Nation

Black Carbon Much Larger Cause of Climate Change Than Previously Assessed

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Cutting back on emissions from diesel engines could slow global warming immediately, according to a new study. Courtesy/EPA

Schematic overview of the primary black carbon emission sources and the processes that control the distribution of black carbon in the atmosphere and determine its role in the climate system. Courtesy/ AGU

AGU News:

WASHINGTON—Black carbon is the second largest man-made contributor to global warming and its influence on climate has been greatly underestimated, according to the first quantitative and comprehensive analysis of this pollutant’s climate impact.. Read More

Emerge New Mexico Women Sworn in to State House

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Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard

ENM News:

Monday, Jan. 14, Stephanie Garcia Richard, Emily Kane, Georgene Louis, Patricia Roybal Caballero and Elizabeth Thomson begin their tenures as New Mexico State Representatives.

All five have participated in Emerge New Mexico, the premier training program for Democratic women.

“All of these women are inspiring and true leaders,” said Ambrosia Ortiz y Prentice, Executive Director of Emerge New Mexico. “Their dedication to public service and willingness to work hard to attain these positions are commendable.”

Rep. Garcia Richard represents the Read More

NIST Patent Could Give ‘Lab on a Chip’ Technology Long Shelf Life

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A recent NIST patent shows that nanopores, which may one day help doctors perform quick analysis of blood samples, are not harmed by the polymerization process that could help nanopores operate in biochips. Polymerization hardens and stabilizes the membrane surrounding the nanopores, both of which are beneficial effects. Courtesy Robertson/NIST

NIST News:

Having blood drawn and analyzed to diagnose disease is a process that can take a few days, but what if your doctor could perform this analysis in moments, right before your eyes?

That’s the promise of “lab on a chip” technology, and researchers Read More

Bataan Survivors’ Stories Entered Into Library of Congress

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U.S. SENATE News:
 
ALBUQUERQUE—In partnership with the office of Sen. Tom Udall and The Oasis Veterans History Project in New Mexico, New Mexico PBS has been asked to submit the unedited footage of interviews conducted for the television program BATAAN: A 70TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION, for inclusion into the permanent collection at the Library of Congress.
 
As a companion to the documentary TRAGEDY OF BATAAN, New Mexico PBS produced the program BATAAN: A 70TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION, with survivors of the surrender of Bataan.
 
New Mexico PBS recorded 1 1/2 hours of
Read More

President Signs Katie Sepich Bill Into Law

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President Barack Obama. Courtesy photo
 
U.S. SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall reported that today President Barack Obama signed the Katie Sepich Enhanced DNA Collection Act of 2012 into law.
 
Katie’s Law will expand DNA collection efforts from serious criminal offenders in order to save lives, solve crimes and prevent future tragedies from occurring at the hands of repeat offenders.
 
The bill was named for a New Mexico State University graduate student who was brutally raped and murdered in 2003.
 
Because New Mexico did not collect DNA from
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New Mexico in Focus Features Udall, Martinez

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Host/Commentator Gene Grant

NMiF News:

With a new Congress assembling in Washington, D.C. and the upcoming legislative session in Santa Fe, this week NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS talks to key leaders.

• U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., just four years into his first term, is now the senior senator from New Mexico. NMiF producer Matt Grubs speaks with Udall about the fiscal cliff’s real cost to middle class taxpayers and the battle the senator is leading to reform the filibuster in the Senate.

• New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez is already making news with the announcement that she’ll accept a federal offer to expand Read More

NNSA Selects CNS to Manage Consolidated Contract for Nuclear Production Operations

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NNSA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Courtesy/NNSA

NNSA News:

  • New Partnership Shapes Future of Nuclear Security, Saves Taxpayers more than $3 Billion

WASHINGTON, D.C.–In a move that shapes the future of the United States’ nuclear security enterprise and will save $3.27 billion in taxpayer dollars over the next decade, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) today announced that Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (CNS) has been selected to be the management and operating contractor for the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tenn., and the Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Read More

Bringing Calorimetry to CT Dose Assessment

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Heather Chen-Mayer at the PET/CT scanner with HDPE phantoms. The large sections are for whole-torso measurements; the small cylinder is one of two other sizes tested in the course of the project. Courtesy/NIST.

NIST News:

In the United States, about 80 million x-ray computed tomography (CT) scans are made every year – 7 million of them on children – according to the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM.)

Not surprisingly, there is intense interest in accurate determination of the radiation doses that patients receive from CT machines, and researchers are actively seeking Read More

Quantum Gas Goes Below Absolute Zero

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Temperature in a gas can reach below absolute zero thanks to a quirk of quantum physics. Michal Bednarek/Thinkstock

NATURE News:

Quantum Gas Goes Below Absolute Zero
By Zeeya Merali

It may sound less likely than hell freezing over, but physicists have created an atomic gas with a sub-absolute-zero temperature for the first time1.

Their technique opens the door to generating negative-Kelvin materials and new quantum devices, and it could even help to solve a cosmological mystery.

Lord Kelvin defined the absolute temperature scale in the mid-1800s in such a way that nothing could be colder Read More

Luján Appointed Chief Deputy Whip

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Ben Ray Luján

U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District was appointed Chief Deputy Whip today for the 113 Congress by House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer.

“I look forward to this new opportunity to work with Whip Hoyer and assist in House Democrats’ efforts to promote an agenda that creates jobs and opportunities for the American people,” Luján said. “Whip Hoyer’s efforts have led to a unified and strong Democratic Caucus, and I am excited to work closely with my colleagues to build a united front on policies that will lead to a stronger economy Read More