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
DOE/NNSA: Los Alamos Field Office Proposes Facility For Isotope Production Used In Cancer Therapies
DOE/NNSA News:
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Los Alamos Field Office has issued a categorical exclusion (CX) determination to construct and operate a Light Manufacturing Facility to support DOE/NNSA’s Isotope Production Program.
The Light Manufacturing Facility will be used to for the processing of alpha emitting isotopes that will be shipped throughout the country and be used for varying cancer therapies.
Santa Fe National Forest Issues Seasonal Closure Order For Forest Roads That Cross Abiquiu Land Grant
SFNF issues closure order for Forest Road 418 and segments of FR 31 and FR 27. File photo
SFNF News:
SANTA FE – The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) has issued a closure order for the entire length of Forest Road (FR) 418 and the segments of Forest Roads (FR) 31 and 27 that cross the Abiquiu Land Grant on the Española Ranger District.
The closure order, which is in effect through March 31, 2021, unless it is rescinded earlier, is intended to protect SFNF and Abiquiu Land Grant resources, including roads, soils and vegetation, that could be damaged by use during the wet winter season.
Specific areas affected Read More
New Report Details Problems Of Traps On Public Lands
WildEarth Guardians News:
…Rep. Christine Chandler among legislators to introduce Roxy’s Law during 2021 session
…The economics of trapping, the number of species killed by trappers, and environmental harms are among topics covered by report
SANTA FE — WildEarth Guardians and members of the TrapFree New Mexico coalition released a detailed report today that makes an in-depth case for banning traps on public lands.
Touching on a wide array of topics, the report goes into detail on the economics of trapping versus other uses of public lands, common trap types and the injuries Read More
Daily Postcard: Sun Illuminates Homes On Barranca Mesa
Daily Postcard: The sun begins to illuminate homes Sunday on Barranca Mesa. Photo by Amanda Macdonald Read More
Overnight Dusting Of Snow Decorates Ristras In White Rock
The overnight dusting of snow decorates hanging ristras this morning in White Rock. Photo by Nancy Ann Hibbs Read More
New Mexico Environment Department Issues Administrative Compliance Order At Kirtland Mobile Home Park
NMED News:
The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) issued an administrative compliance order to the Vision Mobile Home Park, LLC in Kirtland for its failure to properly manage and monitor sewage to protect groundwater and the health of residents.
The administrative compliance order requires the owner to come into compliance with water protection laws and take other steps to address the situation.
The owner of Vision Mobile Home Park, Marisela Ornelas, failed to comply with multiple monitoring and reporting requirements included in permits issued by NMED in 2012 and 2020. These permits Read More
Daily Postcard: Elk Grazing On Valle Grande
Daily Postcard: A herd of elk spotted grazing Friday on the Valle Grande. Photo by Nina Thayer
Read More
Amateur Naturalist: Eroded Rock, Grinding Stone, Or Sacred Stone?
By ROBERT DRYJA
Los Alamos
Rocks of all shapes and sizes can seen while exploring the slopes of the Jemez Mountains. But some create puzzles when looked at closely.
Consider a slope rising gently through a wooded landscape toward a mountain peak. The trees are spread apart and the grass is short as a result of the shade.
It is easy to see relatively small boulders that are two to three feet across, have relatively flat surfaces and are grey in color. A different appearing boulder then appears, (Picture A).
Picture A: How did this pattern of holes develop in the boulder? Photo by Robert Dryja
This particular Read More
Rotary Hosts Dr. Sandy Farmer Of Pfizer Pharmaceutical
By LINDA HULL
Vice President
Rotary Club of Los Alamos
Dr. Sandy Farmer of Pfizer Pharmaceutical was the featured speaker via Zoom at the Jan. 5 meeting of the Rotary Club of Los Alamos.
In his presentation, How the COVID-19 Vaccine Came to Be: A Confluence of Innovation Along Many Dimensions, Farmer outlined the evolution of vaccine development. He explained that although the world’s first vaccine was administered in 1798 to reduce the spread of smallpox, it wasn’t until the late 1960s and into the 1970s that purified forms were steadily developed to eliminate use of live viruses which can generate Read More
Air Force Research Laboratory Engineer Award Winner Dr. Odell Reynolds Proclaims A First For U.S. Space Force
Air Force Research Laboratory engineer Dr. Odell Reynolds speaks at the ceremony where Air Force Chief Scientist Dr. Richard Joseph presented him the 2019 Harold Brown Award. The ceremony was Dec. 16, 2020 at AFRL’s Starfire Optical Range on Kirtland AFB. U.S. Air Force photo by A1C Ireland R. Summers
AFRL News:
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE — Air Force Research Laboratory Senior Engineer Dr. Odell Reynolds received the 2019 Harold Brown Award from Chief Scientist of the Air Force Dr. Richard Joseph, in a ceremony Dec. 16, 2020 at AFRL’s Starfire Optical Range (SOR) on Kirtland Air Force Base.
The Harold Read More
Handsome Hawk Is Lifting Spirits All Over Los Alamos
A tall and handsome hawk lands on a wall in the back yard of a residence Friday on Futura Drive in White Rock and is lifting spirits all over Los Alamos. Photo by Pat Kestell
Hawk perches on the wall of a residence Friday on Futura Drive in White Rock. Photo by Pat Kestell Read More
New Mexico Harvest Supports Local Food Networks
New Mexico Harvest has started providing home delivery to Los Alamos and White Rock. Courtesy/NMH
New Mexico Harvest News:
Do we have a broken food system? Some would argue it has been broken for years.
If COVID taught us anything, it’s how much we rely on necessities like fresh food, medicines, and even toilet paper. Prices for foods like garlic have skyrocketed 30 percent as the majority of garlic consumed in the US is produced in China. Meat producer, Tyson Foods, nearly went bankrupt because their processing plants were temporarily shut down due to the pandemic.
People all around the country Read More
Conchas Lake State Park Closes Boat Ramps For Safety
NMSP News:
SANTA FE — Conchas Lake State Park has closed access to all boat ramps due to dropping water levels, resulting in safety concerns and to prevent property damage during launching and loading of boats.
Low precipitation and above average temperatures have resulted in extremely low water levels at several state park lakes causing boat access ramps to be closed.
State Parks is using this opportunity to rehabilitate and improve on the existing ramp.
The south boat ramp, which is operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers, is still open at this time. Boaters are encouraged to check with the Read More
PEEC: Test Your Knowledge At Trivia Tuesday Jan. 12
Join PEEC for its first-ever Trivia Tuesday at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 12. In this month’s virtual game, questions will focus on New Mexico fun facts, snow and winter wildlife. Courtesy/PEEC
PEEC News:
Test your nature knowledge at Trivia Tuesday night with the Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC).
PEEC will host its first-ever trivia night at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 12 via Zoom. Challenge friends old and new at this interactive program and compete for prizes.
This month, there will be three rounds of trivia and questions will focus on New Mexico fun facts, snow and winter wildlife.
Prizes Read More