SAT Pastpaper with Solutions

Akira came directly, breaking all tradition. Was that it? Had he followed form—had he asked his mother to speak to his father to approach a go-between—would Chie have been more receptive? He came on a winter’s eve. He pounded on the door while a cold rain beat on the shuttered veranda, so at first Chie thought him only the wind. The maid knew better. Chie heard her soft scuttling footsteps, the creak of the door. Then the maid brought a calling card to the drawing room, for Chie. Chie was reluctant to go to her guest; perhaps she was feeling too cozy. She and Naomi were reading at a low table set atop a charcoal brazier. A thick quilt spread over the sides of the table so their legs were tucked inside with the heat. “Who is it at this hour, in this weather?” Chie questioned as she picked the name card off the maid’s lacquer tray. “Shinoda, Akira. Kobe Dental College,” she read. Naomi recognized the name. Chie heard a soft intake of air. “I think you should go,” said Naomi.

Akira was waiting in the entry. He was in his early twenties, slim and serious, wearing the black military-style uniform of a student. As he bowed—his hands hanging straight down, a black cap in one, a yellow oil-paper umbrella in the other—Chie glanced beyond him. In the glistening surface of the courtyard’s rain-drenched paving stones, she saw his reflection like a dark double. “Madame,” said Akira, “forgive my disruption, but I come with a matter of urgency.” His voice was soft, refined. He straightened and stole a deferential peek at her face. In the dim light his eyes shone with sincerity. Chie felt herself starting to like him. “Come inside, get out of this nasty night. Surely your business can wait for a moment or two.” “I don’t want to trouble you. Normally I would approach you more properly but I’ve received word of a position. I’ve an opportunity to go to America, as dentist for Seattle’s Japanese community.” “Congratulations,” Chie said with amusement. “That is an opportunity, I’m sure. But how am I involved?” Even noting Naomi’s breathless reaction to the name card, Chie had no idea. Akira’s message, delivered like a formal speech, filled her with maternal amusement. You know how children speak so earnestly, so hurriedly, so endearingly about things that have no importance in an adult’s mind? That’s how she viewed him, as a child.It was how she viewed Naomi. Even thoughNaomi was eighteen and training endlessly in the arts needed to make a good marriage, Chie had made no effort to find her a husband.Akira blushed.“Depending on your response, I may stay inJapan. I’ve come to ask for Naomi’shand.”Suddenly Chie felt the dampness of the night.“Does Naomi know anything of your . . .ambitions?”“We have an understanding. Please don’t judgemy candidacy by the unseemliness of this proposal. I ask directly because the use of a go-between takesmuch time. Either method comes down to the same thing: a matter of parental approval. If you give your consent, I become Naomi’syoshi.* We’ll live in the House of Fuji. Without your consent, I must go toAmerica, to secure a new home for my bride.”Eager to make his point, he’d been looking her full in the face. Abruptly, his voice turned gentle. “I seeI’ve startled you. My humble apologies. I’ll take no more of your evening. My address is on my card. If you don’t wish to contact me, I’ll reapproach you in two weeks’ time. Until then, goodnight.”He bowed and left. Taking her ease, with effortless grace, like a cat making off with a fish.“Mother?” Chie heard Naomi’s low voice andturned from the door. “He has asked you?”The sight of Naomi’s clear eyes, her dark brows gave Chie strength. Maybe his hopes werepreposterous.“Where did you meet such a fellow? Imagine! He thinkshe can marry the Fuji heir and take her toAmerica all in the snap of his fingers!”Chie waited for Naomi’s ripe laughter.Naomi was silent. She stood a full half minutelooking straight into Chie’s eyes. Finally, she spoke. “I met him at my literary meeting.”Naomi turned to go back into the house, then stopped.“Mother.”“Yes?”“I mean to have him.”* a man who marries a woman of higher status and takes herfamily’s name

Akira came directly, breaking all tradition. Was that it? Had he followed form—had he asked his mother to speak to his father to approach a go-between—would Chie have been more receptive? He came on a winter’s eve. He pounded on the door while a cold rain beat on the shuttered veranda, so at first Chie thought him only the wind. The maid knew better. Chie heard her soft scuttling footsteps, the creak of the door. Then the maid brought a calling card to the drawing room, for Chie. Chie was reluctant to go to her guest; perhaps she was feeling too cozy. She and Naomi were reading at a low table set atop a charcoal brazier. A thick quilt spread over the sides of the table so their legs were tucked inside with the heat. “Who is it at this hour, in this weather?” Chie questioned as she picked the name card off the maid’s lacquer tray. “Shinoda, Akira. Kobe Dental College,” she read. Naomi recognized the name. Chie heard a soft intake of air. “I think you should go,” said Naomi.

Akira was waiting in the entry. He was in his early twenties, slim and serious, wearing the black military-style uniform of a student. As he bowed—his hands hanging straight down, a black cap in one, a yellow oil-paper umbrella in the other—Chie glanced beyond him. In the glistening surface of the courtyard’s rain-drenched paving stones, she saw his reflection like a dark double. “Madame,” said Akira, “forgive my disruption, but I come with a matter of urgency.” His voice was soft, refined. He straightened and stole a deferential peek at her face. In the dim light his eyes shone with sincerity. Chie felt herself starting to like him. “Come inside, get out of this nasty night. Surely your business can wait for a moment or two.” “I don’t want to trouble you. Normally I would approach you more properly but I’ve received word of a position. I’ve an opportunity to go to America, as dentist for Seattle’s Japanese community.” “Congratulations,” Chie said with amusement. “That is an opportunity, I’m sure. But how am I involved?” Even noting Naomi’s breathless reaction to the name card, Chie had no idea. Akira’s message, delivered like a formal speech, filled her with maternal amusement. You know how children speak so earnestly, so hurriedly, so endearingly about things that have no importance in an adult’s mind? That’s how she viewed him, as a child.It was how she viewed Naomi. Even thoughNaomi was eighteen and training endlessly in the arts needed to make a good marriage, Chie had made no effort to find her a husband.Akira blushed.“Depending on your response, I may stay inJapan. I’ve come to ask for Naomi’shand.”Suddenly Chie felt the dampness of the night.“Does Naomi know anything of your . . .ambitions?”“We have an understanding. Please don’t judgemy candidacy by the unseemliness of this proposal. I ask directly because the use of a go-between takesmuch time. Either method comes down to the same thing: a matter of parental approval. If you give your consent, I become Naomi’syoshi.* We’ll live in the House of Fuji. Without your consent, I must go toAmerica, to secure a new home for my bride.”Eager to make his point, he’d been looking her full in the face. Abruptly, his voice turned gentle. “I seeI’ve startled you. My humble apologies. I’ll take no more of your evening. My address is on my card. If you don’t wish to contact me, I’ll reapproach you in two weeks’ time. Until then, goodnight.”He bowed and left. Taking her ease, with effortless grace, like a cat making off with a fish.“Mother?” Chie heard Naomi’s low voice andturned from the door. “He has asked you?”The sight of Naomi’s clear eyes, her dark brows gave Chie strength. Maybe his hopes werepreposterous.“Where did you meet such a fellow? Imagine! He thinkshe can marry the Fuji heir and take her toAmerica all in the snap of his fingers!”Chie waited for Naomi’s ripe laughter.Naomi was silent. She stood a full half minutelooking straight into Chie’s eyes. Finally, she spoke. “I met him at my literary meeting.”Naomi turned to go back into the house, then stopped.“Mother.”“Yes?”“I mean to have him.”* a man who marries a woman of higher status and takes herfamily’s name

Akira came directly, breaking all tradition. Was that it? Had he followed form—had he asked his mother to speak to his father to approach a go-between—would Chie have been more receptive? He came on a winter’s eve. He pounded on the door while a cold rain beat on the shuttered veranda, so at first Chie thought him only the wind. The maid knew better. Chie heard her soft scuttling footsteps, the creak of the door. Then the maid brought a calling card to the drawing room, for Chie. Chie was reluctant to go to her guest; perhaps she was feeling too cozy. She and Naomi were reading at a low table set atop a charcoal brazier. A thick quilt spread over the sides of the table so their legs were tucked inside with the heat. “Who is it at this hour, in this weather?” Chie questioned as she picked the name card off the maid’s lacquer tray. “Shinoda, Akira. Kobe Dental College,” she read. Naomi recognized the name. Chie heard a soft intake of air. “I think you should go,” said Naomi.

Akira was waiting in the entry. He was in his early twenties, slim and serious, wearing the black military-style uniform of a student. As he bowed—his hands hanging straight down, a black cap in one, a yellow oil-paper umbrella in the other—Chie glanced beyond him. In the glistening surface of the courtyard’s rain-drenched paving stones, she saw his reflection like a dark double. “Madame,” said Akira, “forgive my disruption, but I come with a matter of urgency.” His voice was soft, refined. He straightened and stole a deferential peek at her face. In the dim light his eyes shone with sincerity. Chie felt herself starting to like him. “Come inside, get out of this nasty night. Surely your business can wait for a moment or two.” “I don’t want to trouble you. Normally I would approach you more properly but I’ve received word of a position. I’ve an opportunity to go to America, as dentist for Seattle’s Japanese community.” “Congratulations,” Chie said with amusement. “That is an opportunity, I’m sure. But how am I involved?” Even noting Naomi’s breathless reaction to the name card, Chie had no idea. Akira’s message, delivered like a formal speech, filled her with maternal amusement. You know how children speak so earnestly, so hurriedly, so endearingly about things that have no importance in an adult’s mind? That’s how she viewed him, as a child.It was how she viewed Naomi. Even thoughNaomi was eighteen and training endlessly in the arts needed to make a good marriage, Chie had made no effort to find her a husband.Akira blushed.“Depending on your response, I may stay inJapan. I’ve come to ask for Naomi’shand.”Suddenly Chie felt the dampness of the night.“Does Naomi know anything of your . . .ambitions?”“We have an understanding. Please don’t judgemy candidacy by the unseemliness of this proposal. I ask directly because the use of a go-between takesmuch time. Either method comes down to the same thing: a matter of parental approval. If you give your consent, I become Naomi’syoshi.* We’ll live in the House of Fuji. Without your consent, I must go toAmerica, to secure a new home for my bride.”Eager to make his point, he’d been looking her full in the face. Abruptly, his voice turned gentle. “I seeI’ve startled you. My humble apologies. I’ll take no more of your evening. My address is on my card. If you don’t wish to contact me, I’ll reapproach you in two weeks’ time. Until then, goodnight.”He bowed and left. Taking her ease, with effortless grace, like a cat making off with a fish.“Mother?” Chie heard Naomi’s low voice andturned from the door. “He has asked you?”The sight of Naomi’s clear eyes, her dark brows gave Chie strength. Maybe his hopes werepreposterous.“Where did you meet such a fellow? Imagine! He thinkshe can marry the Fuji heir and take her toAmerica all in the snap of his fingers!”Chie waited for Naomi’s ripe laughter.Naomi was silent. She stood a full half minutelooking straight into Chie’s eyes. Finally, she spoke. “I met him at my literary meeting.”Naomi turned to go back into the house, then stopped.“Mother.”“Yes?”“I mean to have him.”* a man who marries a woman of higher status and takes herfamily’s name

Akira came directly, breaking all tradition. Was that it? Had he followed form—had he asked his mother to speak to his father to approach a go-between—would Chie have been more receptive? He came on a winter’s eve. He pounded on the door while a cold rain beat on the shuttered veranda, so at first Chie thought him only the wind. The maid knew better. Chie heard her soft scuttling footsteps, the creak of the door. Then the maid brought a calling card to the drawing room, for Chie. Chie was reluctant to go to her guest; perhaps she was feeling too cozy. She and Naomi were reading at a low table set atop a charcoal brazier. A thick quilt spread over the sides of the table so their legs were tucked inside with the heat. “Who is it at this hour, in this weather?” Chie questioned as she picked the name card off the maid’s lacquer tray. “Shinoda, Akira. Kobe Dental College,” she read. Naomi recognized the name. Chie heard a soft intake of air. “I think you should go,” said Naomi.

