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Berkeley Lab: 75 Years of World-Class Science 1931-2006 Berkeley Lab logo Today at Berkeley Lab masthead
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Only
9
Days Until Runaround

 

Today

Noon
Yoga Club
Class with Chris Hoskins
Bldg. 70-191

Noon
Yoga Club
Class with Naomi Hartwig
Bldg. 937-302

3 p.m.
Advanced Light Source
The Catalytic Nanodiode: Detecting Continuous Hot Electron Flow at Oxide-Metal Interfaces Generated by Exothermic Chemical Reaction
Jeong Park
Bldg. 2-100B

4 p.m.
Interdisciplinary Instrumentation
New Semiconductor Materials for High Efficiency Solar Cells
Wladek Walukiewicz
Bldg. 50 Auditorium


Tomorrow

7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
EHS
Iron Age Shoemobile
Bldg. 51 Parking Lot

8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Health Care Facilitator
Onsite Dental Mobile
Bldg. 62 Redwood Grove

11 a.m.
EHS 339
Asbestos Awareness
Bldg. 70A-3377

1:30 p.m.
EHS 60
Ergonomic Awareness for Computer Users
Bldg. 70A-3377

5:15 p.m.
Yoga Club
Class with Inna Belogolovsky
Bldg. 70-191

Events Calendar button
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spacer imageCAFETERIA
 

Morning Editions: Breakfast Burrito with Hash Browns and Toast
Tomorrow's Breakfast: Avocado and Swiss Omelette with Fruit and Toast

Market Carvery: Open Face Roast Beef Sandwich with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

The Fresh Grille: Turkey Burger with Cheddar, Bacon and Fries
Menutainment: Chicken Stir Fry with Egg Fried Rice

B'fast: 6:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
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NOBEL PRIZE COVERAGE

Smoot at news conference

A Grand Day for Lab:
Smoot Nobel Across U.S.


Physicist George Smoot's Nobel Prize yesterday brought recognition to Berkeley Lab, UC Berkeley, and the Department of Energy in media stories across the country. Smoot, too, boosted that recogntion at his press conference by giving credit to Berkeley Lab and its environment that fosters big ideas and makes it possible to pursue them. He was quick to acknowledge the large team of scientists and engineers that participated in the research and the Energy Department for much of the funding. "For me it's been special being at Berkeley, and it has been particularly special being at Berkeley Lab," he said. "It was a place where I was not only given the freedom and the resources to do the research, but shown the style of how to do the research. It was: Pick out the best science you can do and do it. That was so liberating. At Berkeley, it's no wonder the Free Speech Movement started here. It was the free science movement. That was the thing that really made it so that I could think about science that was out of the ordinary and into a new field." Reports appeared everywhere, including the Los Angeles Times, Contra Costa Times, Oakland Tribune, KGO-TV, and the New York Times.

GOVERNMENT NEWS

U.S. Senate, House
Offer Lab Resolutions


This past weekend, Congressional resolutions were introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate recognizing Berkeley Lab's 75th anniversary. House Resolution, H.Res. 1067, introduced by Congressman Vernor Ehlers, was cosponsored by local Congressman Mike Honda. Senate Resolution, S. Res. 595, was introduced by Sen. Pete Domenici, Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and was cosponsored by Sen. Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico. California Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer are original cosponsors of the resolution. The resolutions are expected to pass both houses when Congress reconvenes for a post election session on Nov. 14.


Watch Smoot Press Conference on the Web

Yesterday's press conference at Berkeley Lab introducing its newest Nobel Prize winner, George Smoot, to a throng of visiting media is now available for viewing online. The event drew a capacity audience in the Building 50 Auditorium and featured Lab Director Steve Chu, UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert Birgeneau, and Smoot. To watch the 49-minute program, go here.
IN THE NEWS

Ultraviolet, Infrared
Photons Team Up

Glover

Ultraviolet light can eject electrons from a solid surface. Albert Einstein got his only Nobel Prize for explaining it. Now, researchers report that intense infrared light can work with the ultraviolet to boost or retard the emitted electrons. This "laser-assisted photoelectric effect" could allow them to track the intricate dance of electrons in solids over times much shorter than a femtosecond. Berkeley Lab Advanced Light Source scientist Ernie Glover, who first demonstrated the effect for atomic vapors, says that the success of the simple model is a pleasant surprise. Full story.


Cost of Wind Energy
More Stable Than Gas

Wiser
By today's standards, wind is competitive with other forms of energy generation. But, even more compelling is costs are more stable than natural gas. "Most utilities enter into a fixed and known price for wind or other renewables," says Ryan Wiser, with Berkeley Lab's Environmental Energy and Technologies Division. "Wind contracts are offered at known prices that may escalate with inflation. Conversely, most of the natural gas generation is indexed to the price of natural gas. And that imposes some risk to utilities and their rate payers." Full story.

SPECIAL EVENT

Staff Can View Exhibits At ALS Users' Meeting


The Advanced Light Source Users' Meeting kicks off Monday with a full program of keynote speakers, poster sessions, and workshops. Also included are vendor exhibits, which Lab employees are invited to view. Go here to view this year's roster of vendors and descriptions of their products. The exhibits will be displayed in a tent by the ALS and in Building 7 from 10 a.m. to noon, and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, and on 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday.

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40% chance of T-storms.
High: 64° (18° C)
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Extended Forecast
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SECON level 3

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