The November 1990 issue of the Materials Research Bulletin is devoted to the contributions of neutron scattering in materials sciences. The articles are highly informative and easily readable. It is noteworthy that the contribution by John Axe, John Hayter and Roger Pynn brings together scientists from three of the five major neutron sources in the U.S.A. Scientists and technologists can but gain from rational collaboration between medium-sized (not ‘big’) central facilities. This does not exclude healthy competition, or differences of emphasis or of style.