World

LANL: Neutron Stars’ X-ray Superbursts Mystify, Inspire Los Alamos Scientists

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Neutron star. Courtesy/LANL

LANL News:

  • New neutrino cooling theory changes understanding of stars’ surface

Massive X-ray superbursts near the surface of neutron stars are providing a unique window into the operation of fundamental forces of nature under extreme conditions.

“Scientists are intrigued by what exactly powers these massive explosions, and understanding this would yield important insights about the fundamental forces in nature, especially on the astronomical/cosmological scale,” said Peter Moller of Los Alamos National Laboratory’s Theoretical Division.

A neutron Read More

Heinrich Addresses Agreement on Iran’s Nuclear Program

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U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement on the agreement reached on Iran’s nuclear program:

“The agreement reached today is a positive first step to limit Iran’s nuclear program. The United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia, China, and the European Union have all worked to negotiate strict oversight, enforcement mechanisms, and daily inspections that are critical to overseeing this agreement.

“While I welcome this Read More

Trilateral Nuclear Security Workshop Held

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NNSA News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representatives from the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), U.K.’s Ministry of Defence (MoD), and Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation “Rosatom” met Nov. 5-6 in Lisbon, Portugal, for the Eighth Nuclear Security Best Practices Exchange. The workshop focused on overcoming mutual challenges related to securing nuclear material.

The annual workshops were initiated in 2005 as a result of commitments made by President Bush and President Putin in their Joint Statement on Nuclear Security Cooperation, and which were reaffirmed by President Read More

UNESCO Sites: Irreplaceable Sources of Life and Inspiration

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Stones of Avebury. Photo by Jason Frazier

Terry Foxx of Los Alamos with her daughter Kerri Frazier, granddaughter Sydney and husband Jim Foxx gathered around one of the large stones of Avebury. Photo by Jason Frazier

Avebury, a Site Worth Visiting

By TERALENE FOXX

Our traveling family (Kerri, Jason and Sydney Frazier) frequently joke that Kerri should get a bumper sticker that reads, “Will stop for flora, fauna, cheese, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites.” Although it may be a joke, there is some truth to this. Kerri confesses “I am a serious UNESCO junkie and admittedly several of the places Read More

LANL: HIV Virus Spread and Evolution Studied Through Computer Modeling

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HIV Virus. Courtesy/LANL

LANL News:

Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory are investigating the complex relationships between the spread of the HIV virus in a population (epidemiology) and the actual, rapid evolution of the virus (phylogenetics) within each patient’s body.

“We have developed novel ways of estimating epidemics dynamics such as who infected whom, and the true population incidence of infection versus mere diagnoses dates,” said Thomas Leitner, principal investigator. “Obviously, knowledge about these things is important for public health monitoring, decision Read More

High-Activity Radioactive Materials Removed From Mexico

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Anne Harrington

NASA News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has announced that it recovered high-activity radioactive materials from an oncology clinic in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. NNSA’s Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) and the Mexican National Commission for Nuclear Security and Safeguards (CNSNS) jointly supported the removal and the device containing the source was packaged and securely transported to the U.S. for final disposition.

“This operation is part of NNSA’s broad strategy to strengthen both U.S. and global Read More

IRS Warns of Scams Related to Relief for Typhoon Victims in Philippines

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IRS News:

PHOENIX – The Internal Revenue Service today issued a consumer alert about possible scams taking place in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan.

Typhoon Haiyan – known as Yolanda in the Philippines – made landfall Nov. 8 in the central Philippines, bringing strong winds and heavy rains that have resulted in flooding, landslides, and widespread damage.

Following major disasters, it is common for scam artists to impersonate charities to get money or private information from well-intentioned taxpayers. Such fraudulent schemes may involve contact by telephone, social media, email or Read More

20-Year Partnership Converts 20,000 Russian Nuclear Warheads into Fuel for U.S. Electricity

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Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz

NNSA News:

WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz today announced the final shipment of low enriched uranium (LEU) derived from Russian weapons-origin highly enriched uranium (HEU) under the 1993 U.S.-Russia HEU Purchase Agreement, commonly known as the Megatons to Megawatts Program. Under this Agreement, Russia downblended 500 metric tons of HEU, equivalent to 20,000 nuclear wearheads, into LEU.

The resulting LEU has been delivered to the United States, fabricated into nuclear fuel, and used in nuclear power plants to generate nearly ten Read More