News & Previews from the World Future Society
January 2006 (Vol. 7, No. 1)

In This Issue:
• "Positive Addictions" May Prevent Violence
• Mercury Warning
• Literacy in Cities
• Sniffing Out Diamonds
• Click of the Month: I WAS Wondering
• Baby Boomers Hit 60

"POSITIVE ADDICTIONS" MAY PREVENT VIOLENCE

Getting kids into the habit of participating in positive activities such as school sports or music could help reduce school violence, according to researchers at Utah State University's Center for the School of the Future.

The researchers found that schools participating in the "Prevention Plus" violence-prevention model experienced less fighting and fewer court referrals and gang-related activities.

The program cultivates the development of children's protective assets, such as stronger relationships with family members and mentors and the pursuit of "positive addictions" such as athletics, fitness, or a musical instrument. Other protective assets include well-developed social and academic skills and demonstrations of support from family and friends.

School violence is a major problem in U.S. schools, says program director Rich West, citing a dramatic rise of violence and intimidation by female students as particularly troubling. Fear of victimization keeps as many as 10% of students out of school at least one day a month.

SOURCE: Center for the School of the Future, Utah State University, http://www.usu.edu/ust/?ArticleID=6291

MERCURY WARNING

Unexpectedly high levels of mercury have been discovered in fish swimming in the rivers and streams of eastern Oregon, far from industrial sources of mercury pollution. Scientists believe the reason is the speed at which mercury is washed out of the atmosphere.

Mercury does not break down, and it can convert into a highly toxic form, methyl mercury, that becomes increasingly concentrated as its moves up to the top of the food chain, explains Philip Swartzendruber, a University of Washington researcher in atmospheric sciences.

Because mercury is so durable, it can travel long distances in the atmosphere, thus explaining its presence far from industrial sources, says Swartzendruber. Though it can stay in the atmosphere for long periods, mercury can also combine with other chemicals (such as ozone) that are more water soluble, so the toxic compounds are washed out as rain much faster than previously expected.

It is this reactive gaseous mercury that is worrisome for pristine areas thought too far from pollution sources to be susceptible to the toxins.

Source: University of Washington: http://www.uwnews.org/article.asp?articleID=13977

LITERACY IN CITIES

Seattle, Minneapolis, Washington D.C., Atlanta, and San Francisco rank as the most-literate cities in the United States, according to a study led by John W. Miller, president of Central Connecticut State University.

The cities were rated on newspaper circulation, number of bookstores, library resources, periodical publishing resources, Internet resources, and educational attainment of citizens. These particular factors offer a better view of a city's long-term literacy than such factors as average SAT scores, says Miller.

Since the survey is conducted annually, cities may also track their progress--or lack of it--in their efforts to improve their rating. Says Miller, "It is heartening to see a city like El Paso, which did not rank well on last year's edition, launch a citywide literacy campaign."

Families, too, can do much to promote literacy in the home. Miller suggests, for instance, that if you just can't turn the TV off, you can at least turn on the closed-captioning feature--a step that can significantly improve literacy.

SOURCE: Central Connecticut State University, http://www.ccsu.edu/AMLC

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LAST CHANCE TO SAVE $200!

New speakers and new activities are being added to an already exciting program for the World Future Society's 2006 meeting!

WorldFuture 2006: Creating Global Strategies for Humanity's Future--to be held July 28-30 at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel in Toronto, Ontario, Canada--will feature leading thinkers from a vast array of organizations, such as Canon USA, Johnson & Johnson, Intel, Blue Shield, the FBI, the Toronto Business Alliance, the U.S. Government Accountability Agency, Environment Canada, University of Toronto, and the Council of State Governments.

Add the expertise of leading futures scholars and practitioners, and the insights of major NGOs and civic organizations, and you'll have the richest futures experience ever.

You're also encouraged to come early to develop your futuring skills in the highly valuable preconference courses. Full descriptions are posted on the conference Web site.

