The nature of the earth's core is described. Indirect evidence (such as that determined from seismological data) indicates that it is an iron alloy, solid toward its center but otherwise liquid. Evidence also suggests that it is the turbulent flow of the liquid that generates the earth's magnetic field. (JN)

The nature and dynamics of the earth's mantle is discussed. Research indicates that the silicate mantle is heated by the decay of radioactive isotopes and that the heat energizes massive convention currents in the upper 700 kilometers of the ductile rock. These currents and their consequences are considered. (JN)

Highlights major science news stories of 1982 reported in "Science News." Categories include space/astronomy, biology, chemistry, medicine, energy, physics, anthropology/paleontology, earth sciences, technology, behavior, science/society, and the environment. (JN)

Spurred by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) technological advances, a budding industry is manufacturing equipment and providing services toward better management of earth's resources. Topics discussed include image processing, multispectral photography, ground use sensor, and weather data receiver. (Author/JN)

This is a review of important science news stories of 1990 as reported in the pages of this journal. Areas covered include anthropology, astronomy, behavior, biology, biomedicine, chemistry, computers and math, earth sciences, environment, food science, materials science, paleobiology, physics, science and society, and space sciences. (CW)

Science education cannot be sequestered in the laboratory; it must be an active part of our social milieu. Thus, the agenda of science/technology/society (STS) education must be to examine the interactions of science, technology, and society within a social responsibility framework. (Author)

The difficulties of operationalizing race in research and practice for social, behavioral, and genetic researchers and practitioners are neither new nor related to recent genetic knowledge. For geneticists, the bases for understanding groups are clines, observed traits that gradually change in frequency between geographic regions without distinct…

The National Research Council is coordinating the development of national standards for science education in grades K through 12. By the fall of 1994, National Science Education Standards will be completed and published. The standards will contain narrative descriptions of what all students should be able to do to engage and understand the natural…

Discusses issues related to the shortage of academic jobs for PhD graduates in science, examining industry opportunities and the differences between utilization versus employment of PhD scientists. Indicates that not only does the problem still exist but also debates about who should resolve it. (JN)

Provides background information on radio galaxies. Topic areas addressed include: what produces the radio emission; radio telescopes; locating radio galaxies; how distances to radio galaxies are found; physics of radio galaxies; computer simulations of radio galaxies; and the evolution of radio galaxies with cosmic time. (JN)

A new instrument called the tunneling microscope has recently been developed that is capable of generating real-space images of surfaces showing atomic structure. Discusses current capabilities, limitations, and the physics involved in the technique. Includes results from a study of silicon crystal surfaces. (JN)

Reviews the basic properties and evidence for their existence. (The sequel will consider the consequences if a human being had opportunity to interact directly with a black hole.) (JN)

Discusses why light is able to pass through a thick piece of glass but not through a thin piece of paper. (JN)

Indicates that periodic table users will see changes in group notation as publishers and authors adopt revisions that already have been made or are being made. The revisions seek to remove ambiguities that have existed in that notation. A sample table is included which shows both old and new notations. (JN)

Discusses ultrafast phenomena that may influence device performance and describes new experimental methods utilizing short optical pulses to investigate materials and device structures. (JN)