In the December 2001 issue, the journal JOM hosts a number of articles on material matters associated with the terrorist assault on the World Trade Center and its aftermath. Typically, the majority of these articles would reach only the normal cadre of JOM's print and electronic subscribers. In an effort to broaden the reach of this coverage beyond the journal's traditional readership, however, all of the editorial content concerning this subject can be viewed on-line without restriction.

JOM's coverage begins with a special edition of News & Update, which provides insight to activities at “ground zero” as well as new technologies that may come into play in our post-September 11th world. This is followed by three articles: one that attempts to clarify the debate on the mechanisms involved in the collapse of the twin towers of the World Trade Center, one that provides some micrographic analysis of impacted structural steel, and one that neatly summarizes challenges for materials scientists and engineers who want to make it that much more difficult for terrorists to succeed in future attacks.

	ARTICLES IN THE WTC SERIES The Materials Issues of the WTC Assault by Thomas Eagar Better Materials Can Reduce the Threat from Terrorism by Toni G. Maréchaux An Initial Microstructural Analysis of A36 Steel from WTC Building 7 by J.R. Barnett, R.R. Biederman, and R.D. Sisson, Jr. News & Update