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Can simple mathematical models give an insight into the question of how many people will be infected by SARS and how well it is being controlled ? In late 2002, a severe form of pneumonia called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) broke out in Southern China. It was met by a government determined to deny its existence. Shortly after the Chinese New Year 1st February 2003, SARS spread across the world. By mid April, over 1200 people in Hong Kong had been infected, including many health workers, and its 6 million people were in a state of virtual panic. S-shaped...

CAMP NAVISTAR, Kuwait -- As a cold rain falls on the desert here near the Iraq border, Sgt. Allen Maresh briefs the drivers of a convoy that's carrying urgently needed spare parts to a base north of Baghdad. He's a big, plain-spoken man from Dodge, Neb., and when he tells his drivers to "saddle up and get going" for the dangerous journey, you can't help but think of a wagon train heading out into bandit country. The 30 trucks rumble off into the gray morning for the 900-mile round trip. They are part of what might be called the "logistical...

Scientists are divided about the use of the Moon as a base to develop ways to travel to Mars, according to reports given to the US government. Some have said the possibility of water-ice existing at the lunar poles would allow a moonbase to use the ice as rocket fuel for a Mars mission. Others contend that it would be too difficult to extract. And there is disagreement about whether the moon is a good alternative to space as a base for advanced telescopes. In January, President Bush redirected the US space effort sending astronauts back to the Moon and...