the North
Sea ice and glaciers are melting, permafrost is thawing, tundra

is yielding to shrubs - and scientists are struggling to
understand how these changes will affect not just the Arctic
but the entire planet
biotech
Tumor-Busting Viruses
A new technique called virotherapy harnesses viruses, those

banes of humankind, to stop another scourge--cancer
space science
China's Great Leap Upward
By boosting astronauts into orbit, China hopes to become the

newest superpower in space
economics
The Economics of Child Labor
Campaigns against child labor are most likely to succeed

when they combine the long arm of the law with the invisible
hand of the marketplace
Working Knowledge: Cool Shirt
Smart fabrics
Technicalities: The Infinite Arcade

Machine
Building the world's largest video arcade - in your family

room
Puzzling Adventures: Strategic Bullying
Strategic bullying
Sep 2003
neuroscience
Brain, Repair Yourself
How do you fix a broken brain? The answers may literally lie
within our heads. The same approaches might also boost the
power of an already healthy brain
neuroscience
The Quest for a Smart Pill
New drugs to improve memory and cognitive performance in

impaired individuals are under intensive study. Their possible
use in healthy people already triggers debate
neuroscience
Stimulating the Brain
Activating the brain's circuitry with pulsed magnetic fields

may help ease depression, enhance cognition, even fight
fatigue
neuroscience
Mind Readers
Brain-scanning machines may soon be capable of discerning

rudimentary thoughts and separating fact from fiction
neuroscience
The Mutable Brain
Score one for believers in the adage "use it or lose it."

Targeted mental and physical exercises seem to improve the
brain in unexpected ways
neuroscience
Taming Stress
An emerging understanding of the brain's stress pathways

points toward treatments for anxiety and depression beyond
Valium and Prozac
neuroscience
Diagnosing Disorders
Psychiatric illnesses are often hard to recognize, but genetic

testing and neuroimaging could someday be used to improve
detection
20/07/2015 03:22
64 of 147
Working Knowledge: On the Money
Bill validators
Puzzling Adventures: Missing Hiker
Find the missing hiker
Aug 2003
biotech
Censors of the Genome
Biologists have been surprised to discover that most animal

and plant cells contain a built-in system to silence individual
genes by shredding the RNA they produce. Biotech
companies are already working to exploit it
info tech
Demystifying the Digital Divide
The simple binary notion of technology haves and have-nots

doesn't quite compute
neuroscience
Rethinking the "Lesser Brain"
Long thought to be solely the brain's coordinator of body

movement, the cerebellum is now known to be active during
a wide variety of cognitive and perceptual activities
Theoretical results about black holes suggest that the universe

physics
Information in the Holographic Universe could be like a gigantic hologram
archaeology
Questioning the Delphic Oracle
When science meets religion at this ancient Greek site, the

two turn out to be on better terms than scholars had originally
thought
evolution
Planet of the Apes
During the Miocene epoch, as many as 100 species of apes

roamed throughout the Old World. New fossils suggest that
the ones that gave rise to living great apes and humans
evolved not in Africa but Eurasia
Working Knowledge: Seeing Green
Night vision
Technicalities: Converging on the Couch
New devices connect the stereo and TV to the home data

network
Puzzling Adventures: Short Taps
Outwitting spies
Jul 2003
astronomy
The Galactic Odd Couple
Why do giant black holes and stellar baby booms, two

phenomena with little in common, so often go together?
environment
Counting the Last Fish
Overfishing has slashed stocks - especially of large predator

species - to an all-time low worldwide, according to new data.
If we don't manage this resource, we will be left with a diet of
jellyfish and plankton stew
info tech
Antennas Get Smart
Adaptive antenna arrays can vastly improve wireless

communications by connecting mobile users with virtual
wires
biotech
Untangling the Roots of Cancer
Recent evidence challenges long-held theories of how cells

turn malignant - and suggests new ways to stop tumors before
they spread
archaeology
Uncovering the Keys to the Lost Indus
Cities
Recently excavated artifacts from Pakistan have inspired a

reevaluation of one of the great early urban cultures - the
enigmatic Indus Valley civilization
20/07/2015 03:22
65 of 147
medicine
Pumphead
In what has become almost routine, the heart-lung machine

"breathes" for patients during coronary-bypass operations.
But could this lifesaving device have a dark side?
Insights: Terms of Engagement
Irving Weissman directs a new institute dedicated to the

cloning of human embryonic stem cells. Just don't call it
cloning
Working Knowledge: Fine Focus
Scanning electron microscopes
Puzzling Adventures: High Spies
Tracking contraband shipments
Jun 2003
medicine
Shoot This Deer
Chronic wasting disease, a cousin of mad cow disease, is

spreading among wild deer in parts of the U.S. Left
unchecked, the fatal sickness could threaten North American
deer populations - and maybe livestock and humans
astronomy
The Unearthly Landscapes of Mars
The Red Planet is no dead planet
computing
Self-Repairing Computers
By embracing the inevitability of system failures, recoveryoriented computing returns service faster
biotech
Pandora's Baby
In vitro fertilization was once considered by some to be a

threat to our very humanity. Cloning inspires similar fears
physics
The Dawn of Physics Beyond the
Standard Model
The Standard Model of particle physics is at a pivotal

moment in its history: it is both at the height of its success
and on the verge of being surpassed
info science
Chain Letters and Evolutionary
Histories
A study of chain letters shows how to infer the family tree of

anything that evolves over time, from biological genomes to
languages to plagiarized schoolwork
May 2003
cosmology
Parallel Universes
Not just a staple of science fiction, other universes are a

direct implication of cosmological observations
neuroscience
Hearing Colors, Tasting Shapes
People with synesthesia - whose senses blend together - are

providing valuable clues to understanding the organization
and functions of the human brain
info tech
Scale-Free Networks
Scientists have recently discovered that various complex

systems have an underlying architecture governed by shared
organizing principles. This insight has important implications
for a host of applications, from drug development to Internet
security
archaeology
The Iceman Reconsidered
Where was the Iceman's home and what was he doing at the
high mountain pass where he died? Painstaking research especially of plant remains found with the body - contradicts
many of the initial speculations
biotech
The Orphan Drug Backlash
The Orphan Drug Act of 1983 was supposed to provide

incentives for private industry to develop needed, but
unprofitable, drugs to treat rare diseases. It has done so, but
not without eliciting controversy
20/07/2015 03:22
66 of 147
Working Knowledge: Catch a Wave
Antennas
Puzzling Adventures: Bounded Regrets
Competitive analysis and the regret ratio
Apr 2003
astrophysics
Solving the Solar Neutrino Problem
The Sudbury Neutrino Observatory has solved a 30-year-old

mystery by showing that neutrinos from the sun change
species en route to the earth
biotech
Where a Pill Won't Reach
How to get drugs where they need to go
earth science
Mount Etna's Ferocious Future
Europe's biggest and most active volcano is growing more

dangerous. Luckily, the transformation is happening slowly
genetics
A Conversation with James D. Watson
The co-discoverer of DNA's double helix reflects on the

molecular model that changed both science and society
life science
Questioning the Oldest Signs of Life
In the past year scientists have been forced to reconsider how

they identify life in the most ancient rocks on earth - and
elsewhere in the solar system
info tech
The Grid: Computing without Bounds
By linking digital processors, storage systems and software on

a global scale, grid technology is poised to transform
computing from an individual and corporate activity into a
general utility
medicine
The Lowdown on Ginkgo Biloba
This popular herbal supplement may slightly improve your

memory, but you can get the same effect by eating a candy
bar
Working Knowledge: Potent Patches
Transdermal drug delivery
Technicalities: Screen Writing
The tablet PC is a high-tech tool for scribblers
Puzzling Adventures: The Graph of Life Graphing the origins of species

Mar 2003
physics
The Search for Dark Matter
Dark matter is usually thought of as something "out there."

But we will never truly understand it unless we can bring it
down to earth
energy, environment
Dismantling Nuclear Reactors
Taking apart a nuclear power plant that has reached the end
of its life is a complicated task. But not for the reasons you
might expect
biotech
Restoring Aging Bones
The bone decay of osteoporosis can cripple, but an improved

understanding of how the body builds and loses bone is
leading to ever better prevention and treatment options
info tech
Digital Entertainment Jumps the Border
New broadcasting technologies are challenging the

restrictions on the viewing of American television shows and
films in other countries
evolution
Which Came First, the Feather or the
Bird?
A long-cherished view of how and why feathers evolved has

now been overturned
20/07/2015 03:22
67 of 147
neuroscience
Bugs in the Brain
Time for a bit of humility. Some microorganisms can

manipulate neural circuitry better than we can
Working Knowledge: No Two Alike
Fingerprint readers
Puzzling Adventures: Safecracking
The safecracker's strategy
Feb 2003
astrophysics
Magnetars
Some stars are magnetized so intensely that they emit huge

bursts of magnetic energy and alter the very nature of the
quantum vacuum
neuroscience
Why? The Neuroscience of Suicide
New research addresses the wrenching question left when

someone ends his or her own life
info tech
Evolving Inventions
Computer programs that function via Darwinian evolution are

creating inventions that are novel and useful enough to be
patented
environment
Explaining Frog Deformities
An eight-year investigation into the cause of a shocking

increase in deformed amphibians has sorted out the roles of
three prime suspects
weaponry
Satellite-Guided Munitions
Highly accurate yet affordable strike weapons, proved in

Afghanistan, are the latest upgrades to America's arsenal
medicine
Drink to Your Health?
Three decades of research shows that drinking small to

moderate amounts of alcohol has cardiovascular benefits. A
thorny issue for physicians is whether to recommend drinking
to some patients
Working Knowledge: Carbon Copy
Synthetic diamonds
Technicalities: Robots That Suck
Have they finally come out with a robot for the rest of us?
Puzzling Adventures: Five Trusty Flares
Choosing trustworthy flares
Jan 2003
medicine
New Light on Medicine
Pigments that turn caustic on exposure to light can fight

cancer, blindness and heart disease. Their light-induced
toxicity may also help explain the origin of vampire tales
info tech, nanotech

The Nanodrive Project
Inventing a nanotechnology device for mass production and

consumer use is trickier than it sounds
paleontology
An Ancestor to Call Our Own
Controversial new fossils could bring scientists closer than

ever to the origin of humanity
nutrition
Rebuilding the Food Pyramid
The dietary guide introduced a decade ago has led people

astray. Some fats are healthy for the heart, and many
carbohydrates clearly are not
earth science
Earthquake Conversations
Contrary to prevailing wisdom, large earthquakes can interact

in unexpected ways. This exciting discovery could
dramatically improve scientists' ability to pinpoint future
shocks
physics
The Science of Bubbly
Scientists study the nose-tickling effervescence of champagne

- an alluring and unmistakable aspect of its appeal
20/07/2015 03:22
68 of 147
Working Knowledge: Scratch Match
Ballistics
Puzzling Adventures: Protein Chime
Timing with proteins
Dec 2002
tech leaders
Our first annual celebration of visionaries from the worlds of

research, industry and politics whose recent accomplishments
point toward a brighter technological future for everyone
astronomy
The Brightest Explosions in the
Universe
Every time a gamma-ray burst goes off, a black hole is born
biotech
The Enigma of Huntington's Disease
Nearly 10 years after scientists isolated the gene responsible

for Huntington's, they are still searching for how it wreaks its
devastation
climate change
On Thin Ice
How soon humanity will have to move inland to escape rising

seas depends in great part on how quickly West Antarctica's
massive ice sheet shrinks. Scientists are finally beginning to
agree on what controls the size of the sheet and its rate of
disintegration
evolution
Food for Thought
Dietary change was a driving force in human evolution
info tech
Order in Pollock's Chaos
Computer analysis is helping to explain the appeal of Jackson

Pollock's paintings. The artist's famous drips and swirls create
fractal patterns, similar to those formed in nature by trees,
clouds and coastlines
Working Knowledge: Superhot Dots
Ink-jet printing
Technicalities: Getting Real
What's next in computer displays? Depth and shadows
Puzzling Adventures: Plumbers
Find the blabbermouth
Nov 2002
astronomy
When Stars Collide
When two stars smash into each other, it can be a very pretty
sight (as long as you're not too close by). These occurrences
were once considered impossible, but they have turned out to
be common in certain galactic neighborhoods
biotech
The Long Arm of the Immune System
Dendritic cells catch invaders and tell the immune system

when and how to respond. Vaccines depend on them, and
scientists are even employing the cells to stir up immunity
against cancer
zoology
Gladiators: A New Order of Insect
A mystery in amber is solved on a desert mountain with a

discovery that has stunned entomologists
info tech
Rules for a Complex Quantum World
An exciting new fundamental discipline of research combines

information science and quantum mechanics
defense
Weapons of Mass Disruption
Radiological terror weapons could blow radioactive dust

through cities, causing panic, boosting cancer rates and
forcing costly cleanups
20/07/2015 03:22
69 of 147
environment
Burning Questions
Scientists work to understand and control the plague of

wildfires in the West
Working Knowledge: See the Wind
Weather radar
Puzzling Adventures: Perfect Billiards
Perfect billiards: working the angles
Oct 2002
robotics
Controlling Robots with the Mind
People with nerve or limb injuries may one day be able to

command wheelchairs, prosthetics and even paralyzed arms
and legs by "thinking them through" the motions
astronomy
The Emptiest Places
Space comes in degrees of emptiness, but even in the

wasteland between galaxies it is not a complete void
technology
Vehicle of Change
Hydrogen fuel-cell cars could be the catalyst for a cleaner

tomorrow
biology
Skin Deep
Throughout the world, human skin color has evolved to be

dark enough to prevent sunlight from destroying the nutrient
folate but light enough to foster the production of vitamin D
defense
Technology against Terror
Biologists and engineers are devising early-warning systems

that can detect a bioterrorist attack in time to blunt its effects
info tech
Lightning Rods for Nanoelectronics
Electrostatic discharges threaten to halt further shrinking and

acceleration of electronic devices in the future
Working Knowledge: Vying for Eyes
Flat displays
Technicalities: Computers for the Third

World
The Simputer is a handheld device designed for rural villagers
Puzzling Adventures: Prime Spies
Prime spies
Sep 2002
physics
Real Time
The pace of living quickens continuously, yet a full

understanding of things temporal still eludes us
physics
That Mysterious Flow
From the fixed past to the tangible present to the undecided

future, it feels as though time flows inexorably on. But that is
an illusion
physics
A Hole at the Heart of Physics
Physicists can't seem to find the time - literally. Can

philosophers help?
physics
How to Build a Time Machine
It wouldn't be easy, but it might be possible
physics
From Instantaneous to Eternal
The units of time range from the infinitesimally brief to the

interminably long. The descriptions given here attempt to
convey a sense of this vast chronological span
physics
Times of Our Lives
Whether they're counting minutes, months or years,

biological clocks help keep our brains and bodies running on
schedule
neuroscience
Remembering When
Several brain structures contribute to "mind time," organizing

our experiences into chronologies of remembered events
20/07/2015 03:22
70 of 147
anthropology
Clocking Cultures
What is time? The answer varies from society to society
technology
A Chronicle of Timekeeping
Our conception of time depends on the way we measure it
technology
Ultimate Clocks
Atomic clocks are shrinking to microchip size, heading for

space - and approaching the limits of useful precision
Puzzling Adventures: Venture Bets
Investments and probabilities
Aug 2002
biotech
The Serious Search for an Anti-Aging
Pill
In government laboratories and elsewhere, scientists are

seeking a drug able to prolong life and youthful vigor. Studies
of caloric restriction are showing the way
cosmology
Does Dark Matter Really Exist?
Ninety-five percent of the universe has gone missing. Or has

it?
environment
The Ocean's Invisible Forest
Marine phytoplankton play a critical role in regulating the

earth's climate. Could they also be used to combat global
warming?
info tech
Computers without Clocks
Asynchronous chips improve computer performance by

letting each circuit run as fast as it can
psychology
Combating the Terror of Terrorism
The psychological damage caused by the attacks of

September 11 mirrored the physical destruction and showed
that protecting the public's mental health must be a
component of the national defense
linguistics
Saving Dying Languages
Linguists have known for years that thousands of the world's

languages are at grave risk of extinction. Yet only recently
has the field summoned the will - and the money - to do much
about it
Working Knowledge: Safety at a Cost
Smart cards
Technicalities: Machine Chic
The Poma wearable computer is flashy but not very

functional
Puzzling Adventures: Repellanoids
Repellanoid circumference
Jul 2002
biotech
Sweet Medicines
Sugars play critical roles in many cellular functions and in

disease. Study of those activities lags behind research into
genes and proteins but is beginning to heat up. The
discoveries promise to yield a new generation of drug
therapies
info tech
Last Mile by Laser
Short-range infrared lasers could beam advanced broadband

multimedia services directly into homes and offices
zoology
The Nose Takes a Starring Role
The star-nosed mole has what is very likely the world's fastest
and most fantastic nose
medicine
The Trials of an Artificial Heart
A year after doctors began implanting the AbioCor in dying

patients, the prospects of the device are uncertain
20/07/2015 03:22
71 of 147
physics
Uncovering Supersymmetry
A strange, elusive phenomenon called supersymmetry was

conceived for elementary particle physics - but has come to
light in nuclei of platinum and gold
evolution
15 Answers to Creationist Nonsense
Opponents of evolution want to make a place for creationism

by tearing down real science, but their arguments don't hold
up
Working Knowledge: Turn Turn Turn
Windmills
Puzzling Adventures: Blind Justice
Mathematical justice
Jun 2002
biotech
Hope in a Vial
Will there be an AIDS vaccine anytime soon?
cosmology
The Life Cycle of Galaxies
Astronomers are on the verge of explaining the enigmatic

variety of galaxies
zoology
Disturbing Behaviors of the Orangutan
Studies of these great apes show that some males pursue an

unexpected and disquieting evolutionary strategy
info tech
Spintronics
Microelectronic devices that function by using the spin of the

electron are a nascent multibillion-dollar industry - and may
lead to quantum microchips
psychology
Islands of Genius
Artistic brilliance and a dazzling memory can sometimes

accompany autism and other developmental disorders
chemistry
The Complexity of Coffee
One of life's simple pleasures is really quite complicated
medicine
No Truth to the Fountain of Youth
Fifty-one scientists who study aging have issued a warning to

the public: no anti-aging remedy on the market today has
been proved effective. Here's why they are speaking up
Working Knowledge: Hidden Guides
Gyroscope guidance
Technicalities: Whatever You Say
With speech-recognition software, your voice is the

computer's command
Puzzling Adventures: Privacy Taboos
Privacy among the Paranoimos
May 2002
biotech
Atherosclerosis: The New View
It causes chest pain, heart attack and stroke, leading to more

deaths every year than cancer. The long-held conception of
how the disease develops turns out to be wrong
planetary science
Journey to the Farthest Planet
Scientists are finally preparing to send a spacecraft to Pluto

and the Kuiper Belt, the last unexplored region in our
planetary system
info tech
Wireless Data Blaster
Radio's oldest technology is providing a new way for portable

electronics to transmit large quantities of data rapidly without
wires
New fossils and DNA analyses elucidate the remarkable

evolution
The Mammals That Conquered the Seas evolutionary history of whales
20/07/2015 03:22
72 of 147
physics
Extreme Light
Focusing light with the power of 1,000 Hoover Dams onto a

point the size of a cell nucleus accelerates electrons to the
speed of light in a femtosecond
environment
Rethinking Green Consumerism
Buying green products won't be enough to save biodiversity

in the tropics. A new plan for marketing conservation
services may be the answer
Puzzling Adventures: Defense in Depth
Avoiding tackles in a football game
Apr 2002
biotech
Proteins Rule
Proteomics is biotech's "new new thing." Its enthusiasts are

racing to catalogue the proteins in our bodies and to figure
out how they network with one another. These efforts could
lead to more and better drugs
info tech
Augmented Reality: A New Way of
Seeing
Computer scientists are developing systems that can enhance

and enrich a user's view of the world
zoology
Parasitic Sex Puppeteers
By directing its victims' sex lives, the bacterial parasite

Wolbachia may be helping to produce new species
physics
Ripples in Spacetime
Physicists have spent eight years and $365 million building a

radically new kind of observatory to detect gravitational
waves. But will it work? A trial run put it to the test
health
The Science of Bad Breath
The age-old condition of bad breath is coming under new

scientific scrutiny, leading to insights into diagnostic
approaches and possible solutions
psychology
The Social Psychology of Modern
Slavery
Contrary to conventional wisdom, slavery has not

disappeared from the world. Social scientists are trying to
explain its persistence
Puzzling Adventures: A Fairy Tale
A tale of fairies and pearls
Working Knowledge: Grow, Then Kill
Lab tests
Technicalities: Bringing the Net to the

Bedroom
Even an amateur can create a custom-designed internet

appliance
Mar 2002
info tech
The Worldwide Computer
An operating system spanning the Internet would bring the

power of millions of the world's Internet-connected PCs to
everyone's fingertips
biotech
Attacking Anthrax
Recent discoveries are suggesting much-needed strategies for

improving prevention and treatment. High on the list: ways to
neutralize the anthrax bacterium's fiendish toxin
astronomy
The Cosmic Reality Check
A celestial audit suggests that astronomers' inventory of

luminous bodies may soon be complete
psychology
Scars That Won't Heal: The
Neurobiology of Child Abuse
Maltreatment at an early age can have enduring negative

effects on a child's brain development and function
20/07/2015 03:22
73 of 147
earth science
Repeated Blows
Did extraterrestrial collisions capable of causing widespread

extinctions pound the earth not once, but twice - or even
several times?
education
How Should Reading be Taught?
Educators have long argued over the best way to teach

reading to children. The research, however, indicates that a
highly popular method is inadequate on its own
Working Knowledge: Secret of Spin
Combination locks
Puzzling Adventures: Card Counters
Card counting with Bob and Alice
Feb 2002
info tech
The Network in Every Room
Thanks to ingenious engineering, computers and appliances

can now communicate through the electrical wiring in a
house
biotech
The Magic of Microarrays
Research tools known as DNA microarrays are already

clarifying the molecular roots of health and disease and
speeding drug discovery. They could also hasten the day
when custom-tailored treatment plans replace a one-sizefits-all approach to health care
paleontology
Madagascar's Mesozoic Secrets
The world's fourth-largest island divulges fossils that could

revolutionize scientific views on the origins of dinosaurs and
mammals
astronomy
Bejeweled Worlds
What an impoverished universe it would be if Saturn and the

other giant planets lacked rings. Planetary scientists are
finally working out how gravity has sculpted these elegant
ornaments
psychology
Television Addiction
Understanding how closely compulsive TV viewing resembles

other forms of addiction may help couch potatoes control
their habit
environment
The Bottleneck
We have entered the Century of the Environment, in which

the immediate future is usefully conceived as a bottleneck:
science and technology, combined with foresight and moral
courage, must see us through it and out
Working Knowledge: Eye in the Sky
Aerial and satellite imaging
Technicalities: Surrounded by Sound
Ingenious software makes ordinary stereo speakers come

alive
Puzzling Adventures: Shifty Witnesses
Skipping the preliminaries, the detective stated his problem:

