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On the Cover

November-December 2004 Volume 92, Number 6

On the cover:

Plant perfumes such as roses, cut grass or cloves are instantly recogn...

FEATURE ARTICLES

Plant Scents *

What we perceive as a fragrant perfume is actually a sophisticated tool used by plants to entice pollinators, discourage microbes and fend off predators

The Decline of the Blue Crab *

Richard Lee, Marc Frischer

Changing weather patterns and a suffocating parasite may have reduced the numbers of this species along the Eastern seaboard

Relative Pitch and the Song of Black-Capped Chickadees

Ron Weisman, Laurene Ratcliffe

Chickadees, like people, have a strong sense of relative pitch. These birds use skillful, precise pitch changes to advertise their quality and attract mates

Heavy-Metal Nuclear Power *

Could an unconventional coolant enable reactors to burn radioactive waste and produce both electric power and hydrogen?

The Puzzling Origins of AIDS *

Four rival theories provide some interesting lessons

* access restricted to members and subscribers

SCIENTISTS’ BOOKSHELF

Three Thousand Years of Exploitation

The Retreat of the Elephants, Mark Elvin's environmental history of China, is interesting, revealing and often fascinating—but hard to read, says Vaclav Smil

See all book reviews for this issue.

DEPARTMENTS

COMPUTING SCIENCE

Ode to the Code

Is the genetic code a "frozen accident," or is it still subject to natural selection?

SIGHTINGS

Watching Water Channels

The work of computational biophysicist Emad Tajkhorshid reveals the inner dynamics of molecules

MARGINALIA

Growing up Neandertal

Studies of fossils show that Neandertals matured differently and more quickly than humans

ENGINEERING

Past and Future Failures *

Footbridges provide the latest example of a 30-year cycle of bridge failures

SCIENCE OBSERVER

It Came from Outer Space?

David Schneider

A recently discovered impact crater in Italy could be just an old watering hole

Beauty and the Brain

A neurobiologist visits the art museum

The New Wealth of Nations

Does Bhutan have a better way to measure national progress?

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Perceiving Intentions

More than Amazing

From the President

IN THIS SECTION

American Scientist Classics

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