Scientific American Magazine Vol 260 Issue 3

Scientific American Magazine

Volume 260, Issue 3

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Features

U.S. Access to Space

For the next decade the U.S. has to rely on the shuttle and existing expendable launchers to get into space. Before launchers for the 21 st century are developed, space-program goals should be established

Ray A. Williamson, John M. Logsdon

Multidrug Resistance in Cancer

An ancient pump protein that flushes toxins out of cells may be to blame when cancer chemotherapy fails. Its identification offers hope that multidrug-resistant cancers might be made vulnerable again

Victor Ling, Norbert Kartner

Plasma Particle Accelerators

Electric fields generated in plasma can propel electrons to high energies. The process promises fields 10,000 times stronger than those of the most powerful conventional accelerators

John M. Dawson

Science in Pictures: Macromolecular Crystals

The growth of crystals is now the key to deducing the structure of large molecules.

Alexander McPherson

Modeling the Geochemical Carbon Cycle

Natural geochemical processes that result in the slow buildup of atmospheric carbon dioxide may have caused past geologic intervals of global warming through the greenhouse effect

Antonio C. Lasaga, Robert A. Berner

The Biology of Obsessions and Compulsions

Advances in pharmacology and in brain imaging suggest that severe obsessions and compulsions are biologically rooted. Several new drugs, first formulated as antidepressants, relieve them

Judith L. Rapoport

Lessons of Sunraycer

The solar car's goal was to win the World Solar Challenge race. Its longer-term benefit may be in getting people to think about practical alternatives to fuel-burning vehicles

Chester R. Kyle, Howard G. Wilson, Paul B. MacCready

The Roman Aqueduct of Nîmes

New analyses of the once magnificent water-supply system suggest that the structural and hydraulic engineers who designed it 2,000 years ago were more sophisticated than is generally thought

George F. W. Hauck

Departments

Letters to the Editors, March 1989

50 and 100 Years Ago: March 1989

Clearing the Air

To our Health

Cosmic News

A Gothic Tale

A Snowball's Chance

The Summer of '88

Time Bomb

Beyond Understanding?

Thinking in Circles

The Blood-Brain Barrier

The Syphilized World

Tat's Surprising

Lukewarm Turkey

Competitive Climate

Decaying Orbit

An Economic Animal

The Amateur Scientist, March 199

Computer Recreations, March 1989

Books, March 1989

Litigation Thwarts Innovation in the U.S.