Issues

The Eighth Crystallography Congress, meeting this month in the US, offers every type of communication from crowded formal sessions to spontaneous gatherings by handfuls of specialists. Electronic communications will help participants get the most out of the meeting.

To probe a crystal one can use neutrons, x rays, electrons and now, protons. But crystallographers are scrutinizing the accuracy of their measurements. Improvements in crystal growing are leading to new solid‐state research, and huge biological molecules are being unravelled crystallographically.

Because of the central position of science in our civilization, physicists should be deeply concerned with the involvement of science in worldwide cultural and political affairs.

Why do the positive and negative charges separate in thunderclouds? What happens in the period between lightning flashes? How is air trapped in hailstones?

Measurements of neutron cross sections and spectra have improved from the early days of homebuilt equipment through the war time developments in the Manhattan District to the present use of commercial accelerators and electronics.