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Latest surveillance technologies have raised number of apprehensions and doubts in minds of the U.S. citizens. But the author justifies that there is a way to spot terrorists using these technologies, without losing one's civil liberties. The Pentagon's research agency in the U.S., DARPA, has been working on a multimillion-dollar project that aims to develop tools to 'mine,' intelligence files and publicly available data for suspicious patterns in credit card bills, phone records, airline reservations, online news reports and other sources, allowing intelligence gathering on an unprecedented scale.

Focuses on the experiment conducted by a group of physicists by producing a form of nuclear matter. Creation of the cluster of neutrons called tetraneutrons; Analysis on the debris of the beryllium nuclei fired at a small carbon target; Fundamental laws of physics causing trouble on the stability of tetraneutrons.

Focuses on the gender differences and similarities of technologists in the U.S. Relation between gender and technology designs; Increase in the population of women in the technology design industry; Details on the robot Kismet from designer Cynthia Breazeal. INSETS: Talk 'em down, don't shoot-'em-up.;Go girl..

Investigates the evolution of moon. Study on the chemistry of moon rocks; Composition of the moon; Simulation of celestial collisions.

Focuses on Nobel laureate Robert Laughlin's notion of emergence in theoretical physics. Linkage to the idea to the development of a theory of everything; Differences between Laughlin's notion and that of other theoretical physicists; Notion of emergence in the theory of condensed matter.

Interviews Felice Frankel, artist-in-residence at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who uses photography to help researchers display their results. Opinion on exhibitions that purport to combine art and science; Scientists' refusal to acknowledge aesthetic beauty in their work; Scientific concepts she finds impossible to represent.

Reports on the development of a magnetic scanner that creates a quantum link between atomic nuclei in different parts of the body. Idea to use the scanner to screen for cancer; Study of magnetic resonance imaging by Warren Warren; Behavior of cells in magnetic fields. INSET: SCREEN TEST.

Discusses the walk of Luo women, who carry heavy loads on their heads. Research of Norman Heglund; How the Luo women carry weight on their heads without appearing to get tired; Energy used by women when transporting a load; How African women have better pendulum motion when carrying heavy loads.

Presents an interview with Max Clifford, a public relations advisor, with regards to the public image of scientists in Europe. Thoughts on the use of jargon; The need for scientists to have media training; Importance of communicating clearly with the public.

Discusses the contamination of spacecraft by microbes, in light of plans to place humans on the International Space Station. Projected effect of the microbes on humans and the environment; Idea that increased radiation in space could allow for mutant strains of the microbes; Experience of astronauts on the MIR space station with mutated fungus; Questions as to the reason for the rapid development of mutated strains of microbes.

Reports on the discovery and preservation of the Mary Rose. History and historical significance of the ship, including battles; Question as to the reason for the sinking of the ship in calm waters; Work of Martin Bridge with the shipwreck; Use of tree rings to date various timbers used in the ship; Finding that much of the wood of the ship was replaced before the ship sunk; Speculation that the newer wood played a key role in the sinking of the ship. INSET: READING THE RINGS.

This article presents information regarding electron beam welding. Creating an electron beam involves applying a high voltage to an electron-emitting material such as tungsten. Electrons are emitted from the tungsten cathode and accelerated towards an anode with a hole in it. The process has to take place in a vacuum so that electrons don't collide with air molecules and lose energy. But it is very difficult to get the beam out of the vacuum chamber and into the open air without it losing its energy. The plasma window could allow electron guns to become as portable as the inferior laser welders. Electron beam welding could be done in situ on a fully assembled product, not just on parts.

Focuses on the efforts of David Martin, a materials engineer at the University of Michigan in Michigan to develop electrodes that are more readily accepted by the human body as compared to silicon implants. Growth of brain tissue on polymer-coated electrodes in rats; Features of the conducting polymer polypyrrole that make it suitable to be implanted in the body.

Focuses on the mission of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration to use a spacecraft Deep Impact to probe Comet Tempel I in 2005. Analysis of impact of excavation of crater in the comet; Tool used to excavate the crater in the comet; Effects of catastrophic fragmentation in the comet on the spacecraft.

