Chabot Science Award
For Lab Life Scientist

Nogales

Eva Nogales, with the Lab's Life Sciences Division, is the recipient of the second annual Chabot Science Award. The $5,000 honor recognizes her work in the mapping of the atomic structure of the cellular protein tubulin. The protein is a flexible component of a cell that allows it to divide and multiply, and is the target of the anti-cancer drug, "taxol," a natural substance found in the bark of the Pacific yew tree. Go here to read a Chabot Space and Science Center press release on the award.

Lesko

Eighth Graders Learn
About Nuclear Science

Kevin Lesko (pictured above), with the Lab's Nuclear Science Division, was among the scientists who presented lectures to 44 eighth graders from Oakland's Redwood Day School last week. Lesko explained the use of solar neutrinos in underground experiments. The students also heard from nuclear scientists Charles Currat, Gersende Prior, and Reyco Henning during their visit. In addition to the talks, a tour of the Advanced Light Source and lunch in the cafeteria was also provided.

Reminder: Softball
Managers Meeting

There will be a meeting of team managers for the Lab's softball league tomorrow at noon in the lower cafeteria. Those managing current teams, or wishing to form a new team, should attend. The league is comprised of about nine teams, made up of existing and retired employees, their spouses and children over the age of 18. For more information, contact league commissioner Steve Blair.

Rethinking the Basic
Laws Of Physics
By Keay Davidson

Legislators change laws from time to time, but Mother Nature's laws are eternal, or so it has seemed. Now, though, scientists are debating clues that suggest the laws of physics change over time. University of California scientists — including Berkeley Lab astronomer Jeffrey Newman and nuclear scientist Dmitry Budker — are among the major players on both sides of the debate, which threatens to shake up our basic notions of reality. Full story.

Pulling the Plug
On Electricity Leaks
By Michael Woods

Nordman

American humorist James Thurber got a chuckle by observing that his grandmother "lived the latter years of her life in the horrible suspicion that electricity was dripping invisibly all over the house." Electricity "leaks" are no laughing matter today. Electronic products are wasting huge amounts of energy. Alan Meier, with Berkeley Lab's Environmental Energy Technologies Division (EETD), estimates that U.S. residential consumers spend over $5 billion annually on standby power. "In the future, many devices in the home and elsewhere will have digital network connections with potentially dramatic impacts on energy consumption," said Bruce Nordman, also with EETD. Full story.

ALS Electrician
Passes Away

Robert Thomas, the lead electrician at the Lab's Advanced Light Source, died on April 30 after a prolonged illness. Thomas began working at the Lab in 1990. He started out in the Facilities Division, but was matrixed to the ALS in 2000 and appointed lead electrician there. A memorial was held last Thursday. His spouse, Del Thomas, is also employed at the Lab in the Business Services Division.