First View of a Type Ia
Supernova System

By measuring polarized light from an unusual exploding star, an international team of astrophysicists and astronomers – including Berkeley Lab’s Lifan Wang -- has worked out the first detailed picture of a Type Ia supernova and the distinctive star system in which it exploded. The researchers determined that supernova 2002ic exploded inside a flat, dense, clumpy disk of dust and gas, previously blown away from a companion star. Their work suggests that this and some other precursors of Type Ia supernovae resemble the objects known as protoplanetary nebulae. Full story.

UC Berkeley, SETI
To Build Telescope Array
By Bob Sanders

After more than three years of design, development and testing of a radically new kind of radio telescope, astronomers at the University of California, Berkeley, and the SETI Institute are ready to build the first 32 dishes of the Allen Telescope Array. This array will eventually consist of 350 radio dishes dedicated to galactic and extragalactic astronomy and the search for intelligent signals from space. Full story

Investment Fund
Focus Group Needed

UC Human Resources and Benefits and the UC Treasurer’s Office are undertaking a review of UC’s participant-directed retirement investment funds, and are interested in hearing employee concerns regarding retirement investments. As a part of the review process they are conducting a professionally facilitated focus group at Berkeley Lab on April 6, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., in Room 2-100B. Employees who are interested in participating should send an e-mail by March 30 containing their name and a daytime and/or evening phone number to Vincenta Licata with UC Communications, Training and Customer Service at [email protected].

Retirement Sendoff
For Holmes April 7

Holmes

After 34 years of service, Harvard Holmes of the National Energy
Research Scientific Computing Center is retiring. A reception will be held on his last day, April 7, at 3 p.m. in the lower level part of the Lab cafeteria. The cost is $20 per person and covers hors d'oeuvres, soft drinks, cake and contribution toward a gift. Those interested in attending should send payment to Yeen Mankin, MS:50B-4230, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley 94720. Or deliver to Yeen at room 50B-2215D. To confirm attendance, payment must be received no later than close of business March 31.

Computer Network
Blocking Explained

Sometimes a computer is blocked from network access because of
security-related reasons. What are they, and how might a computer be
affected? To find out, go here for an explanation of the Computer Protection Program's policy on network access blocking.