Contract Signing Launches
EBI; Somerville to Direct

The contract that officially establishes the Energy Biosciences Institute (EBI), the $500 million partnership with BP headed by UC Berkeley and including Berkeley Lab, has been signed by all parties, it was announced today. Chris Somerville, plant biologist on campus and researcher with the Lab’s Physical Biosciences Division, was named director of the EBI. The institute will perform ground-breaking research aimed at the production of new and cleaner energy, initially focusing on advanced biofuels for road transport. “The Institute will also examine the social, economic and environmental implications of using cellulosic biofuels to meet a significant proportion of the earth's energy needs,” said Somerville. Go here to read the announcement, and here to view the contract and other EBI materials.

ESnet4 Reaches Milestone
For Science Network

Two of the nation’s leading research networks – DOE’s Energy Sciences Network (ESnet), which is managed by Berkeley Lab, and Internet2 – have completed five interconnected rings, each consisting of one or more 10-gigabit-per-second (Gbps) paths. These five rings form a coast-to-coast network that is the backbone of DOE’s next-generation scientific network. Called ESnet4, the new network built by this partnership is a highly reliable, high capacity nationwide network that will greatly enhance the capabilities of scientists at national laboratories and universities across the country. Full story.

Leopard Upgrade
Help Available on WIKI

To assist employees who are experiencing difficulty with the recently released version of Mac OS (Leopard), the Lab’s IT Division has posted links to resources that may be helpful on its Wiki website.  Those with information to share are welcome to add it to the Leopard Bulletin Board there. For further support, staff can fill out a Help Desk request form or call x4357.

Low-Intensity MRI Takes
First Human Brain Scan

It takes only a tiny magnetic field to see clear through a person's head, a new study shows. A method called ultra-low field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has captured its first, blurry shots of a human brain, revealing activity as well as structure. Ultra-low field MRI scanning was first performed with a single SQUID in 2004 by a group led by John Clarke, with Berkeley Lab's Materials Sciences Division. But this only allowed objects about the size of an apple to be scanned. The new device uses seven SQUIDs and can scan much larger objects. Full story.

PC-Era Energy Twinkles
At Supercomputer Show

Strohmaier