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Print edition: January 2009
Features
Breaking new ground
The ability to predict earthquakes could save thousands of lives every year. But for most scientists, knowing in advance when and where such events will happen is little more than a pipe dream. Jon Cartwright tells the story of one physicist who believes that such warnings could soon be possible.
Shock and awe
Artificial and natural shock waves can cause incredible damage and havoc, so a better understanding of the physics could save lives — or even the entire planet. Neil Bourne describes the common thread connecting antiterrorism measures, desk toys and the extinction of the dinosaurs
Castles in the air
For decades physicists have sought ways to harness and control the most pervasive force in nature. Sidney Perkowitz recounts the quest for antigravity
Quanta
Hold the front page
And the survey says...
Strictly no dancing
Lost baggage
Extreme climate change
Frontiers
Invisibility to cover entire spectrum
Dark matter in the ATIC
Cosmologists puzzle over mystery in the cosmos
Droplets get third lobe
Fishing for energy
News & Analysis
Rare-isotope facility goes to Michigan
Carbon-capture and gamma-ray labs top Euro wish list
Europe and US seek collaboration on missions to Mars
European synchotron secures €177m for upgrade
Top physics departments tumble in new RAE review
New UK centres extend training for PhD students
Asia joins forces in radio astronomy
Europe unveils 20-year road map
Elsevier challenged over journal operations
Physicist appeals against security revoke
New initiative links scientists and entertainers
CERN releases damage assessment
Obama chooses Chu as energy boss
Atlantic observatory starts up
Let the global astronomy celebrations begin
The International Year of Astronomy marks the 400th anniversary of the first use of an astronomical telescope by Galileo Galilei. As the 2009 celebrations kick off, Edwin Cartlidge explains how one of Galileo’s telescopes is being rebuilt by researchers in Italy, while Michael Banks looks at some of the events taking place this year
Editorial
Reasons to be cheerful
The economy may be in a nosedive but there is plenty to look forward to in science this year
Read your thoughts
Letters becomes Feedback and now includes comments made to our online stories
Forum
Checklists, rules and creativity
Critical Point
Science toys
Tim Rowett is an avid collector of science-related toys. Robert P Crease and son drop in to play with them
Feedback
Debating open access and arXiv
Nobel for one, not all
Rough Diamond
Memories that stick
Salam's independence
Oil pipes and arteries
Shiftier constants
Reviews
Web life: The Periodic Table of Videos
A periodic table with links to videos on all 118 chemical elements
Lord Kelvin, revolutionary scientist
Last tango at Fermilab
When Eddington met Einstein
Science is not always a BLAST
Careers
A fresh look at nuclear
A new industry-wide graduate scheme aims to get the next generation of nuclear scientists thinking about community and environmental issues from the outset. Susie Hay and Michael Kelk describe the “nucleargraduates” programme
Careers and people
Lateral Thoughts
What's your favourite planet?