Science

James M. Boncella, Los Alamos Actinide Chemist, Named Fellow In American Chemical Society

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James M. Boncella selected as a 2017 Fellow in the American Chemical Society. Courtsy/LANL 

LANL News:

James M. Boncella, deputy group leader in Los Alamos National Laboratory’s Inorganic, Isotope and Actinide Chemistry group, has been selected as a 2017 Fellow in the American Chemical Society (ACS). 

The ACS Fellows Program recognizes members who have both made exceptional scientific contributions and who have provided excellent volunteer service to the ACS community.

Boncella was selected as Fellow for his seminal discoveries in actinide chemistry and for his long and Read More

LAF&SF Features Bob Reinovsky Wednesday

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The community is invited to attend the LAF&SF talk by Bob Reinovsky Wednesday at 1738 N Sage Loop. Courtesy/ESA/Hubble, NASA

LAF&SF News:

Bob Reinovsky continues the Los Alamos Faith and Science Forum summer series Wednesday, June 28 by speaking on “Hopelessness”. 

The theme of the summer series talks is “Hope: Science, Religion and the Future”.

The meeting formats include a light supper at 6 p.m., talk at 6:30 p.m., followed by questions for the speaker and then table discussions. These talks are in the Fellowship Hall of the Unitarian Church at 1738 N Sage Loop in Los Alamos. Read More

Scientists Solve Mystery Of Unexplained ‘Bright Nights’

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The different layers of Earth’s airglow can be seen from the International Space Station as it orbits Earth. The very thin green layer above the bottom of the window occurs 95 kilometers (59 miles) above Earth’s surface; the red region above is a different type of airglow. The rectangle represents the portion of the airglow measured in a single WINDII image. Courtesy/American Geophysical Union
 
AGU News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Dating back to the first century, scientists, philosophers and reporters have noted the occasional occurrence of “bright nights,” when an unexplained glow
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AGU: Extraordinary Storms Cause Massive Antarctic Sea Ice Loss In 2016

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By LAUREN LIPUMA
American Geophysical Union
 
A series of unprecedented storms over the Southern Ocean likely caused the most dramatic decline in Antarctic sea ice seen to date, a new study finds.
 
Antarctic sea ice – frozen ocean water that rings the southernmost continent – has grown over the past few decades but declined sharply in late 2016. By March of 2017 – the end of the Southern Hemisphere’s summer – Antarctic sea ice had reached its lowest area since records began in 1978.
 
In a new study, scientists puzzled by the sudden ice loss matched satellite images of Antarctica
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Crowd Gathers For Georgetown Theologian, Professor John Haught Lecture At Fuller Lodge

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A crowd turned out Thursday at Fuller Lodge to hear Professor John Haught lecture on ‘Science, Religion, And Cosmic Purpose’. Photo by Morrie Pongratz

Los Alamos Faith and Science Forum News:

A crowd gathered at Fuller Lodge Thursday evening to hear Georgetown Theologian, Professor John Haught, lecture on “Science, Religion, and Cosmic Purpose”.

Professor Haught addressed the question of whether the universe may reasonably be said to have a purpose. Professor Haught said that evolution has shown us that there is a cosmic drama or story and it is still unfolding. Following the ideas presented Read More

The Curious Case Of The Warped Kuiper Belt

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A yet-to-be-discovered, unseen ‘planetary mass object’ makes its existence known by ruffling the orbital plane of distant Kuiper Belt objects, according to research by Kat Volk and Renu Malhotra of the UA’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. The object is pictured on a wide orbit far beyond Pluto in this artist’s illustration. Courtesy/Heather Roper/LPL
 
UA News:
 
TUCSON, Ariz. — An unknown, unseen “planetary mass object” may lurk in the outer reaches of our solar system, according to new research on the orbits of minor planets to be published
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SFI: The InterPlanetary Project Panel Discussion July 18

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SFI News:
 
At 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 18, The InterPlanetary Project‘s kick-off event is a panel discussion at the historic Lensic Performing Arts Center in downtown Santa Fe.
 
Panelists will consider questions like these: What will it take to become an InterPlanetary civilization? How should we address the most pressing problems of Earth to tackle a challenge at this scale? What will success mean for future generations? What is holding humanity back and what do we all need to achieve in terms of novel governance, new technologies, shared resources,
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AGU: Wildfires Pollute Much More Than Previously Thought

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AGU News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Summer wildfires boost air pollution considerably more than previously believed.
 
Naturally burning timber and brush launch what are called fine particles into the air at a rate three times as high as levels noted in emissions inventories at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, according to a new study. The microscopic specks that form aerosols are a hazard to human health, particularly to the lungs and heart.
 
“Burning biomass produces lots of pollution. These are really bad aerosols to breathe from a health point of view,” said
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Highly Anticipated 2017 ScienceFest Celebrates 100th Anniversary Of Los Alamos Ranch School

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SCIENCEFEST News:
 
The highly anticipated annual event, Los Alamos ScienceFest returns this year from July 13–16 and features events packed full of science, adventure, learning, and fun.
 
This year’s theme celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Los Alamos Ranch School and features special events that allow participants to step back into the past and experience the fun of old-fashioned Ranch School days and summer camps, as well as informative tours and events for the entire family.
 
The Los Alamos Ranch School started in 1917 as a boys’ school that
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Pajarito Astronomers Hold Dark Night June 24

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PAJARITO ASTRONOMERS News:
 
The Pajarito Astronomers is holding a County sponsored Dark Night at 8:30 p.m. (sunset), Saturday, June 24, at Spirio Soccer Field, Overlook Park in White Rock.
 
Weather permitting, the public is invited to come out, wander among the telescopes, and star gaze. Jupiter and its moons and Saturn with its rings and moons should be visible during the evening. There will be a tour of the summer constellations, and there will be telescope views of double stars, star clusters, nebulae and galaxies.
 
The public is invited and encouraged
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