National Laboratory

Senators Press Increased Transparency on U.S. Drone Policy

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From left, Senators Ron Wyden, Martin Heinrich and Mark Udall

U.S. SENATE News:

U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Mark Udall, D-Colo. pressed the Obama administration today for additional transparency on U.S. drone policy, including its interpretations of when it can take lethal action outside of declared war zones and against Americans.

The senators – all members of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence – also said the American people have a right to know the “limits and boundaries” of the president’s power to take

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Luján’s Staff Holds Mobile Office Hours in Los Alamos Thursday

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Rep. Ben Ray Luján

Congressional News:

U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján’s staff will hold mobile office hours in the Third District Thursday, June 26. The Los Alamos time is 1-3 p.m. at Time Out Pizza, 1350 Central Ave.

Mobile office hours provide constituents who may not have the means or time to travel to one of Luján’s six district offices greater access to the services offered. Staff will be on hand to assist residents who have questions regarding Social Security benefits, immigration applications, veterans’ services, and other federal programs.

Staff in Los Alamos will be partnering with the Los Read More

Andrey Lakhov to Speak at Santa Fe Institute

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SFI News:

The Santa Fe Institute (SFI) will host a lecture by Andrey Lakhov of the Université Paris at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday., June 25, in the Collins Conference Room at the SFI, 1399 Hyde Park Road in Santa Fe.

Abstract. Understanding and quantifying the out-of-equilibrium dynamics is one of the major tasks of today’s science. Using dynamic cavity method on time trajectories, we show how to derive dynamic message-passing (DMP) equations for a large class of models with irreversible dynamics – the key point that makes the problem solvable. These equations are asymptotically exact Read More

‘Manhattan’ Premieres Sunday July 27

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Still shot from WGN’s America’s ‘Manhattan.’ Trailer PrintScreen/LADP

Still shot from WGN’s America’s ‘Manhattan.’ Trailer PrintScreen/LADP

Staff Report

New Mexico media was invited Saturday to be among the first to see the New Mexico set and meet the cast of WGN’s America’s “Manhattan” – an original drama series scheduled to premiere Sunday, July 27. 

Created and written by Sam Shaw (“Masters of Sex”) and directed by Emmy Award-winning director Thomas Schlamme (“The West Wing”), “Manhattan” enters the world of deception, danger and sacrifices

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Los Alamos Field Office Safety Systems Expert Chris Fischahs Earns DOE Award

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Chris Fischahs

NNSA News:

The U.S. Department of Energy recently awarded Chris Fischahs its annual Safety System Oversight (SSO) Award. At the time of the award, Fischahs was an SSO staff member on the Safety Evaluation Team at the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Los Alamos Field Office.

The award is in recognition of the extensive safety systems oversight Fischahs performed in 2013, and the resulting improvements in operational safety at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). His operational awareness and oversight activities consistently provided Los Alamos Read More

DOE Releases Water-Energy Nexus Report

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DOE News:

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released a new report that presents an integrated challenge and opportunity around the water-energy nexus for DOE and its partners, and lays the foundation for future efforts.  

Present day water and energy systems are closely intertwined. Water is used in all phases of energy production and electricity generation. Energy is required to extract and deliver clean water for a broad spectrum of human uses. 

Recent developments have focused national attention on the connection between water and energy production. When severe Read More

Passenger Numbers For Los Alamos-ABQ Commuter Flights Spike!

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COUNTY News: 

  • NM Airlines Hopes to Better Connect DOE Lab Employees to LANL

Officials at the Los Alamos County Airport expect as much as a 30 percent increase in the number of passengers in recent months aboard their Los Alamos–Albuquerque flights.

In May 2014 alone, the airport saw a dramatic 15 percent increase in total passengers flying aboard New Mexico Airlines. The uptick in travelers is likely the direct result of recent schedule modifications and the addition of new flights, according to Airport Manager Peter Soderquist.  

Effective May 12, 2014, New Mexico Airlines revised Read More

Laboratory to Close East Side of ‘Y’ Parking Lot June 23 – July 2

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LANL News:

Los Alamos National Laboratory’s Environmental Programs will close the east side of the parking lot at the White Rock “Y” at the interchange of N.M. 4 and N.M. 502 from Monday, June 23 to Wednesday, July 2. 

The closure is necessary for crews to safely close three water monitoring wells, part of a multi-year program to plug and abandon characterization boreholes and wells. 

Plugging and abandoning boreholes and wells that are no longer needed keeps the remaining holes from turning into pathways to groundwater.

“Our Read More

Hazardous Devices Teams Showcase Skills at Robot Rodeo June 24-27

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A hazardous devices team robot pulls a fire hose from a reel during a Robot Rodeo competition and exercise. Courtesy/LANL

LANL News:

Hazardous devices teams from around the Southwest will wrangle their bomb squad robots at the eighth annual Robot Rodeo beginning Tuesday, June 24 at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

“The Robot Rodeo gives bomb squad teams the opportunity to practice and hone their skills in a lively but low-risk setting,” said Chris Ory of LANL’s Emergency Response Group and a member of the Lab’s hazardous devices team.

The rodeo gets under way at 8 a.m. in Technical Area 49, a remote Read More

DOE Awards $100 Million for Innovative Energy Research

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U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz

DOE News:

U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz has announced the awarding of $100 million for Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs) to accelerate scientific breakthroughs needed to build the 21st-century energy economy. The research supported by the initiative will enable fundamental advances in energy production, storage and use.

“Today, we are mobilizing some of our most talented scientists to join forces and pursue the discoveries and breakthroughs that will lay the foundation for our nation’s energy future,” Moniz said. “The funding we’re announcing Read More