Robert Card, DOE Under Secretary, Resigns

Card

U.S. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham announced Friday the resignation of Under Secretary Robert Card from the Department of Energy. His resignation is effective April 18, 2004. "I have deeply appreciated the opportunity to serve the American public through the President's and Secretary Abraham's outstanding leadership," said Under Secretary Card. "Enormous improvements have been achieved at the Department in management, environmental protection, worker safety, cost savings, energy security, and science. Go here to read the DOE press release.

Lawrence Cyclotron Shows Up...In London?

Environmental Energy Technologies Division employee Nancy Padgett and her husband recently vacationed in London. While touring the Science Museum of the United Kingdom, they stumbled upon a familiar-looking object - an 11-inch cyclotron, one of Ernest Lawrence's earliest prototypes, on loan from Berkeley. Padgett snapped a digital shot (above) and, apologizing for the low light that made photography difficult, said, "I recommend a personal visit, as the collections are admirably and cleverly explained." She said the museum, on Exhibition Road, has seven floors and 300,000 scientific objects.

(l-r) Boswell, Estes, and Dahlgard

Lab Linksters Face
Off in Tournament

The LBNL Golf Club held its first tournament of the season on March 20 at Shadow Lakes Golf Course.   First place finishers were Martin Boswell (3rd Flt. 68), Bruce Estes (1st Flt. 62), and Jim Dahlgard (2nd Flt. 71).   Visit the golf club's website for full results of the tournament. Upcoming tournaments include Poppy Ridge in Livermore on Saturday, April 24 and Spanos Park in Stockton on Saturday, May 15.

What Happens
When Ice Melts?

How molecules are linked together to form liquid water is the subject of a groundbreaking study recently published in Science magazine's "Science Express" website. The study found that water molecules clump together much more loosely than previously thought. The authors propose this indicates an unknown structure in the liquid, chains or rings or similar. The research was the first application to the inner structure of water using intense x-ray sources at, among other locations, the Advanced Light Source of Berkeley Lab. Full story.

Feeling Safe Is Different Than Actually Being Safe

Wenzel

The Ford Motor Company's Expedition is essentially an expanded version of their F-150 pickup truck -- and the fact that it is a truck is critical. Making a truck is a lot more rudimentary. You build a rectangular steel frame, bolt the engine to the front, bolt the seats to the middle, and lower the body over the top. The result is heavy and rigid and not particularly safe. Consider research compiled by Tom Wenzel , a scientist at Berkeley Lab, and Marc Ross, a physicist at the University of Michigan. Full story.

Wear Ear Protection, Preserve Your Hearing

Two Berkeley Lab employees have recently suffered hearing loss as defined by an OSHA threshold.   Supervisors are reminded to ensure that employees wear their prescribed hearing protection.   Employees are reminded to wear their hearing protection as prescribed by their supervisor, Health Services, or Industrial Hygienist.   If you have questions, consult your supervisor or contact your safety coordinator or assigned Industrial Hygienist.  See "Who to Call" here.