LANL: Arctic Ice Model Upgrade To Benefit Polar Research, Industry And Military
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on December 5, 2018
LANL scientist Elizabeth Hunke and her team have released an update to the sea-ice computer model, CICE, that has been a key part of the Arctic predictive capability for the U.S. Navy, NOAA and the National Ice Center. CICE also is widely used for earth-system research in academic and government institutions worldwide. Courtesy/E. Hunke.
LANL News:
- Polar conditions modeled more accurately for naval and commercial safety improvements
An update for an internationally vital sea-ice computer model developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory with several collaborating groups, called Read More
Udall, Hatch Introduce Smoke Free Schools Act To Combat E-Cigs In Schools
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on December 5, 2018
U.S. SENATE News:WASHINGTON, D.C. ― Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) introduced The Smoke Free Schools Act of 2018 to help school districts and local education agencies combat the surge of e-cigarette use in schools.
The legislation would ban e-cigarette use in educational and childcare facilities, and clarify that state and local education agencies can use grant funding for e-cigarette prevention programs. It would also instruct the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to partner with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and
Read More Bear-Proof Roll Carts Really Work!
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on December 5, 2018
Pawprints in the snow and overturned carts at a Los Alamos residence bear witness to the fact that local bear-proof roll carts distributed to residents by the County really do work. Photo by Kathryn Willcutt
Bear pawprints in the snow surround this overturned cart that remained closed at a Los Alamos residence. Photo by Kathryn Willcutt
Bear pawprints in the snow surround this overturned cart that remained closed at a Los Alamos residence. Photo by Kathryn Willcutt
Bear pawprints in the snow surround this overturned cart that remained closed at a Los Alamos residence. PhotoJemez Ranger Dist. To Start Vallecitos Piles Burn Dec. 4
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on December 4, 2018
SFNF News:SANTA FE — U.S. Forest Service fire managers on the Jemez Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) expect to begin ignitions today through Dec. 14 on Vallecitos piles to reduce the risk of high-severity wildfire.
Crews plan to take advantage of favorable conditions, to include fuel moisture levels, air quality, and weather forecasts, and treat up to 189 acres of piles located three to eight miles northeast of Jemez Springs, one mile southwest of Vallecitos de Los Indios, and north of Cat and San Juan Mesas on Forest Road 135 west of Forest Road 10.
OSIRIS-REx Arrives At Asteroid Bennu
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on December 4, 2018
UA News:TUCSON, Ariz. — NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft arrived at its destination, asteroid Bennu, Dec. 3. Led by the University of Arizona, the OSIRIS-REx mission is the first NASA mission to visit a near-Earth asteroid, survey the surface, collect a sample and deliver it safely back to Earth.
The composition of the asteroid, Bennu, could shed more light on the origins of the solar system.
“Initial data from the approach phase show this object to have exceptional scientific value. We can’t wait to get to work studying and characterizing Bennu’s
Read More SAR Lecture: Chacoan Astronomy, Cosmography, Roads And Ritual Power Jan. 24
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on December 4, 2018
SAR News:SANTA FE ― A sunray perfectly pierces a spiral rock formation marking the summer solstice; a shadow on a long South wall calls in the equinox. These astronomical alignments, embedded in the structures and roads across the Chaco Canyon region, provide insights into the pre-Colombian Puebloan culture.
The School for Advanced Research (SAR) is pleased to share exciting new developments on one of North America’s most influential archeological sites in the next Creative Thought Forum lecture. Anna Sofaer and her collaborators at the Solstice Project, Richard Friedman
Read More Daily Postcard: Coyote Spotted Resting Behind IHM
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on December 4, 2018
Daily Postcard: A coyote spotted Monday morning resting near a tall tree behind Immaculate Heart of Mary Church on Canyon Road. Photo by Fr. Glenn Jones Read More
NM Environmental Law Center Gives Toxic Turkey Award To Oil Conservation Division & OCC
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on December 3, 2018
NMELC News:SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environmental Law Center announced joint “winners” of this year’s annual Toxic Turkey Award as the Oil Conservation Division (OCD) and the Oil Conservation Commission (OCC) for their failure to adequately regulate the oil and gas industry.
The Law Center gives the Toxic Turkey Award to a person or group that has shown extraordinary disregard for New Mexico’s environment. The Law Center presented the award at its annual members-only Member Appreciation Party in Santa Fe Dec. 2, 2018.
The Law Center also gives several awards to organizations
Read More Kiwanis Club Hosts Breakfast With Santa Saturday
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on December 3, 2018
Kiwanians preparing food for Breakfast with Santa. Courtesy photoKIWANIS News:
The annual Breakfast with Santa, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos and DelNorte Credit Union, is 7-11 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 8, at the Betty Ehart Senior Center.
