Notebook

Last month, the U.S. Senate approved funding for a modified version of space station Freedom, and a group of volunteers, many of whom are scientists and others involved in the aerospace industry, would like to believe that the weight of their arguments played no small role in saving the project. In at least one respect they are right. Over the summer, the group, calling itself the Space Station Freedom Fighters, collected more than 30,000 signatures on petitions calling for renewal of the station; the combined weight of the petitions was more than 15 pounds. The grass- roots organization says that signatures were obtained in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. According to the group, it was the largest demonstration of public support for a spacecraft since "Star Trek" fans named the first space shuttle after the Enterprise. The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation has established two new parallel programs to provide discretionary funding to academic leaders in chemical science research and education. The Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award focuses primarily on individual research attainment and promise, along with evidence of excellence in teaching. The Henry Dreyfus Teacher- Scholar Award "stresses teaching, mentorship, and the nominees' accomplishments as role models for undergraduates embarking on careers in the chemical sciences." Grants of $60,000 are awarded in both programs to the awardee's academic department, with $5,000 going to the department itself and the rest to a scholar's professional activities, with the exception of salary. Nominations must be received by November 15. For information, contact the Henry and Camille Dreyfus Foundation Inc., 555 Madison Ave., New York, N.Y. 10022-3301; (212) 753-1760. The Tourette Syndrome Association (TSA) is soliciting applications for grants in three categories: proposals in basic neuroscience specifically relevant to Tourette syndrome ($5,000-$25,000); clinical studies related to the etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of the disease ($5,000- $25,000); and one- or two-year training postdoctoral fellowships ($15,000-$20,000, depending on the applicant's experience level). Applicants' letters of intent are due by October 15, after which they will be notified whether to deliver a final proposal, which is due December 22. Application materials can be obtained by calling (718) 224-2999 or by fax request at (718) 279-9596. Letters of intent are to be sent to: Anne B. Young, M.D., Ph.D., Chairperson, TSA Scientific Advisory Board, 42-40 Bell Blvd., Bayside, N.Y. 11361. The first two volumes of Flora of North America, published by Oxford University Press in New York, were released on September 27. The mammoth project, being produced by 30 botanical institutions and hundreds of botanists and coordinated by the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, is the first comprehensive description of all the plants growing spontaneously in the U.S., Canada, and Greenland. In all, 14 volumes will be published over the next 12 years. Descriptions of each species are written and reviewed by experts from the worldwide botanical community, with each volume containing identification keys, distributions, and other biological information for particular groups of plants. Volume 1 contains introductory essays that discuss climate, geology, the history of vegetation and its current status, expeditions and research, overall classification, and how to use the book. Volume 2 contains taxonomic treatments of ferns and gymnosperms. For information, call Oxford University Press at (800) 451-7556. While allusions to the rarity of chickens' lips and hens' teeth may persist through eternity, Iowa State University animal scientists are determined to settle at least one matter pertaining to the biophysical makeup of these birds. Researchers at the institution currently are in the process of identifying the DNA fingerprints of chickens--part of an effort to develop rapid, low-cost, accurate methods of determining desirable genes for disease resistance, feed efficiency, and reproductive performance. With a minor blood test, DNA samples are obtained, then cut and sorted by size through electrophoresis. By studying the resultant fingerprints, called bands, scientists can determine the presence and location of genetic markers linked to the trait they want, and breed accordingly. A Boston University scientist's approach to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence is unlikely to be made into a major motion picture any time soon. But it may have cleared a radio wave hurdle that has stymied much of the effort in this area. Nathan Cohen, an assistant professor of science and engineering at BU, along with Yale University colleague David Charlton, claims to have found a new way to solve the problem of "multipath," an effect that makes shortwave signals fade and bounce up and down in intensity. It is known that phenomena in interstellar space can cause the multipath effect on radio signals; and scientists searching for signals from space have assumed that the best way for extraterrestrial beings to transmit these signals was to use a very narrow frequency channel. Over the years, researchers have sent out similar narrow-channel signals to search for the incoming transmissions, but Cohen and Charlton have conducted simulations using as many as five channels, spread out in frequency like teeth on a comb, which they hope will increase the probability of providing one channel that does not fade. The pair acknowledge that the search has a long way to go before they can say for sure that they have discovered intelligent signals from space. At least, however, they figure that their method makes sure that they won't miss a broadcast that is heading this way. The Department of Energy has announced the execution of its 500th cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) since 1991. A CRADA is a contractual agreement in which a DOE facility with one or more partners, generally from industry, shares the costs of, and pools the results from, a particular research and development program. To date, 26 percent of the agreements have been in information and communications, 24 percent in advanced materials and instrumentation, and 22 percent in manufacturing. Others have been in such areas as pollution minimization and remediation, biotechnology and life scien-ces, energy, and aerospace and transportation technologies.

Notebook

The Scientist Staff

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