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Discusses the findings of the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Mars Global Surveyor. Theory developed in the 1980s to explain the atmospheric conditions in Mars; Presence of carbonates in Mars's atmosphere; Processed theorized to have occurred in Mars to explain its atmospheric composition; Explanation or the watermarks that formed on Mars's surface.

Deals with the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Langley Research Center's Mars Airplane project in Hampton, Virginia. Reasons the Mars Airplane project launch, a proposed series of airplanes to arrive in Mars, was postponed; Common feature of Mars vehicles; Actions taken by NASA on the Mars airplane project; Designs for the Mars Airplane from the Langley Center; Cost of the airplane as envisioned by scientists.

Questions the future of the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). How the US Congress reduced NASA's budget by a billion dollars in 1999; Reaction of Dan Goldin, the head of NASA; Faith being put into the International Space Station; Predictions that the US space program could be terminated by 2015.

Discusses NASA's Mars rover sent to explore the Martian landscape. President George W. Bush's plans to send humans to Mars; Unique attributes of Mars' landscape; Why Mars has such an appeal.

The author reflects on what constitutes the science fiction genre and its relation to science and technology, in response to his sighting of a military airship in Mountain View, California, owned by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Ames Research Centre. Topics include the spaceship and its relation to airships, astronomer Webster Cash, and NASA's project with the airship to attempt to block light between a space telescope and a star.

Focuses on the planet Pluto. Decision of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City to question Pluto's right to be called a planet; Reasons why Pluto could be a Trans-Neptunian Object (TNO), instead of a planet; Social aspects of reclassifying Pluto; Outlook.

Reports on the loss of the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Mars Polar Lander. Effort of NASA scientists to regain communication with the vessel.

Focuses on the Mars Polar Lander, which failed to transmit a signal to the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) mission team in December 1999. Failures in the so-called faster, better, cheaper approach of NASA; Speculation about what happened to the space probe.

Reports on the developments in biotechnology in the United States as of October 1997. Use of alpha-1-antitrypsin in the treatment of cystic fibrosis; Interest for proteins that act as drugs in the field of biotechnology; Creation of transgenic animals; Possibility of cloning transgenic animals.