Most galaxies lie in clusters, where tidal interactions are a significant force. Tidal and dynamical interactions and the features they cause in galaxies are important to the study of galactic evolution. For example, a large amount of data has been collected on dust-lane ellipticals, polar-ring galaxies, spirals with extended warps, and galaxies with inclined HI rings or unusual "tails." This book is a record of a meeting held at the University of Pittsburgh that provided an informal, yet focused environment for the interaction of astronomers who have addressed these questions with a wide...

This book acknowledges the importance of identifying the most crucial science to be performed by the superb Hubble Telescope. With this goal in mind, the book presents a review of some of the most important open questions in astronomy. World experts examine topics ranging from extrasolar planets and star formation to supermassive black holes and the reionization of the universe. Special emphasis is placed on what astronomical observations should be carried out during the next few years to enable breakthroughs in our understanding of a complex and dynamic universe. In particular, the reviewers...

Explores the connections between the presence of energy natural resources in a particular region and the development of local nationalism. This title focuses on those cases when such nationalism leads to secession attempts. It presents research based on eight case studies: Bolivia, Sudan, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Iran, Angola, and Nigeria.