74th Birthday of Patent
For Lawrence’s Cyclotron

Feb. 20, 1934, marked a huge step toward the use of atomic energy, for it was that day that Berkeley Lab namesake Ernest O. Lawrence received a patent for his cyclotron. He actually built a working model by 1931 but didn't rush to patent his invention because, according to a colleague, he felt it unwise to foster the development of scientific discoveries for personal profit. He would, however, be rewarded. Ernest Orlando Lawrence received the 1939 Nobel Prize in Physics for his invention of the cyclotron. Full story.

Technology Helps Assess
Nanomaterial’s Affect

Chen

There are plenty of scare stories about health problems caused by nanotechnology, but where does the truth lie? Frank Chen, with Berkeley Lab’s Life Sciences Division, has developed a way to predict and evaluate the effects of exposure to a particular nanomaterial on human skin cells. Once the skin cells have been exposed, Chen uses computerized image analysis to see whether the cells are dying, and genome analysis to see which genes have been switched on or off. Full story.

Free Classes Available
During CPR Saturday

The American Red Cross is hosting its annual CPR Saturday event on March 8. This is a free 4.5-hour CPR training course that will teach life-saving skills to better prepare you and your family for emergencies. After successfully completing a written and hands-on skills test, participants will receive an American Red Cross certificate for adult CPR (good for one year). Classes are being held at two locations in Oakland, and one in Richmond. Go here for more details and to register.

Near-Term Energy
Prospers in ‘09 Budget

Business is booming at DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Colorado, a flagship facility for greening the nation's energy supply. Its budget has skyrocketed, more than 100 scientists have been hired, and research projects have been expanded. NREL gets most of its money from DOE's office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), which has received budget increases in the past two years. "I'm happy that EERE got a big boost [in 2008], but there are mid- and longer term research priorities that need to be attended to," says Berkeley Lab Director Steve Chu. Full story.

Go Green at the Office
To Reduce Footprint

Are you aware of your impact on the environment? Are you going green at home but leaving your eco-attitude at the door when you go to work? A December 2007 study from Berkeley Lab reports that 40 percent of world energy consumption is from businesses and that the tech equipment that businesses buy between 2005 and 2010 will consume as much energy as that produced by 10 power plants. Here are 10 steps you can take to create a greener office. Full story.

Websites Make Networking
Among Scientists Easier

Compared with crafting computational expertise or sharpening gene-splicing skills, networking is one talent many scientists are slow to hone. Luckily, a crop of new websites is encouraging even the most reclusive researchers to rendezvous with colleagues without leaving the lab. The success of social-networking websites such as MySpace and Facebook shows the power of the Internet not only to cultivate, but also to capitalize on, friendships. Although online networks may seem impersonal, they can do something for scientists that a handshake cannot: highlight common research interests without leaving the comfort of your desk. Full story.