"We have five witnesses whom we don't trust. They have
trailed a group of 10 suspected drug dealers. For each
suspect, the five witnesses take a vote about whether the
suspect has drugs or not.
Jan 2002
astronomy
The Gas between the Stars
Filled with colossal fountains of hot gas and vast bubbles

blown by exploding stars, the interstellar medium is far more
interesting than scientists once thought
20/07/2015 03:22
74 of 147
biotech
The First Human Cloned Embryo
Cloned early-stage human embryos - and human embryos

generated only from eggs, in a process called parthenogenesis
- now put therapeutic cloning within reach
info tech
A Vertical Leap for Microchips
Engineers have discovered a way to pack more computing

power into microcircuits: build them vertically as well as
horizontally
environment
Misleading Math about the Earth
Science defends itself against The Skeptical Environmentalist
energy
Next-Generation Nuclear Power
New, safer and more economical nuclear reactors could not

only satisfy many of our future energy needs but could
combat global warming as well
psychology
The Economics of Fair Play
Why do we value fairness and cooperation over seemingly

more rational selfishness? How can Darwinian generosity
arise? Biologists and economists explain
Working Knowledge: Breathing Easier?
Gas masks
Puzzling Adventures: Pinpointing a

Polar Bear
How many hunters does it take to catch a polar bear?
Dec 2001
medicine
Vessels of Death or Life
Angiogenesis - the formation of new blood vessels - might

one day be manipulated to treat disorders from cancer to
heart disease. First-generation drugs are now in the final
phase of human testing
physics
Photonic Crystals: Semiconductors of
Light
Nanostructured materials containing ordered arrays of holes

could lead to an optoelectronics revolution, doing for light
what silicon did for electrons
evolution
How We Came to Be Human
The acquisition of language and the capacity for symbolic art

may lie at the very heart of the extraordinary cognitive
abilities that set us apart from the rest of creation
astronomy
The First Stars in the Universe
Exceptionally massive and bright, the earliest stars changed

the course of cosmic history
weaponry
India, Pakistan and the Bomb
The Indian subcontinent is the most likely place in the world

for a nuclear war
info tech
Origins of Personal Computing
Forget Gates, Jobs and Wozniak. The foundations of modern

interactive computers were laid decades earlier
Working Knowledge: In the Fast Lane
Electronic toll collection
Technicalities: Long-Distance Robots
The technology of telepresence makes the world even smaller
Puzzling Adventures: Fashion Gang
Fashionable mathematics
Nov 2001
ecology
On the Termination of Species
Ecologists' warnings of an ongoing mass extinction are being

challenged by skeptics and largely ignored by politicians. In
part that is because it is surprisingly hard to know the
dimensions of the die-off, why it matters and how it can best
be stopped
20/07/2015 03:22
75 of 147
info tech
The Electronic Paper Chase
Digital "paper" that displays changing text and graphics

would ideally marry the best features of traditional printed
materials with those of video screens. Companies are racing
to realize that promise using two competing technologies.
Already retailers are testing cost-saving changeable e-ink
signage. Pliable, updatable e-newspapers, e-books and even
an e-Scientific American could be here within a decade
biotech
Beyond Chicken Soup
The antiviral era is upon us, with an array of virus-fighting

drugs on the market and in development. Research into viral
genomes is fueling much of this progress
astronomy
Gravity's Kaleidoscope
The most massive telescopes known to humanity sit not on

earthly mountaintops but in deep space. They are
gravitational lenses, once mere curiosities, now one of the
most important tools in astronomy
evolution
The Evolution of Human Birth
The difficulties of childbirth have probably challenged

humans and their ancestors for millions of years - which
means that the modern custom of seeking assistance during
delivery may have similarly ancient roots
education
Does Class Size Matter?
Legislators are spending billions to reduce class sizes. Will the

results by worth the expense?
Working Knowledge: Current Safety
Ground fault circuit interrupters
Puzzling Adventures: Truck Stop
Mathematics of a truckers' stike
Oct 2001
biotech
Magic Bullets Fly Again
Molecular guided missiles called monoclonal antibodies were

poised to shoot down cancer and a host of other diseases until they crashed and burned. Now a new generation is
soaring to market
info tech
Code Red for the Web
Could the Internet crash? This summer's Code Red attacks

could foreshadow destructive cyberwarfare between hacker
groups or between governments
info tech
Driving the Info Highway
The Internet has hit the road. Drivers can now access
anything from custom traffic reports to spoken e-mail
messages to video games. But is it safe?
astrobiology, life science

Refuges for Life in a Hostile Universe
Only part of our galaxy is fit for advanced life
Researchers have begun to identify the causes of this dreaded

medicine
The Challenge of Macular Degeneration eye disease that targets the elderly
engineering
Drowning New Orleans
A major hurricane could swamp New Orleans under 20 feet

of water, killing thousands. Human activities along the
Mississippi River have dramatically increased the risk, and
now only massive reengineering of southeastern Louisiana
can save the city
Working Knowledge: Mice and Men
Computer mouse
Technicalities: A Wide Web of Worlds
New Internet browsers add an extra dimension - but little

depth
20/07/2015 03:22
76 of 147
Puzzling Adventures: Crowns of the

Minotaur
Labyrinthine logic
Sep 2001
nanotech
Little Big Science
Nanotechnology is all the rage. But will it meet its ambitious

goals? And what the heck is it?
nanotech
Nanofabrication: The Art of Building
Small
Researchers are discovering cheap, efficient ways to make

structures only a few billionths of a meter across
nanotech
Nanophysics: Plenty of Room, Indeed
There is plenty of room for practical innovation at the

nanoscale. But first, scientists have to understand the unique
physics that governs matter there
nanotech
Nanoelectronics: The Incredible
Shrinking Circuit
Researchers have built nanotransistors and nanowires. Now

they just need to find a way to put them all together
nanotech
Nanomedicine: Less is More in
Medicine
Sophisticated forms of nanotechnology will find some of their

first real-world applications in biomedical research, disease
diagnosis and, possibly, therapy
nanotech
Nanovisions: Machine-Phase
Nanotechnology
A molecular nanotechnology pioneer predicts that the tiniest

robots will revolutionize manufacturing and transform society
nanotech
Nanofallacies: Of Chemistry, Love and
Nanobots
How soon will we see the nanometer-scale robots envisaged

by K. Eric Drexler and other molecular nanotechnologists?
The simple answer is never
nanotech
Nanoinspirations: The Once and Future
Nanomachine
Biology outmatches futurists' most elaborate fantasies for

molecular robots
nanotech
Nanorobotics: Nanobot Construction
Crews
Nanotechnology visionaries find out how difficult it is to

develop minuscule robots that can treat diseases or perform
pollution-free manufacturing
nanotech
Nanofiction: Shamans of Small
Like interstellar travel, time machines and cyberspace,

nanotechnology has become one of the core pilot devices on
which science-fiction writers draw
Working Knowledge: Flea Treatments
Killer drops
Puzzling Adventures: Square Dancing
Square dancing without collisions
Aug 2001
info tech
Go Forth and Replicate
Birds do it, bees do it, but could machines do it? New

computer simulations suggest that the answer is yes
astrochemistry
The Ice of Life
Ice in its earthly guise is hostile to living things. But an exotic

form of space ice can actually promote the creation of
organic molecules -and may have seeded life on Earth
biotech
Cybernetic Cells
The simplest living cell is so complex that supercomputer

models may never simulate its behavior perfectly. But even
imperfect models could shake the foundations of biology
20/07/2015 03:22
77 of 147
anthropology
Once Were Cannibals
Clear evidence of cannibalism in the human fossil record has

been rare, but it is now becoming apparent that the practice is
deeply rooted in our history
security
Taming the Killing Fields of Laos
Live bombs from the Vietnam War continue to kill people and
hamper agricultural development in Laos. The cleanup
project required deciphering decades-old computer files
info tech
The Do-It-Yourself Supercomputer
Scientists have found a cheaper way to solve tremendously

difficult computational problems: connect ordinary PCs so
that they can work together
ecology
The Trouble with Turtles
Despite heroic efforts to protect the nesting beaches of green

turtles, fewer and fewer of these endangered creatures
reappear every year. Researchers have been stunned to
discover that shielding young turtles is only half the battle
Working Knowledge: Crank It Up!
Human-powered electronics
Technicalities: Touchy-Feely Computing A new mouse picks up good vibrations

Puzzling Adventures: The Delphi Flip
Predicting the future accurately is most useful in betting

games - the stock market comes to mind
Jul 2001
info tech
How to Build a Hypercomputer
The simulation and ultimate solution of humanity's major ills

and most perplexing problems require significantly faster
supercomputers
psychology
The Truth and Hype of Hypnosis
Though often denigrated as fakery or wishful thinking,

hypnosis has been shown to be a real phenomenon with a
variety of therapeutic uses - especially in controlling pain
nanotech
Making Molecules into Motors
Molecular turmoil, quantum craziness: microscopic machines

must operate in a world gone mad. But if you can't beat the
chaos, why not exploit it?
physics
Frozen Light
Slowing a beam of light to a halt may pave the way for new
optical communications technology, tabletop black holes and
quantum computers
biotech
Battling Biofilms
The war is against bacterial colonies that cause some of the

most tenacious infections known. The weapon is knowledge
of the enemy's communication system
ecology
Fishy Business
Cyanide fishing threatens many of the last pristine coral reefs

in Southeast Asia. Will an ambitious program to clean up the
marine aquarium trade be enough to save them?
Working Knowledge: Tan or Burn
Protecting skin from the summer sun
Puzzling Adventures: Seeing Red,

Feeling Blue
Here's a puzzle full of clashing colors
Jun 2001
astrophysics
The Paradox of the Sun's Hot Corona
Like a boiling teakettle atop a cold stove, the sun's hot outer
layers sit on the relatively cool surface. And now astronomers
are figuring out why
20/07/2015 03:22
78 of 147
biology
Solving the Mystery of Insect Flight
Insects use a combination of aerodynamic effects to remain

aloft
neuroscience
Sign Language in the Brain
How does the human brain process language? New studies of

deaf signers hint at an answer
space science
North to Mars!
To pave the way for a mission to Mars, a band of scientists

decided to go to the Canadian arctic
biotech
Hair - Why It Grows Why It Stops
Scientists are rapidly discovering the molecules that control

hair production. In so doing, they could be unearthing the key
to combating both baldness and excessive hair growth
anthropology
The Himba and the Dam
A questionable act of progress may drown this African tribe's

way of life. Similar dramas are playing out around the world
technology
A Low-pollution Engine Solution
Clean-burning, sparkless-ignition auto engines may offer the

best chance of meeting new exhaust emissions standards
Working Knowledge: Flight Control
Golf balls
Technicalities: Kibbles and Bytes
How much is that robotic doggy in the window?
Puzzling Adventures: Alternating Liars
Liar, liar, liar
May 2001
info tech
The Semantic Web
A new form of Web content that is meaningful to computers

will unleash a revolution of new possibilities
astronomy
Rip Van Twinkle
The oldest stars have been growing younger
biotech
Behind Enemy Lines
A close look at the inner workings of microbes in the era of

escalating antibiotic resistance is offering new strategies for
designing drugs
environment
The Arctic Oil and Wildlife Refuge
The last great onshore oil field in America may lie beneath
the nation's last great coastal wilderness preserve. Science
can clarify the potential economic benefits and the ecological
risks of drilling into it
weaponry
Warp Drive Underwater
Traveling inside drag-cutting bubbles, secret torpedoes and

other subsea naval systems can move hundreds of miles per
hour
psychology
What's Wrong with This Picture?
Psychologists often use the famous Rorschach inkblot test

and related tools to assess personality and mental illness. But
research says the instruments are frequently ineffective for
those purposes
Working Knowledge: Quick Scan
Bar-code readers
Puzzling Adventures: Something Fishy
Retracing a villain's steps
Apr 2001
biotech
Whose Blood Is It, Anyway?
Blood collected from umbilical cords and placentas - which

are usually thrown away following birth - contains stem cells
that can rebuild the blood and immune systems of people
with leukemia and other cancers
20/07/2015 03:22
79 of 147
biotech
Genetically Modified Foods: Are They
Safe? - Introduction
A look at how much science really knows about the risks of

growing and eating genetically modified crops.
biotech
Safe? - Seeds of Concern
Are genetically modified crops an environmental dream come

true or a disaster in the making? Scientists are looking for
answers
biotech
Safe? - The Risks on the Table
More than half the foods in U.S. supermarkets contain

genetically modified ingredients. Have they been proved safe
for human consumption?
biotech
Safe? - Does the World Need GM
Foods? (Q&A)
Two leading figures in the debate over genetic engineering

defend their stances
info tech
Virtually There
Three-dimensional tele-immersion may eventually bring the

world to your desk
chemistry
Life's Rocky Start
Air, water and rock were the only raw materials available on
the early earth. The first living entitities must been fabricated
from these primitive resources. New experiments suggest that
minerals - the basic components of the rocks - could have
played starring roles in that dramatic feat
astrophysics
The Fury of Space Storms
Shock waves from the sun can trigger severe turbulence in

the space around the earth, endangering satellites and
astronauts in orbit. Now a new spacecraft is showing how
space storms develop
psychology
Violent Pride
Do people turn violent because of self-hate, or self-love?
Working Knowledge: Touch Screens At Your Fingertips
A truly touchy interface
Technicalities: Look, Ma, No Wires!
The Ricochet wireless modem is like a Ferrari - fast but

pricey
Puzzling Adventures: No Tipping
A weighty search for leverage
Mar 2001
biology
Making Sense of Taste
How do cells on the tongue register the sensations of sweet,

salty, sour and bitter? Scientists are finding out - and
discovering how the brain interprets these signals as various
tastes
earth science
Sculpting the Earth from Inside Out
Powerful motions deep inside the planet do not merely shove

fragments of the rocky shell horizontally around the globe they also lift and lower entire continents
biology
If Humans Were Built to Last
We would look a lot different - inside and out - if evolution

had designed the human body to function smoothly not only
in youth but for a century or more
astronomy
A Sharper View of the Stars
A new generation of optical interferometers is letting

astronomers study stars in 100 times finer detail than is
possible with the Hubble Space Telescope
20/07/2015 03:22
80 of 147
evolution
Evolution: A Lizard's Tale
On some islands in the Caribbean, evolution seems to have

taken the same turn - over and over and over again
economics
The Geography of Poverty and Wealth
Tropical climate and lack of access to sea trade have hurt the
poorest nations. But new aid programs point the way to
prosperity
Working Knowledge: Gotcha!
How radar guns catch speeders
The Amateur Scientist: Geotropism, One

How plants grow in reduced gravity
Last Time
Mathematical Recreations: Easter Is a
Quasicrystal
The divine mathematics of a holiday
Feb 2001
environment
Special Report: Safeguarding Our
Water/Introduction
Drip, trickle, splash. Water is one of the most common

substances in the universe, and our ocean-wrapped planet is
blessed with a generous share of it. Unfortunately, 97 percent
of that share is salty, and much of the rest is locked up in ice.
environment
Water/Making Every Drop Count
We drink it, we generate electricity with it, we soak our crops

with it. And we're stretching our supplies to the breaking
point. Will we have enough clean water to satisfy all the
world's needs?
environment
Water/Growing More Food with Less
Water
If the world hopes to feed its burgeoning population,

irrigation must become less wasteful and more widespread
environment
Water/How We Can Do It
A look at four promising ways to maintain adequate supplies

of freshwater: desalination, new technologies for transporting
water, reducing demand, and recycling
biotech
Why the Y is So Weird
Our X and Y chromosomes make an odd couple. The X

resembles any other chromosome, but the Y - the source of
maleness - is downright strange. How did the two come to
differ so much?
technology
In Pursuit of the Ultimate Lamp
Full-spectrum light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, are becoming

widespread - and the race is on to develop white-light
versions to replace Edison's century-old incandescent bulb
physics
100 Years of Quantum Mysteries
As quantum theory celebrates its 100th birthday, spectacular

successes are mixed with persistent puzzles
psychology
The Science of Persuasion
Salespeople, politicians, friends and family all have a stake in

getting you to agree to their requests. Social psychology has
determined the basic principles that govern getting to "yes"
Working Knowledge: Preparing for

Battle
How vaccines prevent the flu
The Amateur Scientist: Counting

Particles from Space
How to build a cosmic-ray telescope
Mathematical Recreations: Pursuing

Polygonal Privacy
Good fences make good neighbors
20/07/2015 03:22
81 of 147
Jan 2001
cosmology
Brave New Cosmos: Introduction
Observational cosmology is about to become a mature

science. Explanations for the universe's unexpectedly odd
behaviors may then be around the corner
cosmology
Brave New Cosmos: Echoes from the
Big Bang
Scientists may soon glimpse the universe's beginnings by

studying the subtle ripples made by gravitational waves
cosmology
Brave New Cosmos: A Cosmic
Cartographer
The Microwave Anisotropy Probe will give cosmologists a

much sharper picture of the early universe
cosmology
Brave New Cosmos: The Quintessential
Universe
The universe has recently been commandeered by an

invisible energy field, which is causing its expansion to
accelerate outward
cosmology
Brave New Cosmos: Making Sense of
Modern Cosmology
Confused by all those theories? Good
cosmology
Brave New Cosmos: Plan B for the
Cosmos
If the new cosmology fails, what's the backup plan?
biology
The Cultures of Chimpanzees
Humankind's nearest relative is even closer than we thought:

chimpanzees display remarkable behaviors that can only be
described as social customs passed on from generation to
generation
biotech
The Cellular Chamber of Doom
Structures called proteasomes inside cells continously destroy

proteins. Several common diseases result when the process
works too zealously - or not at all
technology
The Mystery of Damascus Blades
Centuries ago craftsmen forged peerless steel blades. But how

did they do it? The author and a blacksmith have found the
answer
info tech
The Triumph of the Light
Extensions to fiber optics will supply network capacity that

borders on the infinite
info tech
The Rise of Optical Switching
Replacing electronic switches with purely optical ones will

become the technological linchpin for networks that transmit
trillions of bits each second
info tech
Routing Packets with Light
The ultimate all-optical network will require dramatic

advances in technologies that use one lightwave to imprint
information on another
Working Knowledge: The

Well-Rounded Flat Speaker
The rounded tones of flat-panel speakers
Mathematical Recreations:
Dots-and-Boxes for Experts
The secret subtleties of a children's game
The Amateur Scientist: A Canteen

Cloud Chamber
Viewing the path of charged particles
Dec 2000
20/07/2015 03:22
82 of 147
paleontology
Rulers of the Jurassic Seas
Fish-shaped reptiles called ichthyosaurs reigned over the

oceans for as long as dinosaurs roamed the land, but only
recently have paleontologists discovered why these creatures
were so successful
nanotech
Nanotubes for Electronics
They are stronger than steel, but the most important uses for
these threadlike macromolecules may be in faster, more
efficient and more durable electronic devices
astronomy
The Secrets of Stardust
Tiny grains of dust floating in interstellar space have radically

altered the history of our galaxy
medicine
Piecing Together Alzheimer?s
The stunningly complex biochemical puzzle that underlies

this crippling disease remains incomplete, but parts that
seemed unrelated just a decade ago are now fitting into place
urban planning
The Science of Smart Growth
Are there any alternatives to urban sprawl? Pundits and pols

may endlessly debate that question, but the only way to get
an answer is to go out and see what works in the real world
physics
The Coolest Gas in the Universe
Bose-Einstein condensates are one of the hottest areas in

experimental physics
Working Knowledge: Superabsorbers
Disposable diapers
The Amateur Scientist: Calibrating with

Cold
How to fine-tune a laboratory thermometer
Mathematical Recreations: Jumping

Champions
Counting the gaps between primes
Nov 2000
Special Report: The Future of Digital
Entertainment/Introduction
The barriers separating TV, movies, music, video games and

the Internet are crumbling. Audiences are getting new
creative options. Here is what entertainment could become if
the technological and legal hurdles can be cleared.
Entertainment/Creating Convergence
TV, movies, Internet video, and music could morph into one
big stream of d-entertainment that we can enjoy on any
device, anywhere, anytime. But the devil is in the details
Entertainment/Music Wars
Internet distribution of quality d-audio is rapidly being

perfected, but the precedent-setting legal battles have just
begun
Entertainment/Moviemaking in
Transition
Digital video cameras and editing equipment are transforming

the way movies are made - even which movies get made
Entertainment/Digital Cinema Is for
Reel
Digital projection works,but it's not at a theater near you - yet
Entertainment/Digital Humans Wait in
the Wings
Characters, scenes and entire movies have been crafted

digitally. But can animators create realistic humans to star in
computer-generated films? Actors want to know
20/07/2015 03:22
83 of 147
Entertainment/Your Own Virtual
Storyworld
True interactive entertainment will arise once engineers and

artists create virtual realities that can unfold improvisationally
biotech
Cloning Noah's Ark
Biotechnology might offer the best way to keep some

endangered species from disappearing from the planet
space science
The Vasimir Rocket
There used to be two types of rocket: powerful but

fuel-guzzling, or efficient but weak. Now there is a third
option that combines the advantages of both
medicine
AIDS Drugs for Africa
Most of the 35 million people infected with the AIDS virus

live on the African continent, where drugs that fight the virus
are rare. Will the world let them die?
history
The Odd Couple and the Bomb
Like a story by Victor Hugo as told to Neil Simon, the events

leading up to the first controlled nuclear chain reaction
involved accidental encounters among larger-than-life figures,
especially two who did not exactly get along ? but had to
Working Knowledge: Pregnancy Tests
How home pregnancy tests work.
The Amateur Scientist: Boids of a

Feather Flock Together
Simulating boids, floys and other artificial life.
Mathematical Recreations: Spiral Slime
How nature draws spirals and shapes.
Oct 2000
info tech
The Wireless Web: Special
Report/Introduction
The Internet has been the subject of more self-parodying

hype than anything since 500-channel cable.
info tech
The Wireless Web: Special Report/The
Internet in Your Hands
To spur the growth of the wireless Web, companies are

developing networks that can handle huge amounts of data
and handheld devices that can tap into all the Internet's
resources
info tech
Promise and Perils of WAP
The Wireless Application Protocol allows cell phone users to

connect to the Internet, but the technology has serious
limitations
info tech
Future is Here. Or Is It?
How will Web phones ever become popular if it takes 10

minutes and costs $4 to send one e-mail?
info tech
Third-Generation Gap
A revolution needs a plan. Which technology will provide it?
medicine
Operating on a Beating Heart
Coronary bypass surgery can be a lifesaving operation. Two

new surgical techniques should make the procedure safer and
less expensive
life science
The Power of Memes
Behaviors and ideas copied from person to person by

imitation - memes - may have forced human genes to make us
what we are today
20/07/2015 03:22
84 of 147
archaeology
Nabada: The Buried City
Excavations in northern Syria reveal the metropolis of

Nabada, founded 4,500 years ago. Its elaborate
administration and culture rivaled those of the fabled cities of
southern Mesopotamia
mathematics
Better Decisions through Science
Math-based aids for making decisions in medicine and

industry could improve many diagnoses - often saving lives in
the process
Working Knowledge: The Hard and the

Soft
Contact lenses: something in your eye?
The Amateur Scientist: Down among the

High-precision scales bring balance to home labs.
Micrograms
Mathematical Recreations: MillionDollar Minesweeper
How a computer game can make you rich
Sep 2000
biology
Muscle, Genes and Athletic
Performance
The cellular biology of muscle helps to explain why a

particular athlete wins and suggests what future athletes
might do to better their odds
astronomy
Searching for Shadows of Other Earths
Astronomers have found dozens of giant planets beyond our

solar system, but they haven't been capable of bagging an
Earth - until now
biotech
Edible Vaccines
One day children may get immunized by munching on foods

instead of enduring shots. More important, food vaccines
might save millions who now die for lack of access to
traditional inoculants
The briefest man-made events, pulses of laser light lasting

physics
millionths of a nanosecond, can be used for delicate eye
Ultrashort-Pulse Lasers: Big Payoffs in a
surgery, high-bandwidth communications and stop-motion
Flash
studies of molecules reacting
anthropology
Who Were the First Americans?
If your answer was fur-clad mammoth hunters, guess again.

