Modern science and industry have prolonged human life and expanded its scope to an almost incalculable degree, but the disaster in Bhopal, India, is only the latest and most horrible reminder that a balanced view of benefits and dangers and a wise application of risk-control measures are vital to any large human undertaking. In this timely and easy-to-read book, eight distinguished scientists examine the issues involved in risk management, focusing on the psychology of risk and on actual and potential risks in medicine, biological research, industry (especially in energy production), and environmental change. They show what careful analysis reveals about many well-publicized dangers and about some much larger risks that make no headlines, and describe the skilled efforts devoted to minimizing risk and maximizing benefits in many fields. While providing a balanced overview for researchers in risk management, this book will be of immediate interest to politicians, industrialists, and lay readers who wish to understand the most pressing issues in an area of great controversy.