From our beginning, we have sought new, more efficient ways of performing chemical transformations, and an excellent example of the fruits of these continuing efforts is found in this issue's report on Jim Espenson's development of the catalyst, MTO, which allows one to perform industrially important reactions with such efficiency that there are no products requiring toxic waste disposal or environmental cleanup. Also highlighted in this issue is another example of the Lab's historical commitment to the detailed understanding of materials as a precursor to expanding their uses. Thus, Joe Shinar's use of ODMR to determine the exact nature of the excited-state species in optoelectronic polymers is ultimately directed to control of the decay processes, allowing future applications such as alphanumeric displays. Of course, there are numerous other trails linking our wide spectrum of activities today to the more singularly focused work of the Lab 50 years ago, and future issues of Inquiry will continue to highlight them. I don't have the faintest idea what those working in the Ames Laboratory will be doing 50 years from now, but I'm confident that whatever it is will be of the highest quality and of vital importance to our nation.
Traditions are hard to break.