Akira was waiting in the entry. He was in his early twenties, slim and serious, wearing the black military-style uniform of a student. As he bowed—his hands hanging straight down, a black cap in one, a yellow oil-paper umbrella in the other—Chie glanced beyond him. In the glistening surface of the courtyard’s rain-drenched paving stones, she saw his reflection like a dark double. “Madame,” said Akira, “forgive my disruption, but I come with a matter of urgency.” His voice was soft, refined. He straightened and stole a deferential peek at her face. In the dim light his eyes shone with sincerity. Chie felt herself starting to like him. “Come inside, get out of this nasty night. Surely your business can wait for a moment or two.” “I don’t want to trouble you. Normally I would approach you more properly but I’ve received word of a position. I’ve an opportunity to go to America, as dentist for Seattle’s Japanese community.” “Congratulations,” Chie said with amusement. “That is an opportunity, I’m sure. But how am I involved?” Even noting Naomi’s breathless reaction to the name card, Chie had no idea. Akira’s message, delivered like a formal speech, filled her with maternal amusement. You know how children speak so earnestly, so hurriedly, so endearingly about things that have no importance in an adult’s mind? That’s how she viewed him, as a child.It was how she viewed Naomi. Even thoughNaomi was eighteen and training endlessly in the arts needed to make a good marriage, Chie had made no effort to find her a husband.Akira blushed.“Depending on your response, I may stay inJapan. I’ve come to ask for Naomi’shand.”Suddenly Chie felt the dampness of the night.“Does Naomi know anything of your . . .ambitions?”“We have an understanding. Please don’t judgemy candidacy by the unseemliness of this proposal. I ask directly because the use of a go-between takesmuch time. Either method comes down to the same thing: a matter of parental approval. If you give your consent, I become Naomi’syoshi.* We’ll live in the House of Fuji. Without your consent, I must go toAmerica, to secure a new home for my bride.”Eager to make his point, he’d been looking her full in the face. Abruptly, his voice turned gentle. “I seeI’ve startled you. My humble apologies. I’ll take no more of your evening. My address is on my card. If you don’t wish to contact me, I’ll reapproach you in two weeks’ time. Until then, goodnight.”He bowed and left. Taking her ease, with effortless grace, like a cat making off with a fish.“Mother?” Chie heard Naomi’s low voice andturned from the door. “He has asked you?”The sight of Naomi’s clear eyes, her dark brows gave Chie strength. Maybe his hopes werepreposterous.“Where did you meet such a fellow? Imagine! He thinkshe can marry the Fuji heir and take her toAmerica all in the snap of his fingers!”Chie waited for Naomi’s ripe laughter.Naomi was silent. She stood a full half minutelooking straight into Chie’s eyes. Finally, she spoke. “I met him at my literary meeting.”Naomi turned to go back into the house, then stopped.“Mother.”“Yes?”“I mean to have him.”* a man who marries a woman of higher status and takes herfamily’s name

Akira came directly, breaking all tradition. Was that it? Had he followed form—had he asked his mother to speak to his father to approach a go-between—would Chie have been more receptive? He came on a winter’s eve. He pounded on the door while a cold rain beat on the shuttered veranda, so at first Chie thought him only the wind. The maid knew better. Chie heard her soft scuttling footsteps, the creak of the door. Then the maid brought a calling card to the drawing room, for Chie. Chie was reluctant to go to her guest; perhaps she was feeling too cozy. She and Naomi were reading at a low table set atop a charcoal brazier. A thick quilt spread over the sides of the table so their legs were tucked inside with the heat. “Who is it at this hour, in this weather?” Chie questioned as she picked the name card off the maid’s lacquer tray. “Shinoda, Akira. Kobe Dental College,” she read. Naomi recognized the name. Chie heard a soft intake of air. “I think you should go,” said Naomi.

Akira was waiting in the entry. He was in his early twenties, slim and serious, wearing the black military-style uniform of a student. As he bowed—his hands hanging straight down, a black cap in one, a yellow oil-paper umbrella in the other—Chie glanced beyond him. In the glistening surface of the courtyard’s rain-drenched paving stones, she saw his reflection like a dark double. “Madame,” said Akira, “forgive my disruption, but I come with a matter of urgency.” His voice was soft, refined. He straightened and stole a deferential peek at her face. In the dim light his eyes shone with sincerity. Chie felt herself starting to like him. “Come inside, get out of this nasty night. Surely your business can wait for a moment or two.” “I don’t want to trouble you. Normally I would approach you more properly but I’ve received word of a position. I’ve an opportunity to go to America, as dentist for Seattle’s Japanese community.” “Congratulations,” Chie said with amusement. “That is an opportunity, I’m sure. But how am I involved?” Even noting Naomi’s breathless reaction to the name card, Chie had no idea. Akira’s message, delivered like a formal speech, filled her with maternal amusement. You know how children speak so earnestly, so hurriedly, so endearingly about things that have no importance in an adult’s mind? That’s how she viewed him, as a child.It was how she viewed Naomi. Even thoughNaomi was eighteen and training endlessly in the arts needed to make a good marriage, Chie had made no effort to find her a husband.Akira blushed.“Depending on your response, I may stay inJapan. I’ve come to ask for Naomi’shand.”Suddenly Chie felt the dampness of the night.“Does Naomi know anything of your . . .ambitions?”“We have an understanding. Please don’t judgemy candidacy by the unseemliness of this proposal. I ask directly because the use of a go-between takesmuch time. Either method comes down to the same thing: a matter of parental approval. If you give your consent, I become Naomi’syoshi.* We’ll live in the House of Fuji. Without your consent, I must go toAmerica, to secure a new home for my bride.”Eager to make his point, he’d been looking her full in the face. Abruptly, his voice turned gentle. “I seeI’ve startled you. My humble apologies. I’ll take no more of your evening. My address is on my card. If you don’t wish to contact me, I’ll reapproach you in two weeks’ time. Until then, goodnight.”He bowed and left. Taking her ease, with effortless grace, like a cat making off with a fish.“Mother?” Chie heard Naomi’s low voice andturned from the door. “He has asked you?”The sight of Naomi’s clear eyes, her dark brows gave Chie strength. Maybe his hopes werepreposterous.“Where did you meet such a fellow? Imagine! He thinkshe can marry the Fuji heir and take her toAmerica all in the snap of his fingers!”Chie waited for Naomi’s ripe laughter.Naomi was silent. She stood a full half minutelooking straight into Chie’s eyes. Finally, she spoke. “I met him at my literary meeting.”Naomi turned to go back into the house, then stopped.“Mother.”“Yes?”“I mean to have him.”* a man who marries a woman of higher status and takes herfamily’s name

Akira came directly, breaking all tradition. Was that it? Had he followed form—had he asked his mother to speak to his father to approach a go-between—would Chie have been more receptive? He came on a winter’s eve. He pounded on the door while a cold rain beat on the shuttered veranda, so at first Chie thought him only the wind. The maid knew better. Chie heard her soft scuttling footsteps, the creak of the door. Then the maid brought a calling card to the drawing room, for Chie. Chie was reluctant to go to her guest; perhaps she was feeling too cozy. She and Naomi were reading at a low table set atop a charcoal brazier. A thick quilt spread over the sides of the table so their legs were tucked inside with the heat. “Who is it at this hour, in this weather?” Chie questioned as she picked the name card off the maid’s lacquer tray. “Shinoda, Akira. Kobe Dental College,” she read. Naomi recognized the name. Chie heard a soft intake of air. “I think you should go,” said Naomi.

Akira was waiting in the entry. He was in his early twenties, slim and serious, wearing the black military-style uniform of a student. As he bowed—his hands hanging straight down, a black cap in one, a yellow oil-paper umbrella in the other—Chie glanced beyond him. In the glistening surface of the courtyard’s rain-drenched paving stones, she saw his reflection like a dark double. “Madame,” said Akira, “forgive my disruption, but I come with a matter of urgency.” His voice was soft, refined. He straightened and stole a deferential peek at her face. In the dim light his eyes shone with sincerity. Chie felt herself starting to like him. “Come inside, get out of this nasty night. Surely your business can wait for a moment or two.” “I don’t want to trouble you. Normally I would approach you more properly but I’ve received word of a position. I’ve an opportunity to go to America, as dentist for Seattle’s Japanese community.” “Congratulations,” Chie said with amusement. “That is an opportunity, I’m sure. But how am I involved?” Even noting Naomi’s breathless reaction to the name card, Chie had no idea. Akira’s message, delivered like a formal speech, filled her with maternal amusement. You know how children speak so earnestly, so hurriedly, so endearingly about things that have no importance in an adult’s mind? That’s how she viewed him, as a child.It was how she viewed Naomi. Even thoughNaomi was eighteen and training endlessly in the arts needed to make a good marriage, Chie had made no effort to find her a husband.Akira blushed.“Depending on your response, I may stay inJapan. I’ve come to ask for Naomi’shand.”Suddenly Chie felt the dampness of the night.“Does Naomi know anything of your . . .ambitions?”“We have an understanding. Please don’t judgemy candidacy by the unseemliness of this proposal. I ask directly because the use of a go-between takesmuch time. Either method comes down to the same thing: a matter of parental approval. If you give your consent, I become Naomi’syoshi.* We’ll live in the House of Fuji. Without your consent, I must go toAmerica, to secure a new home for my bride.”Eager to make his point, he’d been looking her full in the face. Abruptly, his voice turned gentle. “I seeI’ve startled you. My humble apologies. I’ll take no more of your evening. My address is on my card. If you don’t wish to contact me, I’ll reapproach you in two weeks’ time. Until then, goodnight.”He bowed and left. Taking her ease, with effortless grace, like a cat making off with a fish.“Mother?” Chie heard Naomi’s low voice andturned from the door. “He has asked you?”The sight of Naomi’s clear eyes, her dark brows gave Chie strength. Maybe his hopes werepreposterous.“Where did you meet such a fellow? Imagine! He thinkshe can marry the Fuji heir and take her toAmerica all in the snap of his fingers!”Chie waited for Naomi’s ripe laughter.Naomi was silent. She stood a full half minutelooking straight into Chie’s eyes. Finally, she spoke. “I met him at my literary meeting.”Naomi turned to go back into the house, then stopped.“Mother.”“Yes?”“I mean to have him.”* a man who marries a woman of higher status and takes herfamily’s name

Akira came directly, breaking all tradition. Was that it? Had he followed form—had he asked his mother to speak to his father to approach a go-between—would Chie have been more receptive? He came on a winter’s eve. He pounded on the door while a cold rain beat on the shuttered veranda, so at first Chie thought him only the wind. The maid knew better. Chie heard her soft scuttling footsteps, the creak of the door. Then the maid brought a calling card to the drawing room, for Chie. Chie was reluctant to go to her guest; perhaps she was feeling too cozy. She and Naomi were reading at a low table set atop a charcoal brazier. A thick quilt spread over the sides of the table so their legs were tucked inside with the heat. “Who is it at this hour, in this weather?” Chie questioned as she picked the name card off the maid’s lacquer tray. “Shinoda, Akira. Kobe Dental College,” she read. Naomi recognized the name. Chie heard a soft intake of air. “I think you should go,” said Naomi.