The first people to settle the New World may have been
fisherfolk and basket weavers
engineering
The Plan to Save Fallingwater
This breathtaking house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright was

in danger of collapse until an engineering firm found a way to
stop it from falling down
Working Knowledge: A Better Black

Box
How do black boxes survive plane crashes?
The Amateur Scientist: Using a Kite as

an Experimental Platform
Kites carry eyes in the sky
Mathematical Recreations: Hex Marks

the Spot
The mind-bending challenge of Hex.
Aug 2000
materials science
How Green Are Green Plastics?
It is now technologically possible to make plastics using green

plants rather than nonrenewable fossil fuels. But are these
new plastics the environmental saviors researchers have
20/07/2015 03:22
85 of 147
hoped for?
astronomy
Fountains of Youth: Early Days in the
Life of a Star
To make a star, gas and dust must fall inward. So why do

astronomers see stuff streaming outward?
climate change
Is Global Warming Harmful to Health?
Computer models indicate that many diseases will surge as

the earth's atmosphere heats up. Signs of the predicted
troubles have begun to appear
chemistry
Form from Fire
Self-propagating heat waves can engender new and improved

materials, but only recently have researchers found ways to
monitor these ultraquick chemical reactions
physics
The Universe's Unseen Dimensions
The visible universe could lie on a membrane floating within

a higher-dimensional space. The extra dimensions would help
unify the forces of nature and could contain parallel universes
biology
Male Sexual Circuitry
The brain is the most important sex organ. One of its roles in
male sexuality is to keep the penis under control.
nutrition
Birth of the Modern Diet
Ever wonder why dessert is served after dinner? The origins

of modern Western cooking can be traced to ideas about diet
and nutrition that arose during the 17th century
Working Knowledge: Focusing in a

Flash
Cheese! How cameras autofocus
The Amateur Scientist: How to Rear a

Plankton Menagerie
Raising a plankton menagerie.
Mathematical Recreations: A Fractal

Guide to Tic-Tac-Toe
A familiar shape in unexpected places
Jul 2000
life science
Special Industry Report: The Business
of the Human Genome (Introduction)
The task of sequencing all human DNA is all but done, but
mining the mountains of genetic information for pay dirt is
just beginning
life science
Special Industry Report: The Human
Genome Business Today
It's been a wild ride for the corporate and government parties
who have deciphered the human genetic code. The fun has
just begun
life science
Special Industry Report: The
Bioinformatics Gold Rush
A $300-million industry has emerged around turning raw

genome data into knowledge for making new drugs
life science
Special Industry Report: Beyond the
Human Genome
With all of the DNA that codes for a human in hand, the
challenge then becomes what to make of it. Some of the first
fruits will come from a new field called proteomics
physics
The Large Hadron Collider
The Large Hadron Collider will be a particle accelerator of

unprecedented energy and complexity, a global collaboration
to uncover an exotic new layer of reality
evolution
Darwin's Influence on Modern Thought
Great minds shape the thinking of successive historical

periods. Luther and Calvin inspired the Reformation; Locke,
Leibnitz, Voltaire and Rousseau, the Enlightenment. Modern
thought is most dependent on the influence of Charles
20/07/2015 03:22
86 of 147
Darwin
engineering
The Revolutionary Bridges of Robert
Maillart
Swiss engineer Robert Maillart built some of the greatest

bridges of the 20th century. His designs elegantly solved a
basic engineering problem: how to support enormous weights
using a slender arch
earth science
The Killing Lakes
Two lakes in Cameroon are poised to release lethal gas, as

they did in the 1980s. Writer Marguerite Holloway reports on
scientists' efforts to prevent another tragedy
Working Knowledge: Escape and

Survival
With luck, the unnecessary space suit.
The Amateur Scientist: PCR at Home
Copying DNA in your kitchen.
Mathematical Recreations: Knotting

Ventured...
How pieces of string can illustrate the principles of symmetry
Jun 2000
weaponry
Special Report: Waging a New Kind of
War (Introduction)
What could possibly be new about war? People have always

been quite imaginative about finding ways to impose their
will by violent force. Rocks and spears, catapults and
muskets, mustard gas and nukes: you might think that human
civilization has tried it all. Evidently not.
weaponry
Special Report: A Scourge of Small
Arms
With a few hundred machine guns and mortars, a small army

can take over an entire country, killing and wounding
hundreds of thousands
weaponry
Special Report: Invisible Wounds
Medical researchers have recently begun to address the

mental health effects of war on civilians
weaponry
Special Report: Children of the Gun
How do you make a child into a killer? Armed groups

worldwide have developed a grim routine: abduct children
from their families, inure them to abuse and "promote" them
into combat
astronomy
Dwarf Galaxies and Starbursts
Diminutive galaxies occasionally experience spectacular

bursts of star formation. These starbursts are giving
astronomers a glimpse of the universe's early history
biology
Cell Communication: The Inside Story
The tiny cells in our bodies harbor amazing internal

communication networks. Understanding how those circuits
are organized could help scientists develop new therapies for
many serious disorders
anthropology
Reading the Bones of La Florida
New approaches are offering insight into the lives of Native

Americans after the Europeans arrived. Their health declined
not only because of disease but because of their altered diet
and living circumstances
biotech
Computing with Molecules
Researchers have produced molecules that act like switches,

wires and even memory elements. But connecting many of
the devices together presents enormous challenges
biology
Looking for Life Below the Bottom
Two scientists have a hunch that the largest repository of life

is not the oceans but the fractured rock beneath them. Staff
writer Sarah Simpson recounts the voyage to find proof
20/07/2015 03:22
87 of 147
May 2000
astronomy
The Small Planets
Asteroids have become notorious as celestial menaces but are

best appreciated in a positive light, as surreal worlds bearing
testimony to the origin of the planets
info tech
Special Industry Report: Avoiding A
Data Crunch
The technology of computer hard drives is fast approaching a

physical barrier imposed by the superparamagnetic effect.
Overcoming it will require tricky innovations
biology
Coping with Crowding
A persistent and popular view holds that high population

density inevitably leads to violence. This myth, which is
based on rat research, applies neither to us nor to other
primates
physics
Making Metallic Hydrogen
By re-creating extreme conditions like those in Jupiter's core,

physicists have at long last turned hydrogen into a metal
medicine
Care for a Dying Continent
In Zimbabwe - where AIDS is prematurely killing a

generation of adults - counselors and researchers struggle
against social customs, viral resourcefulness and despair
Apr 2000
physics
Quantum Teleportation
The science-fiction dream of "beaming" objects from place to

place is now a reality - at least for particles of light
biotech
Building a Brainier Mouse
By genetically engineering a smarter than average mouse,

scientists have assembled some of the central molecular
components of learning and memory
medicine
Understanding Clinical Trials
The journey from initial medical research to the bottle in your

family's medicine cabinet is complex, time-consuming and
expensive. Can the clinical trial process be refined?
astronomy
The Discovery of Brown Dwarfs
Less massive than stars but more massive than planets, brown
dwarfs were long assumed to be rare. New sky surveys,
however, show that the objects may be as common as stars
anthropology
The Aleutian Kayak
The Aleuts built the baidarka to suit their life as hunters on

the open ocean. The sophisticated design of this kayak is still
not entirely understood
environment
Monitoring Earth's Vital Signs
A new NASA satellite - one of a fleet called the Earth

Observing System - is using five state-of-the-art sensors to
diagnose the planet's health like never before
anthropology
Who Were the Neandertals?
Controversial evidence indicates that these hominids

interbred with anatomically modern humans and sometimes
behaved in surprisingly modern ways
Mar 2000
space science
Why Go to Mars?
In the first of this group of articles about human missions to

Mars, staff writer Glenn Zorpette examines the main goal:
looking for life
space science
How to Go to Mars?
Staff writers George Musser and Mark Alpert make sense of

the myriad ideas for a human mission
20/07/2015 03:22
88 of 147
space science
The Mars Direct Plan
A leading advocate of manned missions to Mars, Robert

Zubrin, outlines his relatively inexpensive plan to send
astronauts to the Red Planet within a decade
space science
To Mars By Way of its Moons
Phobos and Deimos would make ideal staging areas, argues

veteran space scientist S. Fred Singer
space science
A Bus Between the Planets
Gravity-assist trajectories between Earth and Mars would

reduce the cost of shuttling human crews and their
equipment, say James Oberg and Buzz Aldrin
space science
Staying Sane in Space
Is the "right stuff" enough? asks staff writer Sarah Simpson
space science
Invaders from Hollywood
Thanks to Pathfinder and other missions, science gets some

respect in Tinseltown, as staff writer Philip Yam finds after
touchdown on a Vancouver set
biotech
The Tick-Tock of the Biological clock
Biological clocks count off 24-hour intervals in most forms of

life. Genetics has revealed that related molecular timepieces
are at work in fruit flies, mice and humans
mathematics
Swarm Smarts
Using ants and other social insects as models, computer

scientists have created software agents that cooperate to
solve complex problems, such as the rerouting of traffic in a
busy telecom network
environment
Dissecting a Hurricane
Flying into the raging tumult of Dennis, scientists suspected

that the storm might transform into a monster - if they were
lucky
biology
The Bromeliads of the Atlantic Forest
Along the coast of Brazil, 8 percent of a once flourishing

forest is left to house a diverse family of bromeliads. A group
of biologists scale cliffs and trees to collect these rare
beauties
Feb 2000
astronomy
The Galileo Mission to Jupiter and Its
Moons
Few scientists thought that the Galileo spacecraft, beset by

technical troubles, could conduct such a comprehensive study
of the Jovian system. And few predicted that the innards of
these worlds would prove so varied
materials science
Melting Below Zero
New research shows how a layer of water on the surface of

ice - even at temperatures well below freezing - can influence
everything from the slipperiness of a skating rink to the
electrification of thunderclouds
neuroscience
The Early Origins of Autism
New research into the causes of this baffling disorder is

focusing on genes that control the development of the brain
The next step in creating more realistic computer-generated

images is the development of better models of the physical
info tech
Digital Materials and Virtual Weathering structures of materials and their degradation by the
environment
climate change
Capturing Greenhouse Gases
Sequestering carbon dioxide underground or in the deep

ocean could help alleviate concerns about climate change
20/07/2015 03:22
89 of 147
biology
Transparent Animals
Ingenious physiological accommodations have evolved to

enable a stunning variety of undersea creatures to be
remarkably transparent
biology
Uprooting the Tree of Life
About 10 years ago scientists finally worked out the basic

outline of how modern life-forms evolved. Now parts of their
tidy scheme are unraveling
Jan 2000
physics
Negative Energy, Wormholes and Warp
Drive
The construction of wormholes and warp drive would require

a very unusual form of energy. Unfortunately, the same laws
of physics that allow the existence of this "negative energy"
also appear to limit its behavior
anthropology
Once We Were Not Alone
Today we take for granted that Homo Sapiens is the only

hominid on Earth. Yet for at least four million years many
hominid species shared the planet. What makes us different?
chemistry
Voyage to SUPERHEAVY Island
The synthesis of element 114 confirmed decades-old

theoretical predictions of a little patch of nuclear stability in a
sea of short-lived superheavy nuclei
earth science
Snowball Earth
Ice entombed our planet hundreds of millions of years ago,

and complex animals evolved in the greenhouse heat wave
that followed
medicine
Narcolepsy
Although people with the disorder do not fall face-first into

their soup as in the movies, narcolepsy is still a mysterious
disease. But science has new leads
technology
Maglev: A New Approach
The Inductrack promises a safer, cheaper system for

magnetically levitating trains. The same technology can also
be used to launch rockets
public health
The Unmet Need for Family Planning
Women and men in many countries still lack adequate access

to contraceptives. Unless they are given the option of
controlling their fertility, severe environmental and health
problems loom in the coming century throughout large parts
of the world
The Amateur Scientist
Detecting Extraterrestrial Gravity
Mathematical Recreations
Impossibility Theorems
Dec 1999
The Unexpected Science to Come
The most important discoveries of the next 50 years are likely

to be ones of which we cannot now even conceive
A Unified Physics by 2050?
Experiments at CERN and elsewhere should let us complete

the Standard Model of particle physics, but a unified theory
of all forces will probably require radically new ideas
Exploring Our Universe and Others
In the 21st century cosmologists will unravel the mystery of

our universe's birth - and perhaps prove the existence of other
universes as well
Deciphering the Code of Life
The study of all the genes of various organisms will yield

answers to some of the most intriguing questions about life
20/07/2015 03:22
90 of 147
The End of Nature versus Nurture
Is human behavior determined by genetics or by

environment? It may be time to abandon the dichotomy
The Human Impact on Climate
How much of a disruption do we cause? The much-awaited

answer could be ours by 2050, but only if nations of the
world commit to long-term monitoring now
Can Human Aging Be Postponed?
In theory, it certainly can. Yet no single elixir will do the

trick. Antiaging therapies of the future will undoubtedly have
to counter many destructive biochemical processes at once
How the Brain Creates the Mind
Philosophers, neuroscientists and laypeople have long

wondered how the conscious mind comes to be. A more
complete understanding of the workings of the brain ought to
lead to an eventual solution
Is There Life Elsewhere in the

Universe?
The answer is: nobody knows. Scientists' search for life

beyond Earth has been less thorough than commonly thought.
But that is about to change
Rise of the Robots
By 2050 robot "brains" based on computers that execute 100

trillion instructions per second will start rivaling human
intelligence
Defend the Roman Empire!
Nov 1999
The Fate of Life in the Universe
Billions of years ago the universe was too hot for life to exist.
Countless eons hence, it will become so cold and empty that
life, no matter how ingenious, will perish
Vision: A Window on Consciousness
In their search for the mind, scientists are focusing on visual

perception - how we interpret what we see
Flammable Ice
Methane-laced ice crystals in the seafloor store more energy

than all the world's fossil fuel reserves combined. But these
methane hydrate deposits are fragile, and the gas that escapes
from them may exacerbate global warming
Slave-Making Queens
Life in certain corners of the ant world is fraught with

invasion, murder and hostage-taking. The battle royal is a
form of social parasitism
Time-Reversed Acoustics
Arrays of transducers can re-create a sound and send it back

to its source as if time had been reversed. The process can be
used to destroy kidney stones, detect defects in materials and
communicate with submarines
Floating in Space
Balloons offer scientists a low-cost, quick-response way to

study the upper reaches of Earth's atmosphere and those of
other planets
A Zeppelin for the 21st Century
By developing new aerodynamic computer models and using

modern materials, the company that originated zeppelins has
returned them to the skies over Europe
The Balloon That Flew round the World
To build a balloon capable of circumnavigating the globe,

engineers ripped a page from aeronautical history
20/07/2015 03:22
91 of 147
The Grameen Bank
A small experiment begun in Bangladesh has turned into a

major new concept in eradicating poverty
Falling into Chaos
Most-Perfect Magic Squares
Oct 1999
The Hidden Ocean of Europa
Doodles and freckles, creamy plains and crypto-icebergs - the

amazing surface of Jupiter's brightest icy moon hints at a
global sea underneath
Why Things Break
Scientists have known for most of this century that chemistry

is responsible for whether a solid shatters or bends. But only
now are they finding a way to predict which type of failure
will win
Preserving Nefertari's Legacy
The tomb of this ancient Egyptian queen is testament to the

great love of Pharaoh Ramses II. Its preservation is testament
to advances in conservation
The Unmet Challenges of Hepatitis C
Some 1.8 percent of the U.S. adult population are infected

with the hepatitis C virus, most without knowing it
The False Crisis in Science Education
The largely mythical decline of science in the public schools

is leading - yet again - to rushed reforms that ignore the best
advice on what kids should know
High-Speed Data Races Home
The global network is entering a new phase in its evolution,

one that will spawn new applications and make dial-up
modems a thing of the past
The Internet via Cable
Only cable networks are well equipped to provide hybrid

TV-Internet services, as well as superfast on-line access
DSL: Broadband by Phone
Alexander Graham Bell's ubiquitous copper wires will still be

a capacity-rich communications resource in the third
millennium
The Broadest Broadband
New technologies promise to reduce the cost of linking

homes with optical fiber, the ultimate medium for data
communications
Satellites: The Strategic High Ground
Data communications systems that use satellites to transmit

signals have many advantages over ground-based systems
LMDS: Broadband Wireless Access
Ground-based wireless networks delivering the full range of

broadband services can be deployed quickly and
inexpensively
The Light at the End of the Pipe
A much faster and easier-to-use Internet will stimulate the

introduction of new services and possibly even significant
social metamorphoses
Cone with a Twist
Modeling the Atomic Universe
Sep 1999
20/07/2015 03:22
92 of 147
By analyzing previously overlooked fossils and by taking a

Breathing Life into "Tyrannosaurus rex" second look at some old finds,paleontologists are providing
the first glimpses of the actual behavior of the tyrannosaurs
The Teeth of the Tyrannosaurs
Their teeth reveal aspects of their hunting and feeding habits
The Dechronization of Sam Magruder
"The brute - it was a tyrannosaur - got me by the leg. He

shook me loose, tearing off the leg at the knee, and he didn't
see where the rest of me fell. I tied up the stump and crawled
away...."
Migrating Planets
Did the solar system always look the way it does now? New
evidence indicates that the outer planets may have migrated
to their present orbits
Repairing the Damaged Spinal Cord
Once little more than a futile hope, some restoration of the

injured spinal cord is beginning to seem feasible
A Case against Virtual Nuclear Testing
The U.S. Department of Energy's high-tech plan to replace

nuclear testing with elaborate 3-D computer simulations is
seriously flawed
The Throat Singers of Tuva
Testing the limits of vocal ingenuity, throat-singers can create

sounds unlike anything in ordinary speech and song - carrying
two musical lines simultaneously, say, or harmonizing with a
waterfall
Scientists and Religion in America
Science and religion are engaging in more active dialogue and

debate, but a survey suggests that scientists' beliefs have
changed little since the 1930s, and top scientists are more
atheistic than ever before
Counting Atmospheric Ions
Dances with Dodecahedra
Aug 1999
Why National Missile Defense Won't
Work
The current plan for defending the U.S. against a ballisticmissile attack faces many of the problems that plagued a
similar plan three decades ago
The Lurking Perils of "Pfiesteria"
This minute creature has been implicated in dramatic fish kills

and has hurt people. But its most publicized actions may not
be the most damaging. More subtle effects are raising new
concerns
The Future of Computing
M.I.T.'s Laboratory for Computer Science is developing a

new infrastructure for information technologies - the Oxygen
system - that promises to realize a vision long held by the
lab's director: helping people do more by doing less
Talking with Your Computer
Speech-based interfaces may soon allow computer users to

retrieve data and issue instructions without lifting a finger
Communications Chameleons
Multipurpose communications systems will be the links of

tomorrow's wireless computer networks
Raw Computation
One of the main engines of the Oxygen project is the Raw

microchip, which has wiring that can be automatically
20/07/2015 03:22
93 of 147
reprogrammed for different tasks

Detecting Massive Neutrinos
A giant detector in the heart of Mount Ikenoyama in Japan

has demonstrated that the neutrino metamorphoses in flight,
strongly suggesting that these ghostly particles have mass
The Moral Development of Children
It is not enough for kids to tell right from wrong. They must
develop a commitment to acting on their ideals. Enlightened
parenting can help
Trailing a Virus
As a virus never seen before swept through rural Malaysia,

killing more than 110 and forcing the destruction of a million
swine, it revealed the world's vulnerability to new diseases.
Even the best efforts of top scientists are sometimes not
enough to thwart them
Sun of a Gun
Sierpinski's Ubiquitous Gasket
Jul 1999
Looking back at Apollo
On the 30th anniversary of the first manned lunar landing,

digital reproductions of the Apollo photographs show the
moon as the astonauts saw it
Life's Far-Flung Raw Materials
Life may owe its start to complex organic molecules

manufactured in the icy heart of an interstellar cloud
Genetic Vaccines
Vaccines crafted from genetic material might one day prevent