The breakfast is free. In return, attendees are requested to donate either non-perishable food items or money. Food collected will be used by LA Cares to feed local families in need. Money donated will be used for the Kiwanis/CYFD Foster Children Christmas party. Any money left over from the Foster Children’s party will be used
Read More Daily Postcard: Friday Evening Sky Above Los Alamos
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on December 3, 2018
Daily Postcard: Friday evening sky above Los Alamos. Photo by Scot Rygh Read More
Snow Provides Sledding Fun At Ashley Pond Today
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on December 2, 2018
The snowstorm this morning made way for some sledding fun for parents and kids this afternoon at Ashley Pond Park. The National Weather Service has Los Alamos under a winter weather advisory until 5 p.m. today and predicts a 20% chance of more snow until 11 tonight. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
‘This is the life! Hey let’s go around again daddy!’ Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
NIST: New Device Widens Light Beams By 400 Times
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on December 2, 2018
This mode expansion device is made of a linear waveguide, a slab waveguide, and a grating. Light enters the device through the linear waveguide. When the waveguide makes contact with the slab, the light expands laterally. The grating then converts the expanded light into waves through free-space. The process also can happen in reverse, bringing free-space light into the waveguide. This enables researchers to connect two mode expansion devices together. For instance, they can use two devices to prove an unknown gas. By Sean Kelley/NIST NIST News:
By using light waves instead
Daily Postcard: Woodpeckers On Camino Encantado
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on December 2, 2018
Daily Postcard: A pair of acorn woodpeckers are spotted dining on bird seed Thanksgiving Day at a residence on Camino Encantado. Photo by Thai Ha
A trio of acorn woodpeckers gather to eat bird seed Thanksgiving Day at a residence on Camino Encantado. Photo by Thai Ha Read More
PEEC: Learn About Christmas Bird Count Tuesday
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on December 1, 2018
Bird expert Mouser Williams will present a talk on the Los Alamos Christmas Bird Count Dec. 4 at the Los Alamos Nature Center. Courtesy photoPEEC News:
Join bird expert Mouser Williams Tuesday, Dec. 4 at the Los Alamos Nature Center to learn about the upcoming Los Alamos Christmas Bird Count (CBC). This talk will begin at 7 p.m. and is free to attend.
Williams will provide an introduction to the CBC at this talk and will give an overview of what birding opportunities will be available to the general public this year. The Los Alamos CBC is Sunday, Dec. 16 throughout the day. Whether
Read More Daily Postcard: Cloudy Sky Above Jemez Mountains
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on December 1, 2018
Daily Postcard: Driving Friday afternoon toward Los Alamos and looking at the cloudy sky above the Jemez Mountains. Photo by Nancy Ann Hibbs Read More
BLM Christmas Tree Permits Now Available
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on November 30, 2018
Christmas tree permits now available. Courtesy/nmstatelands.org
BLM News:
SANTA FE – The Bureau of Land Management offices in Albuquerque, Socorro, Taos, Farmington, Las Cruces and Santa Fe are now selling Christmas tree permits.
The permits cost $5 and will be sold until Dec. 23. For a list of BLM office locations and contact information, click here.
Maps can be obtained when purchasing the permit at a local BLM office, and will show tree hunters where lands open to tree cutting are located. Tree permits are for sale on many parcels of public lands in the State. When
Read More 
NIST: Atomic Clocks Now Keep Time Well Enough To Improve Models Of Earth
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on November 30, 2018
NIST physicist Andrew Ludlow and colleagues achieved new atomic clock performance records in a comparison of two ytterbium optical lattice clocks. Laser systems used in both clocks are visible in the foreground, and the main apparatus for one of the clocks is located behind Ludlow. Courtesy/Burrus/NISTNIST News:
Experimental atomic clocks at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have achieved three new performance records, now ticking precisely enough to not only improve timekeeping and navigation, but also detect faint signals from gravity, the
Read More BLM To Continue San Pedro Thinning Project
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on November 30, 2018
BLM News:TAOS ― The Bureau of Land Management will continue thinning to reduce accumulated vegetation posing fire hazards in the San Pedro area through the end of December.
In addition to the presence of work crews, the public will be gathering wood in the area until Dec. 31. To ensure the safety of the work crews and the public, the area’s temporary closure to target shooting is extended until this time. The San Pedro Fuels Reduction Project is located on BLM lands on the south side of NM Highway 344, approximately one mile east of the intersection of NM Highway 14 and NM Highway 344.
Read More AGU: Whale Songs’ Changing Pitch May Be Response To Population, Climate Changes
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on November 30, 2018
A fin whale surfaces at 58˚S in the southern Indian Ocean in a photo captured in January 2010 from the R/V Marion Dufresne, the research vessel that collected hydrophone data for the new study. Courtesy/J-Y RoyerAGU News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Blue whales around the world are singing a little flat, and scientists may now have more clues as to the reason why.
A new study finds there’s a seasonal variation in the whales’ pitch correlated with breaking sea ice in the southern Indian Ocean. The new research also extends the mysterious long-term falling pitch to related baleen whales
