Features

• The Human Instrument

  When judged by its size, our vocal system fails to impress as a musical instrument. How then can singers produce all those remarkable sounds?

  Ingo R. Titze   | January 1, 2008  | 19

• Taming Vessels to Treat Cancer

  Restoring order to the chaotic blood vessels inside a tumor opens a window of opportunity for attacking it. Surprisingly, drugs meant to destroy vasculature can make the repairs and may help reverse conditions that lead to cardiovascular disease and blindness

  Rakesh K. Jain   | January 1, 2008  |

• Second Thoughts on Fluoride

  New research indicates that a cavity-fighting treatment could be risky if overused

  Dan Fagin   | January 1, 2008  | 31

• Hot Spots Unplugged

  Long considered fixed founts of molten material from deep within the planet, hot spots now join the list of moving parts

  John A. Tarduno   | January 1, 2008  | 1

• Self-Powered Nanotech

  Nanosize machines need still tinier power plants

  Zhong Lin Wang   | January 1, 2008  | 2

• A Solar Grand Plan

  By 2050 solar power could end U.S. dependence on foreign oil and slash greenhouse gas emissions

  Ken Zweibel , James Mason and Vasilis Fthenakis   | January 1, 2008  | 720

• SciAm 50

  This year's SciAm 50 awards are replete with instances of new machines or chemicals that come close to the true meaning of innovation as something entirely new.

  Mark Alpert , Steven Ashley , Charles Q. Choi , Graham P. Collins , Mariette DiChristina , Kaspar Mossman , George Musser , John Rennie , Ricki Rusting , Peter Sergo , Christine Soares , Gary Stix and Philip Yam   | January 1, 2008  | 6