Los Alamos National Laboratory recently received a second presidential award as a climate champion. From left, Mathew Moury, Associate Under Secretary for Environment, Health, Safety and Security; Michael Sweitzer, NNSA; Josh Silverman, Director, DOE Office of Sustainability Support; Christy Goldfuss, Director, White House Council on Environmental Quality; Denny Hjeresen, LANL Waste Management Division; Leslie Hansen, LANL Environmental Protection Division and Jessica Arcidiacono and NNSA Sustainability Program Eric Bradley, DOE Office of Sustainability Support. Courtesy/LANL Read More
Environment
Roger This: All Aboard For The Paris Accord
By ROGER SNODGRASSLos Alamos Daily Post
The first week of the 21st meeting of the of the Conference of Parties (COP21) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is drawing to a close in Paris.
During this time the Earth has theoretically warmed an additional .0008degreesFahrenheit. That calculation is according to my own back-of-the-envelope extrapolation of a very broad scientific consensus that we are approaching a warming rate of about .04 degrees F per decade.
The alarming problem about these miniscule estimates is that we are beginning to cross a red line Read More
2015 Earth Treasures Show Rocks On!
A presenter explains how geodes are created to a young visitor at the 2015 Earth Treasures Show. The show continues today at the Masonic Temple, 15th and Canyon in Los Alamos. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
A variety of jewels for the wrist. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
Children create Rock Monsters at Saturday’s Earth Treasures Show. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
The main display hall attracts many vendors and visitors. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
Real crystal balls! Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.comChamisa School Recycle Bowl Challenge
Poster Contest grand prize winner Lia Rushton with County Environmental Services Manager Angelica Gurule, Chamisa Recycle Bowl Coordinators Megan Lee and Sabina Johns and poster contest coordinator Renee Mitsunaga. Courtesy photo
Grand Prize winning poster by Lia Rushton. Courtesy photo
COMMUNITY News:
Chamisa Elementary School and Los Alamos County worked together to enter the National Competition, Keep America Beautiful-Recycle Bowl Challenge. The challenge took place Oct. 19 to Nov. 15.
A GREEN TEAM comprised of
Read More DPU Seeks Input On Carbon Neutrality Definition
COUNTY News:The Board of Public Utilities (BPU) will review various recommendations included in the July 7, 2015 Future Electrical Energy Report over the next three Board meetings.
First up is the recommended definition for “Carbon Neutrality” which will be considered for adoption at at 5:30 p.m., at the Dec. 16, Board meeting scheduled in Council Chambers, 1000 Central Ave. in Los Alamos.
Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities (DPU) officials encourage Los Alamos citizens to go
Head Of CTBTO Dr. Lassina Zerbo Visits Los Alamos
CTBTO Executive Secretary Dr. Lassina Zerbo
NNSA News:
LAS VEGAS ― Dr. Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), visited NNSA’s Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) Nov. 23, as part of a multi-day itinerary that also included tours of national laboratories overseen by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), including Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).
While at Los Alamos, Zerbo discussed the laboratory’s Read More
NMED To Host Public Listening Sessions
NMED News:New Mexico Environment Department to Host Public Listening Sessions for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s SIP Call for Startup, Shutdown and Malfunction (SSM) Operations.
On May 22, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final action to ensure states have plans in place that are fully consistent with the Clean Air Act and recent court decisions concerning startup, shutdown and malfunction (SSM) operations.
In response to this final action, the New Mexico Environment Department Air Quality Bureau will be required to
Cleaning Up Abandoned Mines Could Cost Billions
CWP News:DENVER — A new report from the Center for Western Priorities finds the cost of cleaning up the 100,000 abandoned mines on national public lands across the American West could reach $21 billion.
The analysis shines a light on the costs Western states would be saddled with if national public lands were handed over to the states, a proposal which is gaining traction among some fringe anti-government groups and elected officials.
The recent environmental catastrophe at Colorado’s Gold King Mine highlighted the risk that abandoned
Dr. Sayre’s Frontiers In Science Talks Explore Strategies To Improve Photosynthesis, Increase Energy Yields
Dr. Richard Sayre
LANL News:
- First talk is Monday, Dec. 7 in Albuquerque
Los Alamos National Laboratory molecular biologist Richard Sayre will present two Frontiers in Science lectures, titled, “Hacking Photosynthesis: Growing Plants to Power Our Engines and Feed the World”.
In his talks, which begin Dec. 8, Dr. Sayre will discuss how improving photosynthetic efficiency may result in substantial increases in crop yields.
“Photosynthesis uses light from the sun and carbon dioxide from the air to make sugars that can be converted into energy-rich biofuels,” said Dr. Sayre, of the Laboratory’s Read More
LANL Researcher Pens Prizewinning Essay On Cancer
Ludmil Alexandrov
LANL News:
- Research focuses on preventing cancer through mutational signatures
Ludmil Alexandrov, of the Theoretical Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory, made strong points this week in the journal Science about the basic formation of human cancers, winning a 2015 Science & SciLifeLab Prize, on “Understanding the Origins of Human Cancer.”
“I have always been passionate about solving complex genomics puzzles and applying my skills towards better understanding the mechanism underlying cancer development,” said Alexandrov, Oppenheimer Fellow at Los Read More