AMERICAN physicists are taking increasingly to a computer-based electronic bulletin board developed by physicist Paul Ginsparg that enables them to exchange research information. Physicists can use the system to submit unpublished papers or scan papers submitted by other scientists and they can access the system from anywhere (Science, Vol 259, No 5099). Users will have free access to abstracts of articles, but they will have to pay if they want to call up the article itself on their screen.

Ginsparg says his bulletin boards are being used by subscribers throughout the world and offers physicists from developing countries, who do not have good libraries, to obtain the latest research information.