Science is a great adventure. As the staff of American Scientist, the award-winning magazine of science and technology published by Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, we have been proud to work with distinguished contributors as chroniclers of that adventure. This Web site is designed to provide a sample of our content for those unfamiliar with the magazine, and to enrich our readers' experience by facilitating exploration and discussion of themes treated in the magazine. Thank you for your patience as we build our new site. American Scientist is an illustrated bimonthly magazine about science and technology. Each issue is filled with feature articles written by prominent scientists and engineers, reviewing important work in fields that range from molecular biology to computer engineering. The articles are carefully edited and accompanied by illustrations that are developed to enhance the reader's understanding and enjoyment. Readers also enjoy the Scientists' Bookshelf and a number of regular columns that cover topics in computing, engineering, public and professional issues and reflections on the history and practice of science. In the Science Observer section, the editors give the readers glimpses behind the scenes in science. American Scientist has been published since 1913 by Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society. In recent years it has been honored with many awards for editorial, design and illustration quality. Read faithfully by Sigma Xi's membership of distinguished scientists and engineers, the magazine is now available on newsstands around the world, as well as by individual or institutional subscription. American Scientist Online, an online service incorporating the full content of the print magazine and additional online-only features, was launched in May 2003 to extend the mission that had been served by the magazine's Web site since 1995. Full access to the site is provided without additional charge to Sigma Xi members and other individual magazine subscribers, and to institutional subscribers who arrange site licenses.