Fish Tales Solve
Genetic Puzzles

Rokhsar, and Tetraodon puffer fish.

A species of puffer fish, Tetraodon, has helped scientists identify 900 human genes that went previously unnoticed. The researchers found that the fish underwent a strange transformation during its evolution. Most human genes have two counterparts in the Tetraodon genome, which proves the fish at some point duplicated its entire genome, giving it a double set of genes and an evolutionary advantage. "It gives them a lot of flexibility so they can take some of those redundant genes and redirect them to new functions," said Dan Rokhsar, with the Joint Genome Institute. Full story.

An Inside Look at
Molecular Movement

The secret lives of molecules are now less secret. Using Berkeley Lab's Advanced Light Source, an international team of physicists has obtained the clearest snapshot yet of the simultaneous behavior of all the electrons and nuclei inside a molecule. Their work, in which they broke apart a deuterium molecule and measured the momenta of its particles, opens the door for a more basic understanding of molecules and the everyday processes they drive, from breathing to rust to photosynthesis. Full story.

State Funds Drive
Renewable Energy

In the last several years, nine states have committed more than $345 million to support 163 large-scale renewable energy projects, according to a new report by Berkeley Lab, in conjunction with the Clean Energy States Alliance. These projects total more than 2,288 MW of capacity, which is enough to power approximately 800,000 homes. The report illustrates the increasingly important role of states in the development of renewable energy markets. "With this activity, state clean energy funds are positioned to be a major driver of renewables development," said Berkeley Lab Environmental Energies Technology scientist Mark Bolinger. Full story.

Esnet is sponsoring a workshop from Wednesday to Friday that will help plan the future direction for the group's Collaboration Services. Collaborative Services provides a number of online services aimed at improving collaboration among researchers at the many national laboratories and universities served by ESnet. "A key purpose of the workshop will be to gather current and anticipated requirements of our user community," said workshop organizer Clint Wadsworth. "The Workshop will investigate emerging and future technologies that promise to change the way scientists communicate and work." Go here for more information.

Lab Scientists 'Debate'
During Wonderfest

Bousso, above, and Zettl

Wonderfest is a two-day event that celebrates the pursuit of scientific knowledge through stimulating debate between two experts. This year's festival takes place at Stanford University on Saturday, Nov. 6, and the UC Berkeley campus on Sunday, Nov. 7. Among the debaters are Berkeley Lab materials scientist Alex Zettl, who will meet with Stanford professor Steven Block to discuss "Will Nanotechnology Change the World." Raphael Bousso, a guest in Berkeley Lab's Physics Division, will face off with Berkeley philosophy professor Hubert Dreyfus to answer the question: "Do We Understand Time?" Go here for more information about Wonderfest.

The onsite Fall Blood Drive, an ongoing partnership between the Berkeley Lab and the American Red Cross Blood Services, is being held next Wednesday and Thursday in Building 70A-3377. Donors can go here to review eligibility requirements and make an appointment, or call Charlotte Bochra at x4268.