Life on Mars? Could Be,
But How Will They Tell?

Mathies

In a New York Times story on the search for life on Mars, Berkeley Lab physical bioscientist Richard Mathies was among the experts interviewed. He commented on the development of a suite of instruments called the Mars Organic Analyzer. The first instrument isolates organic, carbon-containing molecules. These molecules are dissolved in fluid and transferred to a small chemistry laboratory-on-a-microchip that separates the molecules by type, including identifying amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. Full story (registration required).

Global Warming Paper
Credits Lab's NERSC

A paper entitled "How Much More Global Warming and Sea Level Rise?" in the March 18 issue of Science magazine is based, in part, on computations performed at the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC). The article gives particular thanks to Michael Wehner of the Lab's Computational Research Division (Scientific Computing Group), for his help. Go here to read an abstract of the paper.

Guidelines on Moving
Equipment Off-Site

Employees may use Lab property, such as laptop and notebook computers, for official work performed at home or at off-site locations. However, except as noted in RPM §6.03(E) (Property Management), removal of all property from the Lab requires documentation on Stock Form 7600-55567 (Shipping Document) or 7600-67344 (Material Pass) for record and control purposes. The complete text of the Lab's policy on equipment movement may be found here.

Reserve Spot Now
For Shank Symposium

Shank

Berkeley Lab employees who would like to attend the May 24 symposium honoring former Laboratory Director Charles Shank should make their reservations now, since space is limited. The all-day program in the Building 50 Auditorium is entitled "Science of the 21st Century" and will feature distinguished speakers — including Presidential science advisor John Marburger — paying tribute to Shank and looking at the state of their fields of research. The $50 registration fee includes lunch and refreshments. Go here to find out more about the program, and here to register.

E.O. Lawrence Tinkered
During Off Hours Too

Lawrence

A recent article in Livermore Lab's employee newspaper, Newsline, includes a feature article on Berkeley and Livermore Lab founder E.O. Lawrence and how he worked, in his spare time, on a tri-color television tube. The invention is still used in TVs today. The work was done in the garage of his weekend home in Diablo. Full story (see page 5).

Sharing Your Password
Can Breach Security

Do you share your password with someone else? The Lab's RPM states that shared user IDs and passwords are not generally allowed except with your system manager's approval. Sharing your password with anyone else greatly increases the likelihood of someone gaining unauthorized access to your account. As the RPM states: "Each password owner is responsible for all activities resulting from shared use of that password."