Secretary Moniz Announces San Francisco As Site Of Seventh Clean Energy Ministerial
U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest MonizSFI: Mutualism – What Do We Know… Dec. 14
Judie Bronstein, University of ArizonaWIPP Workers Perform Filter Replacement
Radiological workers ready used filters for off–site disposal. Courtesy/WIPPRain, Snow, Wind And Colder Weather Returning
NWS News:
The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a weather advisory for northern and central New Mexico favoring the northern mountains, northeast highlands and maybe far northeast plains.
Strong to potentially damaging winds are expected, followed by wintry weather beginning late tonight through Saturday night. Key Impacts:
- Significant cool down from near record highs Thursday–Friday to 5 to 15 degree below normal temperatures during the weekend.
- Snow accumulations Friday night through Saturday night favoring the Colorado border area with secondary impacts
PEEC Amateur Naturalist: Insect Camouflage
By ROBERT DRYJAInsects have different kinds of camouflage to hide themselves. A praying mantis may grow to be up to six inches long, but how many people have seen such a large one?
A praying mantis may be so well camouflaged that it can capture a hummingbird that is coming to a flower for nectar.
A praying mantis selects plants that match its color rather than changing its color to match a plant.
Brown praying mantis. Courtesy photos
Rosy praying mantis. Courtesy photos
Green praying mantis. Photo by Sally King/Bandelier Read More
Ceres’ Bright Spots Likely Brine Deposits
This image, made using images taken by NASA’s Dawn spacecraft, shows Occator crater on Ceres, home to a collection of intriguing bright spots. The bright spots are much brighter than the rest of Ceres’ surface, and tend to appear overexposed in most images. This view is a composite of two images of Occator: one using a short exposure that captures the detail in the bright spots, and one where the background surface is captured at normal exposure. The images were obtained by Dawn during the mission’s High Altitude Mapping Orbit (HAMO) phase, from which the spacecraft imaged Read More
Planetarium Showing ‘Exoplanets’ Film This Weekend
Exoplanets poster. Courtesy/PEEC
PEEC News:
Pajarito Environmental Education Center is bringing Exoplanets back to the Los Alamos Nature Center Planetarium at 2 p.m., Dec. 12 and Dec. 13.
Exoplanets takes audiences on a journey to observeplanets beyond our solar systemand uncover the science and astronomy behind their discovery. This full-dome film was produced by Casper Planetarium.
Tickets may be purchased by phone or at the nature center for $6 for adults and $4 for children. This movie is recommended for ages four and up. The movie starts promptly at 2 p.m. and seating is limited.
For Read More
Learn About The Sun At Planetarium Show Friday
Solar filaments through a telescope. Courtesy photoPEEC News:
Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) is holding a special show in the Los Alamos Nature Center Planetarium 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11.
Rick Wallace will explore the sun and its effects on our planet, moon, astronauts, and future colonies on other planets.
This special planetarium show is $6 for adults and $4 for children. Tickets are available by calling or stopping by the nature center. Seating is limited. Planetarium shows are suitable for ages four and up. For more information about this and other PEEC programs, Read More
LANL’s Science In 60 seconds: The Hunt For Antarctic Meteorites
LANL scientist Nina Lanza has signed up to spend nearly six weeks in a tent on the Antarctic ice sheet. ScreenShot/LANL
LANL News:
She’s the “coolest” thing in science, searching the ice sheets of Antarctica for meteorites from outer space.
Los Alamos National Laboratory scientist Nina Lanza has signed up to spend nearly six weeks in a tent on the Antarctic ice sheet. Why would anyone do such a thing? For science, obviously!
In the premiere episode of Los Alamos National Laboratory’s “Science in 60” video series, Lanza gives us the low-down in 60 seconds on the why and how of hunting meteorites on Read More
Santa Fe National Forest Closes El Cajete Mine Area
SFNF News:
The Santa Fe National Forest today issued a temporary closure order for the El Cajete pumice mine in the Jemez Ranger District.
The restricted area, a total of 87 acres, runs north along N.M. 4 between the Sierra Los Pinos subdivision and mile post 34.
The closure will allow reclamation efforts on the site, including erosion control and revegetation, to stabilize. The order will stay in effect until Oct. 31, 2017, unless it is rescinded earlier.
