New Report Assesses US Position in the Field of Condensed Matter

The development of transistors, the integrated circuit, liquid-crystal displays, and even DVD players can be traced back to fundamental research pioneered in the field of condensed-matter and materials physics, but the United States' position as a leader in the field is in jeopardy. CONDENSED-MATTER AND MATERIALS PHYSICS: THE SCIENCE OF THE WORLD AROUND US, a new report from the National Research Council, assesses the present state of the field in the U.S. and examines possible directions for the 21st century. The report offers a set of scientific challenges for American researchers to tackle and makes recommendations for effective spending of federal funds.