
Smaller World
The Draper Prize recognizes the fathers of the jet age
Gary Stix, formerly senior editor of mind and brain topics at Scientific American, edited and reported on emerging advances that have propelled brain science to the forefront of the biological sciences. Stix has edited or written cover stories, feature articles and news on diverse topics, ranging from what happens in the brain when a person is immersed in thought to the impact of brain implant technology that alleviates mood disorders such as depression. Before taking over the neuroscience beat, Stix, as Scientific American's special projects editor, was responsible for the magazine's annual single-topic special issues, conceiving of and producing issues on Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, climate change and nanotechnology. One special issue he oversaw on the topic of time in all of its manifestations won a National Magazine Award. With his wife Miriam Lacob, Stix is co-author of a technology primer called Who Gives a Gigabyte? A Survival Guide for the Technologically Perplexed.

Smaller World
The Draper Prize recognizes the fathers of the jet age

Seeing is Believing
A picture may be worth a million-dollar settlement

Human Spec Sheet
Picturing the way the world looks to its users

The Light Fantastic
Graphics researchers polish their images

How's My Driving?
Trucking companies look over their drivers' shoulders

Don't Change the Channel, Rearrange that Face

Golden Screws
Micromechanical devices edge toward commercial uses

Moles at Work
Local utilities may no longer say, "Dig we must"

Encoding the "Neatness" of Ones and Zeroes

Firewater Fish
A distiller looks for diversity in aquaculture

Off the MAP
Has GM's factory automation network lost its way?

Along for the Ride?
Computers can assume control of almost every phase of flight in the newest generation of jet aircraft.

Protein Probe
Remote-sensing technique screens bacterial cultures

Light Flight
Optical fibers may be the nerves of new aircraft

Handful of Pain
Pressure mounts to alleviate repetitive-motion injuries

Call and Tell
Dialing 1-800 gives marketers a lot of personal information

Is Morse Code Signing off?

Plane Geometry
Boeing uses CAD to design 130,000 parts for its new 777

Thinking Cap
Superconducting SQUIDs peer into minds—and hearts

Reach Out
Touch is added to virtual reality simulations

Changing Mission
Can the national laboratories tackle the trade wars?

Hole or Doughnut
Will E-beams become competitive in high-density chip making?

Second-Generation Silicon
"Band-gap engineering" may keep silicon a winner

Another Small Step?
Space veterans plan a low-budget moon mission