Akira was waiting in the entry. He was in his early twenties, slim and serious, wearing the black military-style uniform of a student. As he bowed—his hands hanging straight down, a black cap in one, a yellow oil-paper umbrella in the other—Chie glanced beyond him. In the glistening surface of the courtyard’s rain-drenched paving stones, she saw his reflection like a dark double. “Madame,” said Akira, “forgive my disruption, but I come with a matter of urgency.” His voice was soft, refined. He straightened and stole a deferential peek at her face. In the dim light his eyes shone with sincerity. Chie felt herself starting to like him. “Come inside, get out of this nasty night. Surely your business can wait for a moment or two.” “I don’t want to trouble you. Normally I would approach you more properly but I’ve received word of a position. I’ve an opportunity to go to America, as dentist for Seattle’s Japanese community.” “Congratulations,” Chie said with amusement. “That is an opportunity, I’m sure. But how am I involved?” Even noting Naomi’s breathless reaction to the name card, Chie had no idea. Akira’s message, delivered like a formal speech, filled her with maternal amusement. You know how children speak so earnestly, so hurriedly, so endearingly about things that have no importance in an adult’s mind? That’s how she viewed him, as a child.It was how she viewed Naomi. Even thoughNaomi was eighteen and training endlessly in the arts needed to make a good marriage, Chie had made no effort to find her a husband.Akira blushed.“Depending on your response, I may stay inJapan. I’ve come to ask for Naomi’shand.”Suddenly Chie felt the dampness of the night.“Does Naomi know anything of your . . .ambitions?”“We have an understanding. Please don’t judgemy candidacy by the unseemliness of this proposal. I ask directly because the use of a go-between takesmuch time. Either method comes down to the same thing: a matter of parental approval. If you give your consent, I become Naomi’syoshi.* We’ll live in the House of Fuji. Without your consent, I must go toAmerica, to secure a new home for my bride.”Eager to make his point, he’d been looking her full in the face. Abruptly, his voice turned gentle. “I seeI’ve startled you. My humble apologies. I’ll take no more of your evening. My address is on my card. If you don’t wish to contact me, I’ll reapproach you in two weeks’ time. Until then, goodnight.”He bowed and left. Taking her ease, with effortless grace, like a cat making off with a fish.“Mother?” Chie heard Naomi’s low voice andturned from the door. “He has asked you?”The sight of Naomi’s clear eyes, her dark brows gave Chie strength. Maybe his hopes werepreposterous.“Where did you meet such a fellow? Imagine! He thinkshe can marry the Fuji heir and take her toAmerica all in the snap of his fingers!”Chie waited for Naomi’s ripe laughter.Naomi was silent. She stood a full half minutelooking straight into Chie’s eyes. Finally, she spoke. “I met him at my literary meeting.”Naomi turned to go back into the house, then stopped.“Mother.”“Yes?”“I mean to have him.”* a man who marries a woman of higher status and takes herfamily’s name

Akira came directly, breaking all tradition. Was that it? Had he followed form—had he asked his mother to speak to his father to approach a go-between—would Chie have been more receptive? He came on a winter’s eve. He pounded on the door while a cold rain beat on the shuttered veranda, so at first Chie thought him only the wind. The maid knew better. Chie heard her soft scuttling footsteps, the creak of the door. Then the maid brought a calling card to the drawing room, for Chie. Chie was reluctant to go to her guest; perhaps she was feeling too cozy. She and Naomi were reading at a low table set atop a charcoal brazier. A thick quilt spread over the sides of the table so their legs were tucked inside with the heat. “Who is it at this hour, in this weather?” Chie questioned as she picked the name card off the maid’s lacquer tray. “Shinoda, Akira. Kobe Dental College,” she read. Naomi recognized the name. Chie heard a soft intake of air. “I think you should go,” said Naomi.

Akira was waiting in the entry. He was in his early twenties, slim and serious, wearing the black military-style uniform of a student. As he bowed—his hands hanging straight down, a black cap in one, a yellow oil-paper umbrella in the other—Chie glanced beyond him. In the glistening surface of the courtyard’s rain-drenched paving stones, she saw his reflection like a dark double. “Madame,” said Akira, “forgive my disruption, but I come with a matter of urgency.” His voice was soft, refined. He straightened and stole a deferential peek at her face. In the dim light his eyes shone with sincerity. Chie felt herself starting to like him. “Come inside, get out of this nasty night. Surely your business can wait for a moment or two.” “I don’t want to trouble you. Normally I would approach you more properly but I’ve received word of a position. I’ve an opportunity to go to America, as dentist for Seattle’s Japanese community.” “Congratulations,” Chie said with amusement. “That is an opportunity, I’m sure. But how am I involved?” Even noting Naomi’s breathless reaction to the name card, Chie had no idea. Akira’s message, delivered like a formal speech, filled her with maternal amusement. You know how children speak so earnestly, so hurriedly, so endearingly about things that have no importance in an adult’s mind? That’s how she viewed him, as a child.It was how she viewed Naomi. Even thoughNaomi was eighteen and training endlessly in the arts needed to make a good marriage, Chie had made no effort to find her a husband.Akira blushed.“Depending on your response, I may stay inJapan. I’ve come to ask for Naomi’shand.”Suddenly Chie felt the dampness of the night.“Does Naomi know anything of your . . .ambitions?”“We have an understanding. Please don’t judgemy candidacy by the unseemliness of this proposal. I ask directly because the use of a go-between takesmuch time. Either method comes down to the same thing: a matter of parental approval. If you give your consent, I become Naomi’syoshi.* We’ll live in the House of Fuji. Without your consent, I must go toAmerica, to secure a new home for my bride.”Eager to make his point, he’d been looking her full in the face. Abruptly, his voice turned gentle. “I seeI’ve startled you. My humble apologies. I’ll take no more of your evening. My address is on my card. If you don’t wish to contact me, I’ll reapproach you in two weeks’ time. Until then, goodnight.”He bowed and left. Taking her ease, with effortless grace, like a cat making off with a fish.“Mother?” Chie heard Naomi’s low voice andturned from the door. “He has asked you?”The sight of Naomi’s clear eyes, her dark brows gave Chie strength. Maybe his hopes werepreposterous.“Where did you meet such a fellow? Imagine! He thinkshe can marry the Fuji heir and take her toAmerica all in the snap of his fingers!”Chie waited for Naomi’s ripe laughter.Naomi was silent. She stood a full half minutelooking straight into Chie’s eyes. Finally, she spoke. “I met him at my literary meeting.”Naomi turned to go back into the house, then stopped.“Mother.”“Yes?”“I mean to have him.”* a man who marries a woman of higher status and takes herfamily’s name

Akira came directly, breaking all tradition. Was that it? Had he followed form—had he asked his mother to speak to his father to approach a go-between—would Chie have been more receptive? He came on a winter’s eve. He pounded on the door while a cold rain beat on the shuttered veranda, so at first Chie thought him only the wind. The maid knew better. Chie heard her soft scuttling footsteps, the creak of the door. Then the maid brought a calling card to the drawing room, for Chie. Chie was reluctant to go to her guest; perhaps she was feeling too cozy. She and Naomi were reading at a low table set atop a charcoal brazier. A thick quilt spread over the sides of the table so their legs were tucked inside with the heat. “Who is it at this hour, in this weather?” Chie questioned as she picked the name card off the maid’s lacquer tray. “Shinoda, Akira. Kobe Dental College,” she read. Naomi recognized the name. Chie heard a soft intake of air. “I think you should go,” said Naomi.

Akira was waiting in the entry. He was in his early twenties, slim and serious, wearing the black military-style uniform of a student. As he bowed—his hands hanging straight down, a black cap in one, a yellow oil-paper umbrella in the other—Chie glanced beyond him. In the glistening surface of the courtyard’s rain-drenched paving stones, she saw his reflection like a dark double. “Madame,” said Akira, “forgive my disruption, but I come with a matter of urgency.” His voice was soft, refined. He straightened and stole a deferential peek at her face. In the dim light his eyes shone with sincerity. Chie felt herself starting to like him. “Come inside, get out of this nasty night. Surely your business can wait for a moment or two.” “I don’t want to trouble you. Normally I would approach you more properly but I’ve received word of a position. I’ve an opportunity to go to America, as dentist for Seattle’s Japanese community.” “Congratulations,” Chie said with amusement. “That is an opportunity, I’m sure. But how am I involved?” Even noting Naomi’s breathless reaction to the name card, Chie had no idea. Akira’s message, delivered like a formal speech, filled her with maternal amusement. You know how children speak so earnestly, so hurriedly, so endearingly about things that have no importance in an adult’s mind? That’s how she viewed him, as a child.It was how she viewed Naomi. Even thoughNaomi was eighteen and training endlessly in the arts needed to make a good marriage, Chie had made no effort to find her a husband.Akira blushed.“Depending on your response, I may stay inJapan. I’ve come to ask for Naomi’shand.”Suddenly Chie felt the dampness of the night.“Does Naomi know anything of your . . .ambitions?”“We have an understanding. Please don’t judgemy candidacy by the unseemliness of this proposal. I ask directly because the use of a go-between takesmuch time. Either method comes down to the same thing: a matter of parental approval. If you give your consent, I become Naomi’syoshi.* We’ll live in the House of Fuji. Without your consent, I must go toAmerica, to secure a new home for my bride.”Eager to make his point, he’d been looking her full in the face. Abruptly, his voice turned gentle. “I seeI’ve startled you. My humble apologies. I’ll take no more of your evening. My address is on my card. If you don’t wish to contact me, I’ll reapproach you in two weeks’ time. Until then, goodnight.”He bowed and left. Taking her ease, with effortless grace, like a cat making off with a fish.“Mother?” Chie heard Naomi’s low voice andturned from the door. “He has asked you?”The sight of Naomi’s clear eyes, her dark brows gave Chie strength. Maybe his hopes werepreposterous.“Where did you meet such a fellow? Imagine! He thinkshe can marry the Fuji heir and take her toAmerica all in the snap of his fingers!”Chie waited for Naomi’s ripe laughter.Naomi was silent. She stood a full half minutelooking straight into Chie’s eyes. Finally, she spoke. “I met him at my literary meeting.”Naomi turned to go back into the house, then stopped.“Mother.”“Yes?”“I mean to have him.”* a man who marries a woman of higher status and takes herfamily’s name

The chemical formula of deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA) is now well established. The molecule is avery long chain, the backbone of which consists of aLine  regular alternation of sugar and phosphate groups.5  To each sugar is attached a nitrogenous base, whichcan be of four different types. Two of the possiblebases—adenine and guanine—are purines, and theother two—thymine and cytosine—are pyrimidines.So far as is known, the sequence of bases along the10  chain is irregular. The monomer unit, consisting ofphosphate, sugar and base, is known as a nucleotide.The first feature of our structure which is ofbiological interest is that it consists not of one chain,but of two. These two chains are both coiled around15  a common fiber axis. It has often been assumed thatsince there was only one chain in the chemicalformula there would only be one in the structuralunit. However, the density, taken with the X-rayevidence, suggests very strongly that there are two.20         The other biologically important feature is themanner in which the two chains are held together.This is done by hydrogen bonds between the bases.The bases are joined together in pairs,a single basefrom one chain being hydrogen-bonded to a single25  base from the other. The important point is that onlycertain pairs of bases will fit into the structure.One member of a pair must be a purine and the othera pyrimidine in order to bridge between the twochains. If apair consisted of two purines, for30  example,there would not be room for it.We believe that the bases will be present almostentirely in their most probable forms. If this is true,the conditions for forming hydrogen bonds are morerestrictive, and the only pairs of bases possible are:35  adenine with thymine, and guanine with cytosine.Adenine, for example, can occur on either chain; butwhen it does, its partner on the other chain mustalways be thymine.The phosphate-sugar backbone of our model is40  completely regular, but any sequence of the pairs ofbases can fit into the structure. It follows that in a long molecule many different permutations arepossible, and it therefore seems likely that the precise sequence of bases is the code which carries the45  genetical information. If the actual order of the bases on one of the pair of chains were given, one couldwrite down the exact order of the bases on the other one, because of the specific pairing. Thus one chain  is, as it were, the complement of the other, and it is50  this feature which suggestshow the deoxyribonucleic acid molecule might duplicate itself.The table shows, for various organisms, the percentage ofeach of the four types of nitrogenous bases in that organism’s DNA

