NEWS See Pullout Insert Inside March 2005 Volume 14, No. 3 A Publication of The American Physical Society http://www.aps.org/apsnews

2005 March Meeting Gears Up for Reborn Nicholson Medal Showtime in the City of Angels Stresses Mentorship Established in memory of Dwight The latest research relevance to the design R. Nicholson of the University of results on the spin Hall and creation of next- Iowa, who died tragically in 1991, effect, new chemistry generation nano-electro- and first given in 1994, the APS with superatoms, and mechanical systems Nicholson Medal has been reborn several sessions cel- (NEMS). Moses Chan this year as an award for human ebrating all things (Pennsylvania State Uni- outreach. According to the infor- Einstein are among the versity) will talk about mation contained on the Medal’s expected highlights at evidence of Bose-Einstein web site (http://www.aps.org/praw/ the 2005 APS March condensation in solid he- nicholso/index.cfm), the Nicholson meeting, to be held later lium, while Stanford Medal for Human Outreach shall Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Los Angeles Convention Center this month in Los University’s Zhixun Shen be awarded to a physicist who ei- Angeles, California. The will discuss how photo- ther through teaching, research, or Photo from Iowa University Relations. conference is the largest physics Boltzmann, and Ehrenfest, but also emission spectroscopy has science-related activities, Dwight R. Nicholson. meeting of the year, featuring some Emmy Noether, one of the rare emerged as a leading tool to push 1. has demonstrated a particu- 6500 talks covering a wide variety women physicists of that era, who the frontier of condensed matter larly giving and caring relationship as a mentor to students or of research topics—many of which proved two deep theorems on the physics—a full 100 years since colleagues, or has succeeded in motivating interest in physics through directly impact technologies that connection between symmetries Einstein first explained the photo- inspiring educational works; or help to define the nature of mod- and conservation laws—an electric effect at the heart of the 2. has created special opportunities that inspire the scientific devel- ern culture. achievement that greatly technology. opment of students or junior colleagues, or has developed programs for Examples of cutting-edge work impressed Einstein. Another session focuses on students at any level that facilitated positive career choices in physics; or to be discussed at the meeting that Einstein’s discoveries aren’t sim- Einstein’s activities in the social 3. has successfully stimulated the interest and involvement of the might convert basic knowledge into ply relegated to the dusty annals sphere, including his involvement general public in the progress of physics. useful devices include bio- of physics history: his ideas are still with such ticklish issues as racism, In redesigning the purpose of the Medal, the APS Executive Board logical computing, magnetic reso- having an impact on cutting-edge pacifism, Zionism, and the drop- wanted to emphasize the importance of mentorship in maintaining the nance force microscopy, fuel cells research in condensed matter ping of the atom bomb during health and diversity of the physics profession. Nominations are now and other uses for hydrogen fuel, physics today, according to speak- World War II. There will also be being sought for the first presentation of the medal under its new set of superconducting diamond, conden- ers at a special Wednesday evening papers presented on Einstein in criteria. Nominations should be sent to the chair of the selection com- sates of utlracold Fermi atoms, gene session. For instance, Alex Zettle China, Einstein and diversity in mittee, William Gelbart of UCLA. Further details of the nomination chips, amorphous steel, solid-state of the University of California, physics, and a special World Year process are available on the Medal’s web site. qubits, and circuit QED. A special Berkeley, will discuss how Einstein’s of Physics public lecture by 1996 plenary session will focus on ways in doctoral thesis work in 1905 con- Nobel Laureate Douglas Osheroff which changing attitudes can recrys- cerned the size, geometry and (Stanford University). Board Blames Bush’s Budget tallize an entire field, often called a interactions of nanoparticles, Spins in the Hall. Physicists at “paradigm shift.” Topics to be cov- which are in turn of fundamental See 2005 MARCH on page 6 ered include the advent of For Not Saving Hubble single-molecule biology; the discov- Einstein@Home, Grassroots By Ernie Tretkoff ery of a black hole at the center of the Milky Way, and strongly-corre- Astrophysics Project, Goes Live In reaction to President Bush’s ling, persuasive reason for adding lated electron systems, including the proposed FY06 budget, the APS money to the NASA science pro- A new grassroots computing Advancement of Science in Executive Board has passed a gram to carry out the necessary quantum Hall effect. th However, physics research project dubbed Einstein@Home, Washington, DC, on February 19 . resolution stating that servicing servicing mission.” doesn’t exist in a vacuum, but is which will let anyone with a LIGO Laboratory Director the Hubble Space Telescope “Hubble is NASA’s most success- linked in many ways to social personal computer contribute Barry Barish of Caltech and should be one of NASA’s highest ful scientific venture and one of the issues. Several sessions will focus to cutting-edge astrophysics Einstein@Home Principal Investiga- priorities. most successful scientific achieve- on such nontechnical issues as the research, was officially announced tor Bruce Allen (University of President Bush’s budget, ments in recorded history,” said status of women in physics at the annual meeting of the Wisconsin-Milwaukee) made the released on February 7, does not John Bahcall, APS President Elect. research, human rights of scien- American Association for the See EINSTEIN@HOME on page 5 include funding for a mission to Among its many accomplish- tists in China and Iran, paper service the telescope. The resolu- ments, he said, “It has revealed the citations in Physical Review Letters, tion states that the Board formation of solar systems and the journal refereeing, scientific col- Nominations Sought for “disagrees with the omission of evolution of structure in the uni- laborations between developed funding for such a mission from verse, helped to uncover what is and developing countries, and New Sakharov Prize the President’s budget.” driving the universe to expand, and alternative careers for physicists. Under the President’s pro- it has given us awesome and beau- A new prize of the APS will recog- Celebrating All Things EinsteinEinstein. nize outstanding achievements of posal, NASA’s total budget would See SAVE HUBBLE on page 3 This year marks the centenary of scientists in upholding human increase by 2.4% to $16.46 Albert Einstein’s famous year of rights. Named in honor of the billion, but no funds would be physics breakthroughs, when he late Russian physicist Andrei devoted to a repair mission for published papers on the photo- Sakharov, the prize will consist Hubble. NASA is shifting its pri- HHighlights electric effect, Brownian motion, of a certificate and $10,000. orities in order to carry out and special relativity. Appropri- Nominations are now being sought President Bush’s vision for ately, 2005 has been recognized as for the first presentation of the manned space exploration. The prize. They should be sent to the the World Year of Physics (http:// proposed budget includes money 7 Chair of the selection committee, www.physics2005.org), and there John Gillespie of CUNY. Further for returning the space shuttle to Nomination Announcements are numerous sessions at the meet- details regarding eligibility and flight and operating the Interna- Call for Nominations for 2006 APS Prizes and Awards. ing devoted to Einstein’s ideas nomination procedures are avail- tional Space Station. and activities. For instance, these able at the Sakharov Prize web The resolution states “the Board sessions showcase Einstein’s many site, http://www.aps.org/praw/ believes that Hubble’s scientific fruitful collaborations with other sakharov/index.cfm potential is as promising as the 8 scientists. These include such well- remarkable past record it has The Back Page known figures as Millikan, achieved. It further believes that Why Johnny Can’t Vote Lorentz, Bohr, Born, Planck, Photo Credit: nuclearweaponarchive.org this potential provides a compel- By Barbara Simons 2 March 2005 NEWS

This Month in Physics History

“I see no problem with letting —Mano Singham, Case Western Einstein and Special Relativity the darn stuff fall down the drain. Reserve University, The (Cleveland) Why are people so afraid of the Plain Dealer, February 10, 2005 As a young boy, Albert Einstein by the swift motion of the earth in ✶✶✶ singularity?” had read a book by Aaron space. To their surprise, they could —Ted Jacobson, University of And, finally, a compendium of com- Bernstein, entitled The People’s not detect any change. It is debat- Maryland, on the possibility that ments on Einstein, his theories, and the Book on Natural Science. In one able whether Einstein paid heed to information is lost in a black hole, New World Year of Physics: section, Bernstein asked the this particular experiment, but his Scientist, January 22, 2005 “He definitely has a persona reader to imagine riding alongside work provided an explanation of ✶✶✶ that captures your attention. I am a current of electricity as it raced the unexpected result through a “Most string theorists are very impressed by his total indepen- down a telegraph wire. This new analysis of space and time. arrogant. If there is something dence. He came up with these image stuck in young Albert’s In the wake of Michelson and [beyond string theory], we will call incredible theories and was not mind, and when he was 16, he Morley’s results, (or lack thereof), it string theory.” part of the academic world at the began to wonder what a light Einstein decided to dispense with —Nathan Seiberg, Institute for time. That takes raw brain power beam would look like if he could the notion of the ether altogether Advanced Study, The Guardian, and imagination. He could con- catch up to it. As a child, he for his theory of special relativity. Photo: courtesy Yerkes Observatory, University of Chicago January 20, 2005 sider what most people thought of thought that a light beam would He began with two fundamental ✶✶✶ Henri Poincare as impossible, as real.” appear frozen, like a motionless assumptions. “People assume that because it is —Robert Bluhm, Colby College, on wave, if one were racing along- First, any observer moving at a tine for astronomers and engi- familiar it is understood. But if you Einstein, the Morning Sentinel side it. But no one had ever constant speed would have the neers to figure in the time an really probe, there are mysteries.” (Maine), February 7, 2005 observed frozen light, and he be- same laws of physics. Second, the electrical signal took to travel ✶✶✶ —Lakshminarayanan Mahadevan, gan to wonder why this might be. speed of light c is always constant, from one place to another in Harvard University, on studying how “It’s very complex. It took him a Ever since the days of Galileo no matter how fast or in what their calculations. Some engi- venus fly traps snap shut, Boston decade to work it out, and he got it and Isaac Newton, physicists direction the light source was mov- neers even sent their time signals Globe, January 27, 2005 wrong about four times along the had observed that laboratory ing. If both of those assumptions on round trips to compensate ✶✶✶ way.” measurements of mechanical held, then our notion of time must for the inevitable errors. “In their back yards people find —Grant Mathews, University of processes could