http://today.lbl.gov Just another WordPress weblog Wed, 16 May 2012 16:53:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 http://today.lbl.gov/2012/05/16/from-cpus-to-rams-second-graders-visit-lab-to-learn-about-computers/ http://today.lbl.gov/2012/05/16/from-cpus-to-rams-second-graders-visit-lab-to-learn-about-computers/#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 16:41:42 +0000 Lyn http://today.lbl.gov/?p=11001 Ask a second-grader what computers are good for, and they are likely to answer enthusiastically: “Games!” Ask them how a computer works, and you’re likely to get a shrug. Not the second-graders at Berkeley’s LeConte Elementary School though. Thanks to a hands-on workshop hosted by the Lab, these second-graders now know that the CPU is like a computer’s brain, the RAM its memory, the power supply like a heart and the motherboard its skeleton. “Our goal is to open up their minds to the world of science and computer science,” said Berkeley Lab IT staff member Tammy Campbell. “It’s very important to hit them up at a very young age and get them interested.” More>]]> http://today.lbl.gov/2012/05/16/from-cpus-to-rams-second-graders-visit-lab-to-learn-about-computers/feed/ 0 http://today.lbl.gov/2012/05/16/malaria-drug-research-win-gates-foundation-award/ http://today.lbl.gov/2012/05/16/malaria-drug-research-win-gates-foundation-award/#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 16:41:29 +0000 Lyn http://today.lbl.gov/?p=11003 Jay Keasling, Berkeley Lab’s ALD for Biosciences and CEO of the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI), is the principal investigator for Zagaya, a non-profit organization dedicated to making malaria treatments accessible to the developing world. Keasling and Zagaya have been named Round 8 winners of Grand Challenges Explorations, an initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The $100,000 award is for development of a technique whereby artemisin, a powerful anti-malaria drug, could be produced in the dark from an endophytic fungus. If the fungus can be induced to produce artemisinin in the absence of light, an enzymatic mechanism could be harnessed for a new production method to reduce treatment costs for malaria patients in developing countries. More>]]> http://today.lbl.gov/2012/05/16/malaria-drug-research-win-gates-foundation-award/feed/ 0 http://today.lbl.gov/2012/05/16/crd%e2%80%99s-colella-named-chair-of-lab-staff-committee/ http://today.lbl.gov/2012/05/16/crd%e2%80%99s-colella-named-chair-of-lab-staff-committee/#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 16:41:17 +0000 Lyn http://today.lbl.gov/?p=11006 Phil Colella, a Senior Scientist in the Computational Research Division, has been named as chair of the Laboratory Staff Committee (LSC). He replaces Physics Division Director Natalie Roe. The LSC advises the Lab director on matters concerning Lab-wide consistency in the quality of the scientific staff and on divisional procedures for selection and appointment. More>]]> http://today.lbl.gov/2012/05/16/crd%e2%80%99s-colella-named-chair-of-lab-staff-committee/feed/ 0 http://today.lbl.gov/2012/05/16/gqueues-adds-task-management-feature-to-e-mail-and-calendar/ http://today.lbl.gov/2012/05/16/gqueues-adds-task-management-feature-to-e-mail-and-calendar/#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 16:37:51 +0000 Lyn http://today.lbl.gov/?p=11013 More>]]> http://today.lbl.gov/2012/05/16/gqueues-adds-task-management-feature-to-e-mail-and-calendar/feed/ 0 http://today.lbl.gov/2012/05/16/talk-today-on-calming-emotions-to-prevent-overreaction/ http://today.lbl.gov/2012/05/16/talk-today-on-calming-emotions-to-prevent-overreaction/#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 16:37:38 +0000 Lyn http://today.lbl.gov/?p=11015 Author and New York University Professor Judith Siegal will present a talk today on her book “Stop Overreacting: Effective Strategies for Calming Your Emotions.” The event starts at noon in the Building 50 Auditorium Siegel applies cutting edge research and more than thirty years of clinical practice experience to present the key concepts to understanding and overcoming intense emotional reactions to life’s less than ideal situations, specifically in the realms of relationships, family and the workplace. The event — co-sponsored by the Physical Biosciences Division and the Lab Diversity Council — will be webcast live here.]]