Read article: 1998 NAS awards
1998 NAS awards
The National Academy of Sciences has honoured several physicists and astronomers for outstanding contributions to science
Author archive
Read article: 1998 NAS awards
Planet controversy ends
The new evidence is published in this week’s Nature. Two papers, one by David Gray of the University of Western Ontario, and one by Artie Hatzes of the University of Texas, Austin, describe new information that indicates a planet orbiting the star 51 Pegasi. The planet was originally discovered by Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz […]
Aharonov and Berry share Wolf Prize
The 1998 Wolf Prize has been awarded to Yakir Aharonov and Sir Michael Berry
China and Russia sign nuclear deal
China and Russia last week signed an $3 billion agreement to build a nuclear power plant in eastern China
Irradiating eggs
A number of different radiation sources, such as gamma-rays and X-rays, have been used to pasteurize intact eggs. However, the high radiation dose needed to kill Salmonella and other bacteria leads to two side effects – a deterioration in the physical structure of the egg white, and a revolting smell. This means the eggs cannot […]
NASA heads back to the Moon
This week Lunar Prospector was successfully launched towards the Moon. It is NASA's first lunar mission in over 25 years
Russian brain drain
Scientists in the Russian Federation are finding it increasingly hard to survive. Poor pay, outdated equipment and job insecurity have started large-scale emigration from the republics
Read article: Carbon nanotubes
Carbon nanotubes
Theory suggests that carbon nanotubes have a variety of useful properties, and experiments to test these predictions are just becoming possible
Priorities are a priority
Ideally you would consult a list of priorities and decide accordingly, taking into account national strengths, weaknesses and needs. But the chances of finding such a list of priorities are slim. Most governments have never asked for such a list and scientists have certainly never volunteered one. There are signs, however, that this is changing. […]
Pulsars, glitches and superfluids
These neutron stars usually rotate with such precision that they are known as the best timekeepers in the universe, but every so often their rotation rate suddenly increases. It is thought that these glitches are related to superfluidity inside the star, which allows the neutrons to flow without friction. Now, a group of Italian scientists […]
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