Looking forward to the future it is clear that today’s narrow concept of fiber as a basic element for textiles, ropes and nets will become an outmoded notion. The emphasis will instead shift to new and exciting developments in fiber technology and their applications, exploring such fields as biomimetics, nanotechnology and biodegradability. New millennium fibers describes and identifies the scope of high-tech fibers. The present status and prospects of the fiber/textile technology are discussed and the high performance fibers are reviewed from origin to future applications, including carbon fiber.The themes of the book are summarised with a discussion on health care and the environment. As the 21st century progresses fibers will enter into more novel and unexpected applications. We are approaching the age of the wearable computer and organic electroluminescence wearable displays. New potential is open in the fields of car and aerospace industry, civil engineering, separation membranes using hollow fibers for artificial organs, biodegradable fiber for ecological conservation and fibers with biological functions. New millennium fibers explores the exciting roles that fibers will play in the future and will be an essential book for all of those in the textile and fashion industry involved in fiber development or use. Keep up to date with the advances in fiber science Explores new and exciting developments in fiber technology Includes applications of new millennium fibers

This book details the forum that was held by the National Materials Advisory Board at the National Academy of Sciences. The purpose of this forum was to bring the importance of materials to the attention of policy makers and to promote interactions between policy makers and the materials community. Four key themes were addressed: the critical role of materials in advancing technology and enhancing the nation's economy, security, and health, industrial and societal needs that will require materials development in the new millennium. Materials research areas with the greatest potential for meeting those needs, and federal and industrial research initiatives that can help the materials community meet those needs. To help focus this discussion, special sessions were convened to address the current and future roles of materials in four selected areas: information technology, health and biotechnology, national security, and energy and the environment.

The last millennium has not been a great success. We have advanced in science and technology, but not much in human behaviour. Is it possible that this has been due to poor thinking? Edward de Bono maintains that the thinking of the last millennium has been concerned with WHAT IS. This is the thinking of analysis, criticism and argument. What we have not sufficiently developed is the thinking concerned with WHAT CAN BE. This is thinking that is creative and constructive, and which seeks to solve conflicts and problems by designing a way forward. The emphasis of his proposed new thinking is on design and not judgement.

Topics covered within this set of conference proceedings include: structural analysis - theory and methods; structural design - concept, technique and codes of practice; structural forms - concept and application; and construction of structures.

This volume comprises papers presented at the China-US Millennium Symposium on Earthquake Engineering, held in Beijing, China, on November 8-11, 2000. This conference provides a forum for advancing the field of earthquake engineering through multi-lateral cooperation.

An internationally renowned expert on near-death experiences (NDEs) presents her discovery of "millennial children"--and their insightful message of hope. Line drawings.