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Focuses on the National Ignition Facility in Livermore, California, a project of the United States Department of Energy, designed to overcome a problem with testing fusion reactions. Why the project is considered over budget and behind schedule; Information on the technical problems in the facility; Discussion on the political support given to the facility.

The article discusses the legality of banning same-sex marriage in California. Topics covered include research by psychologist Letitia Anne Peplau about same-sex relationships, California's Proposition 8, a 2008 ballot initiative that prohibited same-sex marriage in the state, and the Perry verses Schwarzenegger case in the San Francisco courtroom of federal district judge Vaughn Walker. It is noted that the case has highlighted research on the psychological and socioeconomic aspects of same-sex relationships. Also mentioned is the play "8," which is based on the case, by Academy Award-winning writer Lance Black.

Presents news briefs on science as of July 28, 2000. Plan of the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration to send a single lander to Mars in 2003; Number of academic teams named by California Governor Gray Davis that are running for state funds to set up research institutes; Expiration of physicist Catherine Brechignac's term as director general of CNRS, France's basic research agency.

Reports that the United States Department of Energy (DOE) is set to double the price of the troubled National Ignition Facility (NIF) laser project at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. Amount initially spent by the DOE to build the NIF in 1999; Problems faced regarding the NIF project; Budget options set by the DOE for NIF construction.

Deals with the plan to put the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. Efforts done by United States Energy Secretary Bill Richardson for the laser project; Total budget for the project; Applications of the laser beams.

Reports that the managers of a laser project have proposed the shrinking of the National Ignition Facility (NIF). Completion of the NIF at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California by 2003; Efforts to produce a capsule of deuterium-tritium fuel with high-powered laser at NIF; Significance of ignition in inertial confinement fusion.

Presents science news for May 28, 1999. National Bioethics Advisory Commission (NBAC) report with recommendations on human stem cell research; United States House panel report on alleged Chinese espionage; Efforts to decrease spending for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER); Trial of former Association for Cancer Research president, Jacques Crozemarie; Efforts of scientists in India and the US to ease tensions.

Reports that in 1998 the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) determined that a manmade wetland in San Diego, California had failed to attract the species of endangered birds it was designed to. Details of the Sweetwater National Wildlife Refuge; The number of manmade wetlands created in the US since 1982; Reasons why the Sweetwater Refuge failed.

This article focuses on a poll which suggests that voter support for California's Proposition 71 is strengthening. But a few key organizations have decided not to back the measure, which would issue $3 billion in state bonds to fund human embryonic stem cell work in the state. A Field Poll of 549 likely voters taken at the end of September showed 46% in favor of the measure, with 39% opposed. That's up from a near tie in an earlier poll, and pollsters found that voters familiar with the measure by a wider margin, suggesting that a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign by backers is paying off.

A California ballot initiative to raise $3 billion for stem cell research is ahead in a recent poll, but that may not be enough to ensure victory. The poll had a margin of error of ± 4.5%. Democrats favor the proposition by a 2-1 margin, whereas Republicans are opposed by roughly the same proportion. College graduates and those with a postgraduate education overwhelmingly favor the initiative, whereas voters with no more than a high school education are opposed. If history is any guide, the divided electorate suggests that the proposition will fail, say California voting analysts.

A gene therapy pioneer has denied allegations that he sexually abused a young girl. William French Anderson, 67, this week pled not guilty to six charges of child molestation brought by prosecutors in Pasadena, California. The incidents allegedly took place between 1997 and 2001, when Anderson was the girl's mentor and martial arts instructor. Anderson, who led the first approved human gene therapy trial in 1990, is free on a $600,000 bond pending trial. The University of Southern California has placed him on leave from his position as director of the Gene Therapy Laboratory at the Keck School of Medicine in Los Angeles.

Faculty support for the University of California's (UC's) management of two nuclear weapons laboratories is growing. A poll of 3271 UC faculty members released last week found that 67 percent favored having the university system enter a pending competition for contracts to manage the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. The new poll, conducted by the academic senate, did identify some apprehension. Clearly, even those faculty supportive of laboratories find weapons-component manufacturing a bitter pill to swallow.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) set deadlines for competing the management contracts for a slew of its national laboratories. But to give potential bidders time to prepare, it extended some contracts for up to 2 years. The University of California (UC) won a 1-year extension of its contract to manage the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. UC hasn't yet decided if it will compete to keep that contract or one for leading the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, which also faces a 2005 deadline.

The University of California (UC) is recruiting allies for what could be a bruising competition to manage three prominent national laboratories. Last week UC's governing regents gave president Robert Dynes approval to partner with private firms to shore up its management of the Los Alamos, Livermore, and Lawrence Berkeley national laboratories. Although the regents stopped short of giving Dynes the green light to bid to hold onto the contracts, UC officials made it clear that they are girding for battle.

The University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles has won a fierce competition to host the first academic research center to be funded by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The 3-year, $12 million grant announced last week will enable a USC-led alliance to develop computer models and other tools for forecasting the economic risks posed by terrorist threats. DHS officials say that they hope eventually to establish 10 centers, if the U.S. Congress appropriates enough money.

Foreign students and scholars traveling to study in the U.S. face an obstacle SARS. The University of California, Berkeley, California temporarily bar new students arriving from areas hard-hit by severe acute respiratory syndrome. Chancellor Robert Berdahl announced that the school will not enroll several hundred summer students who planned to come from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore. In 2004, students from SARS regions will be allowed on campus, but they would be monitored for 10 days and be required to fill out health questionnaires. The university may lift the restrictions once Centers fro Disease Control and prevention ends warnings against travel to and from the SARS regions. The principal concern is the university would not not be able to provide adequate medical care should any of these students become symptomatic within 10 days of arrival.

Reports on the plan of the United States Department of Energy to boost the budget of Advanced Light Source (ALS), a premier synchrotron at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California. Background of the research program of ALS; Why the DOE cut its budget; Reorganization initiated by Lawrence Berkeley leaders; Details on the scientific productivity of ALS.

Reports on the order of Bill Richardson, secretary of the United States Department of Energy, to solve the problem at the National Ignition Facility. Comments from Richardson; Failures of the officials at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California to inform Richardson of cost and delays; Budget allocated for the project.

Notes the sex discrimination lawsuit filed against Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory director C. Bruce Tarter and the Board of Regents of the University of California. Assertions by six women that the lab discriminates; Views of lead plaintiff Mary Singleton.

Discusses the stock performance of Geron Corp., Menlo Park, California. Increase in the price of stock when a Geron-funded researcher reported a way to extend human cell life; Why the stock then sank; Another stock jump in response to news that Geron had cultured stem cells; Geron's lack of profitability; Graph describing stock activity.

Reports that `Science' Editor-in-Chief Floyd Bloom will not seek a second term when his appointment expires in May, 2000. His plans for more research at The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California; Progress in `Science' during his tenure.