AIDS, malaria and other devastating infections that defy
current immunization technologies. They may even help treat
cancer
The Mystery of Nucleon Spin
A new generation of experiments promises to pin down more

of the still uncertain internal structure of protons and
neutrons
The Earliest Zoos and Gardens
More than 4,000 years ago rulers in Egypt and Mesopotamia,

builders of pyramids and empires, became the first to embark
on another pastime: collecting exotic animals and planting
ornamental gardens
The Future Of Fuel Cells
The obstacles to building practical fuel cells are numerous,

but continued innovation and skillful engineering could make
them competitive
The Electrochemical Engine for

Vehicles
Fuel cells can power cleaner buses and cars, but key
engineering and economic obstacles will delay widespread
adoption of the technology
The Power Plant in Your Basement
In the past, stationary fuel cells were megawatt behemoths,

designed for the electric utilities. Now they are being shrunk
for homes and other modest applications
Replacing the Battery in Portable

Electronics
Batteries are cumbersome and expensive. Miniature fuel cells

could supplant them in cellular phones, laptop computers,
camcorders and other consumer products
Detecting the Earth's Electricity
20/07/2015 03:22
94 of 147
The Art of Elegant Tiling
Jun 1999
Mapping the Universe
Using techniques drawn from the analysis of music,

astronomers have been studying how galaxies form into
progressively larger groupings
How The Body tells Left from Right
The precise orientation of our internal organs - and those of

all other animals with a backbone - is controlled in part by
proteins that are produced on only one side of an embryo
Hypersearching the Web
With the volume of on-line information in cyberspace

growing at a breakneck pace, more effective search tools are
desperately needed. A new technique analyzes how Web
pages are linked together
Image-Guided Surgery
Virtual-reality technology is giving surgeons the equivalent of

x-ray vision, helping them to remove tumors more effectively,
to minimize surgical wounds and to avoid damaging critical
tissues
Biological Warfare against Crops
Intentionally unleashing organisms that kill an enemy's food

crops is a potentially devastating weapon of warfare and
terrorism
Gdel and the Limits of Logic
Mathematical genius Kurt Gdel was devoted to rationality in

his work but struggled with it in his personal life
Chasing the Ghost Bat
On jungle rivers in Belize, two zoologists catch the ultrasonic

cries of bats - and fish for a big one
Expert Secrets for Preserving Plants
Crossed Lines in the Brick Factory
May 1999
Unmasking Black Holes
Until recently, the evidence for black holes was

circumstantial. Now astronomers may have direct proof:
energy is vanishing from volumes of space without a trace
New Nerve Cells for the Adult Brain
Contrary to dogma, the human brain does produce new nerve

cells in adulthood. Can our newfound capacity lead to better
treatments for neurological diseases?
Tsunami!
Its awesome fury cannot be diminished, but lessons learned

from a rash of disasters this decade - and a new way to track
these killer waves - will help save lives
Killer Kangaroos and Other Murderous

Marsupials
Australian mammals were not all as cute as koalas. Some

were as ferocious as they were bizarre
Ada and the First Computer
The collaboration between Ada, countess of Lovelace, and

computer pioneer Charles Babbage resulted in a landmark
publication that described how to program the world's first
computer
The Andaman Islanders
The aboriginal inhabitants of a stretch of islands near India

offer a fascinating glimpse into the way of life of traditional
20/07/2015 03:22
95 of 147
hunter-gatherers. But how long will this window to our past

remain open?
XML and the Second-Generation Web
The combination of hypertext and a global Internet started a

revolution. A new ingredient, XML, is poised to finish the job
Hot Views of the Microscopic World
A Puzzle for Pirates
Apr 1999
Growing New Organs
Researchers have taken the first steps toward creating

semisynthetic, living organs that can be used as human
replacement parts
Embryonic Stem Cells for Medicine
Cells able to generate virtually all other cell types have

recently been isolated. One day they could help repair a wide
variety of damaged tissues
Encapsulated Cells as Therapy
An emerging approach to treating disease combines living

cells with plastic membranes that shield the cells from
immune attack
Skin: The First Tissue-Engineered

Products
Last year the first living, tissue-engineered skin product

became commercially available - and a second is expected to
be on the market within a few months. Top researchers from
each of the two companies involved tell how their products
came to be
Tissue Engineering: The Challenges

Ahead
The obstacles to building new organs from cells and synthetic

polymers are daunting but surmountable
Is Space Finite?
Conventional wisdom says the universe is infinite. But it

could be finite, merely givingthe illusion of infinity. Upcoming
measurements may finally answer this ancient question.
Alan Turing's Forgotten Ideas in

Computer Science
Well known for the machine, test and thesis that bear his
name, the British genius also anticipated neural-network
computers and "hypercomputation"
A New Eye Opens on the Cosmos
On the highest mountain in the pacific basin, a 10-year

odyssey will culminate in the capture of first light for a
telescope that may surpass space-based observatories
The Revival of Colored Cotton
A new arrival on the Western fashion market, naturally

pigmented cotton originally flourished some 5,000 years ago.
Its revival today draws on stocks first developed and
cultivated by Indians in South and Central America.
Detecting "Hot" Clouds
Tangling with Topology
Mar 1999
Global Climate Change on Venus
Venus's climate, like Earth's, has varied over time - the result
of newly appreciated connections between geologic activity
and atmospheric change
20/07/2015 03:22
96 of 147
A Little Big Bang
A new collider will soon create matter as dense and hot as in

the early universe
The Timing of Birth
A hormone unexpectedly found in the human placenta turns

out to influence the timing of delivery. This and related
findings could yield much needed ways to prevent premature
labor
Visualizing Human Embryos
A technique called magnetic resonance microscopy is

revealing the secrets of early human development
The Komodo Dragon
On a few small islands in the Indonesian archipelago, the

world's largest lizard reigns supreme
The Crash in the Machine
Increasingly, automakers are relying on computer simulations

of accidents to develop safer cars more quickly and
efficiently
The inventor of the Soviet hydrogen bomb became an

The Metamorphosis of Andrei Sakharov advocate of peace and human rights. What led him to his
fateful decision?
A Homemade High-Precision Thermometer
The Synchronicity of Firefly Flashing
Feb 1999
Supersoft X-ray Stars and Supernovae
Several years ago astronomers came across a new type of star

that spews out unusually low energy x-rays. These so-called
supersoft sources are now thought to be white dwarf stars
that cannibalize their stellar companions and then, in many
cases, explode
The Puzzle of Hypertension in AfricanAmericans
Genes are often invoked to account for why high blood

pressure is so common among African-Americans. Yet the
rates are low in Africans. This discrepancy demonstrates how
genes and the environment interact
Cichlids of the Rift Lakes
The extraordinary diversity of cichlid fishes challenges

entrenched ideas of how quickly new species can arise
A Multifractal Walk down Wall Street
The geometry that describes the shape of coastlines and the

patterns of galaxies also elucidates how stock prices soar and
plummet
How Limbs Develop
A protein playfully named Sonic hedgehog is one of the

long-sought factors that dictate the pattern of limb
development
The Way to Go in Space
To go farther into space, humans will first have to figure out

how to get there cheaply and more efficiently. Ideas are not
in short supply
Air-Breathing Engines
For years, engineers have dreamed of building an aircraft that

could reach hypersonic speeds, greater than Mach 5, or five
times the speed of sound.
Space Tethers
When humans begin to inhabit the moon and planets other

than Earth, they may not use the modern technology of
20/07/2015 03:22
97 of 147
rockets.
Highways of Light
Today's spacecraft carry their source of power.
Light Sails
Science-fiction dreams of worlds beyond our own solar

system have taken on a more realistic aspect since
astronomers discovered that the universe contains planets in
unexpectedly large numbers
Compact Nuclear Rockets
Someday, in exploring the outer planets of our solar system,

humankind will want to do more than send diminutive probes
that merely fly rapidly by them.
Reaching for the Stars
The notion of traveling to the stars is a concept compelling

enough to recur in countless cultural artifacts, from Roman
poetry to 20th-century popular music
Tackling the Triple Point
Origami Tessellations
Jan 1999
Surveying Space-time with Supernovae
Exploding stars seen across immense distances show that the

cosmic expansion may be accelerating - a sign that the
universe may be driven apart by an exotic new form of
energy
Cosmological Antigravity
The long-derided cosmological constant-a contrivance of

Albert Einstein's that represents a bizarre form of energy
inherent in space itself-is one of two contenders for
explaining changes in the expansion rate of the universe
Inflation in a Low-Density Universe
Evidence has gradually accumulated that the universe has

less matter, and therefore is expanding faster, than the theory
of inflation traditionally predicts. But a more sophisticated
version of the theory readily explains the observations
Child Care among the Insects
Why do some insect parents risk their lives to care for their
young?
Disarming Flu Viruses
Coming soon: new medicines designed to treat the flu by

halting viral replication in human tissues. The drugs may also
serve as a novel kind of preventive
Y2K: So Many Bugs...So Little Time
Fixing Y2K seems simple: change all two-digit years to four

digits. But that tedious - and unexpectedly difficult - process
takes more time than is left
DNA Microsatellites: Agents of

Evolution?
Repetitive DNA sequences play a surprising role in how

bacteria - and perhaps higher organisms - adapt to their
environments. On the downside, they have also been linked
to human disease
Expeditions: To Save a Salmon
On Vancouver Island, fisheries scientists are trying to find out

whether commercial fishing and cohos can coexist
Taking the Earth's Magnetic Pulse
Division without Envy
20/07/2015 03:22
98 of 147
Dec 1998
The Evolution of Galaxy Clusters
The most massive objects in the universe are huge clusters of

galaxies and gas that have slowly congregated over billions of
years. The process of agglomeration may now be ending
Cloning for Medicine
Now that genetically modified and copied mammals are a

reality, biomedical researchers are starting to develop
imaginative ways to use this technology
Making Ultrabright X-rays
Radiation a billion times brighter than the sun's is illuminating

a host of scientific and technical phenomena
Combating Prostate Cancer
Recent advances in diagnosis and treatment promise to

extend survival time and improve the quality of life for many
patients
Leafy Sea Dragons
These masters of camouflage are fierce predators - and one of

the few species in which males become pregnant
Building the Better Bug
Inserting new genes into a few specific insect species could

stop some infectious diseases, benefit agriculture and produce
innovative materials
Physicists in Wartime Japan
During the most trying years of Japan's history, two brilliant

schools of theoretical physics flourished
Sizing Up Software
Unlike oil, steel or paper, software is an intangible

commodity. This elusive quality makes computer programs
difficult to quantify
Sorting Molecules With Electricity
Your Half's Bigger Than My Half!
Nov 1998
Natural Oil Spills
In the Gulf of Mexico, a region famous for its many oil and
gas fields, most of the petroleum flowing into the ocean leaks
naturally from fissures in the seabed
The Meteorite Hunter, Part I: The Day

the Sands Caught Fire
A desert impact site demonstrates the wrath of rocks from

space
Meteorite Hunters Part II: The Search

for Greenland's Mysterious Meteor
Caught on camera, the fireball that streaked across Arctic

skies last December appeared to move too fast for anything
from this solar system. A monthlong expedition on this island
of ice hunted for remains - and answers
Glueballs
Gluons, which hold protons together, can also clump into

globs of pure glue
Evolution and the Origins of Disease
The principles of evolution by natural selection are finally

beginning to inform medicine
Mating Strategies of Spiders
Spiders have evolved intriguing behaviors to woo their

occasionally cannibalistic mates
Simulating Water and the Molecules of

Life
Computer modeling reveals how water affects the structures

and dynamics of biological molecules such as proteins,
yielding clues to their functions
20/07/2015 03:22
99 of 147
100 Years of Magnetic Memories
Although the technology is ubiquitous today, magnetic

recording had a sluggish start. The underlying science was
something of a mystery, applications were slow to emerge,
and business and politics stifled development.
Floating A Challenge
Resurrection Shuffle
Oct 1998
Galaxies behind the Milky Way
Over a fifth of the universe is hidden from view, blocked by

dust and stars in the disk of our galaxy. But over the past few
years, astronomers have found ways to peek through the
murk
Designer Estrogens
These compounds - also called SERMs - have evolved from

mere laboratory curiosities into drugs that hold promise for
preventing several major disorders in women
Secrets of the Slime Hag
Loathsome though they may seem, hagfishes may also

resemble the earliest animals to have a braincase - making
them even older than the first animals to develop a backbone
The Asymmetry between Matter and

Antimatter
In 1999 new accelerators will start searching for violations in

a fundamental symmetry of nature, throwing open a window
to physics beyond the known
The Artistry of Microorganisms
Colonies of bacteria or amoebas form complex patterns that

blur the boundary between life and nonlife
Simon Newcomb: Astronomer with an

Attitude
The most celebrated American astronomer of the late 19th

century advocated broad social and cultural reforms based on
the use of scientific method
Computer Security and the Internet
This past February hackers reached through the Internet to

break into the computer networks at various U.S. Air Force
and Navy sites.
Port scanners, core dumps and buffer overflows are but a few
How Hackers Break In... and How They
of the many weapons in every sophisticated hacker's arsenal.
Are Caught
Still, no hacker is invincible
How Computer Security Works
Three types of safeguards offer a formidable defense against

Internet intruders
Cryptography for the Internet
E-mail and other information sent electronically are like

digital postcards - they afford little privacy. Well-designed
cryptography systems can ensure the secrecy of such
transmissions.
The Case against Regulating Encryption One of the pioneers of computer security says the U.S.
Technology
government should keep its hands off cryptography
Home Movies of an Invisible World
Playing with Chocolate
Sep 1998
20/07/2015 03:22
100 of 147
Preserving the Laetoli Footprints (Part

1)
The discovery of hominid footprints in East Africa reshaped

the study of human origins. Now conservators have protected
the fragile tracks from destruction
Preserving the Laetoli Footprints (Part

2)
The discovery of hominid footprints in East Africa reshaped

the study of human origins. Now conservators have protected
the fragile tracks from destruction
The Footprint Makers: An Early View
I worked on my painting of the Laetoli footprint makers

during the early fall of 1978, shortly after the discovery of the
hominid trackway.
The Laetoli Diorama
Only very rarely does the fossil record provide evidence of an

actual event in human prehistory.
Weightlessness and the Human Body
The effects of space travel on the body resemble some of the

conditions of aging. Studying astronauts' health may improve
medical care both in orbit and on the ground
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder
A new theory suggests the disorder results from a failure in

self-control. ADHD may arise when key brain circuits do not
develop properly, perhaps because of an altered gene or
genes
Making New Elements
Three new elements-110, 111 and 112-have been produced

over the past several years. Scientists are now struggling to
create 113 and 114. How many elements can they add to the
periodic table?
The Evolution of the Periodic System
From its origins some 200 years ago, the periodic table has
become a vital tool for modern chemists
The Oort Cloud
On the outskirts of the solar system swarms a vast cloud of

comets, influenced almost as much by other stars as by our
sun. The dynamics of this cloud may help explain such
matters as mass extinctions on Earth
Thermophotovoltaics
Semiconductors that convert radiant heat to electricity may

prove suitable for lighting remote villages or powering
automobiles
Spooling the Stuff of Life
Counting the Pyramid Builders
Aug 1998
Fusion and the Z Pinch
A device called the Z machine has led to a new way of

triggering controlled fusion with intense nanosecond bursts of
x-rays
Low-Back Pain
Low-back pain is at epidemic levels. Although its causes are

still poorly understood, treatment choices have improved,
with the body's own healing power often the most reliable
remedy
Computing with DNA
The manipulation of DNA to solve mathematical problems is

redefining what is meant by "computation"
20/07/2015 03:22
101 of 147
Monitoring and Controlling Debris in

Space
The path from Sputnik to the International Space Station has

been littered with high-tech refuse, creating an environmental
problem in outer space
A Quarter-Century of Recreational
Mathematics
The author of "Scientific American"'s column "Mathematical

Games" from 1956 to 1981 recounts 25 years of amusing
puzzles and serious discoveries
Irrigating Crops with Seawater
As the world's population grows and freshwater stores

become more precious, researchers are looking to the sea for
the water to irrigate selected crops
Microdiamonds
These tiny, enigmatic crystals hold promise both for industry

and for the study of how diamond grows
The Philadelphia Yellow Fever

Epidemic of 1793
One of the first major epidemics of the disease in the U.S., it

devastated America's early capital. It also had lasting
repercussions for the city and country
Building a Consciousness of Streams
Monks, Blobs and Common Knowledge
Jul 1998
The Mars Pathfinder Mission
Last summer the first ever Mars rover found in situ evidence
that the Red Planet may once have been hospitable to life
The Split Brain Revisited
Groundbreaking work that began more than a quarter of a

century ago has led to ongoing insights about brain
organization and consciousness
The Single-Atom Laser
A new type of laser that harnesses the energy of individual

atoms reveals how light interacts with matter
Mating Strategies in Butterflies
Butterflies meet, woo and win their mates using seductive

signals and clever strategies honed by evolution
Lon Foucault
Celebrated for his pendulum experiment in 1851, Foucault

also produced decisive evidence against the particle theory of
light, invented the gyroscope, perfected the reflecting
telescope and measured the sun's distance
Defeating AIDS: What Will It Take?
Ten years ago, when "Scientific American" published an issue

devoted to AIDS (the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome),
scientists knew that the disease, first identified in 1981, was
caused by HIV (the human immunodeficiency virus).
HIV 1998: The Global Picture
Worldwide, the populations most affected by the AIDS virus

are often the least empowered to confront it effectively
Improving HIV Therapy
Today's optimal treatments can work magic, but they are

costly and onerous and do not work for everyone. What
might the future bring?
How Drug Resistance Arises
When anti-HIV therapy fails to keep HIV levels suppressed,

the cause is often viral resistance to at least one of the drugs
being administered.
20/07/2015 03:22
102 of 147
Viral-Load Tests Provide Valuable

Answers
In the early 1990s tests that could accurately detect the

amount of HIV in a patient's blood finally became available.
When Children Harbor HIV
HIV infection is particularly difficult to combat in the young
Preventing HIV Infection
Altering behavior is still the primary way to control the

epidemic
Unlike vaccines for many viruses, those for HIV may have to
HIV Vaccines: Prospects and Challenges go beyond generating antibodies. Devising approaches that
will fully activate the immune system is far from simple
Avoiding Infection After HIV Exposure
Treatment may reduce the chance of contracting HIV

infection after a risky encounter
Coping With HIV's Ethical Dilemmas
The issues are many and thorny
A Year for the Oceans
The Bellows Conjecture
Jun 1998
The Neurobiology of Depression
The search for biological underpinnings of depression is

intensifying. Emerging findings promise to yield better
therapies for a disorder that too often proves fatal
A New Look at Quasars
Recent observations from the Hubble Space Telescope may

reveal the nature and origin of quasars, the mysterious
powerhouses of the cosmos
Shrimp Aquaculture and the

Environment
An adviser to shrimp producers and an environmentalist

present a prescription for raising shrimp responsibly
Quantum Computing with Molecules
By taking advantage of nuclear magnetic resonance,

scientists can coax the molecules in some ordinary liquids to
serve as an extraordinary type of computer
Gravity Gradiometry
A formerly classified technique used to navigate ballisticmissile submarines now helps geologists search for resources
hidden underground
Alcohol in the Western World
The role of alcohol in Western civilization has changed

dramatically during this millennium. Our current medical
interpretation of alcohol as primarily an agent of disease
comes after a more complex historical relationship
Defibrillation: The Spark of Life
In the 50 years since doctors first used electricity to restart

the human heart, we have learned much about defibrillators
and little about fibrillation
Waiter, There's a Hair in My Hygrometer
What a Coincidence!
May 1998
Six Months on Mir
As the Shuttle-Mir program draws to a close, a veteran NASA

astronaut reflects on her mission on board the Russian
spacecraft and the implications for the International Space
Station
20/07/2015 03:22
103 of 147
How Cicadas Make Their Noise
The loudest known insects, male cicadas are designed for

sound. Their internal instrument is surprisingly complex
The Genetics of Cognitive Abilities and

Disabilities
Investigations of specific cognitive skills can help clarify how

genes shape the components of intellect
Television's Bright New Technology
The plasma display panel is finally making good on a

decades-old promise: a big, bright screen so thin it can be
hung on a wall. But mainstream success requires that
engineers find a way to get prices down from the current
$11,000
Digital Television: Here at Last
After a long and contentious process, a digital standard in the

U.S. has finally emerged. It will soon replace today's
antiquated television system
Japanese Temple Geometry
During Japan's period of national seclusion (1639-1854),

native mathematics thrived, as evidenced in "sangaku"wooden tablets engraved with geometry problems hung under
the roofs of shrines and temples
A Calculus of Risk
Financial engineering can lessen exposure to the perils of

running a multibillion-dollar business or a small household.
But mathematical models used by this discipline may present
a new set of hazards
Sensing Subtle Tsunamis
Cementing Relationships
Apr 1998
Cosmic Antimatter
Antiparticles are rare and maddeningly elusive. But they may

hold clues to some of the mysteries of astrophysics
Post-Polio Syndrome
Decades after recovering much of their muscular strength,

survivors of paralytic polio are reporting unexpected fatigue,
pain and weakness. The cause appears to be degeneration of
motor neurons
Science in Pictures: The Earliest Views
Re-creating the experiments of pioneering microscopists

reveals what they actually saw with their simple, single-lens
instruments
How Females Choose Their Mates
Females often prefer to mate with the most flamboyant

males. Their choice may be based on a complex interaction
between instinct and imitation
Laser Scissors and Tweezers
Researchers are using lasers to grasp single cells and tinier

components in vises of light while delicately altering the held
structures. These lasers offer new ways to investigate and
manipulate cells
Wireless Technologies
Special Report
New Satellites for Personal

Communications
Fleets of satellites will soon make it possible to reach

someone anywhere on the earth, using nothing more than a
small handset
20/07/2015 03:22
104 of 147
Telecommunications for the 21st

Century
Systems based on satellites and high-altitude platforms will

merge with optical-fiber and terrestrial wireless networks to
provide global, high data-rate, mobile communications
Terrestrial Wireless Networks
Seamless switching between networks will draw users to

wireless data services. A working model is now in operation
Moving beyond Wireless Voice Systems
Cell phones are but one application of wireless

communications. The technology also enables accurate
position determination and the monitoring of remote sites
Spread-Spectrum Radio
Dicing information into digital bundles and transmitting them

at low power over different frequencies can enable millions
of people to send and receive simultaneously
Making Experiments out of Thin Air
Repealing the Law of Averages
Mar 1998
The Bose-Einstein Condensate
Three years ago in a Colorado laboratory, scientists realized a

long-standing dream, bringing the quantum world closer to
the one of everyday experience
The Challenge of Antibiotic Resistance
Certain bacterial infections now defy all antibiotics. The

resistance problem may be reversible, but only if society
begins to consider how the drugs affect "good" bacteria as
well as "bad"
Nanolasers
Semiconductor lasers have shrunk to dimensions even smaller

than the wavelength of the light they emit. In that realm,
quantum behavior takes over, enabling more efficient and
faster devices
Animating Human Motion
Computer animation is becoming increasingly lifelike. Using

simulation, a technique based on the laws of physics,
researchers have created virtual humans who run, dive,
bicycle and vault
The Caiman Trade
The contraband trade in caiman skins shows how "sustainable

utilization" of endangered species fails to sustain them
Preventing the Next Oil Crunch
Enough oil remains in the earth to fill the reservoir behind

