Science

Testing Einstein: University Of Arizona Student Simulates Thousands Of Black Holes

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Lia Medeiros is a Steward Observatory graduate student whose research is supported by the NSF’s PIRE Project. Photo by Robert Demers/University of Arizona
 
UA News:
 
What: Modeling Variability and non-Kerr Spacetime Effects in Black Hole Images with Lia Medeiros, a doctoral student at the University of Arizona, 2:10-2:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 7, at 233rd Meeting of the American Astronomical Society, Washington State Convention Center at 705 Pike Street in Seattle, Washington.
 
Medeiros is developing mathematical models that will allow researchers to pit Einstein’s
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Amateur Naturalist: What Is Happening To The Birds?

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An American robin prepares to drink some water. Photo by Bob Walker
 
A Broad tailed hummingbird shows why it received its name. Photo by Bob Walker
 
By ROBERT DRYJA
Los Alamos
 
There are three sources of information about the bird populations of Los Alamos county.
 
Each has its own approach to gathering data. One approach considers where and what kinds of birds were breeding throughout the county. This involves dividing the county in to 60 blocks and visiting the blocks over four years.
 
A second approach involves people reporting the numbers and kinds of birds that
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AGU: Who Is Vulnerable To Tropical Cyclones And Why?

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A radar image of the Bhola cyclone, believed to be the deadliest tropical cyclone in world history, which struck Bangladesh Nov. 12, 1970, resulting in upwards of 300,000 deaths. Courtesy/NOAA
 
AGU News:
 
Tropical cyclones, and the torrential rains and strong winds these storms bring along with them, threaten coastal communities around the world and are expected to increase in intensity due to climate change. But not every tropical cyclone becomes a natural disaster and not every natural disaster results in human fatalities.
 
Whether or not a natural hazard, such as a tropical
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Nature On Tap: Updates In Astronomy Monday

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Dr. Galen Gisler will lead a panel of local astronomers at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 7 at UnQuarked Wine Room, on the latest updates in astronomy and upcoming lunar eclipse. Courtesy/LACD

CREATIVE DISTRICT News:

The community is invited to join the Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) and the Los Alamos Creative District, 5:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 7 at UnQuarked Wine Room in Central Park Square for Nature On Tap, to discuss the latest updates in astronomy and learn about the upcoming lunar eclipse.

Dr. Galen Gisler will lead a panel of local astronomers in this discussion.

On Tap is a series Read More

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Spacecraft Enters Close Orbit Around Bennu, Breaking Record

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Orbital A Beauty shot. Photo by Pam Scott/UA
 
UA News:
 
TUCSON, Ariz. — At 2:43 p.m. EST, Monday Dec. 31, while many on Earth prepared to welcome the New Year, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, 70 million miles (110 million kilometers) away, carried out a single, eight-second burn of its thrusters – and broke a space exploration record.
 
The spacecraft entered into orbit around the asteroid Bennu, and made Bennu the smallest object ever to be orbited by a spacecraft.
 
“The team continued our long string of successes by executing the orbit-insertion maneuver perfectly,”
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UNM Society Of Physics Chapter Named Outstanding Chapter For 2017-18

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Award-winning UNM chapter at Four Corners American Physical Society meeting. Courtesy/UNM

UNM News:

The UNM Society of Physics Chapter was recognized nationally recently as an Outstanding Chapter for 2017-18 by the American Institute of Physics.

The SPS Outstanding Chapter Awards are determined each academic year after a careful review of information, photos and supporting material that is presented in the annual SPS Chapter Reports. The UNM chapter focuses on making a difference in the community and strengthening students involvement in physics throughout the region. UNM’s Read More

Los Alamos National Laboratory World-Class User Facilities Foster Rich Research Opportunities

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The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory’s Pulsed Field Facility at LANL has a $30 million pulsed power infrastructure that includes this 1.43 gigawatt motor generator. Courtesy/LANL

LANL News:

Through its technology transfer efforts, Los Alamos National Laboratory can implement user facility agreements that allow its partners and other entities to conduct research at many of its unique facilities.

Its national user facilities are the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE), the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL), and the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies

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UNM Hosts 2nd Annual STEM Boomerang Event

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Exhibitors share information with attendees at STEM Boomerang. Courtesy/UNM
 
By AUTUMN BARBER
UNM

For the second year in a row, business, academic and economic development and government leaders from the city, state and region came together at The University of New Mexico to meet with recent highly-trained STEM professionals who are in and out of New Mexico.

STEM Boomerang was held Dec. 20 in UNM’s Student Union Building with well over 200 in attendance. The purpose of the “high-tech” job fair is to connect the dots between the many highly paid job opportunities that exist in New Mexico Read More

Nature On Tap: Latest Updates In Astronomy Jan. 7

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PEEC News:

Nature on Tap will discuss the latest updates in astronomy 5:30-7 p.m. Monday, Jan.7 at UnQuarked Wine Bar, 145 Central Park Square.

The event is free. Learn about the upcoming lunar eclipse and other topics of interest. Dr. Galen Gisler will lead a panel of local astronomers in this discussion.

Registration for this event is not required. This discussion is presented free by PEEC and the Los Alamos Creative District. Read More

NMMNHS Hosts ‘Encounter Party’ Following New Horizons Fly-By Of Kuiper Belt’s Ultima Thule

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Illustration of NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft encountering 2014 MU69 – nicknamed ‘Ultima Thule’ – a Kuiper Belt object that orbits one billion miles beyond Pluto. Set for New Year’s 2019, New Horizons’ exploration of Ultima will be the farthest space probe flyby in history. Courtesy image/NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI

NMMNHS News:

ALBUQUERQUE – NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft flew past Pluto July 14, 2015, but its mission didn’t end there. On New Year’s Day, the probe will perform another flyby of a Kuiper Belt object nicknamed Ultima Thule.

The New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Read More