never show any be incorrect: specifically, two At the Bureau of Longitude bones and panic, thinking it’s Notre Dame, on general relativity, difference between an appara- events that are simultaneous in one in Paris, Henri Poincare was human. Police send them for analy- South Bend Tribune, February 4, tus at rest and one moving at frame of reference would not be among those worried about this sis, and it can take months to say 2005 constant speed in a straight line. simultaneous in another. Time was “time of transmission.” In ✶✶✶ it’s just a dog. We could tell imme- Objects behaved the same way not absolute, but relative. January 1898, he wrote a diately.” “This is one of the hardest parts on a uniformly moving ship as Since length measurement famous philosophical article, —Madhavi Martin, Oak Ridge of his theory to prove because the on a ship docked in the harbor. involves determining the front and “The Measure of Time,” in which National Laboratory, on a technique waves we hope to see are just so They called this the principle of back positions of an object at the he discussed the possibility that called laser-induced breakdown incredibly weak. It’s a tiny effect.” relativity. But they didn’t believe same time, this same relative prin- simultaneity is little more than spectroscopy that can be used for —Peter Shawhan, California this principle should apply to ciple must apply to length as well. It the exchange of signals between chemical analysis at crime scenes, Institute of Technology, on gravita- light. also applies to the quantities of mat- two clocks, taking into account Baltimore Sun, February 4, 2005 tional waves, ABC News.com, At the end of the 19th cen- ter and energy. So time beats at the time of transfer between ✶✶✶ January 24, 2005 tury, light was assumed to be a different rates depending on how them at the speed of an electri- ✶✶✶ “You may look at something wave. To scientists, this meant it fast an object (or person) is moving; cal signal, or of light. Poincare every day, but you may never see it “It’s like twirling a spoon in a jar had to travel in some sort of the faster you move, the slower time didn’t apply his ideas to physics until someone says, ‘There’s some- of honey. You see the honey drag- medium, just like sound or progresses. And the faster an object until 1900, when he was invited thing surprising going on here.’ ” ging along with the spoon. It’s water waves. They decided there moves, the more distances contract, to speak at a gathering to honor —Wendy Zhang, University of analogous to what happens in must a special substance called and the heavier an object becomes. H.A. Lorentz, who was a major Chicago, on her experiments on air space.” the ether permeating the world, In fact, in the limit that the speed of figure in the electrodynamics of bubbles in pancake syrup, Chicago —Michael Salamon, NASA, explain- and this would explain why light a massive object approaches c, time moving bodies. Poincare real- Sun-Times, February 2, 2005 ing frame dragging, ABC news.com, could travel through seemingly slows down to a stop, distances con- ized he could reinterpret ✶✶✶ January 24, 2005 empty space. But if this were tract to nothing, and the object’s Lorentz’s purely mathematical ✶✶✶ “The gas from the outer layers true, then the speed of light energy becomes infinite. ideal of time as a physical coor- can’t fall in at once. It spirals “We have a conception of space should not be constant, as pre- Einstein wasn’t the only scien- dination procedure. around like water going down the and time built into us. He for the dicted in Maxwell’s equations; it tist or philosopher to question the Yet Poincare couldn’t bring drain, forming a “squashy dough- first time made space and time a should show the effects of absoluteness of time. He developed himself to discard the funda- nut shape.” part of physics and not of meta- motion. Experiment after experi- his ideas in an era that was ob- mental distinction between true —Stan Woosley, UCSC, describing the physics.” ment failed to turn up any sessed with the issue of time (in the frame of the ether) collapse of some massive stars, Santa —Steven Weinberg, University of Texas supporting evidence for the synchronizing time frames through and “apparent time,” as mea- Cruz Sentinel, January 25, 2005 at Austin, on Einstein, Christian Science assumption. space. For one thing, it was critical sured in any other frame of ✶✶✶ Monitor, January 20, 2005 The most well-known of to coordinating the schedules of reference, nor could he discard ✶✶✶ “These things do almost noth- these experiments was done in railway companies. By the time the notion of the ether. Einstein ing. The reason that they can go all “If ever physics had a golden Cleveland, Ohio, by Albert Einstein was employed in the Swiss did away with both, and the the way from Chicago to Soudan is age, a case could be made that it is Michelson and Edward Morley patent office in Bern, developing result was truly revolutionary. that almost nothing happens.” now.” in 1887. Their experimental networks of clocks running in sync —Marvin Marshak, University of —Stephen Benka, American Institute apparatus was a massive stone was a major precision industry, Next Month: Einstein’s Minnesota, on neutrinos, Associated of Physics, Christian Science Monitor, block with mirrors and criss- according to Peter Galison, author Most Famous Formula Press, February 11, 2005 January 20, 2005 crossing light beams, giving an of Einstein’s Clocks, Poincare’s Maps. See the special exhibit on ✶✶✶ ✶✶✶ accurate measurement of any There were a large number of pat- Albert Einstein’s life and work by “Modern biology is built around “There’s a typhoon headed our change in the velocity of light. ents submitted dealing with clocks the American Institute of Physics: evolutionary theory. You can’t way.” Michelson and Morley expected linked by signals. http://www.aip.org/history/ ignore it, but you can downplay it. — Gerald Holton, Harvard Univer- to see their light beams shifted And by the 1890s it was rou- einstein/ You can’t not teach it, but you can sity, on the World Year of Physics, The teach it badly.” New York Times, January 25, 2005

Series II, Vol. 14, No. 3 College Park, MD 20740-3844, [email protected]. Past-President (Laser Science), Bunny C. Clark* (Nuclear), John Jaros March 2005 For Nonmembers—Circulation and Fulfillment Division, Helen R. Quinn*, Stanford University (SLAC) (Particles & Fields), Stephen Holmes (Physics of Beams), ©2005 The American Physical Society American Institute of Physics, Suite 1NO1, 2 Huntington James Drake* (Plasma), Timothy P. Lodge, (Polymer NEWS Quadrangle, Melville, NY 11747-4502. Allow at least 6 weeks General Councillors Physics), Gianfranco Vidali, (New York Section), Paul advance notice. For address changes, please send both the old Janet Conrad, Frances Houle*, Evelyn Hu, Gerald Mahan, Wolf (Ohio Section) Coden: ANWSEN ISSN: 1058-8132 and new addresses, and, if possible, include a mailing label Ann Orel, Arthur Ramirez, Richart Slusher, Laura Smoliar* Editor ...... Alan Chodos from a recent issue. Requests from subscribers for missing ADVISORS issues will be honored without charge only if received within International Councillor Representatives from Other Societies Associate Editor ...... Jennifer Ouellette 6 months of the issue’s actual date of publication. Periodical Sukekatsu Ushioda Richard Peterson, AAPT; Marc Brodsky, AIP Special Publications Manager ...... Patti Mascone Postage Paid at College Park, MD and at additional mailing Design and Production ...... Stephanie Jankowski offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to APS News, Chair, Nominating Committee International Advisors Forefronts Editor ...... Craig Davis Membership Department, American Physical Society, One Philip Bucksbaum María Esther Ortiz, Mexican Physical Society, Proofreader ...... Edward Lee Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844. Michael R. Morrow, Canadian Association of Physicists Chair, Panel on Public Affairs APS News (ISSN: 1058-8132) is published 11X yearly, clarity. All correspondence regarding APS News should be APS COUNCIL 2005 Frank Von Hippel Staff Representatives monthly, except the August/September issue, by the directed to: Editor, APS News, One Physics Ellipse, College President Alan Chodos, Associate Executive Officer; Amy Flatten, American Physical Society, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844, E-mail: [email protected]. Marvin L. Cohen*, University of California, Berkeley Division, Forum and Section Councillors Director of International Affairs; Theodore Hodapp, Park, MD 20740-3844, (301) 209-3200. It contains President-Elect Edward “Rocky” Kolb (Astrophysics), Kate Kirby (Atomic, Director of Education and Outreach; Robert L. Park, news of the Society and of its Divisions, Topical Groups, Subscriptions: APS News is an on-membership publication John Bahcall*, Institute for Advanced Studies, Princeton Molecular & Optical Physics), Robert Eisenberg* Director, Public Information; Michael Lubell, Director, Sections and Forums; advance information on meetings delivered by Periodical Mail. Members residing abroad Vice-President (Chemical), Charles S. Parmenter (Division of Chemical Public Affairs; Stanley Brown, Editorial Director; Charles of the Society; and reports to the Society by its committees may receive airfreight delivery for a fee of $15. John J. Hopfield*, Princeton University Physics), Moses H. Chan (Condensed Matter Physics), Muller, Director, Journal Operations; Michael Stephens, and task forces, as well as opinions. Nonmembers: Subscription rates are available at http:// Executive Officer Richard M. Martin (Computational), Harry Swinney* Director of Finance and Controller librarians.aps.org/institutional.html. Judy R. Franz*, University of Alabama, Huntsville (on leave) (Fluid Dynamics), Peter Zimmerman (Forum on Education), Letters to the editor are welcomed from the Treasurer Gloria Lubkin (Forum on History of Physics), Patricia Council Administrator membership. Letters must be signed and should include Subscription orders, renewals and address changes should Thomas McIlrath*, University of Maryland (emeritus) Mooney (Forum on Industrial and Applied Physics), James Ken Cole an address and daytime telephone number. The APS be addressed as follows: For APS Members—Membership Editor-in-Chief Vary* (Forum on International Physics), Philip “Bo” * Members of the APS Executive Board reserves the right to select and to edit for length or Department, American Physical Society, One Physics Ellipse, Martin Blume*, Brookhaven National Laboratory (emeritus) Hammer (Forum on Physics and Society), J. H. Eberly NEWS March 2005 3