Hoover Dam four times over-and that's just counting the
fraction of buried crude that is relatively easy to recover and
refine.
The End of Cheap Oil
Global production of conventional oil will begin to decline

sooner than most people think, probably within 10 years
Mining for Oil
More oil is trapped in Canadian sands than Saudi Arabia

holds in its reserves. The technology now exists to exploit this
vast resource profitably
Oil Production in the 21st Century
Recent innovations in underground imaging, steerable drilling

and deepwater oil production could recover more of what lies
below
20/07/2015 03:22
105 of 147
Liquid Fuels from Natural Gas
Natural gas is cleaner and more plentiful than oil. New ways
to convert it to liquid form may soon make it just as cheap
and convenient to use in vehicles
The Pleasures of Pond Scum
Glass Klein Bottles
Feb 1998
The Origin of Birds and Their Flight
Anatomical and aerodynamic analyses of fossils and living

birds show that birds evolved from small, predatory dinosaurs
that lived on the ground
Scientists in Black
In a unique collaboration, scientists and intelligence officials

are working together to find out what the U.S. government's
vast secret archives can reveal about the earth
The Viking Longship
Long, narrow ships packed with warriors helped to make the

Vikings the dominant power in Europe for three centuries,
beginning in about A.D. 800
The Theory Formerly Known as Strings
The Theory of Everything is emerging as one in which not

only strings but also membranes and black holes play a role
The Search for Blood Substitutes
The threat of global shortages of blood and fears about

contamination have hastened attempts to find life-sustaining
alternatives.
Greenland Ice Cores: Frozen in Time
Ice, frozen in place for tens of thousands of years, provides

scientists with clues to past-and future-climate
Everyday Exposure to Toxic Pollutants
Environmental regulations have improved the quality of

outdoor air. But problems that persist indoors have received
too little attention
Bird-Watching by the Numbers
Tight Tins for Round Sardines
Jan 1998
The Architecture of Life
A universal set of building rules seems to guide the design of

organic structures-from simple carbon compounds to complex
cells and tissues
Burial of Radioactive Waste under the

Seabed
Although the notion troubles some environmentalists, the

disposing of nuclear refuse within oceanic sediments merits
consideration
Bacterial Gene Swapping in Nature
Genes travel between independent bacteria more often than

once was assumed. Study of that process can help limit the
risks of releasing genetically engineered microbes into the
environment
The Ulysses Mission
The first space probe to be sent on a "polar" trajectory has

made some remarkable discoveries on its first orbit around
the sun
20/07/2015 03:22
106 of 147
Lise Meitner and the Discovery of

Nuclear Fission
One of the discoverers of fission in 1938, Meitner was at the

time overlooked by the Nobel judges. Racial persecution, fear
and opportunism combined to obscure her contributions
Picosecond Ultrasonics
Brief pulses of high-frequency sound allow experimenters to

probe connections inside a computer chip
The Placebo Effect
Colds, asthma, high blood pressure and heart disease are

among the many conditions that can respond to treatment
with a placebo. Should doctors be prescribing sugar pills?
Leonardo and the Invention of the

Wheellock
Leonardo da Vinci's notebooks are full of inventions, from

intricate gun parts to bicycles to automobiles. But were any
of Leonardo's many creations actually made during his
lifetime?
A Kitchen Centrifuge
Double Bubble, Toil and Trouble
Dec 1997
Metal Clusters and Magic Numbers
Investigations of tiny lumps of metal can help bridge the gap

in physicists' understanding of the differences between
isolated atoms and bulk solids
The Case for Relic Life on Mars
A meteorite found in Antarctica offers strong evidence that

Mars has had - and may still have - microbial life
Williams Syndrome and the Brain
To gain fresh insights into how the brain is organized,

investigators are turning to a little known disorder
Tracking a Dinosaur Attack
The efforts of a sculptor and a paleontologist reveal details of

a 100-million-year-old skirmish
Exploiting Zero-Point Energy
Energy fills empty space, but is there a lot to be tapped, as

some propound? Probably not
Building the Biggest
Our age worships small things: the microchip, recombinant

genes, mechanical parts built at the molecular scale.
The Longest Suspension Bridge
The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge has broken many records and

weathered an earthquake--even while it is being completed
The World's Tallest Buildings
Malaysia's Petronas Twin Towers serve as both a cultural and

an economic symbol
Building a New Gateway to China
The largest public-works upgrade on earth calls for, among

other things, a new airport, two world-class bridges and two
submerged crossings of Victoria Harbor
Do We Still Need Skyscrapers?
The Industrial Revolution made skyscrapers possible. The

Digital Revolution makes them (almost) obsolete
Taking Back the Final Frontier
Cat's Cradle Calculus Challenge
Nov 1997
Mercury: The Forgotten Planet
Although one of Earth's nearest neighbors, this strange world

remains, for the most part, unknown
20/07/2015 03:22
107 of 147
Fermat's Last Stand
His most notorious theorem baffled the greatest minds for

more than three centuries. But after 10 years of work, one
mathematician cracked it
Taking Nuclear Weapons off

Hair-Trigger Alert
It is time to end the practice of keeping nuclear missiles

constantly ready to fire. This change would greatly reduce the
possibility of a mistaken launch
The Parasitic Wasp's Secret Weapon
Parasitic wasps must develop inside living caterpillars. They

survive this hostile environment by smuggling in a virus that
suppresses their host's immune system
Fighting Computer Viruses
Biological metaphors offer insight into many aspects of

computer viruses and can inspire defenses against them
Great Zimbabwe
For centuries, this ancient Shona city stood at the hub of a

vast trade network. The site has also been at the center of a
bitter debate about African history and heritage
Making Rice Disease Resistant
For the first time, scientists have used genetic engineering to

protect this essential crop from disease
Caught in a Wind Tunnel
The Lore and Lure of Dice
Oct 1997
Transportation's Perennial Problems
The congestion, accidents and pollution that plague modern

travel are hardly new. History and recent research suggest
they may remain intractable for generations to come
The Past and Future of Global Mobility
With growing wealth, people everywhere travel farther and

faster. That trend inevitably brings a shift in the dominant
transportation technologies
13 Vehicles That Went Nowhere
Perhaps "nowhere" is too harsh. But all these transportation

concepts - however brilliant or eccentric - fell far short of
their enthusiasts' great hopes.
Hybrid Electric Vehicles
They will reduce pollution and conserve petroleum. But will

people buy them, even if the vehicles have astounding fuel
efficiency?
Flywheels in Hybrid Vehicles
A rapidly spinning flywheel combines with a gas-turbine

engine to power a novel hybrid electric vehicle
Automated Highways
Cars that drive themselves in tight formation might alleviate

the congestion now plaguing urban freeways
Unjamming Traffic with Computers
Insights gleaned from realistic simulations are already moving

from computer screens to asphalt
Now That Travel Can Be Virtual, Will

Congestion Virtually Disappear?
The idea that telecommunications technology could substitute

for travel dawned on people soon after the invention of the
telephone.
Driving to Mach 1
"Jetmobiles" try to go supersonic
20/07/2015 03:22
108 of 147
Speed versus Need
Rugged mountain climbers, bamboo rigs built for two, threespeeds with banana seats-bicycles, in their many forms, exist
the world over.
How High-Speed Trains Make Tracks
In Europe and Japan, train manufacturers are gearing up to

achieve ultrafast speeds routinely, without relying on
levitation
Fast Trains: Why the U.S. Lags
The reasons are more political than technological
Maglev: Racing to Oblivion?
Two years ago the world's only magnetically levitated train in

commercial service shut down.
Straight Up into the Blue
Tiltrotors, which take off like a helicopter but fly like an

airplane, will soon make their military debut. Can civilian
applications be far behind?
The Lure of Icarus
With new designs and materials, human-powered fliers

challenge the distance record
A Simpler Ride into Space
Technological advances may allow rockets of the next

century to operate much as aircraft do today. That change
might cut the cost of reaching orbit by 10-fold
Faster Ships for the Future
New designs for oceangoing freighters may soon double their

speeds
Microsubs Go to Sea
Small, maneuverable, self-contained - these tiny submersibles

may someday take a human to the bottom of the sea
Elevators on the Move
Elevator technology is taking off in new directions, including

sideways
Recording the Sounds of Life
Two-Way Jigsaw Puzzles
Sep 1997
In Search of AIDS-Resistance Genes
A genetic trait that protects against AIDS has now been

uncovered, and others are emerging. The findings open
entirely new avenues for developing preventives and
therapies
The Discovery of the Top Quark
Finding the sixth quark involved the world's most energetic

collisions and a cast of thousands
Building Doors into Cells
With the help of recombinant DNA technology, researchers

have learned how to create artificial pores that might be used
to deliver drugs or act as biosensors to detect toxic chemicals.
Running on Water
The secret of the basilisk lizard's strategy lies in its stroke
Creating False Memories
Researchers are showing how suggestion and imagination can

create "memories" of events that did not actually occur
Life in the Provinces of the Aztec

Empire
The lives of the Aztec common people were far richer and
more complex than the official histories would have us
believe.
20/07/2015 03:22
109 of 147
Booming Sand
Though known for centuries, sound-producing sand remains

one of nature's more puzzling phenomena
Unraveling the Secrets of Monarchs
Empires and Electronics
Aug 1997
Mitochondrial DNA in Aging and
Disease
Defects in DNA outside the chromosomes - in cell structures

called mitochondria - can cause an array of disorders,
perhaps including many that debilitate the elderly
Lightning Control with Lasers
Scientists seek to deflect damaging lightning strikes using

specially engineered lasers
Lightning between Earth and Space
Scientists discover a curious variety of electrical activity

going on above thunderstorms
Space Age Archaeology
Remote-sensing techniques are transforming archaeology.

Excavations may become less essential as researchers explore
hidden sites and examine buried artifacts without unearthing
them
Glandular Gifts
The way to a katydid's heart is through her stomach
The Top-Secret Life of Lev Landau
KGB archives reveal that the Soviet genius co-authored an

anti-Stalin manifesto
The Machinery of Thought
Studies of the brains of monkeys and, more recently, of

humans are revealing the neural underpinnings of working
memory, one of the mind's most crucial functions
Getting a Charge out of Rain
Empires on the Moon
Jul 1997
Cave temples along the ancient Silk Road document the
cultural and religious transformations of a millennium.
China's Buddhist Treasures at Dunhuang
Researchers are striving to preserve these endangered statues
and paintings
Gamma-Ray Bursts
New observations illuminate the most powerful explosions in

the universe
Xenotransplantation
After struggling for decades with a shortage of donated

organs from cadavers, transplant surgeons may soon have
another source to tap
Strong Fabrics for Fast Sails
Composite fabrics first developed for the sails of racing

yachts may soon find use in parachutes and research balloons
Asbestos Revisited
Once considered safe enough to use in toothpaste, this unique

substance has intrigued people for more than 2,000 years
Global Population and the Nitrogen

Cycle
Feeding humankind now demands so much nitrogen-based

fertilizer that the distribution of nitrogen on the earth has
been changed in dramatic, and sometimes dangerous, ways
20/07/2015 03:22
110 of 147
Taking Computers to Task
Coming generations of computers will be more fun and

engaging to use. But will they earn their keep in the
workplace?
How-To's of Butterfly Rookeries
Squaring the Square
Jun 1997
Iran's Nuclear Puzzle
Rich in fossil-fuel resources, Iran is pursuing a nuclear power

program difficult to understand in the absence of military
motives
Configurable Computing
Computers that modify their hardware circuits as they

operate are opening a new era in computer design. Because
they can filter data rapidly, they excel at pattern recognition,
image processing and encryption
Early Hominid Fossils from Africa
A new species of "Australopithecus", the ancestor of

"Homo", pushes back the origins of bipedalism to some four
million years ago
Panoramas of the Seafloor
Modern sonar techniques map the continental margins of the

U.S. and reveal the richly varied scenery usually hidden
underwater
Searching for Digital Pictures
Computers that can reason about images may be able to pick

out distinct features of a person, place or object from
photograph archives
Making Gene Therapy Work: Table of

Contents
Special Report
Overcoming the Obstacles to Gene

Therapy
Treating disease by providing needed genes remains a

compelling idea, but clinical and basic researchers still have
much to do before gene therapy can live up to its promise
Nonviral Strategies for Gene Therapy
Many drawbacks of viral gene delivery agents might be

overcome by nonviral systems. Studies in patients suggest
these systems have potential as therapies and as vaccines
Gene Therapy for Cancer
Inserted genes could in theory arrest tumor growth or even

AIDS
Gene Therapy for the Nervous System
Inserting genes into brain cells may one day offer doctors a
way to slow, or even reverse, the damage from degenerative
neurological disease
What Cloning Means for Gene Therapy
The recently debuted technology for cloning is usually

discussed as a means of creating genetic copies of whole
adult individuals.
Bringing Schrdinger's Cat to Life
Recent experiments have begun to demonstrate how the

weird world of quantum mechanics gives way to the
familiarity of everyday experience
Getting Inside an Ant's Head
The Sifting Sands of Factorland
20/07/2015 03:22
111 of 147
May 1997
Divided We Fall: Cooperation among
Lions
Although they are the most social of all cats, lions cooperate
only when it is in their own best interest
Managing Human Error in Aviation
Mistakes by flight crews contribute to more than two thirds of

aviation accidents. Training to enhance team performance
may reduce potentially fatal errors
Integrins and Health
Discovered only recently, these adhesive cell-surface

molecules have quickly revealed themselves to be critical to
proper functioning of the body and to life itself
The Coming Climate
Meteorological records and computer models permit insights

into some of the broad weather patterns of a warmer world
New Chemical Tools to Create Plastics
Small molecular machines called metallocene catalysts have

revolutionized the industrial synthesis of valuable plastics
Galaxies in the Young Universe
By comparing distant primeval galaxies with older ones

nearby, astronomers hope to determine how galaxies form
and evolve
Seeking a Better Way to Die
As the U.S. Supreme Court ponders physician-assisted

suicide, health care providers strive to improve care of the
dying
When Hazy Skies Are Rising
Big Game Hunting in Primeland
Apr 1997
Can Sustainable Management Save
Tropical Forests?
Sustainability proves surprisingly problematic in the quest to

reconcile conservation with the production of tropical timber
Black Holes and the Information

Paradox
What happens to the information in matter destroyed by a

black hole? Searching for that answer, physicists are groping
toward a quantum theory of gravity
Out of Africa Again... and Again?
Africa is the birthplace of humanity. But how many human

species evolved there? And when did they emigrate?
Combinatorial Chemistry and New

Drugs
An innovative technique that quickly produces large numbers

of structurally related compounds is changing the way drugs
are discovered
How Erosion Builds Mountains
An understanding of how tectonic, erosional and climatic

forces interact to shape mountains permits clearer insights
into the earth's history
Extremophiles
These microbes thrive under conditions that would kill other

creatures. The molecules that enable extremophiles to
prosper are becoming useful to industry
The Science of Murphy's Law
Life's little annoyances are not as random as they seem: the

awful truth is that the universe is against you
Jules Verne, Misunderstood Visionary
Discovery of a long-lost novel reveals that, from the start, the

father of science fiction was gravely concerned with the
dangers of technology
20/07/2015 03:22
112 of 147
The Joys of Armchair Ornithology
Knight's Tours
Mar 1997
SOHO Reveals the Secrets of the Sun
A powerful new spacecraft, the Solar and Heliospheric

Observatory, or SOHO, is now monitoring the sun around the
clock, providing new clues about our nearest star
The Internet
Fulfilling the Promise
The Internet: Bringing Order From

Chaos
The Internet, as everybody with a modem now knows, has

fallen victim to its own success.
Searching the Internet
Combining the skills of the librarian and the computer

scientist may help organize the anarchy of the Internet
Going Digital
Electronic libraries will make today's Internet pale by

comparison. But building them will not be easy
Filtering Information On The Internet
Look for the labels to decide if unknown software and World

Wide Web sites are safe and interesting
Interfaces For Searching the Web
The rapid growth of the World Wide Web is outpacing

current attempts to search and organize it. New user
interfaces may offer a better approach
Websurfing Without a Monitor
When I hook up to the Internet to check out the news on

CNN, to peruse a colleague's latest paper or to see how
Adobe's stock price is doing, I leave the display of my laptop
turned off.
Multilingualism on the Internet
In recent years, American culture has increased its worldwide

influence through international trade and Hollywood
productions.
Trusted Systems
Devices that enforce machine-readable rights to use the work

of a musician or author may create secure ways to publish
over the Internet.
Preserving the Internet
An archive of the Internet may prove to be a vital record for

historians, businesses and governments
Psychiatry's Global Challenge
An evolving crisis in the developing world signals the need

for a better understanding of the links between culture and
mental disorders
Discovering Genes for New Medicines
By identifying human genes involved in disease, researchers

can create potentially therapeutic proteins and speed the
development of powerful drugs
Heike Kamerlingh Onne's Discovery of

Superconductivity
The turn-of-the-century race to reach temperatures

approaching absolute zero led to the unexpected discovery of
electric currents that flowed with no resistance
Plants That Warm Themselves
Some plants produce extraordinary heat when they bloom. A

few even regulate their temperature within narrow limits,
much as if they were warm-blooded animals
20/07/2015 03:22
113 of 147
The Rising Seas
Although some voice concern that global warming will lead to

a meltdown of polar ice, flooding coastlines everywhere, the
true threat remais difficult to gauge
Juniper Green
Algorithm of the Gods
Feb 1997
Immunotherapy for Cocaine Addiction
Newly developed compounds derived from the immune

system may help combat cocaine abuse by destroying the
drug soon after it enters the bloodstream
Satellite Radar Interferometry
From hundreds of kilometers away in space, orbiting

instruments can detect subtle buckling of the earth's crust
The Ghostliest Galaxies
Astronomers have found more than 1,000 "low-surfacebrightness" galaxies over the past decade, significantly
altering our views of how galaxies evolve and how mass is
distributed in the universe
The Lesser Known Edison
In addition to his famous inventions, Thomas Edison's fertile

imagination gave the world a host of little known
technologies, from talking dolls to poured-concrete houses
Why and How Bacteria Communicate
Bacteria converse with one another and with plants and

animals by emitting and reacting to chemical signals. The
need to "talk" may help explain why the microbes synthesize
a vast array of compounds
The Challenge of Large Numbers
As computer capabilities increase, mathematicians can better

characterize and manipulate gargantuan figures. Even so,
some numbers can only be imagined
The Benefits and Ethics of Animal

Research
Experiments on animals are a mainstay of modern medical

and scientific research. But what are the costs and what are
the returns?
Animal Research Is Wasteful and

Misleading
The use of animals for research and testing is only one of

many investigative techniques available.
Animal Research Is Vital to Medicine
Experiments using animals have played a crucial role in the

development of modern medical treatments, and they will
continue to be necessary as researchers seek to alleviate
existing ailments and respond to the emergence of new
disease.
Trends in Animal Research
Increased concern for animals, among scientists as well as the

public, is changing the ways in which animals are used for
research and safety testing
A Picture-Perfect Comet
Crystallography of a Golf Ball
Jan 1997
Cosmic Rays at the Energy Frontier
These particles carry more energy than any others in the

universe. Their origin is unknown but may be relatively
20/07/2015 03:22
114 of 147
nearby
Understanding Parkinson's Disease
The smoking gun is still missing, but growing evidence

suggests highly reactive substances called free radicals are
central players in this common neurological disorder
Tackling Turbulence with

Supercomputers
Computers only recently became powerful enough to

illuminate simple examples of this great classical problem. In
some cases, they will let engineers control it
Transgenic Livestock as Drug Factories
By introducing key human genes into mammals, biologists

can induce dairy animals to produce therapeutic proteins in
their milk
How the Blind Draw
Blind and sighted people use many of the same devices in

sketching their surroundings, suggesting that vision and touch
are closely linked
Scientists monitor a controlled deluge that was staged in the

Experimental Flooding in Grand Canyon early spring of 1996 solely for the benefit of the environment
in and around the Colorado River
The Einstein-Sziland Refrigerator
Two visionary theoretical physicists joined forces in the

1920s to reinvent the household refrigerator
Science versus Antiscience?
Movements lumped under the term "antiscience" have

disparate causes, and not all pose as much of a threat as has
been claimed
Catch a Comet by Its Tail
Alphamagic Squares
Dec 1996
The Specter of Biological Weapons
States and terrorists alike have shown a growing interest in

germ warfare. More stringent arms-control efforts are needed
to discourage attacks
Primordial Deuterium and the Big Bang
Nuclei of this hydrogen isotope formed in the first moments

of the big bang. Their abundance offers clues to the early
evolution of the universe and the nature of cosmic dark
matter
Creating Nanophase Materials
The properties of these ultrafine-grained substances, now

found in a range of commercial products, can be customengineered
Cell Suicide in Health and Disease
Cells can - and often do - kill themselves, in a process known

as apoptosis. This capacity is essential to the proper
functioning of the body; flawed regulation may lie behind
many diseases
Atmospheric Dust and Acid Rain
Emissions of acidic air pollutants have fallen dramatically.