The chemical formula of deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA) is now well established. The molecule is avery long chain, the backbone of which consists of aLine  regular alternation of sugar and phosphate groups.5  To each sugar is attached a nitrogenous base, whichcan be of four different types. Two of the possiblebases—adenine and guanine—are purines, and theother two—thymine and cytosine—are pyrimidines.So far as is known, the sequence of bases along the10  chain is irregular. The monomer unit, consisting ofphosphate, sugar and base, is known as a nucleotide.The first feature of our structure which is ofbiological interest is that it consists not of one chain,but of two. These two chains are both coiled around15  a common fiber axis. It has often been assumed thatsince there was only one chain in the chemicalformula there would only be one in the structuralunit. However, the density, taken with the X-rayevidence, suggests very strongly that there are two.20         The other biologically important feature is themanner in which the two chains are held together.This is done by hydrogen bonds between the bases.The bases are joined together in pairs,a single basefrom one chain being hydrogen-bonded to a single25  base from the other. The important point is that onlycertain pairs of bases will fit into the structure.One member of a pair must be a purine and the othera pyrimidine in order to bridge between the twochains. If apair consisted of two purines, for30  example,there would not be room for it.We believe that the bases will be present almostentirely in their most probable forms. If this is true,the conditions for forming hydrogen bonds are morerestrictive, and the only pairs of bases possible are:35  adenine with thymine, and guanine with cytosine.Adenine, for example, can occur on either chain; butwhen it does, its partner on the other chain mustalways be thymine.The phosphate-sugar backbone of our model is40  completely regular, but any sequence of the pairs ofbases can fit into the structure. It follows that in a long molecule many different permutations arepossible, and it therefore seems likely that the precise sequence of bases is the code which carries the45  genetical information. If the actual order of the bases on one of the pair of chains were given, one couldwrite down the exact order of the bases on the other one, because of the specific pairing. Thus one chain  is, as it were, the complement of the other, and it is50  this feature which suggestshow the deoxyribonucleic acid molecule might duplicate itself.The table shows, for various organisms, the percentage ofeach of the four types of nitrogenous bases in that organism’s DNA

The chemical formula of deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA) is now well established. The molecule is avery long chain, the backbone of which consists of aLine  regular alternation of sugar and phosphate groups.5  To each sugar is attached a nitrogenous base, whichcan be of four different types. Two of the possiblebases—adenine and guanine—are purines, and theother two—thymine and cytosine—are pyrimidines.So far as is known, the sequence of bases along the10  chain is irregular. The monomer unit, consisting ofphosphate, sugar and base, is known as a nucleotide.The first feature of our structure which is ofbiological interest is that it consists not of one chain,but of two. These two chains are both coiled around15  a common fiber axis. It has often been assumed thatsince there was only one chain in the chemicalformula there would only be one in the structuralunit. However, the density, taken with the X-rayevidence, suggests very strongly that there are two.20         The other biologically important feature is themanner in which the two chains are held together.This is done by hydrogen bonds between the bases.The bases are joined together in pairs,a single basefrom one chain being hydrogen-bonded to a single25  base from the other. The important point is that onlycertain pairs of bases will fit into the structure.One member of a pair must be a purine and the othera pyrimidine in order to bridge between the twochains. If apair consisted of two purines, for30  example,there would not be room for it.We believe that the bases will be present almostentirely in their most probable forms. If this is true,the conditions for forming hydrogen bonds are morerestrictive, and the only pairs of bases possible are:35  adenine with thymine, and guanine with cytosine.Adenine, for example, can occur on either chain; butwhen it does, its partner on the other chain mustalways be thymine.The phosphate-sugar backbone of our model is40  completely regular, but any sequence of the pairs ofbases can fit into the structure. It follows that in a long molecule many different permutations arepossible, and it therefore seems likely that the precise sequence of bases is the code which carries the45  genetical information. If the actual order of the bases on one of the pair of chains were given, one couldwrite down the exact order of the bases on the other one, because of the specific pairing. Thus one chain  is, as it were, the complement of the other, and it is50  this feature which suggestshow the deoxyribonucleic acid molecule might duplicate itself.The table shows, for various organisms, the percentage ofeach of the four types of nitrogenous bases in that organism’s DNA

The chemical formula of deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA) is now well established. The molecule is avery long chain, the backbone of which consists of aLine  regular alternation of sugar and phosphate groups.5  To each sugar is attached a nitrogenous base, whichcan be of four different types. Two of the possiblebases—adenine and guanine—are purines, and theother two—thymine and cytosine—are pyrimidines.So far as is known, the sequence of bases along the10  chain is irregular. The monomer unit, consisting ofphosphate, sugar and base, is known as a nucleotide.The first feature of our structure which is ofbiological interest is that it consists not of one chain,but of two. These two chains are both coiled around15  a common fiber axis. It has often been assumed thatsince there was only one chain in the chemicalformula there would only be one in the structuralunit. However, the density, taken with the X-rayevidence, suggests very strongly that there are two.20         The other biologically important feature is themanner in which the two chains are held together.This is done by hydrogen bonds between the bases.The bases are joined together in pairs,a single basefrom one chain being hydrogen-bonded to a single25  base from the other. The important point is that onlycertain pairs of bases will fit into the structure.One member of a pair must be a purine and the othera pyrimidine in order to bridge between the twochains. If apair consisted of two purines, for30  example,there would not be room for it.We believe that the bases will be present almostentirely in their most probable forms. If this is true,the conditions for forming hydrogen bonds are morerestrictive, and the only pairs of bases possible are:35  adenine with thymine, and guanine with cytosine.Adenine, for example, can occur on either chain; butwhen it does, its partner on the other chain mustalways be thymine.The phosphate-sugar backbone of our model is40  completely regular, but any sequence of the pairs ofbases can fit into the structure. It follows that in a long molecule many different permutations arepossible, and it therefore seems likely that the precise sequence of bases is the code which carries the45  genetical information. If the actual order of the bases on one of the pair of chains were given, one couldwrite down the exact order of the bases on the other one, because of the specific pairing. Thus one chain  is, as it were, the complement of the other, and it is50  this feature which suggestshow the deoxyribonucleic acid molecule might duplicate itself.The table shows, for various organisms, the percentage ofeach of the four types of nitrogenous bases in that organism’s DNA

The chemical formula of deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA) is now well established. The molecule is avery long chain, the backbone of which consists of aLine  regular alternation of sugar and phosphate groups.5  To each sugar is attached a nitrogenous base, whichcan be of four different types. Two of the possiblebases—adenine and guanine—are purines, and theother two—thymine and cytosine—are pyrimidines.So far as is known, the sequence of bases along the10  chain is irregular. The monomer unit, consisting ofphosphate, sugar and base, is known as a nucleotide.The first feature of our structure which is ofbiological interest is that it consists not of one chain,but of two. These two chains are both coiled around15  a common fiber axis. It has often been assumed thatsince there was only one chain in the chemicalformula there would only be one in the structuralunit. However, the density, taken with the X-rayevidence, suggests very strongly that there are two.20         The other biologically important feature is themanner in which the two chains are held together.This is done by hydrogen bonds between the bases.The bases are joined together in pairs,a single basefrom one chain being hydrogen-bonded to a single25  base from the other. The important point is that onlycertain pairs of bases will fit into the structure.One member of a pair must be a purine and the othera pyrimidine in order to bridge between the twochains. If apair consisted of two purines, for30  example,there would not be room for it.We believe that the bases will be present almostentirely in their most probable forms. If this is true,the conditions for forming hydrogen bonds are morerestrictive, and the only pairs of bases possible are:35  adenine with thymine, and guanine with cytosine.Adenine, for example, can occur on either chain; butwhen it does, its partner on the other chain mustalways be thymine.The phosphate-sugar backbone of our model is40  completely regular, but any sequence of the pairs ofbases can fit into the structure. It follows that in a long molecule many different permutations arepossible, and it therefore seems likely that the precise sequence of bases is the code which carries the45  genetical information. If the actual order of the bases on one of the pair of chains were given, one couldwrite down the exact order of the bases on the other one, because of the specific pairing. Thus one chain  is, as it were, the complement of the other, and it is50  this feature which suggestshow the deoxyribonucleic acid molecule might duplicate itself.The table shows, for various organisms, the percentage ofeach of the four types of nitrogenous bases in that organism’s DNA

The chemical formula of deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA) is now well established. The molecule is avery long chain, the backbone of which consists of aLine  regular alternation of sugar and phosphate groups.5  To each sugar is attached a nitrogenous base, whichcan be of four different types. Two of the possiblebases—adenine and guanine—are purines, and theother two—thymine and cytosine—are pyrimidines.So far as is known, the sequence of bases along the10  chain is irregular. The monomer unit, consisting ofphosphate, sugar and base, is known as a nucleotide.The first feature of our structure which is ofbiological interest is that it consists not of one chain,but of two. These two chains are both coiled around15  a common fiber axis. It has often been assumed thatsince there was only one chain in the chemicalformula there would only be one in the structuralunit. However, the density, taken with the X-rayevidence, suggests very strongly that there are two.20         The other biologically important feature is themanner in which the two chains are held together.This is done by hydrogen bonds between the bases.The bases are joined together in pairs,a single basefrom one chain being hydrogen-bonded to a single25  base from the other. The important point is that onlycertain pairs of bases will fit into the structure.One member of a pair must be a purine and the othera pyrimidine in order to bridge between the twochains. If apair consisted of two purines, for30  example,there would not be room for it.We believe that the bases will be present almostentirely in their most probable forms. If this is true,the conditions for forming hydrogen bonds are morerestrictive, and the only pairs of bases possible are:35  adenine with thymine, and guanine with cytosine.Adenine, for example, can occur on either chain; butwhen it does, its partner on the other chain mustalways be thymine.The phosphate-sugar backbone of our model is40  completely regular, but any sequence of the pairs ofbases can fit into the structure. It follows that in a long molecule many different permutations arepossible, and it therefore seems likely that the precise sequence of bases is the code which carries the45  genetical information. If the actual order of the bases on one of the pair of chains were given, one couldwrite down the exact order of the bases on the other one, because of the specific pairing. Thus one chain  is, as it were, the complement of the other, and it is50  this feature which suggestshow the deoxyribonucleic acid molecule might duplicate itself.The table shows, for various organisms, the percentage ofeach of the four types of nitrogenous bases in that organism’s DNA

