Environment

NNSA Conducts Fifth Experiment Aimed To Improve U.S. Ability To Detect Foreign Nuclear Explosions

April 27, 2016 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

NASA News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On April 26, the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) conducted the fifth experimental conventional explosion as part of its Source Physics Experiment (SPE) series. The SPE series, conducted at the Nevada National Security Site, improves the United States’ capability to detect and characterize underground nuclear explosions.

By conducting the experiments near the location of previous underground nuclear tests, researchers are able to better compare data from conventional and nuclear explosions. This helps to Read More

More Scenes From Saturday’s Earth Day Festival

April 27, 2016 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Scene from the annual Earth Day Festival hosted by the Pajarito Environmental Education Center Saturday at the Los Alamos Nature Center on Canyon Road. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Scene from PEEC’s annual Earth Day Festival Saturday at the Los Alamos Nature Center. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Scene from PEEC’s annual Earth Day Festival Saturday at the Los Alamos Nature Center. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More

Community Celebrates Earth Day At Nature Center

April 27, 2016 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Hundreds of people turned out for the annual Earth Day Festival hosted by the Pajarito Environmental Education Center Saturday at the Los Alamos Nature Center on Canyon Road. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Scene from Saturday’s Earth Day Festival. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Scene from Saturday’s Read More

Nature Center Presents ‘We Are Stars’ To Show Friday

April 27, 2016 by Submitted by Chris Clark

PEEC News:

From the makers of We are Astronomers, comes an exciting film that explores the secrets of our cosmic chemistry and our explosive origins.

Pajarito Environmental Education Center’s (PEEC’s) new planetarium film, We are Stars, connects life on earth to the evolution of the universe by investigating the chemistry of stars. This family-friendly film will premiere at 7 p.m., Friday, April 29 in the Los Alamos Nature Center planetarium, Astrophysicist Dr. Richard Wallace will give a talk and be available

EPA Must Act Now To Protect Public From Teflon Chemical In Drinking Water

April 27, 2016 by Submitted by Chris Clark

EPA News:

By BILL WALKER

Investigations Editor

The Environmental Protection Agency was first alerted 15 years ago to contamination of drinking water by PFOA, a chemical used to make Teflon that has since been linked to cancer, hormone disruption, heart disease and other serious health problems. Since then, PFOA pollution has grown from a regional problem to a national crisis.

Yet EPA still has not set a legal limit for the compound in drinking water, even in the face of repeated appeals from state officials and representatives of the public interest community.

Today

Stolen Passport To Pajarito Plateau Post Found

April 27, 2016 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

The wooden post in Acid Canyon for PEEC’s Passport to the Pajarito Plateau program has been found. Courtesy/PEEC

PEEC News:

The wooden post in Acid Canyon for PEEC’s Passport to the Pajarito Plateau program stolen over the weekend has been found, according to a PEEC spokesperson. The lost post was found this morning. Early this afternoon, it was reinstalled on the Acid Canyon Loop trail.

Since first discovering the missing post, Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) found another vandalized post on Bridges Loop trail. The post was dumped about 50 feet from its Read More

Fuller Lodge Art Center Takes Over Nature Center Tonight

April 26, 2016 by Submitted by Chris Clark

Bean and seed bottles are a fun and artistic way to learn about the Earth’s crust. Courtesy photo

PEEC News:

Full Lodge Art Center will spill the beans from 6-7:30 p.m., Tonight, April 26 at the Los Alamos Nature Center.

Tonight is community night, a free, family friendly event with hands-on activities. Tonight, the art center would like help creating a permanent nature mural using seeds and beans. Participants will learn about the Earth’s crust by creating their own bean bottles.

This artistic evening will take place at the Los Alamos

Scenes From Sunday Drive Through Gilman Tunnels

April 26, 2016 by Submitted by Chris Clark

Scenes from a drive through Gilman Tunnels Sunday afternoon. Photo by Robert Beberniss

Scenes from a drive through Gilman Tunnels Sunday afternoon. Photo by Robert Beberniss

Scenes from a drive through Gilman Tunnels Sunday afternoon. Photo by Robert Beberniss

Scenes from a drive through Gilman Tunnels Sunday afternoon. Photo by Robert Beberniss

Space Fence: Advancing Way To ID And Track Junk

April 26, 2016 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

The geographic separation and the higher wave frequency of the new Space Fence radars will allow for the detection of much smaller microsatellites and debris than current systems. Courtesy/Lockheed

HSNW News:

General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies earlier this month completed the construction and walk-through of the 7,000 square-foot radar receive array structure which is part of the U.S. Air Force Space Fence radar system.

With the array structure complete, the General Dynamics Space Fence team will dismantle the 700,000-pound steel structure and ship it to Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Read More

Tips For Pruning Weather Damaged Trees

April 25, 2016 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

By CARLOS VALDEZ

Los Alamos Extension Horticulturist

For moderate pruning repair jobs of weather damaged trees close to ground level, homeowners should follow these guidelines:

Smaller branches should be pruned back to the point where they join larger ones. Make the cut at a slant next to a bud that can produce new growth. Do not leave branch stubs as they encourage rot and decay.
Large branches that are broken should be cut back to either the trunk or main limb. Do not cut the branch flush with the trunk. Instead, cut outside the branch collar at the base of the branch.
Take all necessary safety