Why is acid rain still a problem? Atmospheric dust may be
part of the answer.
A Cricket Robot
Can a simple electromechanical system perform a complex

behavior of a living creature? There was one sure way to find
out
20/07/2015 03:22
115 of 147
Daily Life in Ancient Egypt
Workmen and their families lived some 3,000 years ago in the
village now known as Deir el-Medina. Written records from
the unusually well educated community offer fascinating
descriptions of everyday activities
Why Freud Isn't Dead
Skeptics continue to challenge Sigmund Freud's ideas about

the mind. Yet no unquestionably superior theory or therapy
has rendered psychoanalysis completely obsolete
Dissecting the Brain with Sound
Cows in the Maze
Nov 1996
The Case for Electric Vehicles
New technological developments have put practical electric

cars within reach, but politics may slow the shift away from
internal-combustion engines
Immunity and the Invertebrates
The fabulously complex immune systems of humans and

other mammals evolved over hundreds of millions of years in sometimes surprising ways
Sharks and the Origins of Vertebrate

Immunity
Sharks, which have existed for as many as 450 million years,

offer glimpses of a distant period in the evolution of the
immune system.
Quantum Seeing in the Dark
Quantum optics demonstrates the existence of

interaction-free measurements: the detection of objects
without light - or anything else - ever hitting them
Global Climatic Change on Mars
Today a frozen world, Mars at one time may have had more
temperate conditions, with flowing rivers, thawing seas,
melting glaciers and, perhaps, abundant life
Can China Feed Itself?
Some surprisingly reasonable policy changes would enable

the world's largest nation to produce more food for its 1.2
billion citizens
Dyslexia
A new model of this reading disorder emphasizes defects in

the language-processing rather than the visual system. It
explains why some very smart people have trouble learning to
read
Rock Art in Southern Africa
Paintings and engravings made by ancestors of the San

peoples encode the history and culture of a society thousands
of years old
Much Ado about Nothing
A Guide to Computer Dating
Oct 1996
Single Mothers and Welfare
For the first time since the Great Depression, large numbers
of families are homeless. Recent welfare revisions will put
even more women and children on the stress.
Microbes Deep inside the Earth
Recently discovered microorganisms that dwell within the

earth's crust could reveal clues to the origin of life
20/07/2015 03:22
116 of 147
Friction at the Atomic Scale
Long neglected by physicists, the study of friction's

atomic-level origins, or nanotribology, indicates that the force
stems from various unexpected sources, including sound
energy
Controlling Computers with Neural

Signals
Electrical impulses from nerves and muscles can command

computers directly, a method that aids people with physical
disabilities
Ten Days under the Sea
Living underwater in the world's only habitat devoted to

science, six aquanauts studied juvenile corals and fought off
"the funk"
How an Underwater Habitat Benefits

Marine Science
Scuba divers joke that there are two ways to avoid

decompression sickness, the rare but dreaded "bends": don't
go down, or don't come up.
Charles Darwin and Associates,

Ghostbusters
When the scientific establishment put a spiritualist on trial,

the co-discoverers of natural selection took opposing sides
Confronting Science's Logical Limits
The mathematical models now used in many scientific fields

may be fundamentally unable to answer certain questions
about the real world. Yet there may be ways around these
problems
Sounding Out Science
Prince William Sound is recovering, seven years after the

"Exxon Valdez" disaster. But the spill's scientific legacy
remains a mess
Working in a Vacuum
Monopoly Revisited
Sep 1996
How Cancer Arises
An explosion of research is uncovering the long-hidden

molecular underpinnings of cancer - and suggesting new
therapies
How Cancer Spreads
Tumor cells roam the body by evading the controls that keep
normal cells in place. That fact offers clues to fighting cancer
Causes and Prevention
Many of the culprits most publicized as causes of cancer

actually account for a relatively small fraction of deaths. The
good news: we can do more to protect ourselves. And a
growing area of study - chemoprevention - is attempting to
make the task easier.
What Causes Cancer?
The top two causes - tobacco and diet - account for almost
two thirds of all cancer deaths and are among the most
correctable
Strategies For Minimizing Cancer Risk
Simple, realistic preventive measures could save hundreds of

thousands of lives every year in developed countries alone
Chemoprevention of Cancer
Someday people should be able to avoid cancer or delay its

onset by taking specially formulated pills or foods
Is Hormone Replacement Therapy a

Risk?
Thanks to advances in public health and medicine, the

average American woman will be postmenopausal for about
20/07/2015 03:22
117 of 147
one third of her life.
Toward Earlier Detection
New technology promises not only to detect cancers earlier

and more accurately but also to catch tumors in their
precancerous state, when the disease still might be prevented
outright. The same basic instruments should help physicians
to distinguish patients who need minimal treatment from
those who need the most aggressive interventions.
Advances in Cancer Detection
Tests to look for the presence of a tumor before any

symptoms appear may save more lives than new drug
therapies do
Advances in Tumor Imaging
New tools yield a three-dimensional view inside the body and

automated advice on interpreting the anatomical landscape
Should Women in Their 40s Have

Mammograms?
For at least four years now, breast cancer specialists have

been heatedly arguing among themselves about whether
women in their forties benefit from having routine
mammograms.
Does Screening for Prostate Cancer

Make Sense?
Since 1990 the reported number of new cases of prostate

cancer has tripled, from fewer than 100,000 annually to an
estimated 317,000 this year.
Improving Conventional Therapy
The mainstays of cancer treatment - surgery, radiation and

chemotherapy - are being refined and combined in ways that
can help patients enjoy longer, more fulfilling lives.
Advancing Current Treatments for

Cancer
Surgery, radiation and chemotherapy can now cure many

cases of cancer. Future methods will be even more effective
When are Bone Marrow Transplants

Considered?
Bone marrow transplants can help to compensate for the

damaging effects of intense chemotherapy.
Twelve Major Cancers
The pages that follow provide facts and figures about the 12
cancers that affect the most Americans (excluding basal cell
and squamous cell skin cancers, which are very common but
rarely fatal).
Therapies of the Future
Fascinating new approaches to treatment would combat

cancers without the devastating side effects of many current
therapies. Some capitalize on insights into how the immune
system might be enlisted to destroy malignancies. Others are
based on detailed knowledge of how tumors grow and spread.
Immunotherapy for Cancer
As knowledge about the immune system grows, scientists are

devising ways, using the body's own defenses, to attack
cancer
New Molecular Targets for Cancer

Therapy
Investigators are exploiting the characteristic molecular

abnormalities of cancers in new approaches to treatment
Fighting Cancer by Attacking Its Blood

Supply
By interfering with the expanding network of blood vessels in

tumors, researchers hope to cut off the underlying support
system
Living with Cancer (Introduction)
There are ways to cope successfully with the physical,

psychological and practical challenges of the disease.
20/07/2015 03:22
118 of 147
Resources are available to patients who know where to look.

Even pain can usually be controlled - if caregivers award the
problem the attention it deserves.
Cancer's Psychological Challenges
Cancer patients today have many options for easing distress.

These interventions may not prolong life, but they can
improve its quality
Alternative Cancer Treatments
Miraculous cures are a myth, but some regimens may well

improve the quality of life for patients
Controlling the Pain of Cancer
Despite enormous advances in treating pain, many cancer

patients still suffer needlessly. Some simple practices can
make a difference
What Are Obstacles to Ideal Care?
Many patients do not know that being in a clinical trial is an

option.
Finding More Information
Fortunately, access to incisive knowledge about cancer and

its treatment is easier to obtain than ever before.
The Pleasures of Exploring Ponds
The Interrogator's Fallacy
Aug 1996
Smart Cards
As potential applications grow, computers in the wallet are

making unobtrusive inroads
The Stellar Dynamo
Sunspot cycles - on other stars - are helping astronomers

study the sun's variations and the ways they might affect the
earth
Gradients that Organize Embryo

Development
A few crucial molecular signals give rise to chemical

gradients that organize the developing embryo
Sands of the World
One of the most common elements on the earth's surface,

sand is also one of the most various
Probing High-Temperature
Superconductivity
Recent experiments exploiting subtle quantum effects yield

important clues about why some ceramics conduct electricity
without resistance
The Mystery of Lambic Beer
An ancient brewing technique produces a beverage so

complex that it is still yielding its secrets to organic chemists
Ring Bubbles of Dolphins
A number of bottlenose dolphins in Hawaii can create

shimmering, stable rings and helices of air as part of play
Gaining on Fat
As a costly epidemic of obesity spreads through the industrial

world, scientists are uncovering the biological roots of this
complex disease. The work offers tantalizing hope of new
ways to treat, and prevent, the health risks of excess weight
Detecting Micron-Size Movements
Shedding a Little Darkness
Jul 1996
20/07/2015 03:22
119 of 147
Next-Generation Compact Discs
A novel agreement among competing electronics companies

has delivered an innovative plan for compatible "DVD"
products - the first are due out this fall
Blue-Laser CD Technology
Coaxing semiconductor crystals into lasing blue light is no

easy task, but the rewards - among them, greater storage
space on optical disks - are well worth the wait
Sunlight and Skin Cancer
Although most skin cancers appear in older people, the

damage often begins decades earlier, when the sun's rays
mutate a key gene in a single cell
The Nature of Space and Time
Two relativists present their distinctive views on the universe,

its evolution and the impact of quantum theory
The Hidden World of Surgery
In his finely resolved images of surgery, a photographer sees

clues to who and what we are
The Mother of Mass Extinctions
Disaster struck 250 million years ago, when the worst

decimation in the earth's history occurred. Called the
end-Permian mass extinction, it marks a fundamental change
in the development of life
Who Owns Digital Works?
Computer networks challenge copyright law, but some

proposed cures may be as bad as the disease
Exoskeletal Sensors for Walking
To move their limbs, cockroaches, crabs and spiders rely on

organs in their exoskeletons that act as strain gauges. Their
method of locomotion could facilitate the design of
multilegged robots
Covert Observations of Nesting Sparrows
Arithmetic and Old Lace
Jun 1996
Semiconductor Subsidies
Did the U.S. government spend more than $700 million to

achieve a goal that might have been attained for much less?
Training the Olympic Athlete
Sports science and technology are today providing elite

competitors with the tiny margins needed to win in
world-class competition
Science in the Sky
The International Space Station will be the most expensive

object ever built. Although many scientists oppose the
grandiose scheme, its political momentum now appears
unstoppable
Can Nuclear Waste Be Stored Safely at

Yucca Mountain?
Studies of the mountain's history and geology can contribute

useful insights but not unequivocal conclusions
The Reluctant Father of Black Holes
Albert Einstein's equations of gravity are the foundation of

the modern view of black holes; ironically, he used the
equations in trying to prove these objects cannot exist
The Art of Charles R. Knight
Long before the film "Jurassic Park", Knight's illustrations

brought dinosaurs to life in the public's mind.
20/07/2015 03:22
120 of 147
Taxoids: New Weapons against Cancer
The chemists who developed the cancer-fighting agent taxol

are creating a family of similar compounds that may one day
help combat the disease.
Homemade Microgram Electrobalances
Tales of a Neglected Number
May 1996
The Horror of Land Mines
Land mines kill or maim more than 15,000 people each year.
Most victims are innocent civilians. Many are children. Still,
mines are planted by the thousands every day
The Kuiper Belt
Rather than ending abruptly at the orbit of Pluto, the outer

solar system contains an extended belt of small bodies
Uncovering New Clues to Cancer Risk
A growing discipline called molecular epidemiology is

attempting to find early biological signposts for heightened
risk of cancer. The research should enhance prevention of the
disease
Software for Reliable Networks
Techniques that enable distributed computing systems to

reorganize themselves can restore operation when one part
crashes
The Pursuit of Happiness
New research uncovers some anti-intuitive insights into how

many people are happy - and why
The Beluga Whales of the St. Lawrence

River
Although they are protected by law from hunters, these

whales must struggle to survive the threat of industrial
pollution
The Lost Technology of Ancient Greek

Rowing
The navies of classical Greece took advantage of the sliding

stroke, a technique that 19th-century competitive rowers later
reinvented
Hanford's Nuclear Wasteland
The U.S. is spending billions to clean up its nuclear weapons

complexes. At one of the most contaminated sites, no one
knows how much the project will cost, how long it will take
or how much good it will do
Detecting Natural Electromagnetic Waves
The Sculptures of Alan St. George
Apr 1996
Ten Years of the Chornobyl Era
The environmental and health effects of nuclear power's

greatest calamity will last for generations
The Birth of Complex Cells
Humans, together with all other animals, plants and fungi,

owe their existence to the momentous transformation of tiny,
primitive bacteria into large, intricately organized cells
Searching for Life on Other Planets
Life remains a phenomenon we know only on Earth. But an

innovative telescope in space could change that by detecting
signs of life on distant planets
20/07/2015 03:22
121 of 147
Smart Rooms
In creating computer systems that can identify people and

interpret their actions, researchers have come one step closer
to building helpful home and work environments
Alcohol in American History
National binges have alternated with enforced abstinence for

200 years, but there may be hope for moderation
Captured in Amber
The exquisitely preserved tissues of insects in amber reveal

some genetic secrets of evolution
Waiting for Breakthroughs
"Nanoists" envision global abundance emerging from the

manipulation of single atoms and molecules. But this
prophecy has been challenged by researchers who work at a
scale of billionths of a meter
The New Backyard Seismology
How Fair Is Monopoly?
Mar 1996
Urban Planning in Curitiba
A Brazilian city challenges conventional wisdom and relies

on low technology to improve the quality of urban life
Collisions with Comets and Asteroids
The chances of a celestial body colliding with the earth are

small, but the consequences would be catastrophic
The African AIDS Epidemic
In parts of sub-Saharan Africa, nearly 25 percent of the

population is HIV-positive as a result of heterosexual
transmission of the virus. Could lack of circumcision make
men in this region particularly susceptible?
Budding Vesicles in Living Cells
A transatlantic collaboration has uncovered the machinery

responsible for forming the tiny but essential containers, or
vesicles, that store proteins and shuttle them to and fro in
cells
The Art and Science of

Photoreconnaissance
In the 1950s and 1960s, photointerpreters devised ways of

extracting valuable information from recondite images.
Oftentimes, their work profoundly affected international
relations
Electrons in Flatland
Trapped in a two-dimensional plane, electrons can exhibit the

quantum Hall effect, a startling phenomenon now thought to
be intimately connected to superconductivity
Caribbean Mangrove Swamps
Despite their ubiquity and prominent position between land

and sea, these tropical ecosystems still hold countless
surprises for researchers
Vital Data
The Human Genome Project is producing a plethora of

information that will illuminate our hidden susceptibilities to
disease. The effort could transform medical science. But new
dangers are arriving, too
Exploring Chemical Bonds
Playing with Quads and Quazars
Feb 1996
20/07/2015 03:22
122 of 147
Malnutrition, Poverty and Intellectual

Development
Research into childhood nutrition reveals that a poor diet

influences mental development in more ways than expected.
Other aspects of poverty exacerbate the effects
The Global Positioning System
Two dozen satellites hovering thousands of miles out in space

are allowing people to locate themselves on the earth's
surface with remarkable precision
Seeing Underwater with Background

Noise
With a technique called acoustic-daylight imaging, sounds in

the sea can "illuminate" submerged objects, thereby creating
moving color pictures without sonar
Telomeres, Telomerase and Cancer
An unusual enzyme called telomerase acts on parts of

chromosomes known as telomeres. The enzyme has recently
been found in many human tumors and is being eyed as a
new target for cancer therapy
Colossal Galactic Explosions
Enormous outpourings of gas from the centers of nearby

galaxies may ultimately help explain both star formation and
the intergalactic medium
The Bacteria behind Ulcers
One half to one third of the world's population harbors

"Helicobacter pylori", "slow" bacteria that infect the stomach
and can cause ulcers and cancer there
The Loves of the Plants
Carl Linnaeus classified plants according to their

reproductive parts, endowing them as well with sex lives
reflecting 18th-century values and controversies
Quarks by Computer
Yearlong computations have helped to confirm the

fundamental theory behind quarks - and, using its principles,
even to identify a new particle
Growing Seedlings at Less Than 1 G
Proof of Purchase on the Internet
Jan 1996
The Real Threat of Nuclear Smuggling
Although many widely publicized incidents have been staged

or overblown, the dangers of even a single successful
diversion are too great to ignore
Caloric Restriction and Aging
Eat less, but be sure to have enough protein, fat, vitamins and
minerals. This prescription does wonders for the health and
longevity of rodents. Might it help humans as well?
Technology and Economics in the

Semiconductor Industry
Although the days of runaway growth may be numbered,

their passing may force chipmakers to offer more variety
Neural Networks for Vertebrate

Locomotion
The motions animals use to swim, run and fly are controlled
by specialized neural networks. For a jawless fish known as
the lamprey, the circuitry has been worked out
Cleaning Up the River Rhine
Intensive international efforts are reclaiming the most

important river in Europe
The Evolution of Continental Crust
The high-standing continents owe their existence to the

earth's long history of plate-tectonic activity
20/07/2015 03:22
123 of 147
Working Elephants
They earn their keep in Asia by providing an ecologically

benign way to harvest forests
Explaining Everything
A new symmetry, duality, is changing the way physicists think

about fundamental particles - or strings. It is also leading the
way to a Theory of Everything
Recording Nature's Sounds
Mother Worm's Blanket
Dec 1995
The Galileo Mission
From orbit around Jupiter, the Galileo spacecraft will take the
closest look ever at the planet and its natural satellites
Cystic Fibrosis
The genetic defects underlying this lethal disease have now

been shown to eliminate or hobble a critical channel through
which a constituent of salt enters and leaves cells
Science in Pictures
The Leaning Tower of Pisa The famous tower has been tilting
since the 12th century. Now engineers are using 20th-century
technology in hopes of saving the ancient landmark
Giant Earthquakes of the Pacific

Northwest
The danger of a very large earthquake striking the coast

between northern California and British Columbia proves
much greater than suspected
How Breast Milk Protects Newborns
Some of the molecules and cells in human milk actively help

infants stave off infection
The Puzzle of Conscious Experience
Neuroscientists and others are at last plumbing one of the

most profound mysteries of existence. But knowledge of the
brain alone may not get them to the bottom of it
Confidential Communication on the

Internet
Cryptography gives people the ability to authenticate the

identity of their correspondents, the first step in establishing
trust
Trends in Defense Technology
U.S. military planners hope to rely on improved versions of

the technologies tested in the Gulf War to help fight the next
Saddam Hussein. They may be preparing for the wrong
conflict
Measuring the Metabolism of Small Organisms
The Anthropomurphic Principle
Nov 1995
The World's Imperiled Fish
Wild fish cannot survive the onslaught of modern industrial

fishing. The collapse of fisheries in many regions shows the
danger plainly
The Brain's Immune System
It consists of cells called microglia that are normally

protective but can be surprisingly destructive. The cells may
contribute to neurodegenerative diseases and to the dementia
of AIDS
20/07/2015 03:22
124 of 147
Chaotic Climate
Global temperatures have been known to change

substantially in only a decade or two. Could another jump be
in the offng?
Holographic Memories
After more than 30 years, researchers are on the verge of

using holograms to store data in memories that are both fast
and vast
Charles Darwin
This newly rediscovered photograph appears to be the last

ever made of the great evolutionist
God's Utility Function
Humans have always wondered about the meaning of life.

According to the author, life has no higher purpose than to
perpetuate the survival of DNA
The Discovery of X-rays
One hundred years ago this month, Wilhelm Conrad Rntgen

cast the first x-ray images by chance
The Science of Juggling
Studying the ability to toss and catch balls and rings provides
insight into human coordination, robotics and mathematics
Measuring the Wind with Hot Metal
Ways to Tile Space with Knots
Oct 1995
Emerging Viruses
Hemorrhagic fever viruses are among the most dangerous

biological agents known. New ones are discovered every
year, and artificial as well as natural environmental changes
are favoring their spread
Companions to Young Stars
The surprising finding that even the youngest stars commonly

exist in sets of two or three has revised thinking about the
birth of star systems
Quantum-Mechanical Computers
Quantum-mechanical computers, if they can be constructed,

will do things no ordinary computer can
Demolition by Implosion
Detonation of small quantities of strategically placed

explosives can demolish an unwanted high-rise in a matter of
seconds
The Molecular Logic of Smell
Mammals can recognize thousands of odors, some of which

prompt powerful responses. Recent experiments illuminate
how the nose and brain may perceive scents
Science in Pictures
The raw visual and textual evidence of his imagination,

Edison's notebooks were the unrevealed talismans of the
inventor's career
Can Environmental Estrogens Cause

Breast Cancer?
The authors of a provocative hypothesis spell out their

reasons for suspecting that hormone-mimicking chemicals in
the environment contribute to many unexplained cases of
breast cancer
Trends in Social Science
Psychologists and others try to sidestep old pitfalls - both

political and scientific - as they apply evolutionary theory to
the clothed ape
20/07/2015 03:22
125 of 147
The Never-Ending Chess Game
Sep 1995
The Uncertainties of Technological
Innovation
Even the greatest ideas and inventions can flounder, whereas

more modest steps forward sometimes change the world
Information Technologies Table of

Content
Faster, more sophisticated data networks and computers will

dominate the systems people use to work and play.
Meanwhile intelligence will become a feature of everyday
machines. NOTE: No text.
Microprocessors in 2020
Every 18 months microprocessors double in speed. Within 25

years, one computer will be as powerful as all those in Silicon
Valley today
Wireless Networks
In the decade ahead, they will deliver personalized

communications to people on the go and basic service to
many who still lack telephones
All-Optical Networks
Fiber Optics will become more efficient as light waves

replace electrons for processing signals in communications
networks
Artificial Intelligence
A crucial storehouse of commonsense knowledge is now

taking shape
Intelligent Software
Programs that can act independently will ease the burdens

that computers put on people
Virtual Reality
VR will transform computers into extensions of our whole

bodies
Satellites For a Developing World
Satellites could provide universal access to the information

economy
Transportation Opener
Huge flying-wing aircarft, magnetically levitated trains and

driverless cars may carry passengers to their destinations,
while tiny spacecraft explore the solar system. NOTE: No
text.
High-Speed Rail: Another Golden Age
Neglected in North America but nurtured in Europe and

Japan, high-speed rail systems are a critical complement to
jets and cars
Built-in intelligence will let automobiles tune themselves to

