Lab Experts Author
DOE Wind Report

The Department of Energy has released its annual report on "U.S. Wind Power Installation, Cost, and Performance Trends 2006." The primary authors are Ryan Wiser and Mark Bolinger of Berkeley Lab's Environmental Energy Technologies Division, with contributions from EETD’s Galen Barbose and Andrew Mills. The report describes the rapid growth in U.S. wind power installations. In 2006, U.S. wind power capacity grew 26 percent, an investment of more than $3.7 billion. A webcast presentation on the report will be available on Tuesday, June 19, at 1 p.m. Go here to read a DOE press release on the report, and here for the report.

Louisiana Senator
Visits Berkeley Lab

Landrieu, left, and Chu

Senator Mary Landrieu, D-Louisiana, visited the Lab on Wednesday.  She is a member of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Committee and the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. She met with the Environmental Energy Technologies Division's Steve Selkowitz to discuss "Zero-Energy" building research and development, and with Lab Director Steve Chu to discuss alternative energy research. 

Preparedness Fair Today;
Info, BBQ, Demos, Raffle

Yurt tent

Berkeley Lab’s first Emergency Preparedness Week kicks off today with an information fair and barbecue at the cafeteria from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Various vendor tables will offer safety tips and handouts, the Lab’s Security and Emergency Operations office will display a “yurt” tent and offer emergency food tasting, and the Lab’s Health Services and amateur radio groups will demonstrate their expertise. A “shake” table will also be available to simulate an earthquake. Attendees can win prizes in a raffle, as well as enjoy a $5 meal deal from the cafeteria.

State, Congresswoman Lee
Salute Lab’s Preparedness

Jacks

During today’s Emergency Preparedness Fair at 12:15 p.m., proclamations will be shared that pay tribute to Berkeley Lab’s efforts at promoting preparedness in the workplace. Paul Jacks, Deputy Director for the Response and Recovery Division of the state’s Office of Emergency Services, is scheduled to present greetings from Gov. Schwartzenegger. And a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition, signed by U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, will recognize the Lab’s leadership in emergency preparedness.

Nanowires Allow Delivery
Of DNA Into Cells
By Celia Henry Arnaud

Mouse stem cell on nanowires

Putting cells on pins and needles is a way of getting foreign molecules into the cells, according to a team led by Berkeley Lab materials scientist Peidong Yang. They have been growing mammalian cells on arrays of silicon nanowires. As the cells settle out of the culture medium onto the bed of nanowires, the wires penetrate the cells without damaging them and without the application of any external force. The cells survive and proliferate, even after being impaled on the wires. The nanowire arrays could be used for drug delivery applications or for electrical stimulation and detection in cells, the scientists say. Full story.

X-Ray Vision Not Just
For Superman Anymore

This story was written by Corie Ralston, with Berkeley Lab's Physical Biosciences Division.

Ralston

In the  movie "Superman Returns," the latest incarnation of the Man of Steel uses his "x-ray vision" to look through walls at his beloved Lois Lane. Is this really possible? I work in a national facility dedicated to producing high-flux x-rays. These x-ray beams are used in a variety of experiments, some of which include shooting x-rays at a sample to "see" through it. In this article I'll try to explain what is and isn't possible with x-rays and the current scientific uses of x-rays, and in the process I'll examine the feasibility of Superman's x-ray vision. Full story.