The chemical formula of deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA) is now well established. The molecule is avery long chain, the backbone of which consists of aLine  regular alternation of sugar and phosphate groups.5  To each sugar is attached a nitrogenous base, whichcan be of four different types. Two of the possiblebases—adenine and guanine—are purines, and theother two—thymine and cytosine—are pyrimidines.So far as is known, the sequence of bases along the10  chain is irregular. The monomer unit, consisting ofphosphate, sugar and base, is known as a nucleotide.The first feature of our structure which is ofbiological interest is that it consists not of one chain,but of two. These two chains are both coiled around15  a common fiber axis. It has often been assumed thatsince there was only one chain in the chemicalformula there would only be one in the structuralunit. However, the density, taken with the X-rayevidence, suggests very strongly that there are two.20         The other biologically important feature is themanner in which the two chains are held together.This is done by hydrogen bonds between the bases.The bases are joined together in pairs,a single basefrom one chain being hydrogen-bonded to a single25  base from the other. The important point is that onlycertain pairs of bases will fit into the structure.One member of a pair must be a purine and the othera pyrimidine in order to bridge between the twochains. If apair consisted of two purines, for30  example,there would not be room for it.We believe that the bases will be present almostentirely in their most probable forms. If this is true,the conditions for forming hydrogen bonds are morerestrictive, and the only pairs of bases possible are:35  adenine with thymine, and guanine with cytosine.Adenine, for example, can occur on either chain; butwhen it does, its partner on the other chain mustalways be thymine.The phosphate-sugar backbone of our model is40  completely regular, but any sequence of the pairs ofbases can fit into the structure. It follows that in a long molecule many different permutations arepossible, and it therefore seems likely that the precise sequence of bases is the code which carries the45  genetical information. If the actual order of the bases on one of the pair of chains were given, one couldwrite down the exact order of the bases on the other one, because of the specific pairing. Thus one chain  is, as it were, the complement of the other, and it is50  this feature which suggestshow the deoxyribonucleic acid molecule might duplicate itself.The table shows, for various organisms, the percentage ofeach of the four types of nitrogenous bases in that organism’s DNA

The chemical formula of deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA) is now well established. The molecule is avery long chain, the backbone of which consists of aLine  regular alternation of sugar and phosphate groups.5  To each sugar is attached a nitrogenous base, whichcan be of four different types. Two of the possiblebases—adenine and guanine—are purines, and theother two—thymine and cytosine—are pyrimidines.So far as is known, the sequence of bases along the10  chain is irregular. The monomer unit, consisting ofphosphate, sugar and base, is known as a nucleotide.The first feature of our structure which is ofbiological interest is that it consists not of one chain,but of two. These two chains are both coiled around15  a common fiber axis. It has often been assumed thatsince there was only one chain in the chemicalformula there would only be one in the structuralunit. However, the density, taken with the X-rayevidence, suggests very strongly that there are two.20         The other biologically important feature is themanner in which the two chains are held together.This is done by hydrogen bonds between the bases.The bases are joined together in pairs,a single basefrom one chain being hydrogen-bonded to a single25  base from the other. The important point is that onlycertain pairs of bases will fit into the structure.One member of a pair must be a purine and the othera pyrimidine in order to bridge between the twochains. If apair consisted of two purines, for30  example,there would not be room for it.We believe that the bases will be present almostentirely in their most probable forms. If this is true,the conditions for forming hydrogen bonds are morerestrictive, and the only pairs of bases possible are:35  adenine with thymine, and guanine with cytosine.Adenine, for example, can occur on either chain; butwhen it does, its partner on the other chain mustalways be thymine.The phosphate-sugar backbone of our model is40  completely regular, but any sequence of the pairs ofbases can fit into the structure. It follows that in a long molecule many different permutations arepossible, and it therefore seems likely that the precise sequence of bases is the code which carries the45  genetical information. If the actual order of the bases on one of the pair of chains were given, one couldwrite down the exact order of the bases on the other one, because of the specific pairing. Thus one chain  is, as it were, the complement of the other, and it is50  this feature which suggestshow the deoxyribonucleic acid molecule might duplicate itself.The table shows, for various organisms, the percentage ofeach of the four types of nitrogenous bases in that organism’s DNA

The chemical formula of deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA) is now well established. The molecule is avery long chain, the backbone of which consists of aLine  regular alternation of sugar and phosphate groups.5  To each sugar is attached a nitrogenous base, whichcan be of four different types. Two of the possiblebases—adenine and guanine—are purines, and theother two—thymine and cytosine—are pyrimidines.So far as is known, the sequence of bases along the10  chain is irregular. The monomer unit, consisting ofphosphate, sugar and base, is known as a nucleotide.The first feature of our structure which is ofbiological interest is that it consists not of one chain,but of two. These two chains are both coiled around15  a common fiber axis. It has often been assumed thatsince there was only one chain in the chemicalformula there would only be one in the structuralunit. However, the density, taken with the X-rayevidence, suggests very strongly that there are two.20         The other biologically important feature is themanner in which the two chains are held together.This is done by hydrogen bonds between the bases.The bases are joined together in pairs,a single basefrom one chain being hydrogen-bonded to a single25  base from the other. The important point is that onlycertain pairs of bases will fit into the structure.One member of a pair must be a purine and the othera pyrimidine in order to bridge between the twochains. If apair consisted of two purines, for30  example,there would not be room for it.We believe that the bases will be present almostentirely in their most probable forms. If this is true,the conditions for forming hydrogen bonds are morerestrictive, and the only pairs of bases possible are:35  adenine with thymine, and guanine with cytosine.Adenine, for example, can occur on either chain; butwhen it does, its partner on the other chain mustalways be thymine.The phosphate-sugar backbone of our model is40  completely regular, but any sequence of the pairs ofbases can fit into the structure. It follows that in a long molecule many different permutations arepossible, and it therefore seems likely that the precise sequence of bases is the code which carries the45  genetical information. If the actual order of the bases on one of the pair of chains were given, one couldwrite down the exact order of the bases on the other one, because of the specific pairing. Thus one chain  is, as it were, the complement of the other, and it is50  this feature which suggestshow the deoxyribonucleic acid molecule might duplicate itself.The table shows, for various organisms, the percentage ofeach of the four types of nitrogenous bases in that organism’s DNA

The chemical formula of deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA) is now well established. The molecule is avery long chain, the backbone of which consists of aLine  regular alternation of sugar and phosphate groups.5  To each sugar is attached a nitrogenous base, whichcan be of four different types. Two of the possiblebases—adenine and guanine—are purines, and theother two—thymine and cytosine—are pyrimidines.So far as is known, the sequence of bases along the10  chain is irregular. The monomer unit, consisting ofphosphate, sugar and base, is known as a nucleotide.The first feature of our structure which is ofbiological interest is that it consists not of one chain,but of two. These two chains are both coiled around15  a common fiber axis. It has often been assumed thatsince there was only one chain in the chemicalformula there would only be one in the structuralunit. However, the density, taken with the X-rayevidence, suggests very strongly that there are two.20         The other biologically important feature is themanner in which the two chains are held together.This is done by hydrogen bonds between the bases.The bases are joined together in pairs,a single basefrom one chain being hydrogen-bonded to a single25  base from the other. The important point is that onlycertain pairs of bases will fit into the structure.One member of a pair must be a purine and the othera pyrimidine in order to bridge between the twochains. If apair consisted of two purines, for30  example,there would not be room for it.We believe that the bases will be present almostentirely in their most probable forms. If this is true,the conditions for forming hydrogen bonds are morerestrictive, and the only pairs of bases possible are:35  adenine with thymine, and guanine with cytosine.Adenine, for example, can occur on either chain; butwhen it does, its partner on the other chain mustalways be thymine.The phosphate-sugar backbone of our model is40  completely regular, but any sequence of the pairs ofbases can fit into the structure. It follows that in a long molecule many different permutations arepossible, and it therefore seems likely that the precise sequence of bases is the code which carries the45  genetical information. If the actual order of the bases on one of the pair of chains were given, one couldwrite down the exact order of the bases on the other one, because of the specific pairing. Thus one chain  is, as it were, the complement of the other, and it is50  this feature which suggestshow the deoxyribonucleic acid molecule might duplicate itself.The table shows, for various organisms, the percentage ofeach of the four types of nitrogenous bases in that organism’s DNA

Passage 1 is adapted from Michael Slezak, “Space Mining: the Next Gold Rush?” ©2013 by New Scientist. Passage 2 is from the editors of New Scientist, “Taming the FinalFrontier.” ©2013 by New Scientist.Passage 1Follow the money and you will end up in space. That’s the message from a first-of-its-kind forum on mining beyond Earth.Convened in Sydney by the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research, the event broughttogether mining companies, robotics experts, lunar scientists, and government agencies that are allworking to make space mining a reality.The forum comes hot on the heels of the2012 unveiling of two private asteroid-mining firms.Planetary Resources of Washington says it willlaunch its first prospecting telescopes in two years, while Deep Space Industries of Virginia hopes to be harvesting metals from asteroids by 2020. Another commercial venture that sprung up in 2012,Golden Spike of Colorado, will be offering trips to the moon, including to potential lunar miners.Within a few decades, these firms maybemeeting earthly demands for precious metals, such as platinum and gold, and the rare earth elements vital for personal electronics, such as yttrium andlanthanum. But like the gold rush pioneers whotransformed the western United States, the first space miners won’t just enrich themselves. They also hope to build an off-planet economy free of any bondswith Earth, in which the materials extracted andprocessed from the moon and asteroids are delivered for space-based projects.In this scenario, water mined from otherworlds could become the most desired commodity. “In the desert, what’sworth more: a kilogram of gold or a kilogram of water?” asks Kris Zacny ofHoneyBee Robotics in New York. “Gold is useless. Water will let you live.”Water ice from the moon’s poles could be sent to astronauts on the International Space Station fordrinking or as a radiation shield. Splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen makes spacecraft fuel, soice-rich asteroids could become interplanetaryrefuelling stations.Companies are eyeing the iron, silicon, andaluminium in lunar soil and asteroids, which could be used in 3D printers to make spare parts ormachinery. Others want to turn space dirt into 45 concrete for landing pads, shelters, and roads.Passage 2The motivation for deep-space travel is shiftingfrom discovery to economics. The past year has seen a flurry of proposals aimed at bringing celestial riches down to Earth. No doubt this will make a few50 billionaires even wealthier, but we all stand to gain: the mineral bounty and spin-off technologies could enrich us all.But before the miners start firing up their rockets, we should pause for thought. At first glance, space55 mining seems to sidestep most environmentalconcerns: there is (probably!) no life on asteroids, and thus no habitats to trash. But its consequences —both here on Earth and in space—merit careful consideration.60 Part of this is about principles. Some will arguethat space’s “magnificent desolation” is not ours to despoil,just as they argue that our own planet’s poles should remain pristine. Others will suggest thatglutting ourselves on space’s riches is not an65 acceptable alternative to developing more sustainable ways of earthly life.History suggests that those will be hard lines tohold, and it maybe difficult to persuade the public that such barren environments are worth preserving.70 After all,they exist in vast abundance, and evenfewer people will experience them than have walked through Antarctica’s icy landscapes.There’s also the emerging off-world economy to consider. The resources that are valuable in orbit and75 beyond maybe very different to those we prize onEarth. Questions of their stewardship have barelybeen broached—and the relevant legal and regulatory framework is fragmentary, to put it mildly.Space miners, like their earthly counterparts, are 80 often reluctant to engage with such questions.One speaker at last week’s space-mining forum inSydney,Australia, concluded with a plea thatregulation should be avoided. But miners have much to gain from abroad agreement on the for-profit85 exploitation of space. Without consensus, claims will be disputed, investments risky, and the gains made insecure. It is in all of our long-term interests to seek one out.

