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Pathways Of Discovery

The ongoing developments in the various fields of science rank among the most important stories of the 20th century. All indications are that its influence and importance will only grow in the next millennium. Science is emphasizing the pivotal place of science in the human experience with a special series of monthly essays running throughout the year. This series is called Pathways of Discovery.

Each month a knowledgeable, engaging, and well-known scientist-essayist will tell a story about how a particular contemporary "breakthrough" area emerged, developed, and ascended to its present exciting level. These breakthrough areas range from quantum physics to astrophysics, and from genomics to atmospheric sciences. Each of these essayists will portray the mix of rational, non-rational, institutional, psychological, and other human factors that make science work.

For a further introduction about the essays, please see the editorial in the 14 January 2000 issue of Science (volume 287 issue 5451).

Monthly Essays
PATHWAY TO ...
1 "Science Wars" [Summary] [Full Text] January
2 Planetary Sciences [Summary] [Full Text] February
3 Genomics [Summary] [Full Text] March
4 Infectious Diseases [Summary] [Full Text] April
5 Materials Science [Summary] [Full Text] May
6 Cloning/Stem Cells [Summary] [Full Text] June
7 Communications [Summary] [Full Text] July
8 Quantum Physics [Summary] [Full Text] August
9 The Cell Cycle [Summary] [Full Text] September
10 Atmospheric Sciences [Summary] [Full Text] October
11 Neuroscience [Summary] [Full Text] November
12 Astrophysics/Cosmology [Summary] [Full Text] December

Each month during 2000, Britannica.com enhances the Pathways of Discovery essay with links to relevant items within and without Encylopedia Britannica's vast stores of information. Click here to access this month's Pathways essay and all previous ones.

Alternatively, the enhanced essays can be found following these directions:

  • From http://www.britannica.com/, click on "Science and Technology" (under "Explore" in the menu on the left of the page).
  • From the Science and Technology sub-menu, click on "Features Archive," and then choose "Pathways of Discovery: Science's Millennial Essay Series."
  • From the resulting page, you may follow the appropriate link to view the enhanced data for an article.



Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)