Number 88 (Story #3), July 13, 1992 by Phillip F. Schewe and Ben Stein A NEUTRON FOCUSING DEVICE , long an elusive invention, has been built by Russian scientists using a simple network of glass capillaries bundled together. Because of their zero charge, neutrons do not ordinarily interact very well with other matter. However, the capillary network is designed to focus a high portion of the neutron beam through multiple internal reflections. The current setup can focus neutrons to a spot less than a millimeter in diameter and increase the neutron flux by 6-7 times, with the potential, its designers claim, to reduce the beam diameter to 30 µm and increase the flux by 1000 times. A neutron lens promises improved neutron scattering studies of materials and more precise neutron therapy techniques, which would mean smaller radiation doses for patients. (Nature, 4 June 1992.) A Russian-American team has made a similar device which redirects x-rays that are usually wasted in conventional setups, resulting in a four-fold increase in intensity. (Science News, 27 June 1992.)