Focuses on the establishment of a panel to investigate the scientific misconduct at Lucent Technologies Bell Labs. Experiments conducted by Hendrik Schon on electronic circuits; Creation of a single-molecule transistors; Electrical behaviors of materials.

Focuses on the challenges faced by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration regarding asteroid threat. Development of programs to deflect asteroids; Global catastrophe caused by asteroid strikes; Role of private companies on asteroid deflection.

Reports international efforts of businessmen to reduce the illegal trade of diamonds. Development of the Kimberley Protocol aimed at ending the illegal trade; Works of research teams aimed at finding ways to identify the origin of a diamond; Effort of the industry in developing tagging schemes used to mark and brand stones. INSET: Free for all..

Reports the construction of a railway tunnel for high-speed trains at the base of the Alps mountain in Switzerland. Reduction of road freight traffic; Budget for the creation of the Channel Tunnel; Assessment of the ventilation plan.

Investigates the efficacy of diagnostic device in detecting sounds of healthy and damaged cartilages. Procedures in using the device; Accuracy of screening method; Signs of knee degradation.

Reports the failure of physicists to find evidence of Higgs bosons in Geneva, Switzerland. Analysis of data from Large Electron Positron Collider at a nuclear laboratory; Importance of Higgs bosons for understanding of matter; Creation of standard model of the particle.

An experiment in openness has fallen at the first hurdle, as physicists at the Pierre Auger Observatory in Argentina have reversed their policy of public discussion, shortly after collecting their initial round of results. The publicly funded collaboration originally decided to make data from the experiment available on its website. But the information is now being moved to a private site after fears it might be interpreted as hinting that the highest energy cosmic rays, the phenomenon the observatory was set up to investigate, do not exist. The observatory has been funded by a large number of agencies to answer questions related to origin of cosmic rays. When completed, the $54-million array of water tanks and telescopes should find the sources of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays by collecting the showers of particles that are scattered downward as each cosmic-ray particle strikes the atmosphere.

This article focuses on the steps taken by physicists to understand the process of Universe and fusion. LIGO, the worldwide network of gravitational wave detectors, has found nothing on its first pass. Albert Einstein predicted that objects moving through space would create gravitational waves that disturb the fabric of space-time. These waves would come from neutron stars spiralling in and merging, for example, or the fallout from astrophysical explosions such as supernovae, hums from asymmetrical pulsars, and background static left over from gravitational explosions in the early Universe. But the waves are so faint that even catastrophic events like these would produce just the faintest whisper back here on Earth. LIGO, which links detectors at Hanford and Livingstone in the U.S. and at Hannover in Germany is the first experiment to stand any chance of detecting them. The detectors work by splitting a laser beam into two parts and sending them along paths at right angles to each other before recombining them. If a gravitational wave ripples past Earth, it will warp space-time in the direction it is coming from, changing the relative lengths of the different paths and altering the interference pattern produced when the beam is recombined.

Focuses on the KamLAND experiment conducted by John Bahcall and his colleagues at Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan that revealed the reactions happening inside the sun. Calculation of the rate of fusion in the sun; Detection of antineutrinos produced by nuclear reactors; Arguments of researchers on sterile neutrinos.

Reports on the announcement made by planet hunters about the discovery of a planetary system with a passing resemblance to existing solar system as of December 21, 2002. Concern on infrared maser emissions from three separate planetary systems; Uncertainty over the existence of primitive life on Mars.

Focuses on a study by Jim Collins and colleagues at Boston University in Massachusetts on the effect of stochastic resonance, which makes a weak signal easier to detect when it is superimposed on a background of random noise, on elders who have trouble in standing still on their feet. Mechanism through which nervous system helps to correct body postures; Explanation how artificial noise can boost balance in elders.

Focuses on a laser-guided interactive pool table invented by Lars Bo Larsen and his team at Aalborg University in Denmark that monitors the position of the ball and uses laser beams to suggest which shot to play. Features of the pool table; Instrument used to monitor the position of the ball; Advantages of the technique.

Reports that the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration is considering several lightweight spacecraft designs that uses components made of gossamer, a strong elastic polymer that reduces the weight of the spacecraft significantly. Formation of sail from the solid block of gossamer in space; Way to make thinner fibers used in sail made of gossamer; Advantages of using sails made of thin fibers.

