String Theory, at 20,
Explains It All (or Not)

Bousso

They all laughed 20 years ago when physicist John Schwarz began babbling about a theory that could explain everything. And so emerged a new concept of nature, called string theory. For years physicists have looked for the origins of string theory in some sort of deep and esoteric symmetry, but string theory has turned out to be weirder than that. String theory suggests that in nature all the information about what is happening inside some volume of space is somehow encoded on its outer boundary, according to work by several theorists, including Berkeley Lab physicist Raphael Bousso. Full story.

EETD Helps Feds
Get Energy Efficient

Federal law requires that government facilities reduce their energy use by 30 percent relative to 1985 levels by the 2005 fiscal year. Researchers in the Environmental Energy Technologies Division (EETD) not only develop advanced efficient building technologies; they also work with federal facilities managers to help them meet their energy efficiency, and increasingly, their water-saving goals. Two articles in the fall 2004 issue of FEMP Focus describe EETD efforts to retrofit Camp Pendleton with more energy-efficient lights, and to reduce U.S. Postal Service costs with an energy information system. A third article by EETD authors describes how to save water with pre-rinse spray valves.

	Student Jessica Blanton, left, and mentor Jill Fuss

Undergrads Discuss What They've Learned This Fall

Quality control of modules for the ATLAS Pixel Detector and methane-fueled dentrification in a bioreactor are among the topics that undergraduate students will be discussing during their end-of-semester talks, beginning at 9 a.m. on Thursday in Building 2-100.   This past fall, students were paired with mentors in the Life Sciences, Earth Sciences, Nuclear Science, and Physics Divisions. The program is sponsored by the Lab's Center for Science and Engineering Education. Go here to see a schedule of talks.

Is Your Technology
R&D-100-Worthy?

It is time to consider which technologies the Lab should nominate for R&D Magazine's 100 Top Technologies award. The awards are presented to the 100 most technologically significant new products each year. The judges evaluate both the societal impact and the scientific contribution the technology makes. To be eligible, the technology must have been promoted or licensed in 2004. Go here to learn more, or contact Pam Seidenman at x6461.