ComPADRE Brings Digital Resources SAVE HUBBLE from page 1 to Physics and Astronomy Education tiful pictures of stars in the pro- on President Bush’s Moon-Mars cess of forming.” Initiative, which is funded in his By Ernie Tretkoff “Its greatest achievements can FY06 budget. The resolution states lie in the future, if it is properly ser- that “The technical hurdles facing ComPADRE (Communities for lection that includes resources on contains a list of summer research viced,” said Bahcall. Without a the Moon-Mars initiative are for- Physics and Astronomy Digital all physics subjects. In 2002, AAPT opportunities for undergraduates. service mission Hubble would midable, and the program’s overall Resources in Education), a digital joined with the American Astronomi- Employers and researchers can probably cease operations some- costs are still unknown. Further, library of physics and astronomy cal Society (AAS), the American submit positions to the list, and time in 2007, due to failing batteries the rapid pace currently envi- education resources, has been run- Institute of Physics (AIP) and APS to students have said they especially and gyroscopes. sioned for this program may ning for over two years, and is expand the digital library and create liked this component of the site. The President’s budget allocates require a wide redistribution of the continuing to expand. the collections that now make up Over 20,000 unique users visit $93 million for the Hubble Space science and technology budgets “In general, there is a lot of comPADRE, said Mason. The project comPADRE each month, said Lurie. Telescope, but $75 million of that that could significantly alter the material out there, from simple is funded by the National Science So far, feedback has been very posi- amount would go towards devel- broad scientific priorities carefully lesson plans, to simulations, to prob- Foundation and is part of the tive. Mason said he has heard from oping a robot to steer the telescope defined for NASA and the other lem-based learning experiences, to National Science Digital Library. many teachers who have told him safely out of its orbit at the end of federal agencies. Launching such reference material,” said comPADRE A survey showed that there was that comPADRE enabled them to its lifetime, and the remaining $18 a massive program without broad principle investigator Bruce Mason a need for collections designed with find exactly what they need. million would be devoted to trying consultation and a clear idea of its of the University of Oklahoma. more specific audiences in mind, so Resources are constantly being to squeeze more observing time out scope and budget may hurt rather ComPADRE makes all these materi- the newer collections are aimed at added to the existing collections, of the telescope. than enhance, as intended, the sci- als accessible from one website groups such as students and second- and several new comPADRE col- The Board resolution expresses entific standing of the US and the (www.compadre.org). ary school teachers, or focused on lections are being planned, agreement with the recommenda- training of its scientists and engi- ComPADRE, an effort in which more specific subjects, such as quan- including one devoted to physics tion made last year by the National neers.” APS is collaborating with several tum physics or astronomy, said education research, said Lurie. Research Council, which proposed Bahcall urged APS members to other societies, currently comprises Mason. Mason said he would like to add a shuttle mission to repair the write to their members of Con- six collections of online resources on ComPADRE is more than just a comPADRE collections devoted to telescope, since a robotic mission gress. Congress could restore astronomy and physics. The collec- collection of links. Users can easily all of the standard courses in the to repair Hubble would be unlikely funding to repair the Hubble, said tions each include links to and find what they are looking for be- physics curriculum. Ted Hodapp, to succeed. The American Astro- Bahcall. “I think that can happen if descriptions of resources such as cause the database can be searched APS director of Education and nomical Society has also called for members of APS let their congres- online simulations, lesson plans, or browsed by topic, resource type, Outreach, is working on develop- a manned service mission to sional representatives know what student activities, reference material, and intended audience. Every re- ing a comPADRE collection Hubble. they think. There’s a good chance tutorials, and education research. source listed on comPADRE has devoted to teacher preparation. A shuttle mission to Hubble it will be reversed.” He mentioned The six collections under the been reviewed by a team of editors, As the site expands, the would probably cost over $1 bil- that the situation was similar in ComPADRE umbrella are: and comPADRE allows users to post comPADRE team is trying to pro- lion. The President’s budget does 1973, when the Hubble Space Tele- 1. PSRC (Physical Science comments on resources. mote the site to attract more users. include space shuttle flights to scope (then called the Large Space Resource Center), the original col- Thad Lurie of AAPT, technical “We’re now at the stage where we’ve the International Space Telescope) was cut out of President lection, which contains all types of lead for comPADRE, says he often got a really good tool, and we’re look- Station. Nixon’s proposed budget, but physical science resources; gets asked why comPADRE is any ing for more people to start using The Executive Board resolution aggressive lobbying pushed 2. The Nucleus, a collection by better than Google. The answer, he it,” said Mason. also reiterates the Board’s position Congress to fund the telescope. and for the AIP/Society of Physics says, is that, “If you search for, say, Students that provides physics and optics, on Google, you get sixteen astronomy resources for under- million results. You have no idea graduates; where they come from; you have 3. Physics to Go, a library of no idea if they’re any good.” INSIDE THE BELTWAY: informal science websites for the ComPADRE might give many fewer Washington Analysis and Opinion general public, produced by APS; results, said Lurie, but they are all 4. Quantum Exchange, a reposi- of high quality. “With comPADRE, tory of resources for teachers of you know they have been quantum physics; reviewed by an editorial staff.” Bad Dreams? No, Reality Check! 5. Astronomy Center, a reposi- Registered users of comPADRE can By Michael S. Lubell, APS Director of Public Affairs tory of resources compiled to assist also recommend new resources, so in the teaching of a college-level comPADRE is not only a good way to My mouse pad, courtesy of gering $60 billion a month. enough to understand introductory astronomy course; find educational tools, but a good way Edvard Munch, carries the image It wasn’t even as large as that numbers, but my MBA 6. The Physics Front, a digital to share them as well, said Mason. of the “Scream.” It pretty well for an entire year back taught me a hell of a lot. So library for all secondary school One comPADRE collection, the summed up my emotions on then.” I’m not nitpicking when I tell physics teachers. Nucleus, designed for undergradu- February 7. That was the day the “And the Chinese are you that I don’t see how the For several years, the American ate students, has an especially active President released his budget buying up the federal debt dollars add up.” Association of Physics Teachers community of users, who commu- request for Fiscal Year 2006. so fast, —about 90% of it in Michael S. Lubell “Sir, it’s pretty simple, we (AAPT) had been collecting online nicate with each other through The forecast had been bleak. the last couple of years— call war spending, making resources in the PSRC, a general col- discussion boards. The Nucleus also The reality was worse. But it’s that soon they’ll practically own us. the tax cuts permanent and really not surprising. Science took They’ll be able to take over Taiwan instituting Social Security reforms it on the chin. without firing a shot.” ‘off budget items.’ Then in four American Physical Society During the first term, it is said, a “And as for the Medicare drug years, we’ve got spending under president worries about getting benefit, we’ve got new figures that control.” Washington Office elected for a second term. In the boost the ten-year cost to $1.2 tril- “For the rest of your legacy, Senior Science Policy Fellow second term, conventional wisdom lion, instead of the $400 billion we you’ll have democracy in Iraq, holds, he worries about his legacy. told Congress two years ago when peace between Israel and the Pal- Responsibilities: Craft and advocate for key Having delivered on his prom- we co-opted the issue from the estinians, “No Child Left Behind,” science policy issues. Develop grass roots activities for ise of tax cuts in his first year in Democrats.” the “Ownership Society,” building one of the nation’s largest scientific societies. Organize office, but getting pummeled by “Sir, you’ve got to get spending the hydrogen economy and, of congressional visits programs, “APS Alerts,” and letter- Democrats for short-changing under control. The only other course, sending men to the Moon writing campaigns. Represent APS Washington homeland security in the aftermath choice is to raise...” and Mars. No other president in Office at selected APS national and divisional of 9/11 and seeing 80 billion “Josh, don’t go there, it cost my the last half century could claim to meetings, APS committee meetings and science images of George Washington father his second term, and it will have achieved so much, not even advocacy coalition meetings. flutter down over Baghdad for cost us control of Congress in ‘06, Reagan.” each of the last three years, Presi- just like it did Clinton in ‘94.” “O.K., Karl. Josh, let’s start cut- Requirements: Excellent verbal, writing dent Bush woke up. Turning to Karl Rove, the Presi- ting so we can hit the ball out of and interpersonal skills. Hill experience I can hear Josh Bolton, Direc- dent continues, “Karl, you got me the park on this legacy thing.” desirable. Science degree strongly tor of the Office of Management elected to the White House twice, “Sir, I’m way ahead of you. I’ve preferred. and Budget, giving him the bad and now I made you Deputy Chief got the whole plan on a disk.” news. of Staff to take care of my legacy. And that’s how it happened that Salary: Commensurate with “Mr. President, the budget is a What’s the game plan?” NSF science education got experience. mess. True, as a percentage of the “Mr. President, it’s simple, we’re slammed, RHIC running time got GDP, the federal deficit is not as going to cut the deficit in half by slashed by 61% and JLab by 29%, To apply, please send cover letter, resume bad as it was in 1983, but you’re the end of your second term. We’ll BTev got cancelled, Hubble got and three references to: not missing the mark by much. boost spending for defense and decommissioned and DOD basic American Physical Society Then it was 6%. The last two years homeland security and cut all those and applied research got cut by 529 14th Street, NW, Suite 1050 it was only hovering around 5%.” social welfare programs that our about 15%. Washington, DC 20045 “But, the current account defi- conservative base hates.” Of course, Congress gets to have Attn: Michael Lubell, [email protected] cit, by which, sir, I mean the trade “Karl, you know a lot of people the final say, so as Yogi Berra said, (202) 662-8700 [voice], (202) 662-8711 [fax]. imbalance, is now running at a stag- don’t give me credit for being smart “It ain’t over until it’s over!” 4 March 2005 NEWS LETTERS

