Half in jest, the American Miscellaneous Society (AMSOC) was "founded" by alphabet-weary scientists at the Office of Naval Research in 1952. AMSOC has about 50 members, but no records, dues, laws or officers; its meetings have been held at Washington cocktail parties with a two-member quorum. Typical agenda item: how to tow Antarctic icebergs north and melt them to irrigate Southern California. But in science the impractical can turn practical overnight with a little cash behind it. In Scientific American this week, Geologist Willard Bascom published the first full report of a onetime...
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