Passage 1 is adapted from Michael Slezak, “Space Mining: the Next Gold Rush?” ©2013 by New Scientist. Passage 2 is from the editors of New Scientist, “Taming the FinalFrontier.” ©2013 by New Scientist.Passage 1Follow the money and you will end up in space. That’s the message from a first-of-its-kind forum on mining beyond Earth.Convened in Sydney by the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research, the event broughttogether mining companies, robotics experts, lunar scientists, and government agencies that are allworking to make space mining a reality.The forum comes hot on the heels of the2012 unveiling of two private asteroid-mining firms.Planetary Resources of Washington says it willlaunch its first prospecting telescopes in two years, while Deep Space Industries of Virginia hopes to be harvesting metals from asteroids by 2020. Another commercial venture that sprung up in 2012,Golden Spike of Colorado, will be offering trips to the moon, including to potential lunar miners.Within a few decades, these firms maybemeeting earthly demands for precious metals, such as platinum and gold, and the rare earth elements vital for personal electronics, such as yttrium andlanthanum. But like the gold rush pioneers whotransformed the western United States, the first space miners won’t just enrich themselves. They also hope to build an off-planet economy free of any bondswith Earth, in which the materials extracted andprocessed from the moon and asteroids are delivered for space-based projects.In this scenario, water mined from otherworlds could become the most desired commodity. “In the desert, what’sworth more: a kilogram of gold or a kilogram of water?” asks Kris Zacny ofHoneyBee Robotics in New York. “Gold is useless. Water will let you live.”Water ice from the moon’s poles could be sent to astronauts on the International Space Station fordrinking or as a radiation shield. Splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen makes spacecraft fuel, soice-rich asteroids could become interplanetaryrefuelling stations.Companies are eyeing the iron, silicon, andaluminium in lunar soil and asteroids, which could be used in 3D printers to make spare parts ormachinery. Others want to turn space dirt into 45 concrete for landing pads, shelters, and roads.Passage 2The motivation for deep-space travel is shiftingfrom discovery to economics. The past year has seen a flurry of proposals aimed at bringing celestial riches down to Earth. No doubt this will make a few50 billionaires even wealthier, but we all stand to gain: the mineral bounty and spin-off technologies could enrich us all.But before the miners start firing up their rockets, we should pause for thought. At first glance, space55 mining seems to sidestep most environmentalconcerns: there is (probably!) no life on asteroids, and thus no habitats to trash. But its consequences —both here on Earth and in space—merit careful consideration.60 Part of this is about principles. Some will arguethat space’s “magnificent desolation” is not ours to despoil,just as they argue that our own planet’s poles should remain pristine. Others will suggest thatglutting ourselves on space’s riches is not an65 acceptable alternative to developing more sustainable ways of earthly life.History suggests that those will be hard lines tohold, and it maybe difficult to persuade the public that such barren environments are worth preserving.70 After all,they exist in vast abundance, and evenfewer people will experience them than have walked through Antarctica’s icy landscapes.There’s also the emerging off-world economy to consider. The resources that are valuable in orbit and75 beyond maybe very different to those we prize onEarth. Questions of their stewardship have barelybeen broached—and the relevant legal and regulatory framework is fragmentary, to put it mildly.Space miners, like their earthly counterparts, are 80 often reluctant to engage with such questions.One speaker at last week’s space-mining forum inSydney,Australia, concluded with a plea thatregulation should be avoided. But miners have much to gain from abroad agreement on the for-profit85 exploitation of space. Without consensus, claims will be disputed, investments risky, and the gains made insecure. It is in all of our long-term interests to seek one out.

Passage 1 is adapted from Michael Slezak, “Space Mining: the Next Gold Rush?” ©2013 by New Scientist. Passage 2 is from the editors of New Scientist, “Taming the FinalFrontier.” ©2013 by New Scientist.Passage 1Follow the money and you will end up in space. That’s the message from a first-of-its-kind forum on mining beyond Earth.Convened in Sydney by the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research, the event broughttogether mining companies, robotics experts, lunar scientists, and government agencies that are allworking to make space mining a reality.The forum comes hot on the heels of the2012 unveiling of two private asteroid-mining firms.Planetary Resources of Washington says it willlaunch its first prospecting telescopes in two years, while Deep Space Industries of Virginia hopes to be harvesting metals from asteroids by 2020. Another commercial venture that sprung up in 2012,Golden Spike of Colorado, will be offering trips to the moon, including to potential lunar miners.Within a few decades, these firms maybemeeting earthly demands for precious metals, such as platinum and gold, and the rare earth elements vital for personal electronics, such as yttrium andlanthanum. But like the gold rush pioneers whotransformed the western United States, the first space miners won’t just enrich themselves. They also hope to build an off-planet economy free of any bondswith Earth, in which the materials extracted andprocessed from the moon and asteroids are delivered for space-based projects.In this scenario, water mined from otherworlds could become the most desired commodity. “In the desert, what’sworth more: a kilogram of gold or a kilogram of water?” asks Kris Zacny ofHoneyBee Robotics in New York. “Gold is useless. Water will let you live.”Water ice from the moon’s poles could be sent to astronauts on the International Space Station fordrinking or as a radiation shield. Splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen makes spacecraft fuel, soice-rich asteroids could become interplanetaryrefuelling stations.Companies are eyeing the iron, silicon, andaluminium in lunar soil and asteroids, which could be used in 3D printers to make spare parts ormachinery. Others want to turn space dirt into 45 concrete for landing pads, shelters, and roads.Passage 2The motivation for deep-space travel is shiftingfrom discovery to economics. The past year has seen a flurry of proposals aimed at bringing celestial riches down to Earth. No doubt this will make a few50 billionaires even wealthier, but we all stand to gain: the mineral bounty and spin-off technologies could enrich us all.But before the miners start firing up their rockets, we should pause for thought. At first glance, space55 mining seems to sidestep most environmentalconcerns: there is (probably!) no life on asteroids, and thus no habitats to trash. But its consequences —both here on Earth and in space—merit careful consideration.60 Part of this is about principles. Some will arguethat space’s “magnificent desolation” is not ours to despoil,just as they argue that our own planet’s poles should remain pristine. Others will suggest thatglutting ourselves on space’s riches is not an65 acceptable alternative to developing more sustainable ways of earthly life.History suggests that those will be hard lines tohold, and it maybe difficult to persuade the public that such barren environments are worth preserving.70 After all,they exist in vast abundance, and evenfewer people will experience them than have walked through Antarctica’s icy landscapes.There’s also the emerging off-world economy to consider. The resources that are valuable in orbit and75 beyond maybe very different to those we prize onEarth. Questions of their stewardship have barelybeen broached—and the relevant legal and regulatory framework is fragmentary, to put it mildly.Space miners, like their earthly counterparts, are 80 often reluctant to engage with such questions.One speaker at last week’s space-mining forum inSydney,Australia, concluded with a plea thatregulation should be avoided. But miners have much to gain from abroad agreement on the for-profit85 exploitation of space. Without consensus, claims will be disputed, investments risky, and the gains made insecure. It is in all of our long-term interests to seek one out.

Passage 1 is adapted from Michael Slezak, “Space Mining: the Next Gold Rush?” ©2013 by New Scientist. Passage 2 is from the editors of New Scientist, “Taming the FinalFrontier.” ©2013 by New Scientist.Passage 1Follow the money and you will end up in space. That’s the message from a first-of-its-kind forum on mining beyond Earth.Convened in Sydney by the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research, the event broughttogether mining companies, robotics experts, lunar scientists, and government agencies that are allworking to make space mining a reality.The forum comes hot on the heels of the2012 unveiling of two private asteroid-mining firms.Planetary Resources of Washington says it willlaunch its first prospecting telescopes in two years, while Deep Space Industries of Virginia hopes to be harvesting metals from asteroids by 2020. Another commercial venture that sprung up in 2012,Golden Spike of Colorado, will be offering trips to the moon, including to potential lunar miners.Within a few decades, these firms maybemeeting earthly demands for precious metals, such as platinum and gold, and the rare earth elements vital for personal electronics, such as yttrium andlanthanum. But like the gold rush pioneers whotransformed the western United States, the first space miners won’t just enrich themselves. They also hope to build an off-planet economy free of any bondswith Earth, in which the materials extracted andprocessed from the moon and asteroids are delivered for space-based projects.In this scenario, water mined from otherworlds could become the most desired commodity. “In the desert, what’sworth more: a kilogram of gold or a kilogram of water?” asks Kris Zacny ofHoneyBee Robotics in New York. “Gold is useless. Water will let you live.”Water ice from the moon’s poles could be sent to astronauts on the International Space Station fordrinking or as a radiation shield. Splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen makes spacecraft fuel, soice-rich asteroids could become interplanetaryrefuelling stations.Companies are eyeing the iron, silicon, andaluminium in lunar soil and asteroids, which could be used in 3D printers to make spare parts ormachinery. Others want to turn space dirt into 45 concrete for landing pads, shelters, and roads.Passage 2The motivation for deep-space travel is shiftingfrom discovery to economics. The past year has seen a flurry of proposals aimed at bringing celestial riches down to Earth. No doubt this will make a few50 billionaires even wealthier, but we all stand to gain: the mineral bounty and spin-off technologies could enrich us all.But before the miners start firing up their rockets, we should pause for thought. At first glance, space55 mining seems to sidestep most environmentalconcerns: there is (probably!) no life on asteroids, and thus no habitats to trash. But its consequences —both here on Earth and in space—merit careful consideration.60 Part of this is about principles. Some will arguethat space’s “magnificent desolation” is not ours to despoil,just as they argue that our own planet’s poles should remain pristine. Others will suggest thatglutting ourselves on space’s riches is not an65 acceptable alternative to developing more sustainable ways of earthly life.History suggests that those will be hard lines tohold, and it maybe difficult to persuade the public that such barren environments are worth preserving.70 After all,they exist in vast abundance, and evenfewer people will experience them than have walked through Antarctica’s icy landscapes.There’s also the emerging off-world economy to consider. The resources that are valuable in orbit and75 beyond maybe very different to those we prize onEarth. Questions of their stewardship have barelybeen broached—and the relevant legal and regulatory framework is fragmentary, to put it mildly.Space miners, like their earthly counterparts, are 80 often reluctant to engage with such questions.One speaker at last week’s space-mining forum inSydney,Australia, concluded with a plea thatregulation should be avoided. But miners have much to gain from abroad agreement on the for-profit85 exploitation of space. Without consensus, claims will be disputed, investments risky, and the gains made insecure. It is in all of our long-term interests to seek one out.

