National Laboratory

Los Alamos National Laboratory Offers New Insights Into Radiation Damage Evolution

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Researchers at Los Alamos are studying complex materials issues, in this case the defects deep inside certain types of cubic metals. This image shows a reaction between two “stacking fault tetrahedra,” a perfect SFT containing 15 vacancies and a defective SFT containing 13 vacancies. As the smaller SFT migrates through the material, (frames a and b), it eventually encounters the larger SFT (frame c), reacting with it to form a larger, perfect SFT containing 28 vacancies. The time for this reaction to occur at 700 degrees K is 237.64 nanoseconds. Courtesy/LANL

LANL News:

  • Understanding
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LANL Reduces Water Use By 26 Percent In 2014

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Cheryl Cabbil

LANL News:

Use of reclaimed water fuels decrease

Los Alamos National Laboratory decreased its water usage by 26 percent in 2014, with about one-third of the reduction attributable to using reclaimed water to cool a supercomputing center.

Michael Brandt

“Our goal during 2014 was to use only re-purposed water to support our mission at the Strategic Computing Complex (SCC), and we achieved that goal,” said Cheryl Cabbil, associate director of Nuclear and High Hazard Operations, which administers the Sanitary Effluent Reclamation Facility (SERF).

The reclamation facility Read More

Scenes From Saturday’s Pi Day At The Bradbury

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Exploring Pi Saturday at the Bradbury Science Museum. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
 
Carrie Manore of LANL explains the wonders of Pi during a talk Saturday at the Bradbury. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
 
People of all ages gather Saturday at the Bradbury to hear mathematicians from Los Alamos National Laboratory explain the qualities of Pi. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
 
A pie for Pi day. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
 
Getting busy at the Bradbury on Pi day. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
 
Girl
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WIPP Begins Underground Decontamination Activities

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The spraying machine has three articulating spray arms that allow it to apply the water mist at various angles and heights. Courtesy/WIPP

Yellow brattice cloth is suspended from the ceiling in this disposal room. It is rolled down to prevent air flow to the room. Brattice cloth also will serve as a barrier to decontaminate floors. Courtesy/WIPP

WIPP News:

Activities are underway in WIPP’s underground facility to address the radioactive contamination that remains as a result of the February 14, 2014 event. Employees are using a modified piece of agricultural spraying equipment that allows Read More

SFI: Finding Cultural Holes – How Structure And Culture Diverge In Networks Of Scholarly Communication

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Jevin West
University of Washington

SFI News:

The Santa Fe Institute is hosting a colloquium with Jevin West at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 17 at Noyce Conferance Room at the SFI in Santa Fe. 

Abstract: Divergent interests, expertise, and language form cultural barriers to communication. No formalism has been available to characterize these “cultural holes.” Here we use information theory to measure cultural holes and demonstrate our formalism in the context of scientific communication using papers from JSTOR.

We extract scientific fields from the structure of citation

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PEEC Hosts Dr. Richard T. Sayre Presentation On Making Next Generation Biofuel Systems Work

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Dr. Richard T. Sayre

LOS ALAMOS – The Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) will host a special presentation by Dr. Richard T. Sayre of Los Alamos about next generation biofuel systems.

The presentation is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 17 at the Reel Deal Theater. There is no cost to attend, however donations to support PEEC are appreciated.

Among the suite of technologies being developed for sustainable energy production is the biological conversion of solar energy into chemical energy (biomass). Plants and algae use solar energy to reduce carbon dioxide to carbohydrates, proteins Read More

DOE Releases Wind Report, Examines Industry Future

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DOE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C.―In support of the President’s all-of-the-above energy strategy to diversify the nation’s power supplies, the Energy Department just released a new report looking at the future of wind power through 2050 and the economic benefits that come with a robust wind industry.
 
The report, Wind Vision: A New Era for Wind Power in the United States, confirms that with technological advancements driving projected cost reductions, in combination with continued siting and transmission development, wind power can be economically deployed to provide
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SFI Presents: Young Frankenstein March 16

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SFI News:
The popular Science On Screen series continues March 16 in Santa Fe with SFI Omidyar Fellow Eric Libby returning to present Young Frankenstein.
“What hump?” Mel Brooks’ classic 1974 comedy — ranked as one of the funniest films of all time — is introduced by Eric Libby during a national Science on Screen event March 16. Libby, a Santa Fe Institute Omidyar Fellow who presented Alien at Science on Screen in December 2014, is a biologist fascinated by how organisms change form.
The show begins at 7 p.m. at the Center for Contemporary Arts
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Celebrate Pi Day At Bradbury Science Museum Saturday

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Bradbury Science Museum. Courtesy/LANL

LANL News:

Learn more about Pi, the mathematical constant representing the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, by visiting Los Alamos Nationl Laboratory Bradbury Science Museum and celebrating Pi Day Saturday, March 14 on Central Avenue at 15th Street, and next door at Time Out Pizzeria.

Events include talks beginning at noon by LANL mathematicians Sara Del Valle, Carrie Manore and Kyle Hickmann at Time Out Pizzeria. To celebrate Pi Day, Time Out Pizzeria is offering a one-topping Read More

Free Training Offered For Los Alamos History Tour Guides – Kickoff Meeting March 26

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HISTORICAL SOCIETY News:
 
The Los Alamos Historical Society is gearing up for tourist season by offering free training about the community’s history and historic district.
 
Those interested in the training should attend a kickoff meeting at 3 p.m. Thursday, March 26 in the Nambè Room of Fuller Lodge. It will be led by professional tour guide Georgia Strickfaden. 
 
Training is free and open to the public; registration is not required. Potential tour guides, museum docents and the public are encouraged to participate in nine training
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