Science and technology almanac

2621 Pages·2002·5.86 MB·English

by  William Allstetter

Cover

title: Science & Technology Almanac 2002 Ed.
author: Lauerman, Lynn.; Allstetter, William.
publisher: Greenwood Publishing Group
isbn10 | asin: 1573563285
print isbn13: 9781573563284
ebook isbn13: 9780313013805
language: English
Science--Periodicals, Technology--
subject
Periodicals.
publication date: 2002
lcc: Q124.6S39 2002eb
ddc: 509
Science--Periodicals, Technology--
subject:
Periodicals.
Page i
Science & Technology Almanac
2002 EDITION
Executive Editor
Lynn Lauerman
Created and Developed by William Allstetter
AN ORYX BOOK
GREENWOOD PRESS
WESTPORT, CONNECTICUT • LONDON
Page ii
Published by Greenwood Press
An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group 88 Post Road West,
Westport, Connecticut 06881
www.greenwood.com © 2002 by The Moschovitis Group, Inc.
339 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10016
www.mosgroup.com Produced by The Moschovitis Group, Inc.
Executive Editor: Lynn Lauerman
Managing Editor: Valerie Tomaselli Project Editor: Stephanie Schreiber
Writers: Machele Cable, Jolyon Goddard, Roger McHaney, Christos
Moschovitis,
Jill Pope, Chris Rheaume, Phil Saltz, Daniel Schuller, Tami Schuyler,
Brian Selfon, Mary Sisson, Valerie Tomaselli, Kelly Wilson, Chris
Woodford Researchers: Jessica Rosin, Alison Quito Ziegler Design and
Layout: Annemarie Redmond Illustrations: Lucille Lacey
Editorial Coordinator: Sonja Matanovic Production Assistant: Rashida
Allen Copyediting: Zeiders & Associates Proofreading: Amy Kaiman
Index: Appleton Ink
Created and Developed by William Allstetter All rights reserved. No part
of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by
any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any
information storage and retrieval
system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Published simultaneously in Canada Printed and Bound in the United
States of America The paper used in this publication meets the
minimum requirements of the American National Standard for
Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library
Materials, ANSI Z39.48–1984.
ISBN 1-57356-328-5
ISSN 1524-1319
Page iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface v

DISCIPLINE BY DISCIPLINE

Astronomy & Space 1

News 1

Reference 11

Chemistry 41

News 41

Reference 46

Computers & Internet 63

News 63

Reference 72

Earth Sciences 87

News 87

Reference 94

Environment 107

News 107

Reference 117

Health & Medicine 133
News 133
Reference 145

Life Sciences 175

News 175

Reference 184

Mathematics 203

News 203

Reference 207

Meteorology & the Weather 223

News 223

Reference 228

Physics 247

News 247

Reference 252

Technology 259

News 259

Reference 268

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, & SOCIETY

Issues 287

Legislation & Regulation 293
Media Watch 297
PEOPLE & PRIZES

Obituaries 303

Prizes 311

Biographies 337

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AROUND THE WORLD

Worldwide View 359

Country by Country 361

HISTORY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Timeline 411

Inventions & Discoveries 427

APPENDIX ONE: Calendar of Events 435

APPENDIX TWO: Directory 439

Glossary 468

Bibliography 485

Index 489
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Page v
PREFACE
The Science & Technology Almanac 2002 links the year’s current news
to encyclopedic and almanac-style information on science and
technology. This combination of news stories and reference material in
one volume allows readers to investigate current news, encyclopedic
content, and historical information in a completely integrated way. A user
can conduct further research on details discussed in the news items
simply by referring to a related part of the almanac.
A good example can be seen in the story about the threat of future
earthquakes in India in the Earth Science news section. After reading the
article, which describes the shifting plate tectonics of the region and the
devastating Bhuj earthquake that occurred in January 2001, users can
investigate related material found in the Earth Science reference section
immediately following the news section. They will find information on
continental drift and plate tectonics, including an illustration depicting
continental drift over the past 245 million years, as well as an extensive
section on earthquakes, including an overview on earthquakes,
definitions of the different types of fault lines and elastic waves, a table
comparing the Richter and Mercalli scales that are used to measure
earthquakes, and tables listing the largest recorded earthquakes in
history—both worldwide and in the United States. This year’s almanac
also features a completely updated table covering the major earthquakes
of 2001, including the one in India, with information about each
earthquakes date, Richter measurement, and casualties and damage.
This edition of the almanac is completely updated, offering revised
statistical tables, updated facts and figures, and full news coverage from
October 1, 2000, to December 31, 2001. A new calendar of events has
been included and the extensive directory has been updated completely.
The structure of this edition is the same as that the first three. The first
section, Discipline by Discipline, presents concise reports of the past
year’s prominent news stories, together with comprehensive reference
sections that include basic facts, figures, statistics, and concepts in
Astronomy & Space, Chemistry, Computers & Internet, Earth Sciences,
Environment, Health & Medicine, Life Sciences, Mathematics,
Meteorology & the Weather, Physics, and Technology
The Discipline by Discipline section is followed by a review of important
topics in Science, Technology, & Society (STS), including controversial
issues raised by the year’s events and trends, and a roundup of
important government regulations in the scitech arena. The STS section
ends with a wrapup of new media published and produced during the
year.
Following the STS material is People & Prizes, which presents obituaries
of major figures in all scitech disciplines who have died in the past year,
as well as concise dictionary-style biographies of over 250 people
throughout history who have had an impact in the scitech arena. It also
includes information on current and past science and technology award
winners.
Science & Technology Around the World includes concise statistical
portraits of all countries in the world, along with regional comparisons of
similar data. This is followed by the History of Science & Technology
section, which includes a chronology and list of inventions and
discoveries.
The book is rounded out by appendices, including a calendar of science-
related events and meetings and a comprehensive directory. A glossary,
a bibliography, and a full name, place, and concept index follow the
appendices.
As an almanac, the book will be updated every year. Each new edition
will feature prominent news stories from the past year together with
updated facts, figures, and statistical reference material, a new STS
section, reports on all new prizes and new media for the year, updated
directory information, and a new calendar of events.
All material is current as of December 31, 2001. However, when events
following the December deadline affected major news stories, we
provided an editor’s note at the end of the story summarizing those