Lubell Too Ready to Compromise Cardboard Cutout Misrepresents Relativity Michael Lubell in his January fight against the control and censor- Ed Note: The “error” referred to Observers at rest in our system observe Lorentz contraction. Circa 1959, 2005 Inside the Beltway column ing of information flow from in this letter is contained in the cap- the ends of the moving object at points two cases were treated correctly. would have us get over the results scientists to the public. We need more tion to a photo, where we explained x1 and x2, simultaneously. The length of One dealt with very close distances of the last election. He says we need people like James E. Hansen, head the thinness of a cardboard cutout of the object, as measured in our system, of approach, as in your article, and to build bridges to the White of the NASA Goddard Institute for Einstein as being “Lorentz contracted.” is then x2 - x1. In this prescription for reached the conclusions described House and to Middle America. Space Studies in New York, who has We believe most readers took this with measurement, the Lorentz contraction above. The other dealt with very Oh really? We have a my-way- denounced the Bush administra- the intended grain of salt. results. large distances of closest approach. or-the-highway White House that is tion’s policy on climate change (see There is a physics error on page 1 Hovever, the experiment is diffi- In that case also, one does not see the interested only if scientists support p. A17 of the Washington Post, 1/19/ of the January 2005 issue of APS News. cult. Since the length is not known Lorentz contraction. Instead one its ideological positions. Such 05). We need to give ourselves a bet- It is an especially interesting error, at the outset, one does not know sees the object as undistorted except bridges will be built on ethical quick- ter chance to inform the public and since we now celebrate the 100th where to position the two observ- for a rotation. sand. And, just how do we build government officials about the anniversary of Einstein’s development ers. Of course a continuum of These conclusions do not reflect bridges to a Middle America results and implications of our work of the special theory of relativity. observers or some other trick could on the brilliance nor on the cor- captured by the Administration’s and have that discussed in open The notion that one sees an be used, but an infinite number of rectness of special relativity. Rather polarizing talk of “moral values”? I debate. object severely contracted, if that observers is hard to come by. they indicate a certain experimen- guess we can start by saying: Hey, Free and open channels of object travels at velocity near that of When one observer looks at a tal naivety of many who apply intentional creationism may have communication are fundamental to light is not correct. The trap lies in rapidly moving object, the result for relativity to laboratory situtations. some merit after all. Lubell seems to a democracy; they are vital in mak- the method of measurement used the length is quite different. The prob- Roy Weinstein say: To get along, you gotta go along. ing decisions for effective funding when “one sees.” Einstein’s prescrip- lem stems from the fact that the light Houston, TX What is needed from the scien- and evaluations of scientific efforts. tion for the measurement of a rapidly signal from the front end of the tific community is not capitulation Harry A. Schafft moving body of unknown length l is a object reaches the single observer Article Misstates Order but more people to speak up and Silver Spring, MD defining “thought” experiement after having traveled a different dis- The December APS News article tance than the light signal from the on the 2004 Nobel Prize states that rear. Stated another way, the light the discovery of asymptotic free- seem by the observer at any one time dom by Gross et al. led to QCD, the left the front and rear of the object theory of the strong interaction. This at two different times. is definitely wrong. For the case of a nearby rapidly The theory was discussed about one Balance Needed in Counterterrorism Research moving object, as shown in your year before that by Gell-Mann and By Martin Bridge page 1 article, the object appears myself. Gross, Wilczek and Politzer greatly elongated as it approaches, agree with us about this, as does the The National Institutes of research money is going ing the threat of and is seen foreshortened by a Nobel Foundation, which declared that Health, the biggest sponsor of bio- to bio-defense. bioterrorism.” much greater factor than the the prize was solely given to asymp- medical research in this country, It’s as if the funding is In fact, the leading Lorentz factor, as it retreats. totic freedom, and another prize might recently saw its budget double tracking the pre-existing explanation for the Most writers, prior to the late be given to the proponents of the over a period of roughly five years. research establishment, anthrax mailings that 1950s, made the same error as is theory in the future. During the same period, the instead of the job that killed five people in the made in your article, i.e., they H. Fritzsch National Science Foundation and actually needs to be fall of 2001 is that assumed that one would see the Munich, Germany the Office of Science of the Depart- done. It reminds one of they were carried out ment of Energy budgets remained the old story about the by someone who had Photo Credit: Pacific National Labatory relatively flat, continuing a trend man looking for his keys inside knowledge of of stagnant or declining budgets under the lamppost because the the US biological weapons ANNOUNCEMENTS that extends back for decades. light was better there, even though program. This has led to the argument, he lost them somewhere else. Defending the need for bio- EDITOR, REVIEWS OF MODERN PHYSICS coming from both physical scien- According to data published by defense research at DHS was http://rmp.aps.org/ tists and some biological scientists Ari Schuler last fall in Vol. 2, no. 2, of Parney Albright, Assistant Secre- as well, that the Federal research Biosecurity and Bioterrorism, since tary for plans, programs and The American Physical Society is conducting an international search for a successor to the current Editor of RMP, who is retiring at the end of 2005. portfolio has gone out of balance, 9/11, $14 billion has been spent on budget. “Imagine if we got an The Editor is responsible for editorial standards, policies, and direction of favoring the life sciences while the bio-defense, of which more than attack of aerosolized anthrax on a the journal, and leadership of a board of remote Associate Editors, composed physical sciences have fallen $4 billion was for research. In FY05, major city,” he said, “or somebody of distinguished physicists who solicit review articles in all fields of physics. behind. Advocates for more fund- more than $2 billion will be spent The Editor reports to the Editor-in-Chief and is supported by an in-house came out with smallpox and our Assistant Editor. ing for the NSF and the Office of on research. Most of the research response was ‘Well, we just didn’t It is expected that the Editor will maintain his/her present appointment Science point out that many medi- funding, $1.7 billion, goes to NIH, want to work on it.’ That, I think, is and location and devote approximately 20% of his/her time to the position. cal advances depend on with a lesser amount, $363 million, an answer the American public underlying research in physics and to DHS. The amount DHS spends on A candidate should possess the following qualifications: would not accept.” • recognized stature as a research physicist; related sciences. bio-defense research exceeds its True enough. But if, as seems • broad knowledge and interest in physics and its frontiers; Meanwhile, in the wake of expenditures in any other research much more probable, America • experience with the editing/refereeing process in physics publication. 9/11, the federal government has area by a wide margin. were to be attacked by some kind In addition, the Editor needs good interpersonal skills to promote the established the Department of In December, David Kestenbaum of explosive, whether it be a car journal’s aim of publishing critical reviews that serve a wide physics reader- Homeland Security, and boosted of NPR did a piece examining bomb, a suicide bomber, an air- ship. antiterrorism funding across the whether all that money is being well plane used as a guided missile, or a The initial appointment is for three years with renewal possible after board. We have all experienced the spent. One of his guests was Milton dirty radioactive bomb [see the review. Salary is negotiable. To ensure a smooth transition, the new Editor is expected to become involved in the fall of 2005, while the current Editor is results at airports, and in the much Leitenberg of the University of Back Page, APS News March 2004], still active. The APS is an equal opportunity employer. stricter visa processes that have Maryland, author of the book The the public may be equally outraged Inquiries, nominations, and applications (including CV, publications, and impeded foreign students and Problem of Biological Weapons, who to find out that we were spending letter of intent) are requested by 1 May 2005 and may be directed to: Robert researchers alike from entering the emphasized the lack of meaningful our resources so disproportion- Siemann, Chair, RMP Search Committee, c/o American Physical Society, 1 Research Road, Box 9000, Ridge, NY 11961-9000; or electronically to country. But as the nation contin- threat assessment, which he defined ately. No one is saying we should [email protected]. ues to work hard to improve its as “establish[ing] for such and such discontinue research on bio- security, one of the components of a group, what does it have, who does defense. But the imbalance that the war on terror is a substantial it have, what can they do?”. He called afflicts the overall research port- APS April Meeting Job Fair budget for research, and both uni- the level of funding “very out of folio is even more severe in the versities and government labs are whack,” and said that instead of realm of counter-terrorism. The being offered a variety of oppor- genuine threat assessment, there has welfare not only of the scientific Come to the Job Fair at the tunities to participate in the effort. been “fear mongering” that “gets to community, but that of the entire APS April Meeting One might expect that the the point of hucksterism.” nation, depends on setting it right. Come to the 2005 APS April Meeting Job Fair to meet with research program would be struc- Another guest on the program, Martin Bridge is a frequent con- employers and job seekers from the fields of Nuclear Physics, tured in a way that matches the Jonathan Tucker of the Center for tributor to APS News. Particles and Fields, Astrophysics, Beams, Plasma Physics and perceived threats. A whole spec- Nonproliferation Studies, pointed Computational physics. The Job fair will provide an excellent trum of potential dangers must be out that certain kinds of research opportunity for job seekers to explore new career options, practice combated, but these should be on biological weapons can actually Visit one’s interviewing skills or conduct research into the job market. weighted by what is known about be counterproductive. In the APS For employers, the Job Fair will provide an informal setting to terrorist activities and capabilities. October issue of Arms Control discuss employment opportunities in their organizations. There is essentially no evidence Today he writes: “… the novel patho- News For More Information that any terrorist organization is gens and related know-how engaged in developing biological generated by threat-assessment Online Contact Alix Brice at weapons, and yet the lion’ s share work could be stolen or diverted http:// www.aps.org/apsnews/ 301-209-3187 or at [email protected] of American anti-terrorism for malicious purposes, exacerbat- NEWS March 2005 5