BROWSE preconference course offerings: http://www.wfs.org/2006cours.htm
LEARN more about WorldFuture 2006: http://www.wfs.org/2006main.htm

REGISTER BEFORE DECEMBER 30 to save $200:
https://www.wfs.org/2006regform.htm

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SNIFFING OUT DIAMONDS

Russian geologists believe future diamond deposits may be discovered by the way the soil smells. The rocks in which diamond deposits are buried release gases whose composition is different from non-diamondiferous soil.

The research team studied the Russian plain's fields of kimberlite (blue earth) in the blow holes that are created when gases burst through the earth's crust strata. Diamonds have never previously been found there, but the presence of diamonds was discovered in about 10% of the 1,500 blow holes examined.

The technique of analyzing the gases of rocks and soils in the earth's "breathing" zones may also be used in the search for oil, gas, and precious metals, the researchers conclude.

SOURCE: InformNauka Science News Agency,
http://www.informnauka.ru/eng/index.shtml

DETAILS: contact the All-Russian Research Institute of Geological, Geophysical and Geochemical Systems, Moscow, Web site (Russian only), http://www.geosys.ru or e-mail mailto:vniigeosystem@astra.relline.ru

CLICK OF THE MONTH: I WAS WONDERING
http://www.iWASwondering.org

I WAS Wondering, a lively, educational site to nurture girls' interest in science, is supported by the National Academies (U.S.) and draws from a 10-volume series of biographies entitled Women's Adventures in Science.

Among the fun features for girls are interactive games, such as Astro Scope, Gorilla Quest, and Make a Robot, and profiles of leading female scientists.

But perhaps the most inspiring feature is the timeline of women in science over the past century. The twentieth century begins with just Marie Curie in 1903; as you scroll toward the present time, you'll see the beginnings of a population growth of women scientists by mid-century, with environmentalist Rachel Carson and computer developer Grace Murray Hopper leading the way.

The site also provides useful resources for parents and teachers, with creative guidance on "leading an adventure."

BABY BOOMERS HIT 60

The first wave of the baby-boom generation (1946-1964) will celebrate their sixtieth birthdays this year. Throughout their lives, the sheer force of their numbers has given weight and concern to every move they make, from entering kindergarten to protesting war and injustice to purchasing homes.

The next phase of the baby-boom watch will naturally focus on health care and retirement issues. But throughout their lives, the baby boomers have adamantly rejected the status quo in the institutions and industries touching their lives. So some observers believe that, instead of retiring, baby boomers will retool, retrain, and recareer.

Rather than accept the infirmities of old age, they'll invest in their health and do much to lengthen their life spans and enhance those extra years. Twenty years ago, about 23% of the elderly population had disabilities or health issues affecting their independence. By 2002, that figure had dropped to just 16%.

Recent articles in THE FUTURIST have addressed many of the issues arising from the baby boomers' move into what once was considered old age, including:

• "The Superlongevity Revolution: How It Will Change Our Lives" by Michael G. Zey, November-December 2005.
• "Ageless Aging: The Next Era of Retirement" by Ken Dychtwald, July-August 2005.
• "The Challenge of an Aging Society" by Richard D. Lamm and Robert H. Blank, July-August 2005.
• "Aging and Public Institutions" by Konrad M. Kressley, September-October 2005.
• "The Outlook for Alzheimer's Disease" by Tyler A. Kokjohn and Richard E. Cooper, September-October 2005.

ORDER BACK ISSUES: https://www.wfs.org/bkissueonline.htm

Digital versions of these articles may be purchased through ProQuest Archiver. To search THE FUTURIST's content, go to http://www.wfs.org and click on the cover photo, then enter key words in the Search box in the top left corner of the current contents page.

FUTURIST UPDATE: News & Previews from the World Future Society is an e-mail newsletter published monthly as a supplement to THE FUTURIST magazine. Copyright © 2006, World Future Society, 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 450, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA. Telephone 1-301-656-8274; e-mail mailto:info@wfs.org; Web site http://www.wfs.org.

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