World

Skolnik: Staying Safe In An Age Of Anti-Science Authoritarianism

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By RICHARD SKOLNIK
White Rock

Our staying safe during a disease outbreak requires that we have clear, science-based information available to us at all times. Sadly, however, we are living in an age in which many people reject science. We are also living in an age when one widely watched news network consistently purveys false information about a range of science related matters, now including coronavirus.

Worse than that, however, is that we have a government which demands loyalty over truth and which is muzzling our scientific, medical, and public health institutions. Coordinating communications Read More

Los Alamos National Laboratory Space Weather Model Gives Earlier Warning Of Satellite-Killing Radiation Storms

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LANL News:

A new machine-learning computer model accurately predicts damaging radiation storms caused by the Van Allen belts two days prior to the storm, the most advanced notice to date, according to a new paper in the journal Space Weather. 

“Radiation storms from the Van Allen belts can damage or even knock out satellites orbiting in medium and high altitudes above the Earth, but predicting these storms has always been a challenge,” said Yue Chen, a space scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory and principal investigator on the project jointly funded by NASA and NOAA. “Given that the Read More

More Than Footprints: An Archaeological Hike On The Moon At New Mexico Museum Of Space History March 6

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Dr. Beth O’Leary

NMMSH News:

ALAMOGORDO — July 20, 1969, two Apollo 11 astronauts created one of humanity’s most extraordinary archaeological sites –Tranquility Base on the Moon. 

Today there are more than 200 metric tons of cultural material on the lunar surface. Join Beth Laura O’Leary, Ph.D., Friday March 6, as she presents “More than Footprints: An Archaeological Hike on the Moon” for the New Mexico Museum of Space History’s free monthly Launch Pad Lecture beginning at 9 a.m. on the first floor.

Dr. O’Leary also will take guests on a tour of some of these significant sites and explore how to Read More

Superintendent Kurt Steinhaus Shares Information With Staff And Parents On LAPS Planning In Regards To COVID-19

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LAPS Superintendent Kurt Steinhaus

LAPS News:

Los Alamos Public Schools Superintendent Kurt Steinhaus sent the following letter Wednesday to staff and parents:

Dear Parents and Staff,

This letter is to provide information about what Los Alamos Public Schools is planning in regards to COVID-19, otherwise known as coronavirus. We take the health of our students and staff very seriously. 

You are likely aware of the outbreak of COVID-19 in China and the subsequent confirmed cases in the United States and other countries around the world. It’s important to know that the World Health Organization Read More

AGU: Wind Turbines Perturb Leeward Evening Temperatures

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Wind turbines at farm in Texas. Courtesy/Wikimedia Commons

AGU News:

Single wind turbines and large wind farms modify local scales of atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) turbulence through different mechanisms dependent on location within the wind farm.

These changes in turbulence scales would most likely have notable influence on surface fluxes and microclimate during the afternoon and early evening stability transition. Profiles of Richardson number, shear and buoyancy from 1‐Hz tall‐tower measurements in and near a wind farm in an agricultural landscape were used to quantify departures Read More

United Church Mexico Mission Fundraiser March 7

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UNITED CHURCH News:

The annual Mexico Mission Fundraiser is 6 p.m. Saturday, March 7 at United Church, 2525 Canyon Road.

Register to attend a FREE Donor’s Dinner by contacting the Church Office at 505.662.2971. Reservations must be made by Feb. 28 to reserve a seat.

Homes will be built in Mexico during spring break. Donations are always welcome, even if unable to attend. Read More

U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján Honors Vietnam Veterans & Families

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U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, right, presents Veteran Gregg Giesler of Los Alamos with the Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin to honor his service to the nation. Courtesy photo

U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, left, presents Veteran Dennis Fordham of Los Alamos with the Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin to honor his service to the nation. Courtesy photo

U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, second from left, gathers with veterans and guests Feb. 15 at the American Legion to honor the service and sacrifice of Vietnam veterans and their families. Courtesy photo

From the Office of U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján:

U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), the Read More

HSNW: How To Deflect An Asteroid

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MIT researchers have devised a framework for deciding which type of mission would be most successful in deflecting an incoming asteroid, taking into account an asteroid’s mass and momentum, its proximity to a gravitational keyhole, and the amount of warning time that scientists have of an impending collision. Photo collage by Christine Daniloff/MIT

HOMELAND SECURITY NEWS WIRE:

MIT researchers have devised a framework for deciding which type of mission would be most successful in deflecting an incoming asteroid.

Their decision method takes into account an asteroid’s mass and momentum,

Read More

World Futures: Ruling Humanity or Is It Mankind – Part Four

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By ANDY ANDREWS
Los Alamos World Futures Institute

At the beginning of this series I stated that “mi esposa” asked me to offer my solution for education and its future. My immediate response was a question: “Is it for humanity or mankind?”

If it is for humanity we must include benevolence, the quality of being well intended in what one does and the quality of kindness.

Is war an activity of mankind or humanity? War is about life on earth competition. Sports are about competition. Business is about competition. But in sports and business competition the loser can continue, rebound or fade away. Where Read More

Ambassador Vicki Huddleston Speaks At Los Alamos Rotary

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Rotary Grants Coordinator Alison Pannell, left, introduces her friend former US Ambassador Vicki Huddleston at a recent meeting of the Rotary Club of Los Alamos. Photo by Linda Hull

ROTARY News:

Former US Ambassador to Mali and Madagascar Vicki Huddleston spoke Feb. 18 to the Rotary Club of Los Alamos about her experiences as deputy director of Cuban Affairs when working for the US Department of State in the 1990s.

Her most memorable moments included meeting Fidel Castro on several occasions and furtively distributing AM-FM transistor radios to Cuban citizens, enabling them to listen to news Read More