Passage 1 is adapted from Michael Slezak, “Space Mining: the Next Gold Rush?” ©2013 by New Scientist. Passage 2 is from the editors of New Scientist, “Taming the FinalFrontier.” ©2013 by New Scientist.Passage 1Follow the money and you will end up in space. That’s the message from a first-of-its-kind forum on mining beyond Earth.Convened in Sydney by the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research, the event broughttogether mining companies, robotics experts, lunar scientists, and government agencies that are allworking to make space mining a reality.The forum comes hot on the heels of the2012 unveiling of two private asteroid-mining firms.Planetary Resources of Washington says it willlaunch its first prospecting telescopes in two years, while Deep Space Industries of Virginia hopes to be harvesting metals from asteroids by 2020. Another commercial venture that sprung up in 2012,Golden Spike of Colorado, will be offering trips to the moon, including to potential lunar miners.Within a few decades, these firms maybemeeting earthly demands for precious metals, such as platinum and gold, and the rare earth elements vital for personal electronics, such as yttrium andlanthanum. But like the gold rush pioneers whotransformed the western United States, the first space miners won’t just enrich themselves. They also hope to build an off-planet economy free of any bondswith Earth, in which the materials extracted andprocessed from the moon and asteroids are delivered for space-based projects.In this scenario, water mined from otherworlds could become the most desired commodity. “In the desert, what’sworth more: a kilogram of gold or a kilogram of water?” asks Kris Zacny ofHoneyBee Robotics in New York. “Gold is useless. Water will let you live.”Water ice from the moon’s poles could be sent to astronauts on the International Space Station fordrinking or as a radiation shield. Splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen makes spacecraft fuel, soice-rich asteroids could become interplanetaryrefuelling stations.Companies are eyeing the iron, silicon, andaluminium in lunar soil and asteroids, which could be used in 3D printers to make spare parts ormachinery. Others want to turn space dirt into 45 concrete for landing pads, shelters, and roads.Passage 2The motivation for deep-space travel is shiftingfrom discovery to economics. The past year has seen a flurry of proposals aimed at bringing celestial riches down to Earth. No doubt this will make a few50 billionaires even wealthier, but we all stand to gain: the mineral bounty and spin-off technologies could enrich us all.But before the miners start firing up their rockets, we should pause for thought. At first glance, space55 mining seems to sidestep most environmentalconcerns: there is (probably!) no life on asteroids, and thus no habitats to trash. But its consequences —both here on Earth and in space—merit careful consideration.60 Part of this is about principles. Some will arguethat space’s “magnificent desolation” is not ours to despoil,just as they argue that our own planet’s poles should remain pristine. Others will suggest thatglutting ourselves on space’s riches is not an65 acceptable alternative to developing more sustainable ways of earthly life.History suggests that those will be hard lines tohold, and it maybe difficult to persuade the public that such barren environments are worth preserving.70 After all,they exist in vast abundance, and evenfewer people will experience them than have walked through Antarctica’s icy landscapes.There’s also the emerging off-world economy to consider. The resources that are valuable in orbit and75 beyond maybe very different to those we prize onEarth. Questions of their stewardship have barelybeen broached—and the relevant legal and regulatory framework is fragmentary, to put it mildly.Space miners, like their earthly counterparts, are 80 often reluctant to engage with such questions.One speaker at last week’s space-mining forum inSydney,Australia, concluded with a plea thatregulation should be avoided. But miners have much to gain from abroad agreement on the for-profit85 exploitation of space. Without consensus, claims will be disputed, investments risky, and the gains made insecure. It is in all of our long-term interests to seek one out.

Passage 1 is adapted from Michael Slezak, “Space Mining: the Next Gold Rush?” ©2013 by New Scientist. Passage 2 is from the editors of New Scientist, “Taming the FinalFrontier.” ©2013 by New Scientist.Passage 1Follow the money and you will end up in space. That’s the message from a first-of-its-kind forum on mining beyond Earth.Convened in Sydney by the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research, the event broughttogether mining companies, robotics experts, lunar scientists, and government agencies that are allworking to make space mining a reality.The forum comes hot on the heels of the2012 unveiling of two private asteroid-mining firms.Planetary Resources of Washington says it willlaunch its first prospecting telescopes in two years, while Deep Space Industries of Virginia hopes to be harvesting metals from asteroids by 2020. Another commercial venture that sprung up in 2012,Golden Spike of Colorado, will be offering trips to the moon, including to potential lunar miners.Within a few decades, these firms maybemeeting earthly demands for precious metals, such as platinum and gold, and the rare earth elements vital for personal electronics, such as yttrium andlanthanum. But like the gold rush pioneers whotransformed the western United States, the first space miners won’t just enrich themselves. They also hope to build an off-planet economy free of any bondswith Earth, in which the materials extracted andprocessed from the moon and asteroids are delivered for space-based projects.In this scenario, water mined from otherworlds could become the most desired commodity. “In the desert, what’sworth more: a kilogram of gold or a kilogram of water?” asks Kris Zacny ofHoneyBee Robotics in New York. “Gold is useless. Water will let you live.”Water ice from the moon’s poles could be sent to astronauts on the International Space Station fordrinking or as a radiation shield. Splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen makes spacecraft fuel, soice-rich asteroids could become interplanetaryrefuelling stations.Companies are eyeing the iron, silicon, andaluminium in lunar soil and asteroids, which could be used in 3D printers to make spare parts ormachinery. Others want to turn space dirt into 45 concrete for landing pads, shelters, and roads.Passage 2The motivation for deep-space travel is shiftingfrom discovery to economics. The past year has seen a flurry of proposals aimed at bringing celestial riches down to Earth. No doubt this will make a few50 billionaires even wealthier, but we all stand to gain: the mineral bounty and spin-off technologies could enrich us all.But before the miners start firing up their rockets, we should pause for thought. At first glance, space55 mining seems to sidestep most environmentalconcerns: there is (probably!) no life on asteroids, and thus no habitats to trash. But its consequences —both here on Earth and in space—merit careful consideration.60 Part of this is about principles. Some will arguethat space’s “magnificent desolation” is not ours to despoil,just as they argue that our own planet’s poles should remain pristine. Others will suggest thatglutting ourselves on space’s riches is not an65 acceptable alternative to developing more sustainable ways of earthly life.History suggests that those will be hard lines tohold, and it maybe difficult to persuade the public that such barren environments are worth preserving.70 After all,they exist in vast abundance, and evenfewer people will experience them than have walked through Antarctica’s icy landscapes.There’s also the emerging off-world economy to consider. The resources that are valuable in orbit and75 beyond maybe very different to those we prize onEarth. Questions of their stewardship have barelybeen broached—and the relevant legal and regulatory framework is fragmentary, to put it mildly.Space miners, like their earthly counterparts, are 80 often reluctant to engage with such questions.One speaker at last week’s space-mining forum inSydney,Australia, concluded with a plea thatregulation should be avoided. But miners have much to gain from abroad agreement on the for-profit85 exploitation of space. Without consensus, claims will be disputed, investments risky, and the gains made insecure. It is in all of our long-term interests to seek one out.

Passage 1 is adapted from Michael Slezak, “Space Mining: the Next Gold Rush?” ©2013 by New Scientist. Passage 2 is from the editors of New Scientist, “Taming the FinalFrontier.” ©2013 by New Scientist.Passage 1Follow the money and you will end up in space. That’s the message from a first-of-its-kind forum on mining beyond Earth.Convened in Sydney by the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research, the event broughttogether mining companies, robotics experts, lunar scientists, and government agencies that are allworking to make space mining a reality.The forum comes hot on the heels of the2012 unveiling of two private asteroid-mining firms.Planetary Resources of Washington says it willlaunch its first prospecting telescopes in two years, while Deep Space Industries of Virginia hopes to be harvesting metals from asteroids by 2020. Another commercial venture that sprung up in 2012,Golden Spike of Colorado, will be offering trips to the moon, including to potential lunar miners.Within a few decades, these firms maybemeeting earthly demands for precious metals, such as platinum and gold, and the rare earth elements vital for personal electronics, such as yttrium andlanthanum. But like the gold rush pioneers whotransformed the western United States, the first space miners won’t just enrich themselves. They also hope to build an off-planet economy free of any bondswith Earth, in which the materials extracted andprocessed from the moon and asteroids are delivered for space-based projects.In this scenario, water mined from otherworlds could become the most desired commodity. “In the desert, what’sworth more: a kilogram of gold or a kilogram of water?” asks Kris Zacny ofHoneyBee Robotics in New York. “Gold is useless. Water will let you live.”Water ice from the moon’s poles could be sent to astronauts on the International Space Station fordrinking or as a radiation shield. Splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen makes spacecraft fuel, soice-rich asteroids could become interplanetaryrefuelling stations.Companies are eyeing the iron, silicon, andaluminium in lunar soil and asteroids, which could be used in 3D printers to make spare parts ormachinery. Others want to turn space dirt into 45 concrete for landing pads, shelters, and roads.Passage 2The motivation for deep-space travel is shiftingfrom discovery to economics. The past year has seen a flurry of proposals aimed at bringing celestial riches down to Earth. No doubt this will make a few50 billionaires even wealthier, but we all stand to gain: the mineral bounty and spin-off technologies could enrich us all.But before the miners start firing up their rockets, we should pause for thought. At first glance, space55 mining seems to sidestep most environmentalconcerns: there is (probably!) no life on asteroids, and thus no habitats to trash. But its consequences —both here on Earth and in space—merit careful consideration.60 Part of this is about principles. Some will arguethat space’s “magnificent desolation” is not ours to despoil,just as they argue that our own planet’s poles should remain pristine. Others will suggest thatglutting ourselves on space’s riches is not an65 acceptable alternative to developing more sustainable ways of earthly life.History suggests that those will be hard lines tohold, and it maybe difficult to persuade the public that such barren environments are worth preserving.70 After all,they exist in vast abundance, and evenfewer people will experience them than have walked through Antarctica’s icy landscapes.There’s also the emerging off-world economy to consider. The resources that are valuable in orbit and75 beyond maybe very different to those we prize onEarth. Questions of their stewardship have barelybeen broached—and the relevant legal and regulatory framework is fragmentary, to put it mildly.Space miners, like their earthly counterparts, are 80 often reluctant to engage with such questions.One speaker at last week’s space-mining forum inSydney,Australia, concluded with a plea thatregulation should be avoided. But miners have much to gain from abroad agreement on the for-profit85 exploitation of space. Without consensus, claims will be disputed, investments risky, and the gains made insecure. It is in all of our long-term interests to seek one out.

Passage 1 is adapted from Michael Slezak, “Space Mining: the Next Gold Rush?” ©2013 by New Scientist. Passage 2 is from the editors of New Scientist, “Taming the FinalFrontier.” ©2013 by New Scientist.Passage 1Follow the money and you will end up in space. That’s the message from a first-of-its-kind forum on mining beyond Earth.Convened in Sydney by the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research, the event broughttogether mining companies, robotics experts, lunar scientists, and government agencies that are allworking to make space mining a reality.The forum comes hot on the heels of the2012 unveiling of two private asteroid-mining firms.Planetary Resources of Washington says it willlaunch its first prospecting telescopes in two years, while Deep Space Industries of Virginia hopes to be harvesting metals from asteroids by 2020. Another commercial venture that sprung up in 2012,Golden Spike of Colorado, will be offering trips to the moon, including to potential lunar miners.Within a few decades, these firms maybemeeting earthly demands for precious metals, such as platinum and gold, and the rare earth elements vital for personal electronics, such as yttrium andlanthanum. But like the gold rush pioneers whotransformed the western United States, the first space miners won’t just enrich themselves. They also hope to build an off-planet economy free of any bondswith Earth, in which the materials extracted andprocessed from the moon and asteroids are delivered for space-based projects.In this scenario, water mined from otherworlds could become the most desired commodity. “In the desert, what’sworth more: a kilogram of gold or a kilogram of water?” asks Kris Zacny ofHoneyBee Robotics in New York. “Gold is useless. Water will let you live.”Water ice from the moon’s poles could be sent to astronauts on the International Space Station fordrinking or as a radiation shield. Splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen makes spacecraft fuel, soice-rich asteroids could become interplanetaryrefuelling stations.Companies are eyeing the iron, silicon, andaluminium in lunar soil and asteroids, which could be used in 3D printers to make spare parts ormachinery. Others want to turn space dirt into 45 concrete for landing pads, shelters, and roads.Passage 2The motivation for deep-space travel is shiftingfrom discovery to economics. The past year has seen a flurry of proposals aimed at bringing celestial riches down to Earth. No doubt this will make a few50 billionaires even wealthier, but we all stand to gain: the mineral bounty and spin-off technologies could enrich us all.But before the miners start firing up their rockets, we should pause for thought. At first glance, space55 mining seems to sidestep most environmentalconcerns: there is (probably!) no life on asteroids, and thus no habitats to trash. But its consequences —both here on Earth and in space—merit careful consideration.60 Part of this is about principles. Some will arguethat space’s “magnificent desolation” is not ours to despoil,just as they argue that our own planet’s poles should remain pristine. Others will suggest thatglutting ourselves on space’s riches is not an65 acceptable alternative to developing more sustainable ways of earthly life.History suggests that those will be hard lines tohold, and it maybe difficult to persuade the public that such barren environments are worth preserving.70 After all,they exist in vast abundance, and evenfewer people will experience them than have walked through Antarctica’s icy landscapes.There’s also the emerging off-world economy to consider. The resources that are valuable in orbit and75 beyond maybe very different to those we prize onEarth. Questions of their stewardship have barelybeen broached—and the relevant legal and regulatory framework is fragmentary, to put it mildly.Space miners, like their earthly counterparts, are 80 often reluctant to engage with such questions.One speaker at last week’s space-mining forum inSydney,Australia, concluded with a plea thatregulation should be avoided. But miners have much to gain from abroad agreement on the for-profit85 exploitation of space. Without consensus, claims will be disputed, investments risky, and the gains made insecure. It is in all of our long-term interests to seek one out.

