2012.11.Nov.Vol.307.N 5.pdf

CLIMATE

How Feedbacks

Could Speed Warming

CLIMATE

NEUROSCIENCE

Growing an Eye

in the Lab

NEUROSCIENCE

BIOLOGY

How Do Genes for

Autism Spread?

BIOLOGY

ScientiicAmerican.com

NOVEMBER 2012

The

Inner

Life

Quarks

Science aims to

look inside the smallest

bits of matter

ON THE COVER

The Standard Model of particle physics holds that quarks

(the constituents of protons and neutrons) and leptons

(such as the electron) are indivisible. Yet some indings

suggest that quarks and leptons actually contain still tinier

building blocks, known as preons. If preons exist, they will

lead to discoveries of phenomena scientists have yet to

imagine. Photograph by Craig Cutler.

November 2012 Volume 307, Number 5

FEATURES

PARTICLE PHYSICS

SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

48 America’s Science Problem

The U.S. faced down authoritarian governments

on the left and right. The “antiscience” movement

is now posing an even greater challenge.

By Shawn Lawrence Otto

Also: Science in an Election Year Scientiic American ’s

editors grade Obama and Romney on their policy acumen.

The Inner Life of Quarks

What if the smallest bits of matter actually harbor

an undiscovered world of particles? By Don Lincoln

NEUROSCIENCE

30 Grow Your Own Eye

Biologists have coaxed cells to form a retina, a step

toward growing replacement organs outside the body.

By Yoshiki Sasai

BIOLOGY

58 Autism and the Technical Mind

Scientists and engineers may be more likely to pass

along genes that predispose their children to autism.

By Simon Baron-Cohen

ENVIRONMENT

36 Global Warming: Faster Than Expected?

Loss of ice, melting of permafrost and other climate

efects are worrying. By John Carey

PALEONTOLOGY

42 The Strangest Bird

Fossil discoveries reveal the surprising

evolutionary history of penguins.

By R. Ewan Fordyce and Daniel T. Ksepka

QUANTUM PHYSICS

A New Enlightenment

Quantum theory once seemed like the last nail in the coin

of pure reason. Now it’s looking like its savior.

By George Musser

November 2012, ScientiicAmerican.com 1

DEPARTMENTS

4 From the Editor

6 Letters

9 Science Agenda

Policy leaders need to prime the economy’s most important

engine: science and technology innovation. By the Editors

10 Forum

Single genes do not control voting or other complex hu-

man behaviors. By Evan Charney and William English

11 Advances

An autism pill. A scale for single molecules. Rescue roaches.

Robotic surgeons. Why humans are born helpless.

19 The Science of Health

Medical imaging ofers new ways to pinpoint causes

of death. By Maryn McKenna

21 TechnoFiles

To track my iPhone thief. By David Pogue

68 Recommended

The Higgs boson hunt. A history of drinking water.

George Boole and Claude Shannon. Nervous system

madness. By Anna Kuchment

69 Skeptic

Replicating Milgram’s shock experiments reveals

deep moral conlict. By Michael Shermer

70 Anti Gravity

Evolutionary theory in an election year. By Steve Mirsky

71 50, 100 & 150 Years Ago

76 Graphic Science

Disease transmission pathways uncovered. By John Matson

ON THE WEB

Election 2012: The Science Perspective

As the U.S. presidential campaign kicks into high gear,

we provide news and analysis about the candidates’

statements and track records on science, technology,

the environment and health care.

Go to www.ScientiicAmerican.com/nov2012/campaign

Scientiic American (ISSN 0036-8733), Volume 307, Number 5, November 2012, published monthly by Scientiic American, a division of Nature America, Inc., 75 Varick Street, 9th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10013-1917. Periodicals postage

paid at New York, N.Y., and at additional mailing oices. Canada Post International Publications Mail (Canadian Distribution) Sales Agreement No. 40012504. Canadian BN No. 127387652RT; TVQ1218059275 TQ0001. Publication

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2 Scientiic American, November 2012

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