Los Alamos National Laboratory 2020 Year In Review
Los Alamos National Laboratory. Courtesy/LANL
By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com
Looking back over 2020, Director Thom Mason said it is the 13,000 Laboratory employees that he is most proud of … how they have stepped up and met the challenges of a global pandemic.
LANL Director Thom Mason
Just shifting that large number of employees from working onsite to working remotely was quite an endeavor and Mason commended the employees on having adapted so well.
“Those employees that had to be onsite were safer by not having more people here,” he said during a recent
Century Bank Joins Fun Of Backcountry Film Festival
Century Bank’s Tim Branch hands a Backcountry Film Festival sponsorship to PEEC Executive Director Katie Bruell. Courtesy/PEEC
PEEC News:
Century Bank is again sponsoring the Pajarito Environmental Education Center’s (PEEC) showing of the Backcountry Film Festival from the Winter Wildlands Alliance.
The screening is 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, with the streaming link live for 72 hours for ticket-holders.
And exciting news just in! Thanks to Century Bank, ticket holders will receive one free drink from the Pajarito Brewpub and Grill plus a discount code for 15 percent off their food and drink Read More
Utilities Department Invites Public Comment On White Rock Water Resource Recovery Facility At Virtual Meeting Jan. 21
An aerial view of the wastewater treatment plant that has run its course in White Rock. Courtesy/LAC
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
The wastewater treatment plant in White Rock has run its course and the Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is working to replace the approximately 60-year-old plant with a new, cutting edge water resource recovery facility.
Before construction equipment is powered up to build a new facility, a public hearing is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21 on Zoom. During the hearing, the project will be reviewed and Read More
New Mexico DFA Announces Executive Budget Recommendation Includes Key Climate Initiatives
EMNRD Cabinet Secretary Sarah Cottrell Propst
DFA News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) has released the proposed fiscal year 2022 budget, which emphasizes Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s commitment to bold climate action.
The Executive Budget Recommendation includes an additional $7.9 million for the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department’s (EMNRD) climate priorities.
Priorities include forest and watershed restoration, modernizing New Mexico’s electric grid, environmental compliance and oversight of the oil and gas industry, Read More
Daily Postcard: View Of Sunrise Breaking Horizon
Daily Postcard: Sunrise breaks horizon Wednesday near Deer Trap Trailhead. Photo by Amanda Macdonald Read More
New Algorithm Mimics Electrosensing In Fish
Weakly electric fish are specially adapted to traverse obscured waters without relying on vision; instead, they sense their environment via electric fields. Courtesy/SIAM
SIAM News:
While humans may struggle to navigate a murky, turbid underwater environment, weakly electric fish can do so with ease. These aquatic animals are specially adapted to traverse obscured waters without relying on vision; instead, they sense their environment via electric fields.
Now, researchers are attempting to adapt these electrosensing techniques to improve underwater robotics.
Scientists have Read More
Weekly Fishing Report: Jan. 13, 2021
By GEORGE MORSE
Sports And Outdoors
Los Alamos Daily Post
The drought in New Mexico continues. The weather has been cold enough to expand the ice-fishing opportunities here, but very little snow to go along with the cold weather.
The latest storm saw much of Northern New Mexico receive only a little bit of snow, while the City of Hobbs down in Southeastern New Mexico received eight inches of snow.
The storms have been very fickle and hit-or-miss (mostly missed) this winter.
Our neighbor to the north, Colorado, is also suffering from drought, particularly Southwestern Colorado.
The 2021-2022 Read More
Zero Waste Team: Family Food Waste Prevention Pledge
From The County Zero Waste Team:
It’s that time again, time to take a look at what we might do to improve our lives in the New Year.
Often, we make resolutions to improve our health, save money for things we want, make time for our families or work to heal the planet.
How about accomplishing all those goals with one money and time saving resolution, that improves health and the environment?
It’s probably not one you’ve thought much about, but it is powerful: Waste Less Food.
In the U.S., households waste an average of $1,500 per year on food they don’t eat. That’s like throwing $125 out your car window every Read More
Bureau Of Land Management Seeks Public Input On Proposed Oil And Gas Lease Sale In New Mexico
BLM News:
SANTA FE — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is asking for public input on two parcels (202.16 acres) of federal minerals proposed for the July 15, 2021, competitive oil and gas lease sale.
The public scoping period is Jan. 19, 2021 to Feb. 1, 2021.
This scoping process is intended to solicit public input on relevant issues, potential impacts, and alternatives that the BLM should address in an environmental assessment to be prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act.
The BLM will consider all substantive comments received during the public scoping period to Read More
Homegrown New Mexico Science And Tech Companies Including UbiQD Awarded Innovation Research Grants
UbiGro inside a greenhouse of UbiQD of Los Alamos. Courtesy/UbiQD
STATE News:
- ‘Each of these companies is developing technology that will greatly benefit mankind…’ –EDD
SANTA FE – Three high-tech New Mexico companies will receive New Mexico Small Business Innovation Research (NMSBIR) Grants to help their businesses thrive, announced New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) Cabinet Secretary Alicia J. Keyes.
