Mother Nature Continues
Her Summer Show

Though summer is drawing to a close, and fall waits just around the corner, beautiful flowers are still emerging from the ground, dotting the Lab's hillsides with bursts of color. These luscious lilies are brightening the landscape just outside Building 50.

Lab Hosts Workshop
On 'ACTS' This Week

The 5th annual workshop on the Advanced Computational Software Collection (ACTS) starts today and continues through Friday in Perseverance Hall. The ACTS Collection comprises a set of software tools developed primarily at DOE laboratories, and is aimed at simplifying the solution of common and important computational problems, with substantial benefits demonstrated in a wide range of scientific and industrial applications. The event is hosted by Osni Marques and Tony Drummond of the Scientific Computing Group in Computational Research Division. Go here for more information.

Ritchie at Medical
Device Meeting

Ritchie

Berkeley Lab Materials Scientist Robert Ritchie is among the keynote speakers at the second annual ASM Materials and Processes for Medical Devices conference this week. The only such meeting on the science, applications and manufacturability of biomaterials, it will be held in St. Paul, Minn. Ritchie will focus on the state-of-the-art of predicting fatigue life of medical devices, in a talk entitled, "Role of Fracture Mechanics in Life Prediction and Quality Control for Medical Implants." Go here to read more about the program.

Cracking Genetic Codes
To Fight Plant Disease

Boore

Scientists near San Francisco are cracking genetic codes that could help unravel the mysteries of plant diseases and how they attack crops. Researchers at the Joint Genome Institute (JGI) most recently completed the genetic code for Phytophthora ramorum, the plant pathogen that causes sudden oak death. That disease has plagued California and Oregon nurseries in recent months. "We're really happy and somewhat proud that we put this together," said Jeffrey Boore, head of JGI's Evolutionary Genomics Department. "It's kind of interesting for a biologist to study something in order to kill it." Full story.

Reminder: Fill Out
Shuttle Survey

Employees are encouraged to complete a survey about the Lab's Shuttle service. Survey responses will help determine whether changes should be made to the current shuttle system. Go here to access the online form.

Lab Websites Help
Consumers Save Energy

Berkeley Lab has developed three websites to help people cut their energy usage and monitor the power grid. The 20 Percent Solution site shows how to cut home energy use by 20 percent. The Home Energy Saver site gives custom-tailored advice on how to save energy. And several regions in the country can check the balance of the electrical grid in their area at the Current Energy site. It shows the power grid in real time, with the amount of power being transmitted, how much generation is available, and how much power is expected to be used that day.