> http://today.lbl.gov/2012/05/16/talk-today-on-calming-emotions-to-prevent-overreaction/feed/ 0 http://today.lbl.gov/2012/05/15/researchers-generate-electricity-from-viruses/ http://today.lbl.gov/2012/05/15/researchers-generate-electricity-from-viruses/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 16:15:15 +0000 Lyn http://today.lbl.gov/?p=10974 Imagine charging your phone as you walk, thanks to a paper-thin generator embedded in the sole of your shoe. This futuristic scenario is now a little closer to reality. Berkeley Lab researchers Seung-Wuk Lee, Ramamoorthy Ramesh, and Byung Yang Lee have developed a way to generate power using harmless viruses that convert mechanical energy into electricity. The scientists tested their approach by creating a generator that produces enough current to operate a small liquid-crystal display. It works by tapping a finger on a postage stamp-sized electrode coated with specially engineered viruses. The viruses convert the force of the tap into an electric charge. More>]]> http://today.lbl.gov/2012/05/15/researchers-generate-electricity-from-viruses/feed/ 0 http://today.lbl.gov/2012/05/15/lab-expert-comments-on-efficient-windows-melting-car-mirrors/ http://today.lbl.gov/2012/05/15/lab-expert-comments-on-efficient-windows-melting-car-mirrors/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 16:15:02 +0000 Lyn http://today.lbl.gov/?p=10977 More>]]> http://today.lbl.gov/2012/05/15/lab-expert-comments-on-efficient-windows-melting-car-mirrors/feed/ 1 http://today.lbl.gov/2012/05/15/new-battery-blog-post-on-what%e2%80%99s-beyond-lithium-ion-technology/ http://today.lbl.gov/2012/05/15/new-battery-blog-post-on-what%e2%80%99s-beyond-lithium-ion-technology/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 16:14:49 +0000 Lyn http://today.lbl.gov/?p=10978 The world has seen some dramatic changes in battery technology over the last 20 years, ever since the lithium-ion battery became commercial. For one, the smartphone revolution would not have occurred if not for the batteries. A lot of improvements are still possible with lithium-ion, and we project that battery energy densities will double when we succeed in controlling more energetic anode and cathode materials. But what happens after that? At the pace at which my smartphone is evolving, with Retina Display screens, 4G networks, and movies playing off of the air, it’s hard to see a doubling in energy being enough. The question then is: What is after Li-ion batteries? And is there something out there? More>]]> http://today.lbl.gov/2012/05/15/new-battery-blog-post-on-what%e2%80%99s-beyond-lithium-ion-technology/feed/ 0 http://today.lbl.gov/2012/05/15/als-staffers-create-winning-safety-slogan-for-the-lab/ http://today.lbl.gov/2012/05/15/als-staffers-create-winning-safety-slogan-for-the-lab/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 16:14:37 +0000 Lyn http://today.lbl.gov/?p=10981 Berkeley Lab has a winning new phrase to capture its dedication to safety: "Safety is Elemental." This phrase — chosen by Director Paul Alivisatos and Deputy Lab Director Horst Simon (center) from among 154 entries — captures the spirit of the strong safety culture at the Laboratory. Simon sent a Level-One e-mail in February asking staff to come up with memorable phrases. Liz Moxon (left) and Lori Tamura of the Advanced Light Source put their creative heads together and came up with the winner. "We thought the word 'elemental' resonated with current and historic research at the Lab,” they said. “I am very pleased with Lab’s engagement as demonstrated by the large number of creative and excellent submissions,” said Simon. ]]> http://today.lbl.gov/2012/05/15/als-staffers-create-winning-safety-slogan-for-the-lab/feed/ 0 http://today.lbl.gov/2012/05/15/intermittent-telephone-service-outages-after-530-p-m-today/ http://today.lbl.gov/2012/05/15/intermittent-telephone-service-outages-after-530-p-m-today/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 16:14:27 +0000 Lyn http://today.lbl.gov/?p=10985 There will be intermittent outages affecting telephone service today, from 5:30 p.m. until midnight, due to network upgrades. All Lab buildings will be affected, including offsite locations (Potter, JBEI, OCFO, and OSF). During this time, if there is a life-threatening emergency dial 911 from a cellular phone. Contact Telephone Services (x7997) with any questions.]]> http://today.lbl.gov/2012/05/15/intermittent-telephone-service-outages-after-530-p-m-today/feed/ 0