CSWP Responds to Harvard University President’s Comments By Ernie Tretkoff The Crackpot Index The APS Committee on the to factors such as social pressures spouses. In these cases, it is often By John Baez Status of Women in Physics has and the lack of role models, said Xie. the woman’s career that suffers. written a letter to the editor of The The situation is improving, she said. Sher said he has been gratified New York Times in response to “More and more women get into by the response to Summers’ This is a simple method for rating potentially revolutionary con- Harvard University President physics now. This trend will continue, remarks. “To some degree it’s a learn- tributions to physics. Begin with a –5 point starting credit, then make Lawrence Summers’ recent far from reaching a stable state. ing experience. There is a huge the following additions as appropriate: remarks suggesting that genetic Therefore, it is inadequate to use amount of data that shows he’s differences may partly explain the genetics to explain the current wrong.” The uproar over Summers’ 1. 1 point for every statement that is widely agreed on to be false. low numbers of women in science. gender differences in physics and statements has brought that data to 2. 2 points for every statement that is clearly vacuous. Speaking at a January 14 meet- other sciences. “ people’s attention, said Sher. 3. 3 points for every statement that is logically inconsistent. ing of the National Bureau of There is still discrimination In response to the criticism, 4. 5 points for each such statement that is adhered to despite Economic Research, Summers against women, said Xie. “People Summers’ has apologized several careful correction. reportedly suggested that the don’t give women the same oppor- times, and has set up two task 5. 5 points for using a thought experiment that contradicts the shortage of women scientists may tunities and training that they give forces charged with making rec- results of a widely accepted real experiment. stem in part from “innate” differ- men,” she said. In addition, many ommendations for improving the 6. 5 points for each word in all capital letters (except for those ences between men and women. talented women lack the confidence status of women faculty and with defective keyboards). He also mentioned other possible in their abilities, and these women women in science and engineering. 7. 5 points for each mention of “Einstien”, “Hawkins” or “Feynmann”. causes of the low numbers of need more support, she said. CSWP works to improve the 8. 10 points for each claim that quantum mechanics is fundamen- women in science, including CSWP member Marc Sher status of women in physics through tally misguided (without good evidence). women’s unwillingness or inability pointed out that another reason a variety of programs, including 9. 10 points for pointing out that you have gone to school, as if to work 80-hour weeks, and dis- for the shortage of women in phys- workshops for women held at the this were evidence of sanity. crimination against women. ics is the “two-body problem.” APS March and April meetings, and 10. 10 points for beginning the description of your theory by Summers’ statement that genetic Many women scientists are married site visits to universities to evaluate saying how long you have been working on it. differences might explain the to men who are also scientists, of- their climate for women and help 11. 10 points for mailing your theory to someone you don’t know underrepresentation of women ten in the same or a closely related them improve it. “I would like to say personally and asking them not to tell anyone else about it, was widely reported and sparked field, and it is difficult to find two that in physics there are lots of situ- for fear that your ideas will be stolen. a controversy and a lot of criticism. academic jobs in the same field in ations that can improve for women 12. 10 points for offering prize money to anyone who proves and/ CSWP chair Aihua Xie said, the same geographic location at to succeed. Our committee works or finds any flaws in your theory. “Basically we are outraged with the same time, and many universi- hard to improve the climate for 13. 10 points for each new term you invent and use without prop- Summers’ statement. There is no ties are reluctant to hire both women in physics,” said Xie. erly defining it. scientific support for that state- 14. 10 points for each statement along the lines of “I’m not good at ment. He is the leader of a top math, but my theory is conceptually right, so all I need is for university, so people pay attention Excuse me, Mr. President... someone to express it in terms of equations”. to what he said. He should do some 15. 10 points for arguing that a current well-established theory is research if he wants to make such “only a theory”, as if this were somehow a point against it. statements.” 16. 10 points for arguing that while a current well-established Upon hearing a news report on theory predicts phenomena correctly, it doesn’t explain Summers’ comments, CSWP mem- “why” they occur, or fails to provide a “mechanism”. ber Marc Sher alerted the rest of 17. 10 points for each favorable comparison of yourself to Einstein, the committee. The CSWP then or claim that special or general relativity are fundamentally wrote a letter to the editor of The misguided (without good evidence). New York Times, which can be seen 18. 10 points for claiming that your work is on the cutting edge of at the CSWP website: http:// a “paradigm shift”. www.aps.org/educ/cswp/ 19. 20 points for emailing me and complaining about the crackpot In the letter, CSWP wrote that, index, e.g. saying that it “suppresses original thinkers” or “Leaders in academia wondering saying that I misspelled “Einstein” in item 7. aloud if women may be genetically 20. 20 points for suggesting that you deserve a Nobel prize. inferior in math/science skills 21. 20 points for each favorable comparison of yourself to perpetuate a self-fulfilling prophecy.” Newton or claim that classical mechanics is fundamentally The letter also stated that research misguided (without good evidence). is at odds with a genetic explanation 22. 20 points for every use of science fiction works or myths as if for the underrepresentation of they were fact. women in science, and that, “We 23. 20 points for defending yourself by bringing up (real or expect leaders of elite academic Photo credit: Bob Kelly imagined) ridicule accorded to your past theories. institutions to do their research APS President Marvin Cohen (right) briefed APS staff at Ridge, NY prior to a 24. 20 points for each use of the phrase “hidebound reactionary”. before lending their voices to such meeting of the Executive Board there in February. Ridge, near Brookhaven 25. 20 points for each use of the phrase “self-appointed defender unsubstantiated prejudices.” National Laboratory on Long Island, is the site of the APS editorial offices where of the orthodoxy”. The underrepresentation of the Physical Review, Physical Review Letters, and Reviews of Modern Physics 26. 30 points for suggesting that a famous figure secretly dis- women in physics can be attributed come into being under the watchful eye of Editor-in-Chief Martin Blume. believed in a theory which he or she publicly supported. (e.g., that Feynman was a closet opponent of special relativ- ity, as deduced by reading between the lines in his freshman EINSTEIN@HOME from page 1 physics textbooks.) announcement. Einstein@Home is a power. In fact, esti- 27. 30 points for suggesting that Einstein, in his later years, was flagship program of the World Year mates indicate that groping his way towards the ideas you now advocate. of Physics 2005 celebration of the searching gravita- 28. 30 points for claiming that your theories were developed by an centennial of Albert Einstein’s tional data with the extraterrestrial civilization (without good evidence). miraculous year. The program maximum possible 29. 30 points for allusions to a delay in your work while you spent searches for gravitational waves in sensitivity would time in an asylum, or references to the psychiatrist who data collected by US and European require many times tried to talk you out of your theory. gravitational wave detectors, includ- the computing 30. 40 points for comparing those who argue against your ideas to ing LIGO and the British/German capacity of even the Nazis, stormtroopers, or brownshirts. GEO-600 gravitational wave obser- most powerful 31. 40 points for claiming that the “scientific establishment” is vatory. supercomputer. So engaged in a “conspiracy” to prevent your work from The data is collected from signals researchers are enlisting the aid of Linux and Mac operating systems. gaining its well-deserved fame, or suchlike. coming from very dense, rapidly an army of home computer users to When the computer is not in use, it 32. 40 points for comparing yourself to Galileo, suggesting that a rotating quark and neutron stars. analyze the data. Much like the popu- downloads LIGO and GEO-600 data modern-day inquisition is hard at work on your case. General relativity predicts that if lar SETI@Home project that from a central server and searches it 33. 40 points for claiming that when your theory is finally appreci- these compact stars are not perfectly searches radio telescope data for for gravitational wave signals. While ated, present-day science will be seen for the sham it truly is. spherical, they could continuously signs of extraterrestrial life, running, it displays a screensaver (30 more points for fantasizing about show trials in which emit gravitational waves. LIGO and Einstein@Home will involve hun- that depicts the celestial sphere, with scientists who mocked your theories will be forced GEO-600 are now sufficiently sensi- dreds of thousands of people who the major constellations outlined. A to recant.) tive that they might detect these will dedicate a portion of their per- moving marker indicates the portion 34. 50 points for claiming you have a revolutionary theory but signals if the stars are close enough sonal computers’ computation time of the sky currently being searched giving no concrete testable predictions. to Earth. to the project. on the computer. Finding such signals requires an The Einstein@Home program is For more information, see © 1998 by John Baez. Reprinted with permission from http:// enormous amount of computing available for PCs running Windows, http://einstein.phys.uwm.edu. math.ucr.edu/home/baez/crackpot.html. 6 March 2005 NEWS Young Astrophysicist/Beauty Queen Defies Stereotypes

Allison Porter breaks down Porter has dreamed of becoming a Porter currently works as a mean that there isn’t any truth to the many stereotypes. The 24-year-old doctor, in part inspired by her aunt’s technician in a research lab at the stereotype. “I found that once I got Miss Washington 2004 graduated struggle with ovarian cancer. But Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in to the Miss America pageant, there from Harvard in 2002 with a she was also interested in other sci- Seattle. Her research group stud- were of course many beautiful degree in astrophysics. She also ences. In her high school physics ies a common phenomenon called women there, who were there boxes, plays the violin, speaks class, she worked with a computer microchimerism. During preg- because they loved the glitz and the Spanish, does biomedical research, program that allowed users to cre- nancy, a small number of cells may glamour and the makeup and the and plans to become a doctor for ate a model solar system by pass from the mother to the fetus, gowns and all of that,” says Porter. the medically underserved. specifying masses and velocities for and from the fetus to the mother. “But there were, I think, four Rhodes Many people ask her what, if several objects. These cells, called microchimeric scholar finalists there as well, and anything, ties her diverse interests Porter was especially intrigued by and my professor would show me cells, can remain in the bodies of many women are pursuing medical together. She says everything is con- this activity, and she remembered all the buttons to press, and she’d both mother and child for years, school and law school, who were nected, either closely or loosely, with it when choosing her major at pretty much say, ‘see you later, have even decades, but researchers there to help pay their way through her goal of being a better doctor. So Harvard at the end of her fresh- fun.’ So I was in control of this don’t really know what effect these grad school.” for instance, she learned Spanish in man year. Though she planned to enormous, beautiful radio telescope, cells have. Porter’s group, led by The Miss America program part because so many people in need go to medical school, she wanted and was able to collect my own data Lee Nelson, has proposed that appealed to Porter and many of medical care don’t speak English. her undergraduate years to be a and stay as long as I wanted. That these cells may be related to some women like her because it encour- Boxing is a way of keeping physically chance to branch out. Porter was was a really special experience, and autoimmune diseases, so they have ages well-roundedness. “I was fit, something Porter believes is attracted to astrophysics because something I couldn’t have done if I’d been measuring levels of interested in it because I’m a per- important, especially with the grow- she loved the subject matter. “I been in another major.” microchimeric cells in both healthy son that has walked around never ing obesity problem in this country. think a lot of it is from just a philo- While in college, she started box- people and those with autoimmune being the best at anything, but Porter also spent lots of time sophical standpoint, studying ing as a way to keep fit during the disease. In addition to a better always succeeding relatively well in volunteering— she’s worked in things that are much larger than off-season for soccer. Contrary to understanding of the immune sys- just about anything. And this type rural Mexico, educating people we can really comprehend,” she what many people initially think, tem and autoimmune diseases, the of competition really caters to that about disease and building stoves says. “I was very interested in big Porter, the 2004 Tacoma Golden research may lead to improve- type of person because of the dif- to reduce smoke inhalation, in bang cosmology, the origins of the Gloves champion, is not a violent ments in cancer treatment, says ferent weighting of the different Calcutta at an orphanage for dis- universe.” person at all. That stereotype is based Porter, since some therapies for phases of competition.” abled children, and in Ecuador with She also liked the astronomy and on professional boxing, she says. autoimmune disease are some- Porter will enter medical a mobile surgery unit. In Ecuador, astrophysics department, which, Amateur boxing is safer, and more times effective on cancer. school next fall. In the meantime, she contracted malaria and had to with many professors and relatively about technique than about inflict- Last spring she entered the Miss she’ll continue working at the go home early, but even that expe- few students, offered lots of indi- ing pain. For instance, the scoring Washington Pageant, after having Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, rience, while she admits it wasn’t vidual attention and access to great system often rewards a light tap with investigated the Miss America pro- and making appearances related exactly fun, helped her to under- resources. For instance, in one of as many points as a heavy punch. gram for two years. Unlike many to her Miss Washington platform: stand what it’s like to be a patient, her classes, Porter went to a tele- Amateur boxers also wear headgear pageants, Miss America places more “Going Three Rounds in the Fight a valuable lesson for someone who scope, took real data and analyzed and more heavily padded gloves, emphasis on the interview and tal- Against Cancer: Prevention, Treat- wants to become a doctor. it. “I would just show up at this tele- and the referees will stop a match if ent than on the swimsuit and evening ment, and Funding.” Ever since she was a teenager, scope on a Wednesday afternoon, it becomes dangerous. gown events, says Porter. That doesn’t — Courtesy of PhysicsCentral.com

2005 MARCH from page 1 the meeting will be buzzing over a elements. The work may also lead such as AMD, Intel, Texas Instru- NIST’s Erich Grossman will round National Labora-tory’s Elias newly observed phenomenon, the to novel materials such as alumi- ments, and IBM. Several speakers out the session by describing the Greenbaum, who is developing a spin Hall effect, whose origin is still num-based compounds that from industry and academia will be design of an imager for concealed method for inserting purified spin- being hotly debated. It has the wouldn’t rust. on hand to discuss some of the lat- weapons detection. ach protein reaction centers and potential of leading to extremely Antifreeze ProteinsProteins. More than est discoveries and challenges of Looking Deeper with 3D other photoreactive agents into low-power memory chips and 35 years ago, scientists discovered implementing this promising new ImagingImaging. Ordinary x-ray crystallog- retinal cells to restore photorecep- computer processors. The classi- special proteins in the blood- technology. raphy yields the structure of a tor function. cal Hall effect is created by the stream of certain fish that How Frogs Get Perfect PitchPitch. biomolecule like a protein simply Fast Cancer DetectionDetection. Many deflection of electric current as it prevented them from freezing. Clawed frogs in South Africa by providing averaged information cancer-detection devices still use traverses a conductor in a mag- These antifreeze proteins (AFPs) depend for dinner on their ability from scattering from a large num- staining and fluorescence tech- netic field. In contrast, the spin Hall have also been found in insects, to sense the floundering of insects ber of identical unit cells. In niques. Researchers at Sandia effect is the deflection of an elec- plants, fungi, bacteria, and even on the surface of the pond they contrast, UCLA National Laboratories have devel- tron in a semiconductor in a vertebrates. They either keep the inhabit. They must not only detect, physicist John Miao forms high- oped a newer approach, using direction that depends on the organism from freezing or, if crys- but discriminate: the frog can dis- resolution images of non-crystal- single cells as waveguides within electron’s spin. Speakers at two tallization has occurred, help to cern between water waves at, for line samples. He and his colleagues special optical cavities. The way in separate sessions will discuss the mitigate structural damage, caused example, a frequency of 14 Hz and use the SPring-8 synchrotron in which the laser light in the cavity is experiment and theory underlying by large ice grains growing at the 14.5 Hz, respectively. J. Leo van Japan—the most powerful con- scattered or absorbed depends on this effect, including two research expense of small grains, irrevoca- Hammen and colleagues at the tinuous x-ray source in the the internal state of the cell, espe- groups that recently demonstrated bly breaking some tissue Technical University of Munich world—to reveal layered images cially the structure of the cell’s it. Originally proposed in 1971, structures. Scientists think that study what happens at the synapse with spatial resolution as good as mitochondria, which in turn theoretical interest in the phenom- AFPS are able to work by binding level to allow the frog to accom- 7 nm. These layers are then stacked depends on malignant conditions. enon languished until quite to (and limiting further growth of) plish this. The frog can “hear” with up to provide the best 3D images According to Sandia scientist Paul recently, but has since revived: over ice crystals. The first direct obser- its skin and detect motions in the yet obtained for targets such as Gourley, the new laser method is 60 theoretical papers have been vations of AFP on newly-formed pond as slow as 0.1 mm/sec E. coli and yeast. Microscopic meth- fast (with picosecond sampling published in the past two years. ice crystals will be reported at the through an underlying “lateral- ods with similar spatial resolution, times) and less prone to misinter- Superatom Chemistryy. meeting. line” system. Human touch sensors like scanned probe microscopes or pretation. It is well suited to cell Researchers have discovered that Integrating Strained SiliconSilicon. simply aren’t sensitive enough to electron microscopes, can’t form types with lots of mitochondria, clusters of aluminum atoms can The silicon chip industry is turning “hear” with their skin. Van 3D images. such as brain, muscle and liver cells. behave as “superatoms” that mimic to strained silicon as a means to Hemmen will report on how the Artificial SightSight. Age-related Scratching the SurfaceSurface. What, the chemical properties of differ- make faster, low-power computer frog develops effective “wetware” macular degeneration (AMD) and exactly, is happening when you ent elements depending upon the chips with conventional technol- (neuronal software and hardware) retinitis pigmentosa (RP) are the scratch your skin with a needle? It size of the cluster. Starting with ogy. Physicists have long known for catching prey by resolution. leading causes of blindness around triggers a physiological response, iodine-based compounds called that strained silicon contains elec- Terahertz Technologyechnology. The the world. Although the neural sending substances that create polyiodides, a team of scientists trons that travel up to twice the terahertz portion of the electro- “wiring” from eye to brain is intact, vasodilation in order to repair the from Penn State and Virginia Com- maximum speed of electrons in magnetic spectrum (300 GHz to 10 these patients lack photoreceptor scratch. But we still don’t under- monwealth University removed a ordinary silicon. While the origi- THz) spans the region between activity. Scientists now realize that stand completely what mechanical single iodine atom and replaced it nal motivation for strained silicon microwaves and light. THz radia- electrical stimulation of the retina processes are behind this with an aluminum cluster made of was to make chips with speedier tion is non-ionizing and can can produce visual percepts in response. Now, researchers have either 13 or 14 atoms. As a result, electrons, researchers now realize penetrate many materials, leading blind patients suffering from these devised a method that obtains the the clusters exhibited chemistry that using reduced-strength elec- to several new inventions in areas diseases, and are developing reti- contraction state of smooth and similar to halogen atoms, such as tric fields to turn on and off ranging from medicine to home- nal implants to do just that. Thus very small muscles situated around iodine, and alkaline earth elements transistors could get electrons land security. At the March meeting, far, such implants have had only a blood vessels, which they have such as magnesium. But there were moving at conventional speeds, Michael Kemp of TeraView Ltd. will few electrodes; several thousand used to describe the entire some differences, too, leading in while dissipating lower levels of discuss the use of THz radiation in pixels would be required to restore mechanical response to skin irri- one case to the creation of an power as they travel through dense medical imaging to detect cancer, meaningful sight. Speakers will tation, They will report on their entirely new class of polyiodide networks of transistors. Strained while David Zimdars of Picometrix discuss their work on various ele- findings at the meeting. structures. These results provide silicon technology has already will present a THz scanning system ments of the next generation of further evidence of an underlying begun to appear in the product that has been deployed to scan retinal prosthetic devices. Closing — James Riordon, Ben Stein and “periodic table” of cluster lines of major chip manufacturers space shuttle fuel tanks for defects. out the session will be Oak Ridge Phil Schewe contributed to this article. NEWS March 2005 7 Nomination Announcements Call for Nominations for 2006 APS Prizes and Awards The following prizes and awards will be bestowed by the Society in 2005. Members are invited to nominate candidates to the respective committees charged with recommending the recipients. A brief description of each prize and award is given below, along with the addresses of the selection committee chairs to whom nominations should be sent. For complete information regarding rules and eligibility requirements for individual prizes and awards, please refer to the Prizes and Awards page on the APS web site at http://www.aps.org/praw/ index.cfm/. NOMINATION DEADLINE IS JULY 1, 2005, UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED.

