Science

UC Riverside: Biological Cleanup Process Discovered For Certain ‘Forever Chemical’ Pollutants

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UC RIVERSIDE News:

University of California, Riverside, chemical and environmental engineering scientists have identified two species of bacteria found in soil that break down a class of stubborn “forever chemicals,” giving hope for low-cost biological cleanup of industrial pollutants. 

These bacteria destroy a subgroup of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, that have one or more chlorine atoms within their chemical structure, Yujie Men, an assistant professor in the Bourns College of Engineering, and her UCR colleagues, reported in the journal Natural Water.

Unhealthful Read More

UC Riverside: Non-Native Plant Thrives In Singed Soil

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Stinknet. Photo by John Scheuring

UC Riverside News:

Though prescribed burns reduce wildfire threats and even improve habitat for some animals, new research shows these fires also spread stinknet, an aptly named weed currently invading superblooms across the Southwestern U.S. 

Stinknet, also called globe chamomile, is native to South Africa, but is commonly seen in photos of California’s colorful superblooms. “Not all flowering plants are indicative of a healthy ecosystem,” Loralee Larios said, UC Riverside assistant botany professor and study co-author. “This one isn’t.”

In addition Read More

U.S. Army Awards Verus® Research $203 Million Contract

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VERUS RESEARCH News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Verus® Research, a New Mexico-based team of scientists and engineers specializing in advanced research and development, announces its largest contract to date.

The company was awarded a $203 million ceiling increase on its current indefinite delivery indefinite quality (IDIQ) contract with the U.S. Army’s Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI). The Test and Evaluation Non-Kinetic (TEN-K) contract enables Verus Research to further improve the U.S. Department of Defense’s ability to test the effectiveness Read More

LAF&SF To Sponsor Lectures By John Haught May 30-31

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John Haught, PhD
Emeritus Faculty
Distinguished Research Professor
Theology Dept. Georgetown University

LAF&SF News:

The Los Alamos Faith and Science Forum (LAF&SF) is honored to sponsor two lectures by John Haught based on his latest two books, God after Einstein (Yale University Press, 2021); and The Cosmic Vision of Teilhard de Chardin (Orbis Press, 2022), at 6:30 p.m. May 30-31 at Fuller Lodge.

Professor Haught has participated in numerous lectures and panels discussing the meaning behind the writings of Teilhard de Chardin. His books and lectures focus on a vision of reality Read More

AFRL, NASA Partner With Eight Universities For New Mission Concept Program

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University Nanosat Program students present their work to reviewers from the Air Force Research Laboratory, NASA, Missile Defense Agency, and Space Dynamics Lab in Albuquerque, N.M., Aug. 15, 2021. AFRL and NASA announced a collaboration with eight universities for a new Mission Concept Program from Jan. 5 to Feb. 3, 2023. The program, sponsored by AFRL’s Space Vehicles Directorate, is held under the University Nanosatellite Program, or UNP, which started in 1999 and has collaborated with over 40 universities since its inception. Photo by Jesse Olson/U.S. Air Force

AFRL News:

KIRTLAND Read More

Jennifer Hayden Named President And CEO Of National Museum Of Nuclear Science & History

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NMNSH President and CEO Jennifer J. Hayden

NMNSH News:

ALBUQUERQUE — The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History (NMNSH) Board of Trustees announced recently that Jennifer J. Hayden has been named president and chief executive officer. Hayden succeeds Jim Walther, who was executive director of the Nuclear Museum for 26 years. Walther retired in March of 2023.

Hayden has had several roles at the Nuclear Museum, most recently as deputy director. Hayden began her career at the museum in 2009 as the events and facility rental coordinator, transitioning to graphic designer and marketing Read More

LANL: Did Rising Seas Play Role In Viking Abandonment Of Greenland Settlements?

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Science: Did rising seas play a role in Viking abandonment of Greenland settlements?

The Vikings’ final disappearance from Greenland remains enigmatic. Historians and archaeologists attribute their departure to a range of environmental factors—worsening weather in a changing climate, flooding, erosion, shrinking markets for walrus ivory (a staple trade good) and ongoing conflict with the indigenous Inuit people. The story, it turns out, is a bit more complicated. New research adds another, surprising factor: Sea-level rise, driven counterintuitively by advancing glaciers, may
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SFI Community Lecture: ‘Visions For The Future Of Physics’ With John Baez Tuesday May 23

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Detail ‘Molle Rudesse’. Vassily Kandinsky, 1927. Courtesy/SFI

SFI News:

The Santa Fe Institute (SFI) will host a community lecture, ‘Visions for the Future of Physics’ with John Baeat 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 23 at the Lensic Performing Arts Center in Santa Fe.

The 20th century was, arguably, the century of physics. While there was immense progress on so-called “fundamental physics” — the basic laws governing matter, space, and time — fundamental physics has slowed to a crawl since 1980, despite an immense amount of work.

But, as Baez will explain in this SFI Community Lecture, there is exciting Read More

Pattern Energy Signs Power Purchase Agreements For Largest Wind Project In U.S. History

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Pattern New Mexico News:

          • SunZia Wind is the largest wind project in the Western Hemisphere – comprised of more than 3,500 MW of new wind generation – and located in Torrance, Lincoln and San Miguel counties in New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE — Pattern Energy Group LP (Pattern Energy), a leader in renewable energy and transmission infrastructure, announced it has signed long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with Shell Energy North America (US), L.P. (Shell Energy) and the Regents of the University of California, for a portion of the power from its 3,500+ MW SunZia Wind project.

Construction of Read More

Pajarito Astronomers Host Dark Night At Spirio Field Tonight!

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Pajarito Astronomers

Los Alamos County Parks, Recreation and Open Space Divisions have partnered up with the Pajarito Astronomers for the Dark Night program.

Anyone with an interest in star gazing and the chance to look through a telescope is invited to come out to Spirio Soccer Field this evening, May 20, at Overlook Park in White Rock.

The forecast is calling for clear skies in White Rock around sunset. Because of the recent rain and possibility for weather changes, volunteers will set up some or all telescopes in the parking lot. Please use caution and, if possible, use parking lights when approaching Read More