Stanford Physics Lab
To Lay Off 125 people
By Lisa Krieger

Sky Surveys Explore Dark
Energy, Galaxy, Planets

SDSS telescope

A team of scientists recently announced the beginning of a new multi-year Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-III). The new program of four coordinated surveys will revolutionize the study of the distant universe, the Milky Way galaxy, giant planets, and dark energy, one of the biggest mysteries in contemporary science. The largest of the four surveys, the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS), will measure the expansion of the universe with unprecedented precision. David Schlegel of Berkeley Lab’s Physics Division is the principal investigator of the BOSS component of SDSS-III. Full story.

The preliminary investigation of a power failure that blacked out half the lab on Wednesday indicates the cause was probably a current imbalance on Buss 2 at the Grizzly Substation.  What caused the imbalance is not known. Protective relays tripped circuit breakers on the buss, as expected. Facilities isolated the transformers and, with the assistance of an experienced high-voltage electrical engineering contractor, tested all downstream circuit breakers at each switching substation. After inspections and tests, Facilities will begin switching the load back to Bank 2. As back-up protection, the Lab has been working with the Berkeley campus to coordinate transfer of power from its substation if needed during testing.


Start New Year Right
With Benefits Checklist

The start of a new year is an excellent time for Lab employees to assess their benefits and determine if anything needs to be updated or changed. To assist with that process, the Benefits Office has prepared a Top Ten checklist, which includes the following topics:

1. Check Your Paycheck         2. Are your Benefits in Order? 3. Save on Premium Costs 4. Reduce your Taxes 5. HCRA/DCRA		6. Medical Plan ID Cards          7. Behavioral Health 8. Save on Drugs 9. Ride Smart 10. Having a Baby?

Go here to learn more.