Passage 1 is adapted from Michael Slezak, “Space Mining: the Next Gold Rush?” ©2013 by New Scientist. Passage 2 is from the editors of New Scientist, “Taming the FinalFrontier.” ©2013 by New Scientist.Passage 1Follow the money and you will end up in space. That’s the message from a first-of-its-kind forum on mining beyond Earth.Convened in Sydney by the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research, the event broughttogether mining companies, robotics experts, lunar scientists, and government agencies that are allworking to make space mining a reality.The forum comes hot on the heels of the2012 unveiling of two private asteroid-mining firms.Planetary Resources of Washington says it willlaunch its first prospecting telescopes in two years, while Deep Space Industries of Virginia hopes to be harvesting metals from asteroids by 2020. Another commercial venture that sprung up in 2012,Golden Spike of Colorado, will be offering trips to the moon, including to potential lunar miners.Within a few decades, these firms maybemeeting earthly demands for precious metals, such as platinum and gold, and the rare earth elements vital for personal electronics, such as yttrium andlanthanum. But like the gold rush pioneers whotransformed the western United States, the first space miners won’t just enrich themselves. They also hope to build an off-planet economy free of any bondswith Earth, in which the materials extracted andprocessed from the moon and asteroids are delivered for space-based projects.In this scenario, water mined from otherworlds could become the most desired commodity. “In the desert, what’sworth more: a kilogram of gold or a kilogram of water?” asks Kris Zacny ofHoneyBee Robotics in New York. “Gold is useless. Water will let you live.”Water ice from the moon’s poles could be sent to astronauts on the International Space Station fordrinking or as a radiation shield. Splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen makes spacecraft fuel, soice-rich asteroids could become interplanetaryrefuelling stations.Companies are eyeing the iron, silicon, andaluminium in lunar soil and asteroids, which could be used in 3D printers to make spare parts ormachinery. Others want to turn space dirt into 45 concrete for landing pads, shelters, and roads.Passage 2The motivation for deep-space travel is shiftingfrom discovery to economics. The past year has seen a flurry of proposals aimed at bringing celestial riches down to Earth. No doubt this will make a few50 billionaires even wealthier, but we all stand to gain: the mineral bounty and spin-off technologies could enrich us all.But before the miners start firing up their rockets, we should pause for thought. At first glance, space55 mining seems to sidestep most environmentalconcerns: there is (probably!) no life on asteroids, and thus no habitats to trash. But its consequences —both here on Earth and in space—merit careful consideration.60 Part of this is about principles. Some will arguethat space’s “magnificent desolation” is not ours to despoil,just as they argue that our own planet’s poles should remain pristine. Others will suggest thatglutting ourselves on space’s riches is not an65 acceptable alternative to developing more sustainable ways of earthly life.History suggests that those will be hard lines tohold, and it maybe difficult to persuade the public that such barren environments are worth preserving.70 After all,they exist in vast abundance, and evenfewer people will experience them than have walked through Antarctica’s icy landscapes.There’s also the emerging off-world economy to consider. The resources that are valuable in orbit and75 beyond maybe very different to those we prize onEarth. Questions of their stewardship have barelybeen broached—and the relevant legal and regulatory framework is fragmentary, to put it mildly.Space miners, like their earthly counterparts, are 80 often reluctant to engage with such questions.One speaker at last week’s space-mining forum inSydney,Australia, concluded with a plea thatregulation should be avoided. But miners have much to gain from abroad agreement on the for-profit85 exploitation of space. Without consensus, claims will be disputed, investments risky, and the gains made insecure. It is in all of our long-term interests to seek one out.

Passage 1 is adapted from Michael Slezak, “Space Mining: the Next Gold Rush?” ©2013 by New Scientist. Passage 2 is from the editors of New Scientist, “Taming the FinalFrontier.” ©2013 by New Scientist.Passage 1Follow the money and you will end up in space. That’s the message from a first-of-its-kind forum on mining beyond Earth.Convened in Sydney by the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research, the event broughttogether mining companies, robotics experts, lunar scientists, and government agencies that are allworking to make space mining a reality.The forum comes hot on the heels of the2012 unveiling of two private asteroid-mining firms.Planetary Resources of Washington says it willlaunch its first prospecting telescopes in two years, while Deep Space Industries of Virginia hopes to be harvesting metals from asteroids by 2020. Another commercial venture that sprung up in 2012,Golden Spike of Colorado, will be offering trips to the moon, including to potential lunar miners.Within a few decades, these firms maybemeeting earthly demands for precious metals, such as platinum and gold, and the rare earth elements vital for personal electronics, such as yttrium andlanthanum. But like the gold rush pioneers whotransformed the western United States, the first space miners won’t just enrich themselves. They also hope to build an off-planet economy free of any bondswith Earth, in which the materials extracted andprocessed from the moon and asteroids are delivered for space-based projects.In this scenario, water mined from otherworlds could become the most desired commodity. “In the desert, what’sworth more: a kilogram of gold or a kilogram of water?” asks Kris Zacny ofHoneyBee Robotics in New York. “Gold is useless. Water will let you live.”Water ice from the moon’s poles could be sent to astronauts on the International Space Station fordrinking or as a radiation shield. Splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen makes spacecraft fuel, soice-rich asteroids could become interplanetaryrefuelling stations.Companies are eyeing the iron, silicon, andaluminium in lunar soil and asteroids, which could be used in 3D printers to make spare parts ormachinery. Others want to turn space dirt into 45 concrete for landing pads, shelters, and roads.Passage 2The motivation for deep-space travel is shiftingfrom discovery to economics. The past year has seen a flurry of proposals aimed at bringing celestial riches down to Earth. No doubt this will make a few50 billionaires even wealthier, but we all stand to gain: the mineral bounty and spin-off technologies could enrich us all.But before the miners start firing up their rockets, we should pause for thought. At first glance, space55 mining seems to sidestep most environmentalconcerns: there is (probably!) no life on asteroids, and thus no habitats to trash. But its consequences —both here on Earth and in space—merit careful consideration.60 Part of this is about principles. Some will arguethat space’s “magnificent desolation” is not ours to despoil,just as they argue that our own planet’s poles should remain pristine. Others will suggest thatglutting ourselves on space’s riches is not an65 acceptable alternative to developing more sustainable ways of earthly life.History suggests that those will be hard lines tohold, and it maybe difficult to persuade the public that such barren environments are worth preserving.70 After all,they exist in vast abundance, and evenfewer people will experience them than have walked through Antarctica’s icy landscapes.There’s also the emerging off-world economy to consider. The resources that are valuable in orbit and75 beyond maybe very different to those we prize onEarth. Questions of their stewardship have barelybeen broached—and the relevant legal and regulatory framework is fragmentary, to put it mildly.Space miners, like their earthly counterparts, are 80 often reluctant to engage with such questions.One speaker at last week’s space-mining forum inSydney,Australia, concluded with a plea thatregulation should be avoided. But miners have much to gain from abroad agreement on the for-profit85 exploitation of space. Without consensus, claims will be disputed, investments risky, and the gains made insecure. It is in all of our long-term interests to seek one out.

Passage 1 is adapted from Michael Slezak, “Space Mining: the Next Gold Rush?” ©2013 by New Scientist. Passage 2 is from the editors of New Scientist, “Taming the FinalFrontier.” ©2013 by New Scientist.Passage 1Follow the money and you will end up in space. That’s the message from a first-of-its-kind forum on mining beyond Earth.Convened in Sydney by the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research, the event broughttogether mining companies, robotics experts, lunar scientists, and government agencies that are allworking to make space mining a reality.The forum comes hot on the heels of the2012 unveiling of two private asteroid-mining firms.Planetary Resources of Washington says it willlaunch its first prospecting telescopes in two years, while Deep Space Industries of Virginia hopes to be harvesting metals from asteroids by 2020. Another commercial venture that sprung up in 2012,Golden Spike of Colorado, will be offering trips to the moon, including to potential lunar miners.Within a few decades, these firms maybemeeting earthly demands for precious metals, such as platinum and gold, and the rare earth elements vital for personal electronics, such as yttrium andlanthanum. But like the gold rush pioneers whotransformed the western United States, the first space miners won’t just enrich themselves. They also hope to build an off-planet economy free of any bondswith Earth, in which the materials extracted andprocessed from the moon and asteroids are delivered for space-based projects.In this scenario, water mined from otherworlds could become the most desired commodity. “In the desert, what’sworth more: a kilogram of gold or a kilogram of water?” asks Kris Zacny ofHoneyBee Robotics in New York. “Gold is useless. Water will let you live.”Water ice from the moon’s poles could be sent to astronauts on the International Space Station fordrinking or as a radiation shield. Splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen makes spacecraft fuel, soice-rich asteroids could become interplanetaryrefuelling stations.Companies are eyeing the iron, silicon, andaluminium in lunar soil and asteroids, which could be used in 3D printers to make spare parts ormachinery. Others want to turn space dirt into 45 concrete for landing pads, shelters, and roads.Passage 2The motivation for deep-space travel is shiftingfrom discovery to economics. The past year has seen a flurry of proposals aimed at bringing celestial riches down to Earth. No doubt this will make a few50 billionaires even wealthier, but we all stand to gain: the mineral bounty and spin-off technologies could enrich us all.But before the miners start firing up their rockets, we should pause for thought. At first glance, space55 mining seems to sidestep most environmentalconcerns: there is (probably!) no life on asteroids, and thus no habitats to trash. But its consequences —both here on Earth and in space—merit careful consideration.60 Part of this is about principles. Some will arguethat space’s “magnificent desolation” is not ours to despoil,just as they argue that our own planet’s poles should remain pristine. Others will suggest thatglutting ourselves on space’s riches is not an65 acceptable alternative to developing more sustainable ways of earthly life.History suggests that those will be hard lines tohold, and it maybe difficult to persuade the public that such barren environments are worth preserving.70 After all,they exist in vast abundance, and evenfewer people will experience them than have walked through Antarctica’s icy landscapes.There’s also the emerging off-world economy to consider. The resources that are valuable in orbit and75 beyond maybe very different to those we prize onEarth. Questions of their stewardship have barelybeen broached—and the relevant legal and regulatory framework is fragmentary, to put it mildly.Space miners, like their earthly counterparts, are 80 often reluctant to engage with such questions.One speaker at last week’s space-mining forum inSydney,Australia, concluded with a plea thatregulation should be avoided. But miners have much to gain from abroad agreement on the for-profit85 exploitation of space. Without consensus, claims will be disputed, investments risky, and the gains made insecure. It is in all of our long-term interests to seek one out.