Discusses the need to provide a set of indices of environmental quality that aggregate and summarize available data, indicates the deficiencies in the data base that could be rectified by alternate data collection techniques, and describes progress toward the goal. (AL)

Methadone treatment for heroin addiction does not touch the roots of the drug problem" and to think that the use of another drug can solve the profound and complex task facing us is indeed an illusion." (Author/AL)

A review of the National Academy of Sciences report Physics in Perspective'' (A. Bromley, Ed.). Discusses chapters devoted to the Nature of Physics'' and Physics in Perspective,'' which may interest physics instructors, and describes the case made for continued financial support of physics research. (AL)

Extremely productive researchers tend to have a larger number of informal contacts with other scientists than do most members of their specialty. (AL)

Describes procedures used to study abilities of chimpanzees to be taught written language. Words, sentences, questions, metalinguistics, class concepts, the copula, some quantifiers and if-then logical connections are investigated. Success seems attributable largely to non-linguistic cues. (JM)

Describes atmospheric data monitoring as part of total airpollution control effort. Summarizes types of gaseous, liquid and solid pollutants and their sources; contrast between urban and rural environmental air quality; instrumentation to identify pollutants; and anticipated new non-wet chemical physical and physiochemical techniques tor cetection…

A conference on whether food and nutrients affect human behavior was held on November 9, 1982 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Various research studies on this topic are reviewed, including the effects of food on brain biochemistry (particularly sleep) and effects of tryptophane as a pain reducer. (JN)

Discusses how advances in electronic technology have contributed to growth in satellite communications. (MLH)

Describes a recent move of scientists and university administrators in Japan to allow external peer review in an effort to convince government bureaucrats that Japan's academic research is up to world standards and therefore deserves more money. (ZWH)

Describes the current situation in Canada regarding the consequences of an expected decline in university enrollments, when it was originally expected that the university system would solve problems of society needing science-based solutions. Parallels are drawn with the situation in the United States. (CS)

Discusses the problem of whether an explanation of the phenomena of life can be deduced from an exclusive reliance on causal relationship. Indicates that this exclusive reliance is not valid and adds the concept of anticipation. (GS)

Reports on an experiment in institutional funding. Grants were awarded to universities with detailed plans for developing their science programs. Major findings of the study are reported in the areas of faculty size, faculty mobility, scholarly productivity, graduate student enrollment, Ph.D. production, postdoctorate employment and geographical…

Describes an experimental approach for controlling fusion that involves a toroidal device that holds and heats reactive isotopes of hydrogen with a magnetic field. (GS)

Explores the arguments that justify a three-member council for science and technology and outlines the nature of the tasks to be performed by such a council. (GS)