Named for the famous quantum kitty that was both dead and alive, a reference falling between an encyclopedia and a dictionary, explains in lay terms the concepts of post-Newtonian science. After overviews of the new sciences, articles of a page or two discuss such topics as the anthropic principle, expert systems, the Mandelbrot set, perception, sociobiology, and the twins paradox. Occasionally illustrated with line drawings. Well cross- referenced. No bibliography. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.