Four centuries after Galileo launched the first Copernican revolution by pointing his telescope at Earth’s moon, Saul Perlmutter and George Smoot and their Berkeley Lab colleagues have led another Copernican revolution, removing egocentric humans even farther from the middle of things. Dark energy and a flat universe have made it clear that not only are humans not at the center of the cosmos, we’re not even made of the same stuff as most of it. More>
The 2009 Berkeley Lab summer lecture series kicks off July 7 with a talk by Bob Schoenlein on ultrafast science: using lasers and x-rays to reveal the motion of atoms and electrons. The talks take place Tuesdays at noon in the Building 66 auditorium. Here’s the rest of the lineup, which underscores the Lab's leading role in cutting-edge research: Curtis Oldenburg discusses geologic carbon sequestration on July 21, Alexie Leauthaud and Reiko Nakajima talk about gravitational lensing on July 28, and Joe Gray explores personalized cancer treatment on August 4. More>
The Lab’s Molecular Foundry is sponsoring a seminar series in which scientists sit down in conversation with host Alice Egan to discuss their work and lives in “language everyone can understand.” The first installment takes place Thursday, July 9, at 4 p.m. in the Building 66 auditorium when Egan interviews Jim Schuck of the Foundry’s Imaging and Manipulation Facility. Egan (right) and Schuck are depicted in the cartoon above, created by their colleague's daughter.
Special Event: Battery Research Topic of EETD Distinguish Lecture Jean-Marie Tarascon of the Université de Picardie Jules Verne in Amiens, France, will deliver the next Environmental Energy Technologies Division Distinguished Lecture on July 13 at noon in the Building 66 auditorium. He will discuss his research to develop new materials for nano electrode and electrolyte components for advanced lithium ion batteries. More>
Wellness: July is Ultraviolet Safety Month The Lab's Health Care Facilitator wants to remind employees that July is “Ultraviolet Safety Month.” Most people know the sun’s UV radiation can damage skin, but it can also harm eyes. The UV rays can burn the cornea, which may result in cataracts and ultimately blindness. To protect eyes, wear wide-brimmed hats when in the sun and sunglasses that block more than 99 percent of UVA and UVB rays (check label for protection factors). Go here for more on sunglass protection. The level of UV radiation during summer months is more intense so take extra precaution to protect your eyes.
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