Accidental Nuclear War

Modifications to superpower arsenals and to procedures for handling them could substantially reduce the risk of unintended Armageddon

The Surface of Venus

Razor-sharp images of the earth's near twin reveal a mix of familiar and perplexing geologic features

How Cells Maintain Stability

A member of the U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences shares his model of how cells recover from blows to their protein-making machinery

The Birth of Molecules

In less than a trillionth of a second, atoms can collide, interact and give birth to molecules. With lasers and molecular beams, it is now possible to witness the motions of molecules as one substance changes to another

Frozen and Alive

A variety of animals freeze solid during the winter months and thaw in the spring. This natural ability to survive freezing may yield clues to the cryopreservation of human tissue

The Emergence of Modern Humans

The theory that all humans are descended from a recent African ancestor was promoted by geneticists who study living populations. The fossil record provides independent support for this model

The Body Against itself