The Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Physics recently named Berkeley Lab’s Nuclear Science Division to lead a nine-institution collaboration investigating the “Quantitative Jet and Electromagnetic Tomography of Extreme Phases of Matter in Heavy-Ion Collisions” – JET, for short. The JET Collaboration is a five-year theoretical effort to understand the properties of the extraordinarily hot and dense state of matter known as the quark-gluon plasma. The quark-gluon plasma filled the Universe a few millionths of a second after the big bang but instantly vanished, condensing into the protons and neutrons and other particles from which the present Universe descended. More>
Today marks the start of the new shuttle bus service provided by MV Transportation. Routes, stops and schedules remain the same. The new, easy-access buses, which run on biodiesel, feature wi-fi networking and bike racks, and will be clearly labeled with the official Lab logo. As before, passengers will need to show their Berkeley Lab ID badges to board. The switch to the new service was made to provide safer and more efficient transportation for employees, students, and guests. The Lab's career bus drivers opted to continue working at the Lab in different, union-represented jobs with the same salary and benefits as before.
Work to replace flooring in the cafeteria is near completion and food and coffee bar service will resume on Thursday. However, today's inclement weather has also forced the interim coffee vendor, who has been setting up in a tent near the cafeteria, to shut down for the day.
Special Event: ‘Entrepreneur in Residence’ Gives Talk TomorrowResearchers interested in creating a company or start-up are invited to attend a luncheon tomorrow, sponsored by the Lab’s Technology Transfer group. Jim Matheson of Flagship Ventures will offer advice on what it takes to be an entrepreneur, first steps, and available resources. Matheson is serving as a venture capital partner in the Lab’s “Entrepreneur in Residence” program. The noontime event takes place in Building 66-316, with pizza provided. Contact Heidi Clark (x6462) to register.
The lecture by Harold Craighead on "“Nanofluidic Devices for Individual Molecule Analysis” scheduled for 1:30 p.m. today has been cancelled. The rescheduled date will be announced in Today at Berkeley Lab. Go here to view a schedule of future lectures.
Science Café: Event Features Eureka Creator, Actor; Contest to Write Lab PlotThe Lab will host a Science Café on Thursday, Feb. 4, featuring the creator (Jaimie Paglia) and lead actor (Colin Ferguson, pictured) of Eureka, the hit SyFy Channel series. The free event takes place at the Brower Center in downtown Berkeley at 7 p.m. Lab staff are invited to submit a plot for the show that involves the Lab for a chance to win two front-row tickets to the event and a chance to meet Paglia and Ferguson. Go here to learn more about the show and watch previous episodes. Send your ideas (75 words or less) here by Friday, Jan. 29.
Safety: Bay Area Storms Forecasted This Week; Caution UrgedLab employees are reminded that heavy rain and wind will pelt the Bay Area over the next few days, and that caution should be used on the roadways and when traversing the hilly inclines of the Lab.
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