Science

JILA’s 3-D Quantum Gas Atomic Clock Offers New Dimensions In Measurement

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JILA’s three-dimensional (3-D) quantum gas atomic clock consists of a grid of light formed by three pairs of laser beams. A stack of two tables is used to configure optical components around a vacuum chamber. Shown here is the upper table, where lenses and other optics are mounted. A blue laser beam excites a cube-shaped cloud of strontium atoms located behind the round window in the middle of the table. Strontium atoms fluorescence strongly when excited with blue light. Courtesy/G.E. Marti/JILA
 
NIST News:
 
JILA physicists have created an entirely new design for an atomic clock,
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Garcia Richard: Science Under Threat

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By Rep. STEPHANIE GARCIA RICHARD
Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Sandoval and Santa Fe

I represent Los Alamos; where we take science seriously. And here we know two things: we know that we want our students to be taught real science. So why should we teach any other student in New Mexico anything less than that? And we know that if our students are taught anything less than rigorous, demanding scientific theory, then they will be left out.

You may have seen the NM Public Education Department’s version of the science standards described by a national magazine with the headline: “New Mexico doesn’t want you Read More

County: Parks & Recreation Board Set To Discuss Capital Projects At Oct. 12 Meeting

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COUNTY News:

Capital projects for Golf Course Improvements, Ice Rink Improvements, Pinon Park Splash Pad and a Kiddie Pool that were moved forward by County Council at its Aug. 8 meeting will be discussed by the Parks and Recreation Board next Thursday, Oct. 12.

This will be the public’s opportunity to see what is now being considered for these four projects, and the public is welcome to attend the meeting at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers. No action will be taken; the Oct. 12 meeting is for Board discussion only and public comments will be accepted.

The next step in the process will include Read More

Bradbury Science Museum Question Of The Month: Why Not Harness Lightning For Renewable Energy Source?

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Lightning striking behind LANL’s main technical area. Courtesy/BSM

BRADBURY SCIENCE MUSEUM News:

Given that lightning generates so much electricity, why don’t we harness it as a renewable energy source?

While it’s true that a single lightning bolt could power the entire city of Santa Fe for about a minute, there are some issues with capturing lightning as an energy source.

First, while there are some areas of the planet (like the Sangre de Cristo mountains near Santa Fe and the Florida coast) that get a higher than average number of lightning strikes, getting lightning to exactly strike

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LANL: Four Entrepreneurial Fellows Announced In New Postdoctoral Training Program

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The four postdoctoral researchers named Entrepreneurial Fellows at LANL include Vamshi Chillara, Jessica Kubicek-Sutherland, Anand Kumar and Maruti Mudunuru. Courtesy/LANL

LANL News:

Four postdoctoral researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory have been named Entrepreneurial Fellows as part of a new joint initiative of the University of California and Los Alamos.

The researchers will participate in a six-month pilot program designed to help early-career scientists think about their technologies from a commercial perspective and bring them to the marketplace faster.

“These Read More

School Board Talks Back To PED On Science Standards

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LAPS News:

Recently, the Public Education Department asked for comments about their proposed science standards for New Mexico public schools. Being that Los Alamos is a community that highly values science, the Los Alamos School Board has written a response to PED.

The School Board recommends adoption of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). (See resolution below)

During last week’s School Board Work Session, board members reviewed and unanimously accepted the draft resolution with feedback about PED’s proposed science standards. Incorporated within the resolution were comments Read More

Hunt Over For A ‘Top 50 Most-Wanted Fungi’

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Researchers from LANL and several other institutions have characterized a sample of ‘mystery’ fungus and found its home in the fungal tree of life. Courtesy/LANL

LANL News:

  • Tree of life still holds mysteries in the fungal world – millions of them

In a step toward bridging the gap between fungal taxonomy and molecular ecology, scientists from several institutions including Los Alamos National Laboratory have characterized a sample of “mystery” fungus collected in North Carolina and found its home in the fungal tree of life.

“Working estimates tell us that there should be more than 5 million Read More

Los Alamos Scientists Named 2017 Laboratory Fellows

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Los Alamos National Laboratory’s 2017 Fellows, clockwise from top left, Donald Burton, Turab Lookman, Stephen Doorn and Manvendra Dubey. Courtesy/LANL

LANL News: 

  • Researchers recognized for outstanding science research and leadership

Four Los Alamos National Laboratory scientists have been named 2017 Fellows: Donald Burton, Stephen Doorn, Manvendra Dubey, and Turab Lookman.

“Becoming a Los Alamos National Laboratory Fellow is one of the highest accomplishments in the Lab,” Laboratory Director Charles McMillan said. “Each of these scientists has demonstrated sustained Read More

Commentary: Science Education Is Essential To New Mexico’s Future

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By U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich
As senators who proudly represent the world-class scientists at New Mexico’s national laboratories, research universities, military installations and high-tech businesses, we call on policymakers to use science as a guiding light. 
 
Our capacity to seize opportunities and face the many challenges ahead rests heavily on our ability to make decisions driven by scientific data. And our state’s economic future depends on ensuring that the next generation has the knowledge and skills – especially in science and math – to qualify for
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NNSA: No Risk Of An Inadvertent Criticality At LANL From Aug. 18 Event

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By MAIRE O’NEILL
Los Alamos Daily Post
maire@ladailypost.com

Reaction has been widespread to a memorandum issued Sept. 1 by the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board regarding what it calls a criticality safety event that occurred Aug. 18 at the Los Alamos National Laboratory Plutonium Facility.

National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) officials are now saying that the amount of material involved was well within parameters known to be safe and that there was no risk of an inadvertent criticality at any time.

The DNFSB memorandum indicates that the event occurred in the casting Read More