Ancient Masters of the Desert
In the Negev of Israel are the structures of a remarkable people who tilled the soil on an average of only four inches of rain per year. Their works are helping to revive agriculture in the region
Features
Low-Speed Flight
As airplanes fly faster, they also land faster. New techniques of reducing landing speed are studied by means of a wind tunnel in which the flow of air is made visible by filaments of smoke
The Clouds of Magellan
These two ornaments of the skies visible from the Southern Hemisphere are the galaxies nearest our own. Long believed to be formless, they now appear to have a spiral structure
Water
Although we take its properties for granted, they are most unusual. As an example, it has the rare property of being lighter as a solid than a liquid. If it were not, lakes would freeze from the bottom up!
Animal Sounds in the Sea
During World War II underwater-sound men were puzzled to hear weird noises that were not made by ships. Now it is known that many marine species emit, among other sounds, chirps, whistles, grunts and groans
The Human Crop
All animals are ultimately nourished by plants. Therefore the abundance of plants regulates the quantity of animals. How many acres of vegetation does it take to raise a man?
Lewis Carroll: Mathematician
Many people who have read "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking-Glass" are aware that the author was a mathematician. Exactly what was his work in mathematics?
Brains and Cocoons
The fluffy shroud of the silkworm represents a map of its spinning movements. This pattern may be altered by brain surgery, shedding light on the relationship between the nervous system and behavior
Departments
50 and 100 Years Ago: April 1956
Science And The Citizen: April 1956
- Letters
Erratum
Letters to the Editors, April 1956
- Recommended
Books
- Amateur Scientist
The Amateur Scientist
- Departments
The Authors
Bibliography