The functioning of the Kennedy Institute, which aims at dealing with ethical and social questions raised by advances in biosciences and medicine, is described. Three major projects now underway are briefly discussed: a core reference library in bioethics, an Encyclopedia of Bioethics, and a bioethics information retrieval system. (DT)

The first permanent science programming unit in United States public television will be established at a television station (WNET, channel 13) in New York City. This project (funded by a grant of $200,000 from Ciba-Geigy corporation) is briefly described, including comments on present and future science programs. (JN)

This report details recent advances in fermentation biotechnology as presented by speakers at the 27th International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) Congress. Discussion centered around the use of bacteria, yeasts, and fungi as future sources of essential materials as food, fuel, and medicine. (BT)

The broad area of biochemistry is surveyed. Subtopics include nuclei acids, peptide hormones, cell surfaces, and enzymology. (MDR)

Discusses some of the current theories on aging, such as biological time clocks for certain cells and on-off switches for genes, that were offered as explanations at the 140th annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (JR)

Discusses the use of predators, parasites, bacteria, viruses, hormones, pheromones, and sterile-male release and insect-resistance imparting techniques in pest control. Concludes with comments from chemical pesticide companies as popular attitudes toward the integrated pest management. (CC)

Describes the National Assessment of Educational Progress program that makes assessments of public knowledge of science. Previous assessments were conducted during the 1969-70 and 1972-73 school years. Nine science categories will be assessed including biology, physical science, and earth science. (SL) Aspect of National Assessment (NAEP) dealt…

Describes current experiments that help to explain chemical processes which probably existed prior to the first living cells. Some experiments suggest that a significant portion of a major metabolic pathway, the Krebs cycle, may have developed in the earth's primitive atmosphere to be later incorporated into living organisms. (JR)

Describes changes to be made in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) system of peer review approving grants for research proposals. (SL)

Describes recent research findings regarding brain functions and information processing, particularly as related to pain and pleasure responses. (SL)

Short descriptions of NSF support for the State University of New York computer network, one year trial of educational materials from the United Kingdom's Open University, A Dartmouth course on control of life, Stanford action on a course on dysgenics, and a bioengineering program at Texas A&M. (TS)