PRIZES JULIUS EDGAR LILIENFELD ANEESUR RAHMAN PRIZE EDWARD A. BOUCHET LEO SZILARD PRIZE FOR COMPUTATIONAL AWARD LECTURESHIP AWARD WILL ALLIS PRIZE PHYSICS Send name of proposed candidate Send name of proposed candidate and Send name of proposed candidate and Send name of proposed candidate and and supporting information to: Send name of proposed candidate and supporting information to: Peter F. supporting information to: Michael Sand- supporting information to: Rainer Margaret Murnane; JILA; University supporting information to: Jerry Green; University of Texas; Austin; ers; University of Michigan; Randall Johnsen; University of Pittsburgh; of Colorado; Boulder; Boulder, CO Bernholc; North Carolina State Univer- CO400 Chemical Engineering Depart- Physics Lab; 500 E. University Avenue; Department of Physics & Astronomy, 80309-0440; Phone (303) 492-7839; sity; Department of Physics; PO Box ment; CPE Building; Austin, TX 78712; Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1120; Phone (734) Pittsburgh, PA 15260; Phone (412) 624- Fax (303) 492-5235; Email: 8202; Raleigh, NC 27695; Phone (919) Phone (512) 471-3188; Fax (512) 471- 936-0799; Fax (734) 764-6843; Email: 9285, Email: [email protected] [email protected] 515-3126; Fax (919) 515-7331; Email: 7681; Email:[email protected] or [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] HANS A. BETHE PRIZE JAMES CLERK MAXWELL DISSERTATION PRIZE ANDREI SAKHAROV PRIZE JOSEPH A. BURTON Send name of proposed candidate FORUM AWARD AWARDS and supporting information to: Deadline: April 1, 2005 Send name of proposed candidate and Arthur Champagne; University of supporting information to: Prof. Send name of proposed candidate and Send name of proposed candidate ANDREAS ACRIVOS North Carolina; Department of Phys- William M. Gelbart; APS Nominations; supporting information to: Michael Sand- and supporting information to: DISSERTATION AWARD IN ics & Astronomy; CB3255 Phillips Department of Chemistry & Biochem- ers; University of Michigan; Randall Barbara Lasinski; LLNL; 7000 East FLUID DYNAMICS Hall; Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3255, istry; University of California, Los Physics Lab; 500 E. University Avenue; Avenue; Livermore, CA 94550-9234; Phone (919) 962-7205; Fax (919) 962- Angeles; 607 Charles E. Young Dr.; Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1120; Phone (734) Phone (925) 422-5443; Fax (925) 423- Deadline: May 1, 2005 0480; Email: [email protected] East Los Angeles, CA 90095-1569; 936-0799; Fax (734) 764-6843; Email: 9200; Email: [email protected] Phone: 310 206-4956; Fax: 310 267- [email protected] Send name of proposed candidate and supporting information to: James G. BIOLOGICAL PHYSICS 0319; Email: [email protected] JAMES C. MCGRODDY Brasseur; 205 Reber Building; PRIZE JOHN H. DILLON MEDAL PRIZE Pennsylvania State University; J. J. SAKURAI PRIZE FOR University Park, PA 16802; Phone Send name of proposed candidate FOR NEW MATERIALS THEORETICAL PARTICLE Send name of proposed candidate and and supporting information to: Paul supporting information to: Richard A. (814) 865-3159; Fax (814) 865-8499; Send name of proposed candidate PHYSICS Champion; Northeastern University; Register; Dept. of Chemical Engineering; Email [email protected] and supporting information to: Department of Physics 106 Dana; 360 Send name of proposed candidate and Princeton University; Olden Street; Myron B. Salamon; University of Huntington Ave; Boston, MA 02115; supporting information to: Andreas Princeton, NJ 08544-5263; Phone: (609) MITSUYOSHI TANAKA Illinois; Department of Physics; 1110 Phone (617) 373-2918; Fax (617) 373- Kronfeld; Fermilab; Theoretical 258-4691; Fax: (609) 258-0211;E-mail: DISSERTATION AWARD IN West Green Street; Urbana, IL 61801- 2943; Email: [email protected] Physics; Mail Station 106 (WH 3E), [email protected] EXPERIMENTAL PARTICLE 3080; Phone (217) 333-6186; Fax Batavia; IL 60510-0500; Phone (630) (217) 244-8544; Email: salamon@ PHYSICS 840-3753; Email: [email protected] TOM W. BONNER PRIZE uiuc.edu ABRAHAM PAIS AWARD FOR HISTORY OF PHYSICS Deadline: June 30, 2005 Send name of proposed candidate and ARTHUR L. SCHAWLOW Send name of proposed candidate and supporting information to: Henry LARS ONSAGER PRIZE Send name of proposed candidate and PRIZE supporting information to: John Hobbs; Weller; Duke University; TUNL; PO supporting information to: Allan Send name of proposed candidate Graduate Physics Building; D140 Box 90308; Durham, NC 27708-0308; Franklin; University of Colorado; and supporting information to: Tom Send name of proposed candidate and Physics Department; SUNY—Stony Phone (919) 660-2633; Fax (919) 660- Department of Physics; CB 390; Boul- supporting information to: Carl Brook; Stony Brook, NY 11794; 2525; Email: [email protected] C. Lubensky; University of der, CO 80309-0390; Phone (303) Lineberger; University of Colorado; JILA; Phone: (631) 632-8107/8095; Fax: Pennsylvania; Department of 492-8610; Fax (303) 492-2998; Email: Physics; 209 S 33rd Street; Philadel- CB 440; Boulder, CO 80309-0440; Phone (631) 632-8101; Email: hobbs@sbhep. (303) 492-7834; Fax (303) 492-8994; [email protected] OLIVER E. BUCKLEY phia, PA 19104; Phone (215) physics.sunysb.edu Email: [email protected] CONDENSED MATTER 898-7002; Fax (215) 898-2010; JOSEPH F. KEITHLEY PHYSICS PRIZE Email: [email protected] MARSHALL N. AWARD FOR ADVANCES IN PRIZE TO A FACULTY ROSENBLUTH Send name of proposed candidate and MEMBER FOR RESEARCH MEASUREMENT SCIENCE supporting information to: Barbara GEORGE E. PAKE PRIZE OUTSTANDING DOCTORAL IN AN UNDERGRADUATE Send name of proposed candidate and THESIS AWARD Jones; IBM Almaden Research Cen- Send name of proposed candidate ter; K13/D01; 650 Harry Road; San INSTITUTION supporting information to: Dwight and supporting information to: Deadline: April 1, 2005 Rickel; Los Alamos Nation Laboratory; Jose, CA 95120-6099; Phone (408) Kenneth Hass; Ford Motor Company; Send name of proposed candidate and MS E536; Los Alamos, NM 87545; Phone 927-2494; Fax (408) 927-2100; Email: Manager, Physical & Environmental supporting information to: Enrique Send name of proposed candidate and (505) 667-1222; Fax (505) 665-4311; [email protected] Sciences Department; SRL MD-3083; Galvez; Colgate University; Depart- supporting information to: Tom Email: [email protected] Dearborn, MI 48121-2053; Phone ment of Physics & Astronomy; 13 Oak Katsouleas; University of Southern DAVISSON-GERMER PRIZE (313) 322-0098; Fax (313) 322-7044; Drive; Hamilton, NY 13346-1398; California; Building PHE 506; Mail Email: [email protected] Phone (315) 228-7205; Fax (315) 228- MARIA GOEPPERT-MAYER Code 0271; Los Angeles, CA 90089; Send name of proposed candidate 7187; Email: [email protected] AWARD Phone (213) 740-0194; Fax (213) 740- and supporting information to: Ron 8677; Email: [email protected] Phaneuf; University of Nevada; W.K.H. PANOFSKY PRIZE Send name of proposed candidate and ROBERT R. WILSON PRIZE Department of Physics; Reno, NV Send name of proposed candidate supporting information to: Antoinette 89557-0058; Phone (775) 784-6818; and supporting information to: Ian Send name of proposed candidate and Taylor; Los Alamos National Laboratory; Fax (775) 784-1398; Email: Shipsey; Purdue University; Physics supporting information to: Donald MS K764; Los Alamos, NM 87545; [email protected] Department; West Lafayette, IN Hartill; Cornell University; Nuclear Phone (505) 665-7652; Fax (505) 665- WHO’S HIRING 47907; Phone (765) 494-4600; Email: Studies; Newman Lab; Ithaca, NY 0030; Email: [email protected] FLUID DYNAMICS PRIZE [email protected] 14853-5001; Phone (607) 255-4882; PHYSICS Email: [email protected] NICHOLSON MEDAL FOR Send name of proposed candidate BACHELORS IN HUMANITARIAN SERVICE and supporting information to: EARLE K. PLYLER PRIZE YOUR STATE? Marvin Goldstein; Chief Scientist; FOR MOLECULAR AWARDS, MEDALS AND Send name of proposed candidate NASA/Lewis Research Center; SPECTROSCOPY LECTURESHIPS and supporting information to: Pro- 21000 Brookpark Road; MS 3-17; fessor John R. Gillespie; Department Visit: Send name of proposed candidate Cleveland, OH 44135; Phone (440) of Physics and Astronomy; Lehman and supporting information to: www.aip.org/statistics/whohires 433-5825; Fax (440) 433-5531; College of the City University of New Kenneth Janda; University of Califor- DAVID ADLER Email: marvin.e.Goldstein@lerc. York; Bronx, NY 10468; Phone: 718 960 nia, Irvine; Department of Chemistry; LECTURESHIP AWARD nasa.gov 8014; Fax: 718 960 8627; E-mail: A state-by-state listing of 317 Rowland Hall; Irvine, CA 92697- Send name of proposed candidate and [email protected]; the many companies that 2025; Phone (949) 824-5526; Fax DANNIE HEINEMAN PRIZE supporting information to: Chris recently hired new physics (949) 824-3168; Email: kejanda@ Palmstrom; Department of Chemical AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE bachelors. Includes the Send name of proposed candidate and uci.edu Engineering and Materials Science; supporting information to: Carl University of Minnesota; 421 Washing- IN PLASMA PHYSICS names of employers in 32 Bender; Dept of Physics;Washington POLYMER PHYSICS PRIZE ton Avenue; SE; Minneapolis, MN 55455; RESEARCH of the 50 states. University; St Louis, MO 63130; Phone (612) 625-7558; Fax (612) 626- Send name of proposed candidate Deadline: April 1, 2005 Phone (314) 935-6216; Fax (314) 935- 7246; Email: [email protected] A free service from and supporting information to: 6219; Email [email protected] Send name of proposed candidate and the AIP Statistical Murugappan Muthukumar; Univer- supporting information to: Wendell sity of Massachusetts; Department LEROY APKER AWARD Research Center FRANK ISAKSON PRIZE Horton; University of Texas; Physics of Polymer Science & Engineering; Deadline: June 15, 2005 Department; 1 University Station; Send name of proposed candidate and Conte Polymer Research Building; C1600; Austin, TX 78712; Phone Send name of proposed candidate and supporting information to: Alex Zunger; 120 Governors Drive; Cambridge, (512) 471-6715; Fax (512) 345-1817; supporting information to: Dr. Alan National Renewable Energy Lab; 1617 MA 01003-9263; Phone (413) 577- Email: [email protected] Chodos; American Physical Society; Cole Blvd; Golden; CO 80401; Phone 1212; Email: [email protected]. One Physics Ellipse; College Park, MD (303) 384-6672; Fax (303) 384-6432; edu 20740; Attn: Apker Award Commit- Email: [email protected] tee; Phone: (301) 209-3233; Fax: (301) 209-0865; Email: [email protected] 8 March 2005 NEWS The Back Page Why Johnny Can’t Vote Barbara Simons

