Science

AFRL Partners With New Mexico State University To Test DEW Cooling Solutions

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Using a laser diode system on loan from the Air Force Research Laboratory, New Mexico State University associate professor Dr. Krishna Kota tests the seal integrity of the cooling flow loop located in the Surface-environment Interaction Research Laboratory (SIRE Lab) at NMSU. The flow loop will be used to test the ability of novel two-phase cooling approaches in handling the highly challenging, transient heat densities of directed energy weapon systems. Courtesy photo

AFRL News:

KIRTLAND AFB — The Air Force Research Laboratory Directed Energy Directorate recently signed a 5-year Strategic Read More

AGU: Passive Breathing Of Earth-Air – ‘Fingerprint’ Evidence From Moisture Records

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AGU News:

Abstract

“Earth-air” refers to air in the vadose zone. Studies have long suggested that earth-air undergoes a passive breathing effect due to atmospheric pumping. The earth-air can be modeled as an ideal gas in a closed system, so that the volume of earth-air varies as the atmospheric pressure (AP) fluctuates. When AP rises, earth-air is compressed, and external air is drawn into the vadose zone.

Conversely, when AP drops, earth-air expands, and moist earth-air enters the atmosphere. In arid regions, there is a moisture gradient in soil due to dryness of the climate: the humidity Read More

LANL: One Of These Things Is Not Like The Others, At Least For Viruses

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Courtesy/LANL

LANL News:

  • More accurate modeling of flu-like illness has important advantages for treating outbreaks, pandemics

The many respiratory viruses that cause influenza-like illness are generally reported and tracked by health professionals as one generic entity, despite the fact that the viruses and their various treatments can vary dramatically.

In the United States alone, some form of influenza-like illness, or ILI, infects nearly 50 million people every year. Now, new work from Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and the University of New Mexico shows that more detailed Read More

AGU: Tracking Ancient Earthquakes By Taking Temperature Of Faults

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The Punchbowl fault, an inactive ‘paleo-San Andreas fault’, is nestled in the San Andreas Mountains. In a new study, scientists use resistant zircon mineral grains to take the temperature of the fault, identifying ancient earthquakes and estimating how much energy was released in the rupture. Courtesy/Doc Searles

AGU News:

Understanding ancient earthquakes helps researchers estimate the hazards posed by modern earthquakes. Reported in a new study, geologists have come up with a new way to estimate intensity of these old events: take their temperature.

During an earthquake, the Read More

Ignorance, Failure, Uncertainty, & The Optimism Of Science – An SFI Community Lecture May 24

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Neuroscientist Stuart Firestein. Courtesy/SFI

SFI News:

Santa Fe Institute (SFI) presents a community lecture ‘Ignorance, Failure, Uncertainty, and the Optimism of Science’ by Stuart Firestein (Columbia University, Santa Fe Institute) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 24 at The Lensic Performing Arts Center, 211 W. San Francisco Street in Santa Fe.

Science is a fundamentally optimistic enterprise. More than a cheery disposition, it is the source of a philosophical outlook that we might call ‘optimistical’. It reliably produces fundamental and actionable knowledge about the world. We are Read More

Fort Union National Monument Hosts Junior Ranger Camps

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Kids explore the Army encampment at Junior Ranger Camp 2021. Courtesy/NPS

NPS News:

WATROUS ― Do you have a kid in your life who loves history, science, or engineering? Are they willing to get their hands a little bit muddy and learn new things? If so, come join Fort Union National Monument in June.

They will be hosting two Junior Ranger camps in 2022: Thursday, June 2 (for ages 7-9) and Friday, June 3rd (for ages 10-12).

Check-in will begin 9 a.m. and activities will run until 3 p.m. Please wear comfortable shoes, bring a lunch, hat, and a water bottle.

Both camps are free! Spots are limited, so register Read More

NNSA Cancels Y-12, Pantex Contract Award, To Hold New Competitions For Separate Site Management Contracts

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NNSA News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has announced that it is canceling its November 2020 contract solicitation for management and operation of the Pantex Plant and Y-12 National Security Complex and terminating the contract award announced in November 2021 for the two sites.

NNSA intends to hold two new competitions for separate contracts to manage each site.

In December 2021, the Government Accountability Office received protests of NNSA’s contract award. In January 2022, NNSA announced that it was taking voluntary Read More

Amateur Naturalist: Cerro Grande Fire 22 Years Later

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The Quemazon mesa top provides a setting for a smooth, easy trail. Photo by Robert Dryja

The Los Alamos Canyon forms the south side of the mesa top. Photo by Robert Dryja

By ROBERT DRYJA
Los Alamos

The western side of Los Alamos is part of a broad slope that extends upwards to the mountain rim of the Valles Caldera. This slope is divided by canyons that are the result of water erosion. This slope was covered by forest before homesteaders and other settlers arrived. Ponderosa and other forms of spruce or pine were the dominant trees.

Forest fires were a major influence on how these trees grew. These fires Read More

Los Alamos National Laboratory To Participate In Domestic Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Campaigns

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LANL News:

The Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration’s Los Alamos Field Office (DOE/NNSA) has issued a Categorical Exclusion for Domestic Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Campaigns-Eastern Pacific Cloud Aerosol Precipitation Experiment (EPCAPE).

DOE, Office of Science, in conjunction with Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), conduct atmospheric and environmental research and monitoring activities by deploying mobile facilities and equipment (including weather balloons) for 1- to 2-year campaigns at locations throughout the United States.

DOE Read More

NMMSH: Lunar Eclipse/Blood Moon Viewing Sunday

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NMMSH News:

The Amateur Astronomy Group is holding an Astronomy event 7 p.m. to midnight (weather permitting), Sunday, May 15, for the LUNAR ECLIPSE/Blood Moon.

This event will be held in conjunction with the Astronomy League in the lower parking lot just above the Tombaugh Education building, in the New Mexico Museum of Space History (NMMSH), in Alamogordo.

The event is free to the public. Everyone is welcome.

This exciting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education activity is geared towards encouraging people of all ages to experience the night sky through telescopes. Read More