Seed Dispersal by Ants
Thousands of plant species rely on ants to disperse their seeds. With special food lures and other adaptations, a plant can induce the insects to carry away its seeds without harming them...
Features
Third World Ballistic Missiles
The spread of strategic weapons to unstable regions greatly increases the likelihood that they will be used. We cannot reverse the process and so must learn to manage its consequences
Superconductors Beyond 1–2–3
Yttrium1-barium2-copper3 oxide is only one of many new high-temperature superconductors. All have planes of copper and oxygen atoms, providing the perfect highways for electrons
AIDS-Related Infections
Until the AIDS virus is defeated, hope for improving survival time and the quality of a patient's life will rest to a great extent on improved therapies for the opportunistic infections of AIDS...
The Language of Fractals
These unimaginably detailed structures are more than mathematical curiosities. Fractal geometry succinctly describes complex natural objects and processes
When the Melting and Freezing Points are not the Same
Atomic clusters can offer clues to freezing and melting. These aggregates of atoms or molecules—numbering from a few to a few hundred-can coexist as solids and liquids
Global Warming Trends
Analysis of land and marine records confirms that our planet has warmed half a degree Celsius in the past century. Future warming trends, however, remain uncertain
Maya Art for the Record
As economic development accelerates damage to Maya murals, hand-painted replicas serve as vital archaeological sources
Departments
50 and 100 Years Ago: August 1990
Dark Days
Big Country, Big Problems
Hot Geese
Oravske Kuru
Bufo Abuse
Unsolved Mysteries
A Clock in the Trees
A Thin Line
Plastic Goes Green
Down on the Pharm
Solar Sells
- Letters
Errata
Letters to the Editors, August 1990
- Recommended
Books, August 1990
- Perspectives
The Sea Turtle's Tale
- Profile
Gene Doctor
- Amateur Scientist
The Amateur Scientist, August 1990
- Departments
The Analytical Economist, August 1990
Essay: A Born Naturalist's Keen Insights