The Automobile: Clean and Customized their drivers and cooperate to get through crowded traffic
systems safely
Evolution of the Commercial Airliner
Advances in materials, jet engines and cockpit diplays could

translate into less expensive and safer air travel
21st-Century Spacecraft
A fleet of cheap, miniaturized spacecraft may revive the

stalled Space Age, exploring the myriad tiny bodies of the
solar system
Why Go Anywhere?
Millions of people could be liberated from their vehicles
Medicine Opener
Many diseases may be cured with gene therapy, and damaged

organs may be repaired or replaced with tissue grown from
20/07/2015 03:22
126 of 147
cells in the laboratory. The new century should also see

innovative contraceptives, including, finally, some for men.
NOTE: No text.
Gene Therapy
Several hundred patients have already received treatment. In

the next century the procedure will be commonplace.
Artificial Organs
Engineering artificial tissue is the natural successor to

treatments for injury and disease. But the engineers will be
the body's own cells
Future Contraceptives
Vaccines for men and women will eventually join new

implants, better spermicides and stronger, thinnner condoms
An Improved Future?
Medical advances challenge thinking on living, dying and

being human
Buildings that repair themselves, machines that fit on the

Machines, Materials and Manufacturing head of a pin and local factories that make products to order
are just some of the possibilities. NOTE: No text.
Self-Assembling Materials
The smaller, more complex machines of the future cannot be

built with current methods: they must almost make
themselves
Engineering Microscopic Machines
Electronic fabrication processes can produce a data storage

device or a chemical factory on a microchip
Intelligent Materials
Inspired by nature, researchers are creating substances that

can anticipate failure, repair themselves and adapt to the
environment
Advanced Composites
After they first appeared in the 1960s, advanced composite

materials promised a brave new - not to mention light and
durable - future.
High-Temperature Superconductors
They conduct current without resistance more cheaply than

conventional superconductors can and are slowly finding
their way to widespread use
Robotics in the 21st Century
Automatons may soon find work as subservient household

help
Energy and Environment
The most crucial changes will come from attacking the waste
problems of industry, agriculture and energy production at a
fundamental level. NOTE: No text.
Solar Energy
Technology will allow radiation from the sun to provide

nonpolluting and cheap fuels, as well as electricity
Fusion
Energy derived from fused nuclei may become widely used

by the middle of the next century
Disposing of Nuclear Waste
At 3:49 P.M. on December 2, 1942, in a converted squash

court under the football stands at the University of Chicago, a
physicist slid back some control rods in the first nuclear
reactor and ushered in a new age.
The Industrial Ecology of the 21st

Century
A clean and efficient industrial economy would mimic the

natural world's ability to recycle materials and minimize
20/07/2015 03:22
127 of 147
waste
Technology for Sustainable Agriculture
The next green revolution needs to be sophisticated enough

to increase yields while also protecting the environment
Outline For an Ecological Economy
Countries can indeed prosper while protecting their

environment
Living with New Technologies
Technology will not solve all our problems. It may even

create some. But, despite its shortcomings, it continues to
offer us ever more ways to work, play, and order our lives.
NOTE: no text.
Technology Infrastructure
Industrial advances will depend on setting new standards
Designing the Future
Too frequently, product designers disregard the psychology of

the user
Digital Literacy
Multimedia will require equal facility in word, image and

sound
The Information Economy
How much will two bits be worth in the digital marketplace?
The Emperor's New Workplace
Information technology evolves more quickly than behavior
What Technology Alone Cannot Do
Technology will not provide us all with health, wealth and big
TVs
The Great Drain Robbery
Aug 1995
Recollections of a Nuclear War
Two nuclear bombs were dropped on Japan 50 years ago this

month. The author, a member of the Manhattan Project,
reflects on how the nuclear age began and what the post-cold
war future might hold
Tornadoes
The storms that spawn twisters are now largely understood,

but mysteries still remain about how these violent vortices
form
How HIV Defeats the Immune System
A plausible hypothesis suggests the immune devastation that

underlies AIDS stems from continuous - and dangerous evolution of the human immunodeficiency virus in the body
The Benefits of Background Noise
Stochastic resonance, the phenomenon by which background

noise boosts weak signals, is creating a buzz in physics,
biology and engineering
The Physiology of Decompression

Illness
For more than a century, researchers have known that

exposure to high pressure can injure or kill. Gradually, they
are beginning to understand the underlying mechanisms
Frog Communication
In striving to be heard by rivals and mates, these amphibians

have evolved a plethora of complex strategies
Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 Meets Jupiter
Images of a comet that broke apart and plummeted into

Jupiter continue to dazzle astronomers a year afterward
Trends: Lost Science in the Third World
Many researchers in the developing world feel trapped in a

vicious circle of neglect and - some say - prejudice by
20/07/2015 03:22
128 of 147
publishing barriers they claim doom good science to oblivion

Detecting Signals with Noise
Jul 1995
The Problematic Red Wolf
Is the red wolf a species or a long-established hybrid of the

gray wolf and the coyote? Such distinctions may affect
ongoing efforts to save a variety of endangered species
Protecting the Greenback
Digital color systems can reproduce paper money with

disconcerting accuracy. The U.S. government's response is a
new series of notes
Treating Diabetes with Transplanted

Cells
The implants, islet cells of the pancreas, can potentially cure

many cases of diabetes. A prime obstacle to wide use - lack
of a safe way to avoid immune attacks on the grafts - now
seems to be crumbling
Light in the Ocean's Midwaters
Beneath the surface of the ocean, sunlight is gradually

extinguished, but the resulting darkness yields to a host of
bioluminescent creatures
Light in the Ocean's Midwaters
Fish such as hake, as well as some squids, arefast-moving,

wide-ranging predators, but they often linger near Ventana,
attracted to the lights of the ROV.
The Trebuchet
Recent reconstructions and computer simulations reveal the

operating principles of the most powerful weapon of its time
Cookstoves for the Developing World
Traditional wood, charcoal and coal stoves are used in

hundreds of millions of homes. Their redesign can have a
dramatic effect on energy usage, the environment and
community health
J. Robert Oppenheimer: Before the War
Although Oppenheimer is now best remembered for his

influence during World War II, he made many important
contributions to theoretical physics in the 1930s
Plastics Get Wired/Trends in Material

Science
By tailoring the electrical properties of conducting polymers,

researchers hope to render electronics a bit more organic
Election Fever in Blockvotia
Jun 1995
Debt and the Environment
Loans cause great human hardship, but their connection to

ecological troubles is hard to prove
Building World-Record Magnets
Packing the energy equivalent of a stick of dynamite,

powerful electromagnets around the globe compete to
advance our knowledge of materials science and physics
Hookworm Infection
It retards growth and intellectual development in millions of

children yet is largely ignored by researchers. New findings
suggest excellent possibilities for a vaccine
The Arithmetics of Mutual Help
Computer experiments show how cooperation rather than

exploitation can dominate in the Darwinian struggle for
survival
20/07/2015 03:22
129 of 147
Deciphering a Roman Blueprint
Scholarly detective work reveals the secret of a full-size

drawing chiseled into an ancient pavement. The "blueprint"
describes one of Rome's most famous buildings
Halo Nuclei
Nuclei having excess neutrons or protons teeter on the edges

of nuclear stability, known as drip lines. Under this stress,
some develop a halo
Kin Recognition
Many organisms, from sea squirts to primates, can identify

their relatives. Understanding how and why they do so has
prompted new thinking about the evolution of social behavior
Can science achieve a united theory of complex systems?

TRENDS IN COMPLEXITY STUDIES:
Even at the Santa Fe Institute, some researchers have their
From Complexity to Perplexity
doubts
Computing Bouts of the Prisoner's Dilemma
May 1995
The Global Tobacco Epidemic
Cigarette smoking has stopped declining in the U.S. and is

rising in other parts of the world. Aggressive marketing and
permissive regulations are largely to blame
Binary Neutron Stars
These paired stellar remnants supply exquisite confirmations

of general relativity. Their inevitable collapse produces what
may be the strongest explosions in the universe
Dendrimer Molecules
Chemists can now build fractal supermolecules. This new

class of polymers promises to be valuable in biotechnology
and environmental protection
The Ocean's Salt Fingers
A small-scale oddity in the way seawater mixes can have

large-scale consequences for the structure of the ocean
The Silicon Microstrip Detector
Produced with the same tools used to create integrated

circuits, these detectors recently helped to find the top quark
and are central to other crucial experiments
The Atomic Intrigues of Niels Bohr
Scandal is not usually linked with the name Niels Bohr;

genius and character are.
Did Bohr Share Nuclear Secrets?
Niels Bohr met with a Soviet agent in late 1945. Although

some have accused Bohr of divulging nuclear secrets, a
recently disclosed memo offers evidence to the contrary
What Did Heisenberg Tell Bohr about

the Bomb?
In 1941 Werner Heisenberg and Niels Bohr met privately in

Copenhagen. Almost two years later at Los Alamos, Bohr
showed a sketch of what he believed was Heisenberg's design
for a nuclear weapon
The Preservation of Past
Conservators are racing to save monuments threatened by

development, pollution, looting and neglect. In the process,
they are transforming the field of archaeology into a new
science
Fibonacci Forgeries
Apr 1995
20/07/2015 03:22
130 of 147
The Puzzle of Declining Amphibian

Populations
The number of frogs, toads and salamanders is dropping in

many areas of the world. The causes range from destruction
of their local habitats to global depletion of the ozone layer
Quest for the Limits of the Heliosphere
Four aging spacecraft are racing to the outer reaches of the

solar system. Soon they may break through the last barriers to
interstellar space
Machines That Learn from Hints
Machine learning improves significantly by taking advantage

of information available from intelligent hints
Studies of courtship and mating in the fruit fly offer a window

Understanding the Genetic Construction
on the ways genes influence the execution of complex
of Behavior
behaviors
The Art Historian's Computer
Riddles posed by ancient works of art fall to historical

analyses and electronic explorations
A Brief History of Infinity
The infinite has always been a slippery concept. Even the

commonly accepted mathematical view, developed by Georg
Cantor, may not have truly placed infinity on a rigorous
foundation
The Tapestry of Power in a

Mesopotamian City
Mashkan-shapir was for a brief time one of the most

important cities in the civilized world. Its remains challenge
traditional notions of power distribution in early urban society
The Price of Prevention
Policymakers frequently suggest that preventive medicine

pays for itself. In fact, studies now show that this claim is
rarely true. Still, prevention is often a worthy health
investment
Computerized Restoration of Juvenile Art
Mar 1995
Faster Evaluation of Vital Drugs
Traditional clinical trials may delay the availability of

lifesaving therapies. Regulators now attempt to balance speed
against the risk of errors
The Many Costs of Drug Testing
When researchers test a new drug, pressures from many

different constituencies coverage on the clinical trail.
Laser Control of Chemical Reactions
For years, chemists have sought to control reactions with

lasers - and have mostly failed. Success may come from
exploiting subtle quantum effects resulting from the
interaction of light and matter
An Efficient Swimming Machine
Instinctive control of vortices lets fish swim the way they do.
A robotic tuna has also managed it; boats and submarines
may be next
The Genetic Basis of Cancer
An accumulation of genetic defects can apparently cause

normal cells to become cancerous and cancerous cells to
become increasingly dangerous
Bonobo Sex and Society
The behavior of a close relative challenges assumptions about

male supremacy in human evolution
20/07/2015 03:22
131 of 147
Protein-Based Computers
Devices fabricated from biological molecules promise

compact size and faster data storage. They lend themselves to
use in parallel-processing computers, three-dimensional
memories and neural networks
Environmental Degradation in Ancient

Greece
Contrary to the view that the ancients lived in harmony with

their environment, archaeological and geologic evidence
shows that they often abused the land
Seeking the Criminal Element
Scientists are homing in on social and biological risk factors

that they believe predispose individuals to criminal behavior.
The knowledge could be ripe with promise - or rife with
danger
Turning the Tables Around
Feb 1995
Population, Poverty and the Local
Environment
As forests and rivers recede, a child's labor can become more

valuable to parents, spurring a vicious cycle that traps
families in poverty
Sonoluminescence: Sound into Light
A bubble of air can focus acoustic energy a trillionfold to

produce picosecond flashes of light. The mechanism eludes
complete explanation
Molecular Machines That Control

Genes
The activities of our genes are tightly regulated by elaborate

complexes of proteins that assemble on DNA. Perturbations
in the normal operation of these assemblies can lead to
diseases.
Manic-Depressive Illness and Creativity
Does some fine madness plague great artists? Several studies

now show that creativity and mood disorders are linked
Masers in The Sky
Interstellar gas clouds produce intense, coherent microwaves.

This radiation offers a glimpse of the size, content and
distance of objects that may otherwise be invisible
The History of Synthetic Testosterone
Testosterone has long been banned in sports as a

performance-enhancing drug. This use may soon be accepted
in medicine alongside other legitimate hormonal therapies
The Mid-Cretaceous Superplume

Episode
The earth has an erratic "heartbeat" that can release vast

amounts of heat from deep within the planet. The latest
"pulse" of the earth occurred 120 million years ago
Toward "Point One"
Gigabit chips are now in the laboratory. But the critical

technology needed for manufacturing smaller circuits
confronts diminishing returns
Producing Light from a Bubble of Air
Jan 1995
Ensuring the Longevity of Digital
Documents
The digital medium is replacing paper in a dramatic recordkeeping revolution. But such documents may be lost unless
we act now
The Prion Diseases
Prions, once dismissed as an impossibility, have now gained

wide recognition as extraordinary agents that cause a number
20/07/2015 03:22
132 of 147
of infectious, genetic and spontaneous disorders

Earth Before Pangea
The North American continent may be more nomadic than

any of its inhabitants
Elastic Biomolecular Machines
Synthetic chains of amino acids, patterned after those in

connective tissue, can transform heat and chemical energy
into motion
The Oldest Old
People in their late nineties or older are often healthier and

more robust than those 20 years younger.
The Birth and Disease of Nova V1974

Cygni
The brightest nova in 17 years answered many questions

during its life and raised more in death
Egil's Bones
An Icelandic saga tells of a Viking who had unusual,

menacing features, including a skull that could resist blows
from an ax. He probably suffered from an ailment called
Paget's disease
Better Than a Cure
The World Health Organization wants industry to step up its

efforts to develop new vaccines. Can big business and a
public health bureaucracy see eye to eye?
Daisy, Daisy, Give Me Your Answer, Do
Dec 1994
Improving Automotive Efficiency
Batteries and fuel cells? Cleaner air and reduced oil imports
can be won by redesigning conventional internal-combustionpowered vehicles
Fossils of The Flaming Cliffs
Mongolia's Gobi Desert contains one of the richest

assemblages of dinosaur remains ever found. Paleontologists
are uncovering much of the region's history.
Earth From Sky
Radar systems carried aloft by the space shuttle Endeavour

provide a new perspective of the earth's environment
The New Genetic Medicines
Synthetic strands of DNA are being developed as drugs.

Called antisense and triplex agents, they can potentially
attack viruses and cancers without harming healthy tissue
The Duality in Matter and Light
In quantum mechanics, objects can behave as particles or as

waves. Studies now emphasize that such complementary
features are more fundamental than has generally been
appreciated
Making Environmental Treaties Work
Many agreements aim to protect the global environment. But

actually making them do so requires innovative approaches
Caulerpa
This tropical alga is the world's largest single-celled organism.

Yet it differentiates into a complex structure of leaves, stems
and roots
Trends: The Speed of Write
Scientists now transmit reports of their research - from first

inspiration to final result - over electronic networks. Even
live experiments can be witnessed on-line. Publishers and
libraries may never be the same
20/07/2015 03:22
133 of 147
Measuring the Energy Drain on Your Car
Nov 1994
Cerebrospinal Meningitis Epidemics
A debilitating and often deadly disease, meningitis remains

common in many developing countries. New insights may
soon enable us to predict and control outbreaks
The Self-Reproducing Inflationary

Universe
Recent versions of the inflationary scenario describe the

universe as a self-generating fractal that sprouts other
inflationary universes
The Genetics of Flower Development
Flower cells learn which organs to become from genes that

convey positional information. A model based on just half a
dozen such genes can predict how mutations will affect floral
structure
Sci Pixs: Escher's Metaphors
The prints and drawings of M.C. Escher give expression to

abstract concepts of mathematics and science
Secure Distributed Computing
Networks and computer security often do not go well

together, but the developers of the Athena system have yet to
see their protocols fail
Why Children Talk to Themselves
Although children are often rebuked for talking to themselves

out loud, doing so helps them control their behavior and
master new skills
Resolving Zeno's Paradoxes
For millennia, mathematicians and philosophers have tried to

refute Zeno's paradoxes, a set of riddles suggesting that
motion is inherently impossible. At last, a solution has been
found
Big-Time Biology
Molecular biology is - not so quietly - evolving from a science

into an industry. Can it survive the transformation?
Playing Chess on a Go Board
Oct 1994
Life in the Universe
We comprehend the universe and our place in it. But there

are limits to what we can explain at present. Will research at
the boundaries of science reveal a special role for intelligent
life?
The Evolution of the Universe
Some 15 billion years ago the universe emerged from a hot,

dense sea of matter and energy. As the cosmos expanded and
cooled, it spawned galaxies, stars, planets and life
The Earth's Elements
The elements that make up the earth and its inhabitants were
created by an earlier generation of stars
The Evolution of the Earth
The formation of this planet and its atmosphere gave rise to

life, which shaped the earth's subsequent development. Our
future lies in interpreting this geologic past
The Origin of Life On Earth
Growing evidence supports the idea that the emergence of

catalytic RNA was a crucial early step. How that RNA came
into being remains unknown
20/07/2015 03:22
134 of 147
The Evolution of Life on the Earth
The history of life is not necessarily progressive; it is certainly

not predictable. The earths creatures have evolved through a
series of contingent and fortuitous events
The Search for Extraterrestrial Life
The earth remains the only inhabited world known so far, but
scientists are finding that the universe abounds with the
chemistry of life
The Emergence of Intelligence
Language, foresight, musical skills and other hallmarks of

intelligence are connected through an underlying facility that
enhances rapid movements
Will Robots Inherit The Earth
Yes, as we engineer replacement bodies and brains using

nanotechnology. We will then live longer, possess greater
wisdom and enjoy capabilities as yet unimagined
Sustaining Life On Earth
Hope for an environmentally sustainable future lies in

evolving institutions, technology and global concern
Building an Electronic Neuron
Sep 1994
Disarming Lyme Disease
Antibiotics are usually curative. A vaccine is in clinical trials.

Next on the research agenda: how to help people suffering
from chronic symptoms
Low-Energy Ways To Observe

High-Energy Phenomena
By observing interactions that are forbidden in the Standard

Model, physicists can peek at supersymmetric and other
happenings
The Aluminum Beverage Can
Produced by the hundreds of millions every day, the modern

can, robust enough to support the weight of an average adult,
is a tribute to precision design and engineering
The Machinery of Cell Crawling
When a cell crawls, part of its fluid cytoplasm briefly turns

rigid. This transformation depends on the orderly assembly
and disassembly of a protein scaffold
Solving The Paradox of Deep

Earthquakes
For decades, geophsicists have known that earthquakes

should not occur at depth inside the earth. But they do.
Finally, we know how and why these events happen
Privatizing Public Research
With the end of the cold war, national defense has given way
to international competitiveness as the theme for federal
support of research. As it now stands, the idea will probably
not work well
Bonaparte's invasion of Egypt brought French scientists and

The Scientific Importance of Napoleon's
engineers to the Nile. Their work, in turn, brought the
Egyptian Campaign
splendors of the Nile to Europe
Trends in Computing: Software's
Chronic Crisis
Despite 50 years of progress, the software industry remains

years - perhaps decades - short of the mature engineering
discipline needed to meet the demands of an information-age
society
A Subway Named Turing
Aug 1994
20/07/2015 03:22
135 of 147
Third World Submarines
The proliferation of submarines may be a threat to established

navies and regional stability, but to arms manufacturers it is a
market opportunity
Extreme Ultraviolet Astronomy
Observations at these wavelengths, once thought impossible,

are extending knowledge of the cosmos
Confocal Microscopy
For producing sharp two- or three-dimensional images with

light,this microscopic technique is unsurpassed. It can also be
applied for seeing deep inside the tissues of living specimens
Squids
(for superconducting quantum interference devices) are the

most sensitive detectors of magnetic fields. Their applications
range from diagnosis of brain tumors to tests of relativity
How Cells Produce Antigens
Cells alert the immune system to the presence of infections

by displaying molecular complexes made from bits of their
own proteins and those of invading organisms
Red Tides
Many experts believe these blooms of toxic algae have

recently become more prevalent, posing a greater threat to
human and marine health
The Eloquent Bones of Abu Hureya
The daily grind in an early Near Eastern agricultural

community left revealing marks on the skeletons of the
inhabitants
Trends In Women's Health: A Global

View
Improving women's health means overhauling attitudes

toward sex and addressing hidden epidemics, such as
domestic violence
Scanning Underwater Surfaces
Jul 1994
Agriculture for Developing Nations
The capital-intensive, highly mechanized Western model may

not suit every developing region. Systems of intensive
polyculture, exemplified by rice cultivation, may be better
The Scientific Legacy of Apollo
The retrieved lunar rocks have helped settle questions about

the moon's origin, its composition and even the early
conditions that affected life on the earth
Synthetic Self-Replicating Molecules
Molecules crafted in the laboratory can make copies of

themselves, "mutate," compete for resources and assemble,
giving a paradigm for life
Barriers to Drug Delivery in Solid

Tumors
Many tumors resist full penetration by anticancer agents.

