Biochemist Dr. Henry L. Niman has theories on the way the avian flu virus is evolving and is optimistic that his navigation of the Web will result in acceptance of his theories by the scientific community. A global team of leading scientists is also following the avian influenza virus as scientists try to hold off a human pandemic. Many other non-professional investigators are also trying to get their first. Among the latter group of amateur detectives supercharged by a mix of conviction, fear, distrust of authority, and old-fashioned competitive spirit, is a housewife from Pennsylvania, who began following bird flu on the Internet about a year ago. She has dedicated hours every day to tracking the most recent developments on the Web, and it is her opinion that India will be where a pandemic could start. Dr. Niman, who has many followers, does not direct their research and does not issue orders. He maintains an informal and somewhat distant relationship with his online communicators, posting commentary on his company's Web site. He also often contributes to multiple bird flu discussion groups. On a bird flu blog, a poster calls Dr. Niman a natural-born celebrity, brilliant but weird. Dr. Niman, who began focusing on bird flu in 2003, has also joined curevents.com. Dr. Nimans company, Recombinomics, was formed to develop vaccines, and he has filed for patents on a method he thinks could work to hold off a pandemic by predicting the ways in which a virus will mutate.