In this Issue -- December 1997

• Mathematica in the World
  1. Mathematica on Mir

• New Mathematica Products and R&D News
  1. New Additions to Mathematica Applications Library
  2. New Service Programs Now Available
  3. Beginner's Guide to Mathematica V3 Now Available

• Mathematica Special Events
  5. 1998 Worldwide Mathematica Conference: Mark Your Calendar!
  6. The MathMobile May Be Coming to a City Near You!

• Mathematica on the Web
  Top Scientific and Technological Breakthroughs Benefit from Mathematica http://www.wolfram.com/discovery
  If you'd like to read even more late-breaking news, visit our web site at http://www.wolfram.com/news.

Mathematica in the World

1. Mathematica on Mir
   After Mir's collision with a resupply vessel on June 25, 1997, astronaut Michael Foale needed a few basic supplies sent up to the space station--among them Mathematica! A registered Mathematica user, Foale lost many of his personal belongings when the Spektr module was sealed off to prevent depressurization of the rest of Mir. Foale requested a new computer--with Mathematica 3.0 installed--to be sent up to the space station on a resupply vessel. However, installation onto the new computer required a new password, and that meant a quick phone call to Wolfram Research. The NASA ground crew contacted a customer service representative at Wolfram Research, and Mathematica was soon up and running again in orbit. Read more about Mathematica and Mir at http://www.wolfram.com/news/mir.html.

New Mathematica Products and R&D News

2. New Additions to the Mathematica Applications Library
   Whether you're an engineer, financial analyst, researcher, or student--or if you just happen to like exploring science and technology--a team of experts in your field just might have created software to help you work more productively. Below is a sampling of some of our new products. Visit http://www.wolfram.com/applications to see our complete library of packages.
   • Wavelet Explorer: One of the world's first commercially available software products for wavelet analysis, Wavelet Explorer is useful for data analysis and signal and image processing.

   • Control System Professional: A tightly integrated set of tools that helps you model, design, analyze, refine, and simulate control systems.

   • Scientific Astronomer: The calculating powers of Mathematica turn skyward with Scientific Astronomer, a powerful, easy-to-use astronomical tool for amateur and professional alike. Produce star charts and planet plots; track satellites and predict eclipses, occulations, and transits; and create umbral and penumbral track plots.

3. New Service Programs Now Available

   Wolfram Research now offers service programs. These programs give you an inside track to the resources of Wolfram Research, offering features such as free home usage, top-priority technical support, and automatic software upgrades. Choose from Premier, Regular, or Economy Service. Subscribe to Premier Service to receive these valuable benefits for one full year:

   • Free, automatic Mathematica upgrades
   • Top-priority access to technical support
   • Complimentary system transfers
   • Discounts on special Mathematica events and conferences
   • Plus many more benefits!

   Visit http://www.wolfram.com/service for more information and to subscribe. Customers outside the U.S. and Canada should contact their local authorized Mathematica reseller.

4. Beginner's Guide to Mathematica V3 Now Available
   With 70 chapters and 339 pages, the Beginner's Guide to Mathematica V3, by Jerry Glynn and Theodore W. Gray, is a major revision of the popular Beginner's Guide to Mathematica Version 2. Written by a well-known mathematics teacher and the principal architect of the Mathematica notebook front end, it is an ideal first book for anyone getting started with Mathematica or interested in finding out more about it. The book also contains advanced chapters on the new features in Version 3, including complete listings of front end programming functions. The electronic edition allows you to see graphics in full color, view animations, and listen to sounds. The examples in the book can be modified and evaluated with Mathematica, allowing experimentation without the hassle of retyping input from a printed book. For more information and to order, visit Wolfram Research's online bookstore at http://www.wolfram.com/bookstore or go to http://www.mathware.com/BeginnersGuide.

Mathematica Special Events

5. The 1998 Worldwide Mathematica Conference: Mark Your Calendar!
   The Hotel Inter-Continental on Chicago's Michigan Avenue has been chosen for the site of the 1998 Worldwide Mathematica Conference. The conference will be held June 18-21, 1998. Join us to see distinguished keynote speakers, presentations, tutorials, panels, and more. Mathematica users from around the world will come together to discover and explore the latest in Mathematica technology and applications. And what better place to celebrate 10 years of technological innovations than the Museum of Science and Industry? A reception for all the attendees will be held at the prestigious museum during the conference. Save the date for the technical computing event of the decade--you'll soon receive complete conference information, including how to register.

6. The MathMobile May Be Coming to a City Near You!
   Keep your eyes peeled for the MathMobiles, Wolfram Research's colorful and interactive traveling displays. They're currently on the road in both the U.S. and Europe and making stops at various campuses and corporations. The MathMobile gives you the opportunity to see Mathematica demonstrations, try Mathematica for yourself using the onboard computers, and interact one-on-one with MathMobile staff. You'll also discover the many ways Mathematica is used in industry, education, and research. If you'd like one of the MathMobiles to visit your organization, please send email to empower@wolfram.com. For a complete schedule of stops for both MathMobiles, visit http://www.wolfram.com/empower/.