November 2001
Scientific American Magazine

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Cover; November 2001; by Staff Editor; 1 Page(s)

Table of Contents; November 2001; by Staff Editor; 2 Page(s)

SA Perspectives: Invisible Terrorism; November 2001; by Staff Editors; 1 Page(s)

Defending against terrorists' bioweapons

Letters to the Editors; November 2001; by Staff Editor; 2 Page(s)

50, 100 and 150 Years Ago; November 2001; by Staff Editor; 1 Page(s)

Uneven Progress; Dubious Milestones; Disputed Origins

Facing a New Menace; November 2001; by Gary Stix and Philip Yam; 2 Page(s)

The terrorist attacks prompt a rethinking of airport security

Plus ¿a Change; November 2001; by Graham P. Collins; 2 Page(s)

Has a fundamental constant varied over the aeons?

Earth-Shattering Theory; November 2001; by George Musser; 1 Page(s)

Finally, the details for forming the moon work out

No Power to the People; November 2001; by Mariama Orange; 1 Page(s)

Does low-power FM radio cause unacceptable interference?

Acronym Acrimony; November 2001; by Brenda Goodman; 1 Page(s)

Do whimsical names encourage sales over science?

Taking the Plunge; November 2001; by Christine Kenneally; 1 Page(s)

Two daredevils plan to skydive from the stratosphere

By the Numbers: Cleaner Living; November 2001; by Rodger Doyle; 1 Page(s)

A welcome drop in the hazards of being an American teen

News Scan Briefs; November 2001; by Mark Alpert, Alison McCook, Diane Martindale, W. Wayt Gibbs; 2 Page(s)

Surgeons without Border; New Kid on the Block; Iron Deficiency; Pressure Gauge; Pushing the Fringe; Data Points: Drive Time 2000; www.sciam.com/news -Brief Bits

Innovations: Catching a Buzz; November 2001; by Julie Wakefield; 2 Page(s)

New Internet traffic watchers aim to elevate marketing to a science

Staking Claims: Saying Yes to NO; November 2001; by Gary Stix; 1 Page(s)

The patent office is issuing a wealth of patents related to one of the most celebrated molecules of the past decade

Skeptic: Baloney Detection; November 2001; by Michael Shermer; 1 Page(s)

How to draw boundaries between science and pseudoscience, Part I

Profile: Dissent in the Maelstrom; November 2001; by Daniel Grossman; 2 Page(s)

Maverick meteorologist Richard S. Lindzen keeps right on arguing that human-induced global warming isn't a problem

On the Termination of Species; November 2001; by W. Wayt Gibbs; 10 Page(s)

Ecologists' warnings of an ongoing mass extinction are being challenged by skeptics and largely ignored by politicians. In part that is because it is surprisingly hard to know the dimensions of the die-off, why it matters and how it can best be stopped

The Electronic Paper Chase; November 2001; by Steve Ditlea; 6 Page(s)

Digital "paper" that displays changing text and graphics would ideally marry the best features of traditional printed materials with those of video screens. Companies are racing to realize that promise using two competing technologies. Already retailers are testing cost-saving changeable e-ink signage. Pliable, updatable e-newspapers, e-books and even an e-Scientific American could be here within a decade

Beyond Chicken Soup; November 2001; by William A. Haseltine; 8 Page(s)

The antiviral era is upon us, with an array of virus-fighting drugs on the market and in development. Research into viral genomes is fueling much of this progress

Gravity's Kaleidoscope; November 2001; by Joachim Wambsganss; 8 Page(s)

The most massive telescopes known to humanity sit not on earthly mountaintops but in deep space. They are gravitational lenses, once mere curiosities, now one of the most important tools in astronomy

The Evolution of Human Birth; November 2001; by Karen R. Rosenberg and Wenda R. Trevathan; 6 Page(s)

The difficulties of childbirth have probably challenged humans and their ancestors for millions of years - which means that the modern custom of seeking assistance during delivery may have similarly ancient roots

Does Class Size Matter?; November 2001; by Ronald G. Ehrenberg, Dominic J. Brewer, Adam Gamoran and J. Douglas Willms, sidebar by Glenn Zorpette; 8 Page(s)

Legislators are spending billions to reduce class sizes. Will the results by worth the expense?

Working Knowledge: Current Safety; November 2001; by Mark Fischetti; 2 Page(s)

Simple physics makes outlets less shocking

Voyages: A Short Stroll through the Solar System; November 2001; by W. Wayt Gibbs; 3 Page(s)

Tour the brain stem of planetary science - and see what kind of robot $1.5 billion buys

On the Web; November 2001; by Staff Editors; 1 Page(s)

Puzzling Adventures: Truck Stop; November 2001; by Dennis E. Shasha; 1 Page(s)

Mathematics of a truckers' stike

Review: The World of Ag Biotech; November 2001; by Rick Weiss, staff editors; 3 Page(s)

Lords of the Harvest tells of agricultural biotechnology's ambition to beat petunias into pork chops. Also, The Editors Recommend

Anti Gravity: Dumb, Dumb, Duh Dumb; November 2001; by Steve Mirsky; 1 Page(s)

A brief collection of anecdotal evidence to support the notion that "a little knowledge" would in actuality represent major progress

Endpoints; November 2001; by Staff Editors; 1 Page(s)

Does the appendix serve a purpose in any animal?