Scientific American Magazine

Buffalo gourd, crambe, jojoba and kenaf are approaching commercial production. A number of other plants show promise as sources of food and as industrial materials

Clusters of galaxies make up enormous superclusters, which alternate in space with immense voids. Such structures were born in the high-energy interactions of the early universe

Anti-idiotype antibodies recognize the molecular individuality of other antibodies. They modulate the immune response and open the way to experimental and therapeutic manipulations of the immune system

What holds mountains up? Some stand on plates of strong rock; others are buoyed by crustal roots reaching deep into the mantle. The latter may collapse when their flanks are not pushed together

They have abundances of neutrons and protons quite different from those in the nuclei found in nature. Their unusual properties are yielding new views of motions and structure within nuclear matter

Experiments show that slight variations in the timing of taps on the skin can produce wide fluctuations in the taps' perceived locations. These findings help to reveal how the central nervous system works

Simulators are increasingly employed to train pilots for complex tasks. Generating the accompanying visual scene continues to present a challenge to computer technology

This complex covering accounts for much of the adaptive success of the arthropods. As its structure and chemistry become clearer, so do the properties allowing it to provide protection and support