September 29, 2002

Richard Panek article explores current interest across the artistic spectrum in science and scientists; recalls recent best-selling books, movies and plays; focuses on opera Galileo Galilei, new interpretation of life of Galileo that is opening this year's Next Wave Festival at Brooklyn Academy of Music; photo (M)

Doubts are being raised about prospects for Intel's Itanium 2 64-bit processor; Eric Schmidt, chief executive of Google, which has declined to buy Itanium 2, says future of computing lies elsewhere, in small and inexpensive -- and less power-hungry -- processors that act as Lego-style building blocks for new class of vast data centers; Advanced Micro Devices also has rival 64-bit alternative that computer makers are seriously considering, and Intel, although fully committed to Itanium, is working on backup project called Yamhill in case Itanium founders; market researchers now project that Itanium will garner less than 10 percent of market for server computing as far ahead as 2007; Hewlett-Packard, co-developer of Itanium with Intel, has even more riding on chip, which is big part of its plan for expansion in corporate computing; chip photo; photo of Michael J Fister, Itanium project manager; graph (L)

Article on university scramble bands, including Columbia University's self-declared Cleverest Band in the World; most Ivy League universities have scramble bands, which began forming in 1960's as alternatives to traditional marching bands; scramble bands pride themselves on their ability to shock and those that cross the line have been censured by administrators; recent controversy during Columbia-Fordham game described; photos (M)

Five high-end rental apartments are being maÿ

Former First Lady Nancy Reagan is obliquely but persistently campaigning--through friends, advisers, lawmakers and her own well-placed calls and letters--to reverse Pres Bush's decision to limit federal financing for stem cell research; Reagan believes embryonic stem cell research could uncover cure for Alzheimer's, disease that is inflicting former president; friends say Mrs Reagan was dismayed when Bush took issue with new California law that encourages such research; her advisers say Mrs Reagan's sense of decorum and party loyalty inhibit her from publicly challenging Republican president; photo (M)