All activities are prohibited within the closure area. The closure area is fenced on all four sides, and closure signs will be Read More
LANL Receives Second Presidential Award
Los Alamos National Laboratory recently received a second presidential award as a climate champion. From left, Mathew Moury, Associate Under Secretary for Environment, Health, Safety and Security; Michael Sweitzer, NNSA; Josh Silverman, Director, DOE Office of Sustainability Support; Christy Goldfuss, Director, White House Council on Environmental Quality; Denny Hjeresen, LANL Waste Management Division; Leslie Hansen, LANL Environmental Protection Division and Jessica Arcidiacono and NNSA Sustainability Program Eric Bradley, DOE Office of Sustainability Support. Courtesy/LANL Read More
Roger This: All Aboard For The Paris Accord
By ROGER SNODGRASSThe first week of the 21st meeting of the of the Conference of Parties (COP21) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is drawing to a close in Paris.
During this time the Earth has theoretically warmed an additional .0008degreesFahrenheit. That calculation is according to my own back-of-the-envelope extrapolation of a very broad scientific consensus that we are approaching a warming rate of about .04 degrees F per decade.
The alarming problem about these miniscule estimates is that we are beginning to cross a red line Read More
2015 Earth Treasures Show Rocks On!
A presenter explains how geodes are created to a young visitor at the 2015 Earth Treasures Show. The show continues today at the Masonic Temple, 15th and Canyon in Los Alamos. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
A variety of jewels for the wrist. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
Children create Rock Monsters at Saturday’s Earth Treasures Show. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
The main display hall attracts many vendors and visitors. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
Real crystal balls! Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.comChamisa School Recycle Bowl Challenge
Poster Contest grand prize winner Lia Rushton with County Environmental Services Manager Angelica Gurule, Chamisa Recycle Bowl Coordinators Megan Lee and Sabina Johns and poster contest coordinator Renee Mitsunaga. Courtesy photo
Grand Prize winning poster by Lia Rushton. Courtesy photo
COMMUNITY News:
Chamisa Elementary School and Los Alamos County worked together to enter the National Competition, Keep America Beautiful-Recycle Bowl Challenge. The challenge took place Oct. 19 to Nov. 15.
DPU Seeks Input On Carbon Neutrality Definition
COUNTY News:Head Of CTBTO Dr. Lassina Zerbo Visits Los Alamos
CTBTO Executive Secretary Dr. Lassina Zerbo
NNSA News:
LAS VEGAS ― Dr. Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), visited NNSA’s Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) Nov. 23, as part of a multi-day itinerary that also included tours of national laboratories overseen by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), including Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).
While at Los Alamos, Zerbo discussed the laboratory’s Read More
NMED To Host Public Listening Sessions
NMED News:Cleaning Up Abandoned Mines Could Cost Billions
CWP News:Dr. Sayre’s Frontiers In Science Talks Explore Strategies To Improve Photosynthesis, Increase Energy Yields
Dr. Richard Sayre
LANL News:
- First talk is Monday, Dec. 7 in Albuquerque
Los Alamos National Laboratory molecular biologist Richard Sayre will present two Frontiers in Science lectures, titled, “Hacking Photosynthesis: Growing Plants to Power Our Engines and Feed the World”.
In his talks, which begin Dec. 8, Dr. Sayre will discuss how improving photosynthetic efficiency may result in substantial increases in crop yields.
“Photosynthesis uses light from the sun and carbon dioxide from the air to make sugars that can be converted into energy-rich biofuels,” said Dr. Sayre, of the Laboratory’s Read More
LANL Researcher Pens Prizewinning Essay On Cancer
Ludmil Alexandrov
LANL News:
- Research focuses on preventing cancer through mutational signatures
Ludmil Alexandrov, of the Theoretical Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory, made strong points this week in the journal Science about the basic formation of human cancers, winning a 2015 Science & SciLifeLab Prize, on “Understanding the Origins of Human Cancer.”
“I have always been passionate about solving complex genomics puzzles and applying my skills towards better understanding the mechanism underlying cancer development,” said Alexandrov, Oppenheimer Fellow at Los Read More