Antiscience Trends in the U.S.S.R.
A prominent Soviet scientist traces the reasons underlying the current surge in superstitions, cults and antitechnological protests in his country
Features
Colliding Galaxies
Violent encounters between galaxies appear surprisingly common. Computer models and observations indicate that these cosmic collisions may form elliptical galaxies and activate quasars
The Human Telomere
Although this specialized DNA cap at each end of the chromosome carries no genes, it is still valuable. Recent evidence indicates that chromosomes need their telomeres to survive
Tracking and Imaging Elementary Particles
How and why 25 billion bits of data produced in a second by the world's largest collider are translated into images of elementary particles
Biosensors
Sophisticated descendants of the canary in the coal mine are based on molecular components of plants and animals bound to microscopic electrodes or optical fibers
Beewolves
The females of these insects are voracious predators, each year capturing many bees to feed to their young. The males are highly aggressive and fight among themselves for access to females...
Antichaos and Adaptation
Biological evolution may have been shaped by more than just natural selection. Computer models suggest that certain complex systems tend toward self-organization
Smart Genes
How do very similar genes produce very different cells? It depends on which genes are activated and when. The elaborate chemical messages that control differentiation are now being deciphered...
Departments
50 and 100 Years Ago: August 1991
Exporting Misery
Do DNA Fingerprints Protect the Innocent?
A Small Disturbance
Waves are Waves...
Caribbean Killer
The New Moon
Positive Response
Man's Best Friend
The Reward of Ideas that are Wrong
Ordering Chaos
Can Japan Put the Brakes on Global Warming?
Firewater Fish
Off the MAP
Binding Bone
Painkiller
- Letters
Erratum
Letters to the Editors, August 1991
- Recommended
Book Reviews, August 1991
- Mathematical Recreation
What in Heaven is a Digital Sundial?
- Departments
The Rise and Fall of Cities
The Second Bottom Line
