Rod-isolation techniques show that light-adapted human rods detect flicker frequencies as high as 28 hertz, and that the function relating rod critical flicker frequency to stimulus intensity contains two distinct branches. (MLH)

Increasing the number of students who complete advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields is a compelling national interest. Although college science and engineering degree completion rates have improved considerably over the past few decades, significant gaps persist among women and students of color. Gaps…

In this article the authors resort to a qualitative analysis of the plot of science fiction stories about a group of scientists, written by two 11th-grade Earth and Life Science students (aged 17), and to semi-structured interviews, with the double purpose of diagnosing their conceptions of the nature of science (namely, as regards scientists'…

The absence of a central database and use of specialized language hinder nonexperts in becoming familiar with the science teaching and learning literature and using it to inform their work. The challenge of locating articles related to a specific question or problem, coupled with the difficulty of comprehending findings based on a variety of…

This is an update of a 1991 review on tumor suppressor genes written at a time when understanding of how the genes work was limited. A recent major breakthrough in the understanding of the function of tumor suppressor genes is discussed. (LZ)

Described the efforts of Sietze Leeflang, a Dutch scientific journalist, and his group of young scientists to take a practical stand on environmental pollution by working their small farm in innovative fashion. (RK)

A brief summary of work completed by micropaleontologists in 1978. (BB)

Contributions to this field for 1978 are discussed. Of special interest are the jawless marine fishes that were found in marine deposits from Late Cambrian time. (BB)

Reports the detection of magnetic fields associated with the flow of electric current in the human brain in response to electrical stimulation of the fingers. (SL)

Describes the experimental techniques and discusses the results of a study of energy flow at the species level, using the silk moth Bombyx mori. (JR)

Scientist William J. Dreyer has hypothesized that the cell surface proteins in the nose that detect odors also help assemble embryos. These olfactory receptors and related proteins act as identifiers, much like the last few digits of a telephone number, that help cells to find their intended neighbors in a developing embryo. Discusses the research…

The effect that pesticides can have on natural ecosystems is discussed. Specific examples are drawn from microbial ecosystems in estuarine regions. (DT)

This document on the undergraduate laboratory biology course is organized into 4 parts. Part 1 deals with the role of investigation in the undergraduate curricula. Chapters in this section deal with the time for laboratory reform; some special considerations in designing laboratory programs for nonmajors; the appropriate laboratory experiences for…

Research efforts tended to focus on the ancestry of major groups in 1978, and in particular on Cambrian fossils. (Author/BB)