EMBARGO: NOT FOR PUBLICATION BEFORE: 14:00 HRS EST (18:00 HRS GMT) WEDNESDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER 2000

NEWS THIS WEEK:

CATCH 'EM YOUNGCan a computer program spot tomorrow's top athletes? The Australian Institute of Sport has been funding a programme which uses a computer to compare physical attributes of children to screen for athletic prowess in particular sports. Page 11

CRAWLING OUT OF THE SWAMPA computer simulation of a salamander that can both walk and swim has been developed in California. The researchers believe their work could lead to a new generation of amphibian robots. Page 12

SMASHING UP THE SEABEDRare coral mounds in the North Atlantic have been extensively damaged by deep-sea trawling, say British marine biologists. Urgent action is required to protect the rare habitat which could disappear in a matter of years. Page 15

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EATA mother's diet in the first few days after conception could determine the health of her unborn child for life. British researchers say that programming of an embryo takes place in the window between fertilisation and implantation of the embryo in the womb. Page 18

E-MAIL HOTHEADS TOLD TO CHILL OUTEver sent an email that was a bit more offensive than intended? New software will soon be able to check your emails for insults and warn you if your words are likely to offend. Page 14

TOTALLY TROPICAL TOKYOTokyo is turning tropical with torrential downpours causing havoc in the city. But don't blame global warming, heat rising in the day from buildings and cars is causing the problem. Japan's Environment Agency is drawing up plans to reduce the city's heat build-up. Page 10

SHORT STORY -- BABY BOOMINGA British inventor has patented a buggy with a generator fitted to one of the wheels so that parents can bring tunes to their infant on the move without the need for batteries. Page 7

FEATURES:

SUN BLOCKThere's already too much carbon dioxide in the air and things are getting hotter. So researchers are turning to an entirely different way of fighting global warming--putting a dimmer switch on the Sun. Pages 28-31

HERE BE MONSTERSAccording to researchers the standard view of the Cretaceous dinosaurs is too regionalist, being based entirely on dinosaurs discovered in North America. Palaeontologists are on the search in the southern hemisphere for the lost dinosaurs--and they're digging up some weird new species. Pages 22-26

REACH FOR THE SKYA fleet of flying windmills could soon fill the skies, generating hundreds of megawatts of electricity. An Australian has a plan to position a wind farm up to 12 kilometres above ground in the jet streams that race around the globe. Pages 36-39

TRAILBLAZERMysterious radiation from an oddball galaxy seems to defy the laws of nature. Could this galaxy be a gateway to a hidden realm of nature where space and time are radically transformed? Pages 32-35

INTERVIEW :

BITING BACKMalaria is marching north, and global warming will make it worse. That's the picture being painted by many scientists. But Paul Reiter, chief entomologist at the US government's dengue research lab, tells New Scientist that this message is wrong and dishonest science. Pages 41-43

- ENDS -

PLEASE MENTION NEW SCIENTIST AS THE SOURCE OF ALL THESE ITEMS AND, IF PUBLISHING ONLINE, PLEASE CARRY A HYPERLINK TO:http://www.newscientist.com

ISSUE DATE: 23 SEPTEMBER 2000

For faxed copies of full-text articles or to arrange an interview,please contact New Scientist's Washington, DC office at [email protected] Tel. 202 452 1178. In Europe please contact Jane Baldwin, Reed BusinessInformation Press Office, Tel. +44 (0)20 8652 8018 or [email protected].

New Scientist now has a Press Site on the Internet. You'll be able to look up our press releases and news stories in text and PDF formats. If you haven't already registered, please contact the Washington, DC office of New Scientist.

The New Scientist web site offers further news, features and comment drawn weekly from the pages of New Scientist magazine, as well as extra material exclusive to the web site. This site can be found at: http://www.newscientist.com

MEDIA CONTACT
Register for reporter access to contact details