Presented are the results of a national poll of research directors to identify critical problems facing basic research today. Problems identified included the following: lack of continuous, stable funding; decline in the quality of research students; infringement of the freedom of inquiry; and decline in public confidence. (SL)

Energy storage, considered by some scientists to be the best technological and economic advancement after advanced nuclear power, still rates only modest funding for research concerning the development of advanced technologies. (PEB)

The combined-cycle system is currently regarded as a useful procedure for producing electricity. This system can burn natural gas and oil distillates in addition to coal. In the future when natural gas stocks will be low, coal may become an important fuel for such systems. Considerable effort must be made for research on coal gasification and…

Discussed is the question of whether "heavy" neutrinos really do exist based on the evidence supplied by four research groups. The implications of its existence on the disciplines of particle physics, astrophsyics, and cosmology are discussed. Background information on the different types of neutrinos is provided. (KR)

Discusses security problems associated with the open publication of research relating to "unsolvable" codes. (SL)

Presents four letters pointing out design difficulties in the experiments of Morrison, Giordani, and Nagy in their investigation of reading disabilities, memory, and perception. (SL)

Reports the University of New York at Albany has been charged with violations of federal and state regulations for not obtaining approval of an ethics committee to conduct research on human subjects. (SL)

Discusses recent protest concerning the conduct of survey research. (SL)

Provides a summary assessment report of the future implications of reduced federal funding for research and development in universities. Current research is still of high quality but is deteriorating; reduced research poses a decline in graduate enrollment; and no future surge in federal funding is projected. (SL)

Reviews current use of computer generated films to further scientific research. (SL)

Examines issues associated with the design of and statistical inferences from embedded experiments which vary the questionnaire content into sample surveys of broad populations. Provides an example of context effects in attitude surveys, a summary, and conclusions. (RT)