National Laboratory

LANL: Black Hole Birth Captured by Cosmic Voyeurs

by

LANL astrophysicist Tom Vestrand poses with a telescope array that is part of the RAPTOR (RAPid Telescopes for Optical Response) system. RAPTOR is an intelligent visual system that scans the skies for optical anomalies and zeroes in on them when it detects them. This unique capability allowed the system to witness the rare birth of a black hole in the constellation Leo recently. Courtesy/LANL

LANL News:

  • Los Alamos scientists get ringside seats at rare event

Intelligent telescopes designed by Los Alamos National Laboratory got a front row seat recently for an unusual birth.

“Los Alamos’ RAPTOR Read More

Udall’s Amendments Address Lab Research, Tech Transfer, B61 LEP, Veterans’ Homelessness

by

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall
 
U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall announced that he has introduced several amendments to a major national defense bill, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which sets Department of Defense spending levels and policies for the upcoming fiscal year.

Udall’s five amendments include measures to fight unemployment and homelessness among veterans by improving access to education and life skills training for service members; help increase collaboration between the labs, nonprofits and foundations by streamlining

Read More

AGU: Rediscovered Apollo Data Gives First Measure of How Fast Moon Dust Piles Up

by

The Lunar Dust Detector, attached to the leftmost corner of this experiment package left by the Apollo 12 astronauts, made the first measurement of lunar dust accumulation. As the matchbox-sized device’s three solar panels became covered by dust, the voltage they produced dropped. Courtesy/NASA
 
AGU News:
 
Washington, D.C.—When Neil Armstrong took humanity’s first otherworldly steps in 1969, he didn’t know what a nuisance the lunar soil beneath his feet would prove to be. The scratchy dust clung to everything it touched, causing scientific instruments to overheat and, for
Read More

LANL Community Leaders’ Breakfast Draws Crowd

by

Influential people from around northern New Mexico gathered at the El Dorado Hotel in Santa Fe Tuesday for the LANL Community Leaders’ Breakfast. Los Alamos National Laboratory scientists were seated at each table to share their research in a wide variety of areas. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
 
Dist. 43 Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard with Director Kurt Steinhaus of LANL’s Community Programs Office, was among legislators from across the state in attendance at Tuesday’s breakfast event. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
 
Alan Bishop,
Read More

LANL: HIV Virus Spread and Evolution Studied Through Computer Modeling

by

HIV Virus. Courtesy/LANL

LANL News:

Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory are investigating the complex relationships between the spread of the HIV virus in a population (epidemiology) and the actual, rapid evolution of the virus (phylogenetics) within each patient’s body.

“We have developed novel ways of estimating epidemics dynamics such as who infected whom, and the true population incidence of infection versus mere diagnoses dates,” said Thomas Leitner, principal investigator. “Obviously, knowledge about these things is important for public health monitoring, decision Read More

Comments Sought on Draft LANL Natural Resource Damage Assessment Plan

by

LANL News:

The Los Alamos National Laboratory Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustee Council (LANL Trustee Council) announces the release of the Draft LANL Natural Resource Damage Assessment Plan (Draft Damage Assessment Plan), the beginning of a 30-day public comment period, and the date and location of a public meeting regarding the LANL Natural Resource Damage Assessment. The LANL Trustee Council is composed of representatives of the State of New Mexico, the U.S. Department of Energy, the Pueblo of Jemez, the Pueblo de San Ildefonso, Santa Clara Pueblo, and the U.S. Department Read More

Leadership Los Alamos Session Targets Economic Development

by

Los Alamos Chamber Manager Katy Korkos leads a discussion on business funding at Friday’s Leadership Los Alamos session. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ldailypost.com

LANL Budget Officer Aaron Menefee discusses various aspects of the Lab’s budget at Friday’s LLA session. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ldailypost.com

David Pesiri, Division Leader, Technology Transfer at LANL gives a presentation Friday. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ldailypost.com

STAFF REPORT

Friday’s Leadership Los Alamos (LLA) session at the Research Park focused on Economic Development. Los Alamos Chamber Read More

High-Activity Radioactive Materials Removed From Mexico

by

Anne Harrington

NASA News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has announced that it recovered high-activity radioactive materials from an oncology clinic in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. NNSA’s Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) and the Mexican National Commission for Nuclear Security and Safeguards (CNSNS) jointly supported the removal and the device containing the source was packaged and securely transported to the U.S. for final disposition.

“This operation is part of NNSA’s broad strategy to strengthen both U.S. and global Read More

LANL Team Contributes to First Bionic Eye

by

Schematic of artificial retina system. Courtesy/DOE

LANL News:

As part of the multi-­institutional Artificial Retina Project, Los Alamos researchers helped develop the first bionic eye.

Recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Argus II will help people blinded by the rare hereditary disease retinitis pigmentosa or seniors suffering from severe macular degeneration—diseases that destroy the light-­sensing cell in the retina. Los Alamos scientists served as the Advanced Concepts team, focusing on fundamental issues and out-­of the box ideas.

The Argus II operates Read More