Discusses the study conducted by meteorologist Forrest Mims on the levels of airborne bacteria in Alta Floresta, Brazil. Comparison of the results with information on atmospheric conditions taken by the Earth Probe TOMS satellite; Irrelevance of smog on plant bacteria that are resistant to ultraviolet (UV) light; Effect of UV radiation on airborne bacteria.

Reports the attempts of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to protect astronauts from the risks of radiation in the U.S. Health effects of prolonged radiation exposure; Application of additional polyethylene shielding containing lighter atomic nuclei; Plans of NASA to establish a space station.

Reports on the discovery by May Berenbaum and her team at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign regarding how the corn earworm neutralizes corn toxins. Resistance of the pest against insecticide; Crops that corn earworm feeds on; Mechanism in which the pest breaks plant defense.

Investigates the potential of robot armed with battery charger to fight bioterrorism in Seattle, Washington. Ability to keep networks of anthrax sensors fully charged; Development of the robot by Intel; Usability of the robot.

Introduces the flat screen display, Boom Chameleon designed by Michael Tsang and colleagues at the University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario. Features of the apparatus; Device specification; Usability of in three-dimensional design technology.

Examines the effect of the chemicals in weed killers on animal reproduction. Pesticides linked to miscarriages, stillbirths and birth defects; Components of the phenoxyacid herbicide; Alternative for gardeners to spray weeds with vinegar.

Focuses on the mystery object orbiting the Earth which is certainly a discarded rocket from the Apollo 12 Moon mission. Suggestion that the object was a space junk; Significance of the observations for the astronomers; Need of astronomers for several sightings to plot a reliable orbit for an asteroid or space junk.

Focuses on the efforts of astronomers to measure the speed of gravity. Prediction of the theory of general relativity by scientist, Albert Einstein; Interaction of gravitational waves with radio waves; Results of the astronomical study conducted by scientist, Sergei Kopeikin.

Focuses on the creation of flat-packed furniture by IKEA. Concept of the fixed movement and pressure sensors of IKEA wardrobe; Creation of Inclusion of sensors feed data into a battery-powered microchip in the kit; Derivation of instruction sheets for the unit.

Determines the use of molecules for enhancement of magnetic resonance images. Structure of molecules in molybdenum blue solution; Replacement of molybdenum atoms with iron atoms; Magnetic field of iron-containing molecules.

Evaluates the use of greenhouse gas for automobiles in Minnesota. Source of hydrogen ions; Alternatives for hydrogen ions; Advantages of the technology.

Evaluates the capability of zinc oxide to enhance fluorescent lights in New Jersey. Composition of light-emitting diodes; Conversion of energy in the form of light; Type of semiconductor junctions.

Focuses on the attempt of astronomers to explain the supersymmetry theory. Belief of physicists and astronomers on the dark matter composition of the universe; Characteristics of a neutralino particle; Prediction on the density of the Draco galaxy.

Focuses on the distinction between the exploding meteors and nuclear test blast in the U.S. Identification of the site of nuclear explosure; Derivation of infrasounds produced by meteors; Sources of infrasounds.

Reports the plan of European Space Agency to launch a cold atom gyro, HYPER, to measure rotation associated with Earth's gravitational field. Accuracy of the HYPER; Replacement of quantum fluid called, Bose-Einstein condensate; Measurement of the rotation of the universe.

Focuses on the development of robot by inventor Olaf Sporns in Bloomington, Indiana. Organization of the neuron in the ventral tegmental arena; Release of the neurotransmitter dopamine; Generation of electronic version of the chemical response.

Reports the development of liquid light through optical computing. Dependence on the intensity of the beam; Observation of light pulse concentration; Limitation on the speed of silicon-based processors.

Focuses on the black holes discovered by astronomers. Mass of black holes; Description of astronomers on the black holes; Identification of its place in the sky.

Focuses on the computer intelligence assessment test of Alan Turing. Test of the machines capacity to think; Assessment of human-like intelligence; Complexity of Turing's test.

Discusses the competition of astronomers in finding a planet similar to earth. Technique of New Zealand and Japanese astronomers using microlensing; Discovery of solar system, 55 Canri; Reaction of planet hunter, Geoff Marcy, at the University of California.