July-August 2009

Being Stephen Hawking

Former Nature editor John Maddox on one of the most famous scientists of our age

by Sir John Maddox

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July-August

Departments

Numbers: Allergies, From the Fecund Ragweed to Killer Peanuts

by Andrew Grant

The Best in Science Culture

Clashes with aliens, America vs. Science, really horrible sci-fi, and more
by Sam Kissinger, Jeremy Labrecque

Future Tech: The Carbon Nanotube Grows Up—Into Nanoyarn a Kilometer Long

One company's special manufacturing process turns out yarns and sheets millions of time the size of normal nanotubes.
by Stephen Cass

Vital Signs: Where's That Infection?

What seems like an ordinary urinary tract infection can sometimes be much worse.
by Tony Dajer

Think Tech: Taking Pictures at Another Time and Place

A new Olympus camera lets you take pictures like a photojournalist or a 19th-century photo pioneer.

8 Ways Scientists Look at—But Don't Yet See—Dark Matter

Scientists hunt for the unseen matter that glues together the cosmos. But some wonder whether it even exists.
by Stephen Ornes

What Is This? A Close Look at Pocket Lint?

Hint: It dates back to 6th-century China but never really caught on until the mid-1800s, when it was introduced in its packaged, modern form.
by Andrew Grant

The Brain: Stop Paying Attention: Zoning Out Is a Crucial Mental State

Researchers say a wandering mind may be important to setting goals, making discoveries, and living a balanced life.
by Carl Zimmer