Omni Magazine (January 1995)
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JANUARY 1995 WHATWOUIP EXTRATERRESTRIALS m i#? onnruiVOL. 17 NO. 4 JANUARY 1995 EDITOR IN CHIEF & DESIGN DIRECTOR: BOB GUCCIONE PRESIDENT & C.O.O.: KATHY KEETON VP/EDITOR: KEITH FERRELL EXECUTIVE V=/G RAP -IICS D RECTO";: FRANK DEVINO MANAGING EDITOR: CAROLINE DARK ART DIRECTOR: CAIHHYN MEZZO 6 31 First Word Continuum By Elizabeth Taylor i What Would You Say to an Alien? Communications jfff JM By Erin Murphy 9 *. * \ Medicine ja Omni asked everyone By Steve Nadis j from top Microrobots politicians to leading scientists, from 4' cartoonists - celebrities to Electronic Universe fl^P* . __LiaMI what they'd say. Their responses may Omni Treasure Hunt surprise you. Preview Page 48 16 Searching for Dollars: Digs Funding Science Today By Karen Fitzgerald By Robert Fleming 18 American researchers are Wheels feeling the By Ginger Pinholster pressure as Congress 22 tightens the Arts cash-flow spigot. By Steve Nadis 56 24 Strange Wonders in a Wings Stranger Land By Janeen Webb and By Sharon McAuliffe Jack Dann Inside Antarctica, 25 an alien land at the bottom Museums of the earth 66 By J. Blake Lambert 28 Fiction: There Mind Are No Dead By Terry Bisson By Evan I. Schwartz Thought evolution 73 29 interview: delegation, Mihaly Law If you found yourself facing an alien would you By Anita Bartholomew know what to say? Would anyone? President Clinton, Csikszentmihalyi Sobel 104 Arthur Miller, and George Carlin are just some of the people By Dava Games from whom Omni sought an answer. Cover art by 79 By Scot Morris Jim Zuckerman. (Additional art and photo credits, page 103) Antimatter ?M FIRST IAJDRD YOU CAN NEVER SAY NEVER ENOUGH: The first lady of American film fights AIDS and apathy By Elizabeth Taylor that ceiving high acclaim. Though the the ten years of the AIDS cri- with HIV/AIDS. I am hopeful lobbying, beginning to realize AIDS-affected community has Insis that I have spent people are fundraising, and persuading that they cannot sit idiy by while been beautifully expressing its its relentless hopes and joys, pains and sor- the population, I have experi- AIDS continues enced such joy and pain. Each course. Many people are getting rows, for years, it is exciting to time we have gained a small vic- involved because they feel a see that these mainstream media help. are willing to portray the realities tory—in science, in education, in compelling responsibility to public policy, or in caring for Tragically, however, more and of AIDS. Projects like these do people with HIV/AIDS—we have more people are getting involved much to educate the public not been set back by the loss of an- because more and more people only about the realities of the dis- other loved one. are being touched in a very per- ease, but also about the realities are fighting it. In the face of seemingly over- sonal way through the illness of of those who media have done both a whelming despair, it would be their friends and loved ones. The. easy to give up hope and to give Even after 12 years of the lousy and a great job on AIDS. the of this crisis, up action; to say that it's all too AIDS epidemic, the greatest bar- Since beginning sen- hard to bear. But we are at war rier in the fight against AIDS con- there have been stories that with AIDS! And each time we tinues to be the stigma associated sationalize the issue and play on re- lose in one battle, some friend, with the disease. The stigma of people's fears. While some old or new, steps forward to fight the association of AIDS with ho- port inaccurate information potential to try again to change the wortd. mosexuality and injection sub- which unfairly hypes So we continue to fight this stance abuse continues to make treatments, others continue to enemy that recognizes no social, the battle against AIDS formida- promote old stereotypes—AIDS racial, economic, religious, or na- ble. This is the same stigma that as a disease affecting only gay tional boundaries; at war with an breeds contempt, instead of men or substanceabusers. also pre- enemy whose target is not par- compassion, for those who are The media have touch- ticular groups of "high-risk" indi- affected and infected by HIV, sented very sensitive and realities of viduals but the high-risk behavior It is encouraging to see films ing portraits of the of any individual. such as Philadelphia and plays living with HIV/AIDS. They have In order to win this war, we such as Angels in A'merica re- presented programs that have need tenacious courage and covered the topic in depth with information. They have "Nat until every boldness