Feature Articles
Ultracompact binary stars
Double stars with tight, rapid orbits enable astronomers to study issues ranging from binary-star evolution to the internal structure of white dwarfs and neutron stars. In addition, they may emit directly observable gravitational waves — Gijs Nelemans
Topological quantum computation
The search for a large-scale, error-free quantum computer is reaching an intellectual junction at which semiconductor physics, knot theory, string theory, anyons, and quantum Hall effects are all coming together to produce quantum immunity — Sankar Das Sarma, Michael Freedman, and Chetan Nayak
Scientists, security, and lessons from the cold war
In the years following World War II, the Soviet Union tested its first atomic bomb, President Truman decided the US would develop a hydrogen bomb, Communist North Korea invaded South Korea, Congress quadrupled US defense spending, and the US government turned to a small cadre of physicists for advice — Charles H. Holbrow
Letters 
Tributes to Hans Bethe continue
NASA's mission of space exploration: Some fine points
Scientist as artist: The role of imagination
Recent graduate aims to buck conformity trend
Respect for the 'human rights of nations'
Wentzel's lesson in humility
A colorful relativity problem
Correction
Opinion
Addressing the public about science and religion — Murray Peshkin
Books
The Theory of Almost Everything: The Standard Model,the Unsung Triumph of Modern Physics,
R. Oerter(reviewed by B. Holstein)
Low-Temperature Physics,
C. Enss and S. Hunklinger (reviewed by A. Goldman)
The Equation That Couldn't Be Solved: How Mathematical Genius Discovered the Language of Symmetry, M. Livio, and Hiding in the Mirror: The Mysterious Allure of Extra Dimensions, from Plato to String Theory and Beyond,
L. M. Krauss (reviewed by E. H. Simmons)
Elementary Climate Physics,
F. W. Taylor (reviewed by D. J. Lary)
The Pendulum: A Case Study in Physics,
G. L. Baker and J. A. Blackburn (reviewed by K. S. Krane)
New books
New Products
Focus on analytical instruments
We Hear That
Rosenfeld wins Fermi Award
Winners of AGU awards selected
NSB recognizes accomplishments
In Brief
Obituaries
John Norris Bahcall
Richard Henry Dalitz
Valentine Louis Telegdi
quick study
InSAR, a tool for measuring Earth's surface deformation — Matthew E. Pritchard
Back Scatter
Paddling for food