Such resistance may help explain why drugs that eradicate
tumor cells in laboratory dishes often fail to eliminate
malignancies in the body
Manatees
These giant aquatic grazers outchewed their rivals in the New

World. Now humans, their sole enemy, hold the key to their
survival
Jean Henri Fabre
This reclusive entomologist became one of the most popular

educational authors of his day. A look at his greatest work
reveals both the underappreciated achievements and the
failings of his science
20/07/2015 03:22
136 of 147
Late Ice Age Hunting Technology
Cro-Magnon artisans designed many kinds of spearpoints. By

re-creating these weapons, we can better appreciate the
sophisticated skill ancient hunters possessed
Trends: In Neuroscience
What is consciousness? Can neurobiology explain it, or - as

some philosophers argue - does this most elusive and
inescapable of all phenomena lie beyond experiment's reach?
The Ultimate in Anty-Particles
Jun 1994
Was The Race To The Moon Real?
In 1961 President John F. Kennedy made the goal to be first

on the moon a matter of national honor. But were the Soviets
truly in the running?
The Classical Limit of an Atom
By creating ultralarge atoms, physicists hope to study how the

odd physics of the quantum world becomes the classical
mechanics of everyday experience
Emotion, Memory and the Brain
The neural routes underlying the formation of memories

about primitive emotional experiences, such as fear, have
been traced
Adaptive Optics
Technology developed during the cold war is giving new

capabilities to ground-based astronomical telescopes
Early Andean Cities
Some 3,800 years ago Pampa de las Llamas-Moxeke and

Taukachi-Konkan were carefully laid-out urban centers that
housed many hundreds of people
The Sensory Basis of the Honeybee's

Dance Language
Novel experiments, such as training bees to respond to

sounds and recruiting them using a robot, have ended several
debates surrounding the dance language
The Ethnobotanical Approach to Drug

Discovery
Medicinal plants discovered by traditional societies are

proving to be an important source of potentially therapeutic
drugs
Grading the Gene Tests
From just a snippet of DNA, geneticists can sometimes

forecast a patient's health. But ethical problems surrounding
this testing are as ominous as the diseases themselves.
Genetically Altering Escherichia coli
May 1994
Evidence for a Biological Influence in
Male Homosexuality
Two pieces of evidence, a structure within the human brain

and a genetic link, point to a biological component for male
homosexuality
The Biological Evidence Challenged
Even if genetic and neuroanatomical traits turn out to be

correlated with sexual orientation, causation is far from
proved
Bohm's Alternative to Quantum

Mechanics
This theory, ignored for most of the past four decades,

challenges the probabilistic, subjectivist picture of reality
implicit in the standard formulation of quantum mechanics
20/07/2015 03:22
137 of 147
How Interferons Fight Disease
They are not the cure-alls researchers once hoped they would
be, but they are providing therapy for a variety of infectious
illnesses and for some cancers
Chesley Bonestell's Astronomical

Visions
This artist's unique combination of technical knowledge and

graphic prowess brought astronomy alive and helped to
advance the manned spaceflight program
Directional Drilling
New techniques enable crews to drill around natural or

man-made obstructions for oil and gas. These same methods
are used to sample underground pollutants and bury service
lines
East Side Story: The Origin of

Humankind
The Rift Valley in Africa holds the secret to the divergence of

hominids from the great apes and to the emergence of human
beings
Aging Airways
The FAA struggles to replace its winking, blinking air-traffic

control equipment. But will the skies be safer? Can the
agency survive the effort intact?
How Many Guards in the Gallery?
Apr 1994
Trade, Jobs and Wages
Blaming foreign competition for U.S. economic ills is

ineffective. The real problems lie at home
Charge and Spin Density Waves
Electrons in some metals arrange into crystalline patterns that

move in concert, respond peculiarly to applied voltages and
show self-organization
Visualizing the Mind
Strategies of cognitive science and techniques of modern

brain imaging open a window to the neural systems
responsible for thought
Chemistry and Physics in the Kitchen
Bon apptit! Scientists are beginning to understand how chefs

accomplish their culinary masterpieces and are making
modest recipe suggestions of their own
The Dilemmas of Prostate Cancer
Do the risks of aggressive treatment for early prostate cancer

outweigh the benefits? This question is one of several
unresolved issues faced by those who treat, and those who
have, prostate cancer
Precious Metal Objects of the Middle

Sican
A Peruvian culture older than the Incas made unprecedented

use of gold and other metals. Studies of Sicn metalworking
techniques offer hints about this mysterious society
The Pioneer Mission to Venus
This multipart spacecraft spent 14 years scrutinizing the

atmosphere, clouds and environs of the nearest planet. The
results clarify the stunningly divergent evolutionary histories
of Venus and the earth
Trends In Biological Restoration
Can we rebuild it? The field of ecological restoration is

evaluating techniques to restore nature and is grappling with
definitions of success
The Kitchen as a Lab
20/07/2015 03:22
138 of 147
Mar 1994
Can the Growing Human Population
Feed Itself?
As human numbers surge toward 10 billion, some experts are

alarmed, others optimistic. Who is right?
The Earth's Mantle Below The Oceans
Samples collected from the ocean floor reveal how the

mantles convective forces shape the earths surface, create its
crust and perhaps even affect its rotation
Targeted Gene Replacement
Researchers can now create mice bearing any chosen

mutations in any known gene. The technology is
revolutionizing the study of mammalian biology
High-Speed Silicon-Germanium
Electronics
The author has helped create electronic devices that

outperform traditional silicon technology yet remain
compatible with standard manufacturing methods
The Quantum Physics of Time Travel
Common sense may rule out such excursions - but the laws of
physics do not
The Dynamics of Social Dilemmas
Individuals in groups must often choose between acting

selfishly or cooperating for the common good. Social models
explain how group cooperation arises - and why that behavior
can suddenly change
Frogs and Toads in Deserts
Amphibians seem unlikely desert denizens. But those living in

dry climes reveal a diverse and unusual array of adaptations
to life at the extremes
Wire Pirates
Consumers and entrepreneurs crowd onto the information

highway, where electronic bandits and other hazards await
them
The New Merology of Beastly Numbers
Feb 1994
The Future of American Defense
U.S. forces were shaped for conflict with a superpower. The

emerging multilateral world calls for a smaller, more flexible
and far less expensive military
Sulfate Aerosol and Climatic Change
Industrial emissions of sulfur form particles that may be

reflecting solar radiation back into space, thereby masking
the greenhouse effect over some parts of the earth
The Molecular Architects of Body

Design
Putting a human gene into a fly may sound like the basis for a
science fiction film, but it demonstrates that nearly identical
molecular mechanisms define body shapes in all animals
When Is Seeing Believing?
Digital technology for manipulating images has subverted the

certainty of photographic evidence
Liquid Mirrors
Light, liquid-mercury mirrors, which can potentially be made

much larger than glass mirrors, may enable astronomers to
construct enormous telescopes and see farther than ever
before
AIDS and the Use of Injected Drugs
The AIDS epidemic continues to grow among drug users who

inject. It could be curbed if governments more readily
adopted effective prevention programs
20/07/2015 03:22
139 of 147
The Terror Birds of South America
These huge, swift creatures were the dominant carnivores of

the continent for millions of years, until competitors drove
them into extinction
Particle Metaphysics
In the aftermath of the Superconducting Super Collider's

death, physicists are divided over how - or even whether they should continue their search for a unified theory of
nature
Making a Mirror by Spinning a Liquid
Jan 1994
Wetlands
These havens of biodiversity are often endangered because

they can be hard to identify. Understanding their variable
characteristics can lead to more successful conservation
efforts
The Search for Strange Matter
Between nucleus and neutron star stretches a desert devoid

of nuclear matter. Could strange quark matter fill the gap?
The Toxins of Cyanobacteria
These poisons, which periodically and fatally contaminate the

water supplies of wild and domestic animals, can also harm
humans. But they are being coaxed into doing good
Breaking Intractability
Problems that would otherwise be impossible to solve can

now be computed, as long as one settles for what happens on
the average
Animal Sexuality
Animals have evolved a range of mechanisms to determine

whether an individual takes on masculine or feminine traits.
Cross-species comparisons offer some surprising insights into
the nature of sexuality
World Linguistic Diversity
The ancestor of each language was taken to its current

territory by pioneers, farmers, traders or a conquering elite.
Multidisciplinary studies are clarifying their respective roles
The First Data Networks
The optical telegraph is almost forgotten. Two centuries ago it

moved messages over hundreds of kilometers in a few
minutes
Trends: A War Not Won
Despite dramatic scientific gains, cancer remains an

undaunted killer
Knots, Links and Videotape
Dec 1993
The Fertility Decline in Developing
Countries
Family size is decreasing in many Third World countries. The

reasons provide the key to slowing population growth
The Compton Gamma Ray Observatory
A steady stream of data from this orbiting observatory is

painting a portrait of a dynamic and often enigmatic cosmos
MHC Polymorphism and Human

Origins
The diversity of human tissue types was generated long

before Homo sapiens emerged
Africanized Bees in the U.S.
Africanized honeybees have reached the U.S. from points

south. As more of them arrive, they will certainly wreak some
20/07/2015 03:22
140 of 147
havoc but perhaps not the type their "killer bee" nickname
would imply
Drugs by Design
Structure-based design, an innovative approach to developing

drugs, has recently spawned many promising therapeutic
agents, including several now in human trials for treating
AIDS, cancer and other diseases
Coupled Oscillators and Biological

Synchronization
A subtle mathematical thread connects clocks, ambling

elephants, brain rhythms and the onset of chaos
The Death Cults of Prehistoric Malta
New archaeological excavations reveal that as the ancient

island societies suffered from environmental decline, they
developed an extreme religious preoccupation with life and
death
Current Events
Now that the blizzard of hype has stopped, workers are

gradually realizing the promise of high-temperature
superconductors
Electronic Fireflies
Nov 1993
The Case for Free Trade
Environmentalists are wrong to fear the effects of free trade.

Both causes can be advanced by imaginative solutions
The Perils of Free Trade
Economists routinely ignore its hidden costs to the

environment and the community
Chemical Signaling in the Brain
Studies of acetylcholine receptors in the electric organs of

fish have generated critical insights into how neurons in the
human brain communicate with one another
X-Ray Binaries
In these systems, ultradense neutron stars feed on their more

sedate companions. Such stellar cannibalism produces
brilliant outpourings of x-rays and drastically alters the
evolution of both stars
The Art of Boris Artzybasheff
A compelling mid-20th century vision of the machines of war

and peace
High-Power Electronics
A new generation of silicon switches enables power grids to

meet the needs of utility customers with high efficiency and
reliability
Ancient DNA
Genetic information that had seemed lost forever turns out to

linger in the remains of long-dead plants and animals.
Evolutionary change can at last be observed directly
Trends in the Sociology of Science
Despite decades of struggle, women retain a small minority in

the scientific commmunity
Fermat's Last Time-Trip
Oct 1993
Clearing the Air in Los Angeles
Although Los Angeles has the most polluted skies in the

nation, it is one of the few cities where air quality has
improved in recent decades
20/07/2015 03:22
141 of 147
Large Igneous Provinces
These vast fields of lava record powerful but geologically

brief pulses of magmatic activity. Their formation may have
triggered significant changes in the global environment
Evolutionarily Mobile Modules in

Proteins
Many proteins consist of a fairly small set of modular

elements. How these units spread and multiplied during
evolution is not altogether clear, but a pattern may be
emerging
Electrorheological Fluids
Some liquids solidify instantly when exposed to an electric

field. Such protean materials may give engineers quicker,
more adaptive machines
Water-Pollinated Plants
Once thought to be mere aberrations of nature, these

flowering aquatic species provide evidence for the
evolutionary convergence toward efficient pollination
strategies
Simulating Brain Damage
Adults with brain damage make some bizarre errors when

reading words. If a network of simulated neurons is trained to
read and then is damaged, it produces strikingly similar
behavior
Raising the Vasa
This Swedish man-of-war foundered on her maiden voyage

and slept for three centuries at the bottom of Stockholm
Harbor. Here is the story of her resurrection
The Death of Proof
Computers are transforming the way mathematicians

discover, prove and communicate ideas, but is there a place
for absolute certainty in this brave new world?
Making Fluids into Solids with Magnets
Sep 1993
Life, Death and the Immune System
By defining and defending the self, the immune system makes

life possible; malfunction causes illness and death. Study of
the system provides a unifying view of biology
How the Immune System Develops
Environmental and genetic signals cue cells as they

differentiate into the many lineages that recognize foreign
antigens and fight off invaders
How the Immune System Recognizes

Invaders
Cells of the immune system recombine gene fragments to

create the millions of receptors needed to identify and attack
the myriad pathogens encountered throughout life
How the Immune System Recognizes

the Body
The human immune system has developed several elegant

processes that allow it to repel foreign invaders and yet not
attack the body itself
Infectious Diseases and the Immune

System
When bacteria, viruses and other pathogens infect the body,

they hide in different places. Each component of the immune
system is most adept at rousting trespassers from one location
AIDS and the Immune System
The AIDS virus exploits the immune system to replicate

itself. New findings are showing how it wreaks havoc on the
body's defenses
20/07/2015 03:22
142 of 147
Autoimmune Disease
Misguided assaults on the self produce multiple sclerosis,

juvenile diabetes and other chronic illnesses. Promising
therapies are emerging
Allergy and the Immune System
In allergic individuals, parts of the immune system misdirect

their power at innocuous substances, producing sometimes
deadly symptoms
The Immune System as a Therapeutic

Agent
New technologies and insights into the molecular

underpinnings of the immune system provide the basis for
novel approaches to vaccines and other therapies
Will We Survive?
As host and pathogen evolve together, will the immune

system retain the upper hand?
A Shepherd Takes a Sheep Shot
Aug 1993
Eliminating Nuclear Warheads
More than 50,000 nuclear weapons may be decommissioned

during the next 10 years. Their disposal requires both
technical and political innovations
Faster than Light?
Experiments in quantum optics show that two distant events

can influence each other faster than any signal could have
traveled between them
T Cell Anergy
When cells of the immune system "see" antigens in the

absence of the right cosignals, they shut themselves down
instead of attacking. Future therapies might capitalize
A Universe of Color
Color photography continues to be an important astronomical

tool that reveals details of celestial objects not yet captured
by modern electronic detectors
Mastering Chaos
It is now possible to control some systems that behave

chaotically. Engineers can use chaos to stabilize lasers,
electronic circuits and even the hearts of animals
Diet and Primate Evolution
Many characteristics of modern primates, including our own

species, derive from an early ancestor's practice of taking
most of its food from the tropical canopy
The Great Radium Scandal
William J. A. Bailey grew rich from his radium-laced patent

medicine until it killed a leading socialite. The scandal helped
to usher in modern standards of radioisotope regulation
Trends in Communications
A technophile vice president and the information,

entertainment and communications industries have
discovered the source of next generation electronic products it's the network.
Circuits That Get Chaos in Sync
Jul 1993
Risk Analysis and Management
Inadequate approaches to handling risks may result in bad

policy. Fortunately, rational techniques for assessment now
exist
20/07/2015 03:22
143 of 147
Viral Quasispecies
The standard definition of a biological species does not apply

to viruses. A more expansive and dynamic view of viral
populations holds clues to understanding and defeating them
Australia's Polar Dinosaurs
Their excellent night vision and apparent warm blood raise a

question: Could they have survived icehouse conditions at the
end of the Cretaceous period?
Accurate Measurement of Time
Increasingly accurate clocks - now losing no more than a

second over millions of years - are leading to such advances
as refined tests of relativity and improved navigation systems.
Surgical Treatment of Cardiac

Arrhythmias
To save the life of a doomed patient, the author and his

colleagues developed a now standard surgical procedure for
correcting lethally fast heartbeats in many people susceptible
to them
Fuzzy Logic
The binary logic of modern computers often falls short when

describing the vagueness of the real world. Fuzzy logic offers
more graceful alternatives
Edwin Hubble and the Expanding

Universe
More than any other individual, he shaped astronomers'

present understanding of an expanding universe populated by
a multitude of galaxies
Sustaining the Amazon
Can scientists reconcile the inevitability of economic

development with the preservation of rain forests?
The Topological Dressmaker
Jun 1993
Underground Records of Changing
Climate
Boreholes drilled into continental rock can recover fossil

temperatures that reveal the climate of past eras. The results
require careful interpretation
The Most Distant Radio Galaxies
Astronomers have identified powerful radio emitting galaxies

that existed when the universe was only one tenth its present
age. These objects offer a glimpse at the early evolution of
giant galaxies
The Centrosome
By directing the assembly of a cell's skeleton, this organelle

controls division, motility and shape. The details of its
structure and function are just beginning to emerge
The Future of the Transistor
As it has grown smaller and cheaper, engineers have scoffed

at theoretical barriers to its progress - so far
Monogamy and the Prairie Vole
Studies of the prairie vole - a secretive, mouselike animal have revealed hormones that may be responsible for
monogamous behavior
Autism
Autistic individuals suffer from a biological defect. Although

they cannot be cured, much can be done to make life more
hospitable for them
The Great Well of China
More than 150 years ago the Chinese drilled one kilometer
into the earth to extract brine for making salt. The well was
the culmination of an 800-year-old technology
20/07/2015 03:22
144 of 147
Eugenics Revisited
Scientists are linking genes to a host of complex human

disorders and traits, but just how valid - and useful - are these
findings?
A Bundling Fool Beats the Wrap
May 1993
The Economics of Life and Death
Mortality data can be used to analyze economic performance.

Such information can illuminate critical aspects of the
economic organization of society
The Core-Mantle Boundary
This interactive zone may be the most dynamic part of the

planet, directly affecting the earth's rotation and magnetic
field.
How Cells Respond to Stress
During emergencies, cells produce stress proteins that repair

damage. Inquiry into how they work offers promise for
coping with infection, autoimmune disease and even cancer
Intelligent Gels
Soft aggregations of long-chain molecules can shrink or swell

in response to stimuli. They may form the basis of a new kind
of machine.
The Power of Maps
The authoritative appearance of modern maps belies their

inherent biases. To use maps intelligently, the viewer must
understand their subjective limitations
The Neurobiology of Fear
Researchers are beginning to tease apart the neurochemical

processes that give rise to different fears in monkeys. The
results may lead to new ways to treat anxiety in humans
P. A. M. Dirac and the Beauty of

Physics
He preferred the beautiful theory to the fact-buttressed ugly

one because, as he noted, facts change. He proved his point
by predicting the existence of antimatter.
Inconstant Cosmos
Space-based telescopes endowed with x-ray and gamma-ray

vision observe an ever restless, dynamic universe.
Mapping to Preserve a Watershed
Apr 1993
The Aging of the Human Species
Our species has modified the evolutionary forces that have

always limited life expectancy. Policymakers must
consequently prepare to meet the needs of a population that
will soon be much older
Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Atoms and photons in small cavities behave completely

unlike those in free space. Their quirks illustrate some of the
principles of quantum physics and make possible the
development of new sensors
Listening with Two Ears
Studies of barn owls offer insight into just how the brain
combines acoustic signals from two sides of the head into a
single spatial perception
Catalysis on Surfaces
Scientists can now observe how solids interact with individual

molecules to speed reactions. Information about these
catalysts is being used to improve everything from materials
20/07/2015 03:22
145 of 147
synthesis to pollution control

The Reproductive Behavior of the
Stickleback
To reproduce, this tiny fish engages in behaviors not

commonly associated with such animals, including luring
intruders away and cannibalizing another's eggs
The Evolution of Virulence
Human behavior appears to influence whether pathogens

evolve into benign or harmful forms. Health policy should
therefore include evolutionary considerations
Modern Humans in the Levant
Modern Homo sapiens preceded Neanderthals on Mount

Carmel and followed a similar pattern of life for 60,000 years.
Biology thus cannot explain the cultural revolution that then
ensued
Trends in Materials
Rehabilitating the nation's aging infrastructure may depend

on how well industry, government and academia tweak the
properties of materials, from lowly concrete to aerospace
composites
The Rise and Fall of the Lunar M-pire
Mar 1993
Why America's Bridges are Crumbling
Inadequate maintenance has piled up a repair bill that will

take decades to pay off. Indeed, the scope of the problem is
only now becoming clear
Black Holes and the Centrifugal Force

Paradox
An object orbiting close to a black hole feels a centrifugal

force pushing inward rather than outward. This paradoxical
effect has important implications for astrophysics
Teaching the Immune System to Fight

Cancer
Certain molecules on tumors can serve as targets for attack

by cells of the immune system. These tumor-rejection
antigens may provide a basis for precisely targeted anticancer
therapy
Flat Panel Displays
Recent advances in microelectronics and liquid crystals make

possible video screens that can be hung on a wall or worn on
a wrist.
How Parasitic Wasps Find Their Hosts
Besides recognizing odors from their caterpillar hosts, wasps

also learn to identify compounds released by the plant on
which the caterpillars feed
Ice Age Lamps
The invention of fat-burning lamps toward the end of the Ice

Age helped to transform European culture. It coincided with
several other major technological advances
Flooded Forests of the Amazon
Parts of the vast rain forest are as much aquatic as terrestrial

ecosystems. Unique adaptations allow creatures to thrive in
these inundated woods
Trends in Genetics DNA'S New Twists
The known rules of genetics are only the beginning. The

newly discovered abilities of a familiar molecule are
influencing theories about evolution and the inheritance of
disease.
Flight-Testing Fruit Flies
20/07/2015 03:22
146 of 147
Feb 1993
Environmental Change and Violent
Conflict
Growing scarcities of renewable resources can contribute to

social instability and civil strife
Resistance in High-Temperature
Superconductors
Researchers are beginning to see how the motion of magnetic

vortices in these materials can interfere with the flow of
current
Zinc Fingers
They play a key part in regulating the activity of genes in

many species, from yeast to humans. Fewer than 10 years ago
no one knew they existed
How Should Chemists Think?
Chemists can create natural molecules by unnatural means.

Or they can make beautiful structures never seen before.
Which should be their grail?
A Technology of Kinetic Art
Delicate interplay of weights and balances choreographs the

author's sculptures so that the gentlest gusts of air set their
parts in motion
Breaching the Blood-Brain Barrier
Development of a therapy for meningitis has revealed how

bacteria penetrate the blood-brain barrier. This knowledge
may help physicians treat other disorders of the brain
Redeeming Charles Babbage's

Mechanical Computer
A successful effort to build a working, three-ton Babbage

calculating engine suggests that history has misjudged the
pioneer of automatic computing
Trends in Russian Science
Researchers in the Russian Federation are in desperate straits.

Plummeting budgets and pitiful salaries are driving many to
leave the country. Those who stay are being forced to
become merchant adventurers.
A Partly True Story
Jan 1993
Coral Bleaching
Environmental stresses can cause irreparable harm to coral

reefs. Unusually high seawater temperatures may be a
principal culprit
How the Milky Way Formed
Its halo and disk suggest that the collapse of a gas cloud,
stellar explosions and the capture of galactic fragments may
have all played a role
Carbohydrates in Cell Recognition
Telltale surface sugars enable cells to identify and interact

with one another. New drugs aimed at those carbohydrates
could stop infection and inflammation
The Earliest History of the Earth
Radioactive dating techniques have illuminated vast stretches

of geologic history, bringing the most ancient eras of the
earth's evolution into view
Madagascar's Lemurs
These primates can tell us a great deal about our own

evolutionary past. But many species are already extinct, and
the habitats of those that remain are shrinking fast
Quantum Dots
Nanotechnologists can now confine electrons to pointlike

structures. Such "designer atoms" may lead to new electronic
20/07/2015 03:22
and optical devices

The Mind and Donald O. Hebb
By rooting behavior in ideas, and ideas in the brain, Hebb laid

the groundwork for modern neuroscience. His theory
prefigured computer models of neural networks
Adapting To Complexity
From a primeval sea of organic molecules arose plants,

animals, global ecosystems, intelligent beings, international
organizations. What drives the natural world toward
complexity?
Biodiversity in the Backyard
Compiled by Dave Lo, article summaries Scientific American
147 of 147
20/07/2015 03:22

Scientific American 1993-2013 Article Index

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Scientific American 1993-2013 Article Index

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Scientific American 1993-2013 Article Index