in educating ourselves accurate public-service programs and man, woman, and our loved ones. In my travels run announcements. and child knows around the world on behalf of the far-reaching capa- the facts about American Foundation for AIDS Given the AIDS can we hope Research (AmFAR) and the Eliz- bilities of the news and entertain- are an incredi- to decelerate abeth Taylor AIDS Foundation ment media, they bly valuable tool for disseminat- the spread ol this (ETAF), I am constantly stressing information. I implore insidious dis- the need for education. HIV/AIDS ing HIV/AIDS to increase their participa- ease. There Is no education, however cannot be them educa- subject mare just the business of agencies tion through more AIDS campaigns. can do important to tulure and individuals who are working tion They more. generations." the front lines trying to save lives. more. They must do and AIDS are It is everyone's business to know Complacency compatible. cannot stop how AIDS is spread and how we not We our activism, our advocacy, our can protect ourselves. It is the responsibility of every individual pleas for more resources. Most to protect him- or herself and importantly, we must never stop others from infection. caring and giving all the support compassion we can to those I and I am hopeful today as observe the developments in community with HIV/AIDS. With education support and activism against and activism, we may some day terrible AIDS. The American community is render this disease a slowly becoming more support- memory. I pray that such a day ive and understanding of people may come very soonlCQ connnnuruiCATorus READERS' WRITES: What matters most—birth, death, or the life that flows ^MSINlER'V'iTIO- between the two? ORPORATtON Just A Hunch ing between religion and science is [IQ2, healthy, normal, and should be contin- I was disappointed thai Dr. Cappon theologian September 1994] didn't mention the ued. It's obvious to me this most important application of intuition [Robert Russell] is attempting to use through the ages, the real everyday use the good reputation of science to add that determines the outcome of the credibility to religion [Science and Reli- human aptitude—child rearing. Intuition gion], In the future I hope to see the plays an extremely viable role in raising overwhelming weight of scientific fact a child to his or her potential. He speaks crush religion completely, pushing it of hard (yang) applications of intu- back to the Stone Age where it be- Russell would like to keep ition—making money, inventions, and longs. Mr. scientific theory. But what about the theology relevant to the times. Why not relevant soft (yin) uses— mothering, counseling, just admit it has never been and teaching? These don't make a lot of be done with it? Religion has caused money or fame, but they do have far- more harm in every era of human his- reaching effects on the human condition. tory than any other single idea. Polly LaGrave, M.Ed. William McNulty Elberta, AL Seattle, WA Science versus Religion Enjoy It While You Can ability to argue both "The Other Side of the Bloch" [October I consider the sides of an issue one of the most desir- 1994] was a refreshing admission of being able and rare evidences of true intelli- humanity. I'm tired of people gence. Your October 1994 issue comfortable with death. I've heard all reaffirmed Omni as being at the fore- the pacifiers—the universe is a safe front of intelligent journalism. First, the place, you'll go to heaven, you'll be- UFO Update may seem ridiculous, but come one with the great spirit, you'll nothingness. My the concepi isn't unfounded. Consider disappear into benign what Satan might undertake to explain favorite is the jaded, 'Who cares, the sudden disappearance of thou- what's so great about life anyway?' The sands of people as foretold in the Bible fact is, life is wonderful, and it scares as the Rapture. Alien abduction would the hell out of me that I have limited I I younger be a viable and [now] acceptable alter- time to enjoy it, When was I I be- native to a confirmation of Biblical knew I could not die. As aged lieved science would break the mortal- prophecy. Second, I read Hancock's book [Continuum Lead] last year, and ity barrier. Now I realize that even I am I that can the first thing any Christian would no- going to die. don't know how I'll not about tice is that Hancock isn't. The real rea- be, but tell you, I'm happy terrifying, and I'm son no one tried to find the ark in this it. Death is downright so. manner before is because most Chris- with Robert Bloch in saying Smith tians don't dare doubt the Bible.