In the 2004 US election about For example, voting machines tem is so compli- identical to the ballot, in much the same way that a 30% of the electorate voted on deployed in Carteret County, North cated that even if all software that is student taking a standardized test paperless computerized voting Carolina for the 2004 election had a of the problems made public. Fur- uses a number two pencil to make machines. The lack of an audit trail storage capacity for only 3005 were fixed, there still ther, it is possible computer-readable marks. Precinct- for these machines combined with ballots. When these machines were could be security to write a compiler based optical scan systems require discrepancies between exit polls and used for early voting by a large num- risks because of that will insert the voter to “test” his or her ballot tabulated results raised questions in ber of people, 4438 votes were poorly trained elec- malicious code by submitting it to the scanner and some people’s minds about the irretrievably lost. Because only 2287 tion officials. into object code. having the scanner notify the voter accuracy of the tabulated results. votes separated the Republican and In November Even open if the ballot contains overvotes or Because there is no way to conduct Democratic candidates for state Ag- 2003, the Maryland source code can appears to be blank. a meaningful recount for paperless ricultural Commissioner, the State Department of Leg- Barbara Simons be vulnerable. A Hybrid models. Ballot marking voting machines, it is impossible to Board of Elections ruled that a revote islative Services recent attempt to systems are a cross between DREs verify that the reported results are for Agricultural Commissioner be commissioned yet another study of insert a two-lines-of-code backdoor and optical scan systems. The correct. This is not a healthy situa- held in Carteret County only. After Diebold machines by RABA Tech- into Linux was caught by some ob- AutoMARK, manufactured by Vogue tion for a democracy. the courts struck down that deci- nologies. The Trusted Agent report, servant programmers. But, the fact Election Systems and currently mar- As a result of Florida 2000, some sion, the Board of Elections called released in January 2004, revealed that this particular backdoor at- keted by ES&S, offers a touch people concluded that paper bal- for a statewide revote. That, too, was physical security problems such as tempt was stymied is no guarantee screen like a DRE. After inserting a lots simply couldn’t be counted, struck down, and the Board, which the use of identical keys on security that some equally subtle future at- blank optical scan ballot into the even though businesses, banks, is bitterly divided, was ordered to panels covering PCMCIA and other tempt will also be detected. back of the machine, the voter racetracks, lottery systems, and resolve the election some other way. sockets on the machines. enters his or her choices via the other entities in our society count As of this writing, the election of Ag- Despite these concerns, on Janu- E-Voting Technologies touchscreen. The machine then and deal with paper all the time. ricultural Commissioner has not ary 12, 2005, Ohio Secretary of State Voting systems on the market marks the optical scan ballot, thereby Instead, paperless computerized been resolved. J. Kenneth Blackwell announced that today can be divided into those that eliminating the problem of stray pen- voting systems (Direct Recording precinct-based optical scan voting use screens or monitors and those cil marks that could otherwise Electronic, or DREs) were touted as A case study in incompetence systems (defined below), manufac- that do not. Because they contain confuse the scanner. Another sys- the solution to “the Florida prob- Diebold, which has been manufac- tured by Diebold or ES&S, will be computers, screen-based systems tem, produced by Populex, includes lem.” Replacing hanging chads with turing ATMs for years and is one of offered to county boards of elections can be equipped with earphones and a screen with an attached stylus. The 21st century technology, propo- the major DRE vendors, has as the state’s primary voting system. various devices, typically hand-held, system prints out a completed ballot nents claimed, would result in become the poster child of all that is that allow voters with vision impair- once the voter has finished voting. accurate election counts and wrong with DREs. Diebold’s How did such flawed machines ments to vote independently. Cryptographic voting systems. machines that would be impossible involvement with voting machines become certified? Computerized machines are pro- VoteHere and David Chaum have to rig. Furthermore, computerized received significant national press The first FEC standard for elec- grammed to prevent voters from developed voting systems that pro- voting systems could report results when the CEO of Diebold, Walden tronic voting machines, issued in selecting too many candidates vide an encrypted receipt that voters shortly after the polls close. O’Dell, stated in an August 14, 2003 1990, was replaced in 2002. Many (overvotes), alert voters when they can use to verify that their ballots Election officials loved the idea, letter to Central Ohio Republicans voting systems in use today were cer- have omitted votes (undervotes), and has been accurately counted. believing the new machines would that he was “committed to helping tified to the 1990 standards. Voting permit voters to review their ballots Chaum’s system is not currently be cheaper and more reliable than Ohio deliver its electoral votes to the machines are tested and certified by before submitting them (second being manufactured. A problem the old systems. The lack of recounts President next year.” three private companies, referred to chance voting). Screen-based sys- common to both systems is that they meant that election workers could However, the PR problem trig- as Independent Testing Authorities tems can be subdivided into systems offer no way to conduct a recount go home early on Election Day. Ven- gered by O’Dell’s statement pales in (ITAs). The ITAs are certified by the that produce voter verified paper should it be determined that a ballot dor enthusiasm was enhanced by the comparison to the security breach National Association of State Elec- ballots and those that do not. A voter tabulation problem has occurred, almost $4 billion of US government uncovered by Bev Harris, who tion Directors, but are not subjected verified paper ballot (VVPB) is a piece although individual ballots can be money that was promised in the Help announced in February, 2003 that to any government oversight. Ven- of paper containing all of the voter’s corrected. America Vote Act, passed in 2002. she had discovered Diebold voting dors pay for all testing. selections. Because it’ s impossible Yet now, voter verified paper trails machine software on an open FTP States typically are provided with to know whether or not computer- Conclusion are being demanded by numerous website. Computer science profes- a one-page certificate saying that the ized voting machines currently on The issue of e-voting should have public interest groups, computing sors Avi Rubin and Dan Wallach, and software satisfied the FEC standards. the market correctly store and count been primarily a technological professionals, and members of two of their students subsequently By contrast, vendors are given the ballots, the creation of a paper issue—one involving computer Congress.Where did things go analyzed some of that software and detailed test results. Some states ballot allows the voter to confirm security, human factors, reliability, wrong? published a security analysis in a request the test results, but results that his or her choices have been and efficiency. Instead, because of Electronic voting machine soft- paper that is sometimes referred to have been provided only when the correctly recorded. the vast sums of money involved, ware is proprietary, the certification as the “Hopkins paper”. One of the states or election officials sign DREs. The major manufacturers e-voting has been heavily politicized. testing process is both secret and more shocking revelations was that non-disclosure agreements. Not only of paperless DREs are Diebold, Election officials were told that inadequate, and the test results are Diebold used a single DES key should test results all be made pub- Sequoia, ES&S, and Hart InterCivic. DREs in the long run would be secret. For years, prominent com- (F2654hD4) to encrypt all of the data lic, but there also should be a central Several of the DREs, most of which cheaper than alternative voting sys- puter security experts have been on a storage device. Consequently, data depository that collects all test use touch screens as inputs, are tems. They were told that DREs had warning that paperless DRE an attacker with access to the source results and problem incidents from being retrofitted by the manufactur- been extensively tested and that the machines present major security code would have the ability to modify voting machines—so that the gov- ers to produce VVPBs. But these certification process guaranteed that problems, including buggy software voting and auditing records. Diebold ernment and election officials can retrofits can themselves introduce the machines were reliable and and the risk of malicious code chang- had been warned in 1997 about check to make sure that all known new problems. For example, secure. No mention was made of the ing the outcome of an election. But their sloppy key management by problems have been rectified. Sequoia has added a printer that significant costs of testing and of these experts were largely ignored Douglas Jones, a professor of com- Rather than checking all software prints the ballots consecutively on a secure storage of DREs; no mention until Stanford professor David Dill puter science at the University of for security flaws and attacking the roll of paper, leading to concerns was made of the inadequacy of the created a petition calling for voter Iowa and a member of the Iowa software to see if it can be compro- among many that voter privacy testing and certification processes, verified audit trails for voting sys- Board of Examiners for Voting mised, the ITAs limit their tests to could be negatively impacted by to say nothing of the difficulty of tems. The core idea behind the Dill Machines and Electronic Voting items required by the FEC standards. tracking the order in which people creating bug-free software. petition is that the voters should be Equipment. For example, the 2002 FEC stan- vote on various machines. Technologists are attempting to able to verify that their ballots have Because of the security issues dards call for “effective password Other DREs, namely those manu- educate election officials, policy been correctly recorded; also, it raised in the Hopkins paper, the State management,” but the phrase is not factured by AccuPoll and Avante, makers, and the public about the should be possible to conduct a of Maryland, which had just com- defined. We can infer from the were initially designed to produce risks of paperless DREs. It is critical meaningful recount. mitted to purchasing Diebold DREs, Diebold results that no one is check- VVPBs. Avante also manufactures for the continued existence of Because of the secrecy surround- commissioned a study of Diebold ing to see if encryption keys have an optical scan model that prints democracy throughout the world ing almost every aspect of e-voting— machines by Science Applications been hardwired into the code. optical scan ballots that sighted that we succeed. along with a lack of public national International Corporation (SAIC). An obvious approach for dealing voters can mark, as well as an incident reporting—independent The SAIC report is a very fast read, with buggy or malicious code would “accessible” optical voting system for Barbara Simons is retired from IBM computing technologists can provide since only about 1/3 of it was made be to require that all voting software vision-impaired voters. Research. She is a former President of only limited analyses of problems public—the rest was redacted. But be made public, thereby exposing it Optical scan systems. Optical scan the Association for Computing Machin- relating to hardware, software, test- even the limited amount of informa- to more eyes and increasing the like- voting systems, which are less expen- ery (ACM), founder and former Chair ing, security, and human factors. tion that was released in the report lihood of bug detection. But there is sive and do not entail the same of the US Public Policy Committee of Nonetheless, evidence of these prob- is quite damning. For example, the still the risk that software running security risks as DREs, typically ACM (USACM), and current chair of lems is widespread and varied. report states that the Diebold sys- on the voting machines may not be require the voter to mark his or her USACM’s Committee on Voting.

APS News welcomes and encourages letters and submissions from its members responding to these and other issues. Responses may be sent to: [email protected].