Features
Dusty Plasmas in the Laboratory, Industry, and Space
Charged microparticles are an annoyance in the plasmas of fusion energy schemes
and semiconductor manufacturing. But in laboratory plasmas and in space, they
can be uniquely informative — Robert L. Merlino and John A. Goree
Lorentz Invariance on Trial
Precision experiments and astrophysical observations provide complementary tests of Lorentz invariance and may soon open a window onto new physics. They have already constrained models of quantum gravity and cosmology — Maxim Pospelov and Michael Romalis
Basic Choices and Constraints on Long−Term Energy Supplies 
Population growth and energy demand are exhausting the world's fossil energy supplies, some on the timescale of a single human lifespan. Increasingly, sharing natural resources will require close international cooperation, peace, and security — Paul B. Weisz
Thoughts on Long−Term Energy Supplies: Scientists and the Silent Lie
The world's population continues to grow. Shouldn't physicists care? — Albert A. Bartlett
Departments
Letters
Boost−Phase Missile Defense Debate Continues
Mercury Telescopes Highly Reflective, Easy to Clean
Pre−Kepler Mathematical Descriptions of the Heavens
Field Gradients in Early MRI
Corrections
Search and Discovery
Lovely as a Tree Amplitude: Hidden Structures Underlie Feynman Diagrams
String theory, Fourier-conjugate spinors, and quantum chromodynamics are linked in ways that suggest new methods to compute probability amplitudes for high-energy particle interactions.
A Dark−Horse Entry in the Race for an Excitonic Condensate
Evidence for a superfluid made of electron-hole pairs comes, surprisingly, from quantum Hall systems.
Issues and Events
Taking Measure With Hardware and Software
The researchers who founded National Instruments Corp switched from building their own equipment to beefing up other people's.
Science Board Warns of Uncertain Future for US Science and Engineering Leadership
The diminishing level of "native talent" entering science and engineering in the US is one of several factors that could significantly limit the country's R&D leadership.
Particle Tracking Tunes Up Music
Thanks to particle physics, creaky old musical recordings can now be restored to pristine condition.
Iran Invests in Astronomy
The Iranian government has committed 150 billion rials (roughly $17.5 million) for a telescope, an observatory, and a training program, all part of a plan to build up the country's astronomy base.
Feds Set Priorities Based on "Quarks" Report
A federal government science group has issued recommendations based on the National Research Council's 2002 report Connecting Quarks With the Cosmos: Eleven Science Questions for the New Century, and dark−energy research projects have received the strongest endorsement.
Alcock Tapped to Lead Center for Astrophysics
After more than 21 years, Irwin Shapiro has stepped down as head of the Harvard−Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Filling his shoes is Charles Alcock, who moves from the University of Pennsylvania to begin a five−year term as director on 1 August.
Neureiter Is Director of AAAS Security Policy Center
Less than a year after leaving his post as science adviser to US Secretary of State Colin Powell, Norman Neureiter has accepted the job as the first director of the new Center for Science, Technology and Security Policy at the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
News Notes
HST service mission; New State Department fellows; Younger leaves DTRA; Choosing college.
Web Watch
Landmarks; Glossary of Meteorology; Cassini−Huygens.
Opinion
An open letter to the next generation — James D. Patterson
Books
The Craft of Scientific Presentations: Critical Steps to Succeed and Critical Errors to Avoid, M. Alley, and The Chicago Guide to Communicating Science, S. L. Montgomery (reviewed by C. Quigg)
Science in the Looking Glass: What Do Scientists Really Know?, E. B. Davies (reviewed by R. G. Newton)
Modern Cosmology, S. Dodelson (reviewed by G. Efstathiou)
The Black Hole at the Center of Our Galaxy, F. Melia (reviewed by M. R. Morris)
D−Branes, C. V. Johnson (reviewed by J. Maldacena)
Statistical Mechanics Made Simple: A Guide for Students and Researchers, D. C. Mattis (reviewed by R. H. Swendsen)
New Books
New Products
Focus on Analytical Instruments
We Hear That
NSF, NSB Bestow Honors
AGU Announces Prize Winners for 2004
Seven Receive Franklin Medals
AAAS Gives Out Awards
Cohen, Stanley Win Boltzmann Medals
In Brief
Obituaries
Henry Abraham Boorse
I. Bernard Cohen
Jean−Loup Delcroix
Richard Joseph Elston
René Pellat
Norman Carl Rasmussen
Michael Dudley Sturge
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