The three companies receiving awards for this round of the grant are:
- UbiQD in Los Alamos;
- BennuBio in Albuquerque; and
- Mesa Photonics in Santa Fe.
Each of these companies Read More
Environment Department COVID-19 Watchlist: Jan. 12
NMED News:
The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) has updated its daily Rapid Response COVID-19 Watchlist, which includes New Mexico places of employment that have had two or more rapid responses in the last 14 days.
There are 89 establishments on the Watchlist.
The current Rapid Response COVID-19 Watchlist and closure list, which includes all establishments that have been required to close, are posted here.
The state initiates a rapid response when it learns of a positive COVID-19 case in a workplace. The state agency initiating the rapid response will offer direction to establishments Read More
Daily Postcard: New Ducks In Town
Daily Postcard: These two ducks have been spotted lately at Ashley Pond. They are female Lesser Scaup, an unusual visitor to the pond. They will likely leave during spring migration. Source: Local bird expert Bob Walker. The pair appear curious about a Lhasa Apso dog Tuesday; when she walked one way on the path, they would follow her in the water and when she backtracked, they did, too. They didn’t seem as interested in people. Photo by Ken Hanson Read More
NMGF: Raffle For Gould’s Turkey Enhancement Licenses
New Mexico Game and Fish will raffle a permit to hunt one Gould’s gobbler. Courtesy/SFGC
NMGF News:
One authorization to hunt Gould’s turkey will be raffled by the New Mexico Game and Fish Department (NMGF) with the assistance of the New Mexico National Wild Turkey Federation.
The winner will receive a permit to hunt one Gould’s gobbler, as well as a spring turkey license with two tags for open units.
Tickets must be purchased on or before March 13, 2021.
All proceeds from enhancement hunts are used solely for habitat enhancement, conservation, research and management Read More
SFNF: Prescribed Burn In Pacheco Canyon Underway
Prescribed burn underway today in Pacheco Canyon. File photo
SFNF News:
SANTA FE – Favorable conditions today allowed fire managers on the Santa Fe National Forest to proceed with the previously announced Pacheco Canyon prescribed pile burn on the Española Ranger District.
The 106-acre pile burn is part of the larger Pacheco Canyon Forest Resiliency Project, a 2,042-acre forest restoration project that was instrumental in keeping the lightning-caused Medio Fire from crossing Forest Road (FR) 102 and threatening significant values at risk, including the Santa Fe ski basin and municipal Read More
U.S., Canada Complete Nuclear Material Shipping Campaign
Acting NNSA Administrator Dr. William Bookless. Screenshot/LADP
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited President and CEO Richard Sexton. Screenshot/LADP
NNSA News:
- Material had been used to create life-saving medicines
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) announced the completion of a multi-year campaign to repatriate 161 kilograms of highly enriched uranium (HEU) liquid target residue material from Chalk River Laboratories in Ontario, Canada, to the Savannah River Site in Aiken, Read More
Eco Station, Overlook Collection Center Closed MLK Day
COUNTY News:
The Eco Station and Overlook Convenience Center will be closed Monday, Jan. 18 in observance of Martin Luther King Day.
Additionally, there will be no residential or commercial trash and Christmas tree collection service provided Monday, Jan. 18.
If the observed date falls on your normal trash day, place your materials out Wednesday, Jan. 20. Read More
Fatal Attraction: Bats With White-Nose Syndrome Prefer Suboptimal Habitats Despite Consequences
Bats with white-nose syndrome roosting in the warmest sites have been hit particularly hard, according to a new study by researchers at Virginia Tech. Courtesy/Virginia Tech
A research team uses a swab to measure the fungal loads on each individual bat and a laser thermometer to measure the roosting temperature of the rocks next to each bat. Courtesy//Virginia Tech
By KENDALL DANIELS
Virginia Tech
Since 2006, a fungal disease called white-nose syndrome has caused sharp declines in bat populations across the eastern United States.
The fungus that causes the disease, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, Read More
Daily Postcard: Early Morning Sunrise Over White Rock
Daily Postcard: Early morning sunrise recently over White Rock. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More
Los Alamos High School Senior Named Top Scholar
Karin Ebey
LAPS News:
Karin Ebey, a senior at Los Alamos High School, has been named one of the top 300 scholars in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2021, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors.
“I am really excited to be named one of the top 300 finalists,” Ebey said.
Her project title is Climate Change on Crocodilians: Modeling the Effects of Variations in Rainfall on Crocodilians and Their Ecosystems. On Jan. 21, 40 of the 300 scholars will be named Regeneron Science Talent Search finalists and compete for more than $1.8 million in awards Read More
NMED Fighting Pandemic From Sewers: COVID-19 Wastewater Surveillance Program Shows Early Success
NMED conducts wastewater sampling for COVID-19 at congregate settings in southern New Mexico. Courtesy/NMED
NMED News:
- Program prevents outbreak at Las Cruces juvenile justice facility
In early December, the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) launched an innovative wastewater monitoring program to protect New Mexicans from COVID-19 at congregate settings in southern New Mexico.
Just a few weeks later, the program prevented a COVID-19 outbreak at a southern New Mexico juvenile justice facility. NMED is applying cutting-edge science to protect public health in southern New Read More