Source Of Power

To the Editors:

This has been a super year for physics. The advance that will undoubtedly have the greatest technological impact is the discovery of high-temperature superconductors ((SCIENCE, May 11)). But scientists are also very excited about continuing development of the superstring theory, which seeks to describe the fundamental unity of the forces of nature, Supernova 1987A, and the superconducting supercollider that President Reagan endorsed in January.

John H. Schwarz, Professor

Theoretical Physics

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, Calif.

I was distressed to learn of yet another breakthrough in technology. Mankind has adjusted to fire and the wheel but has not yet learned to cope with the Industrial Revolution, nuclear energy and automation. Technology is clearly out of hand.

Chapman J. Milling III

Sumter, S.C.

In describing magnetically levitated superfast trains as one of the benefits of high-temperature superconductors, you fail to recognize U.S. accomplishments in the area of fast trains. The speed record for a railway vehicle (steel wheels running on steel rails) is 255 m.p.h., set at the U.S. Department of Transportation test center in August 1974. Then, in discussing Japan's magnetically levitated train, you say its speed can be attributed to the lack of friction. You ignore the fact that at high speeds much of the resistance to forward motion is air resistance, which affects levitated trains too. Finally, you state that there is "no fear of derailment on a section of bent track." However, a damaged or obstructed guideway could also cause problems in magnetically levitated trains.

Louis T. Cerny, Executive Director

American Railway Engineering Association

Washington