Back
Science
Lawrence Livermore work may improve the efficiency of the biofuel production cycle
By deciphering the makeup of a bacterium found in the soil of a tropical rain forest, scientists may have a better understanding of how to more efficiently produce biofuels. The production of liquid fuels derived from plant biomass offers a promising technology for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels. While sugars stored within the plant cell…
Laboratory science on display
Science was on full display over the weekend as the second USA Science & Engineering Expo returned to Washington, D.C. Thousands of aspiring scientists, engineers and technicians queued up at the Laboratory's four booths to test their knowledge of basic science information, try their best at solving the world's energy needs while keeping any impact to the environment…
Lawrence Livermore struts its scientific stuff at USA Science & Engineering Festival
WASHINGTON D.C.-- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is among the many noted exhibitors and presenters featured at the Second USA Science & Engineering Festival Expo, the nation's largest celebration of science and engineering, April 28-29, in Washington, D.C.The Festival Expo -- with its fascinating array of hands-on exhibits and stage shows, coupled with up-close…
Drell awarded NNSA Administrator's Gold Medal of Excellence
Sidney Drell, a member of the LLNL/LANS Board of Governors, is the recipient of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Administrator's Gold Medal of Excellence for Distinguished Service, the highest honorary award granted by the NNSA. NNSA Administrator Thomas D'Agostino presented the award to Drell in recognition of his many years of exceptional contributions…
Research explores applications for new field of electronics
By looking at the way electrons are excited, researchers can gain a better understanding of the new field of transparent electronics. Postdoc Andre Schleife, who works in the Lab's Quantum Simulations Group, developed a new approach to investigate the interplay of excitonic effects and electron doping. (In semiconductor production, doping intentionally introduces…
Engineering a little fun with science
Engineering and the critical role it plays in science was on display at Dublin High School Wednesday night in celebration of National Engineers Week. The event featured a question and answer session with hosts from the Discovery Channel show "Mythbusters," as well as demonstrations by various engineering and science classes within the Dublin school district. To kick off…
Rodgers garners award for nuclear forensics work
Lab geophysicist Arthur Rodgers has received an award from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) for his work in nuclear forensics. A researcher in the Atmospheric, Earth & Energy Division of the Physical & Life Sciences Directorate, Rodgers was named the "top contributor of the quarter" for the first quarter of fiscal year 2012 (October-December 2011) for a…
Postdoc to continue micrometeorite research through Marie Curie Fellowship
If you don't believe that good things come in small packages, talk to Penny Wozniakiewicz who studies micrometeorites -- the tiny extraterrestrial dust sized particles that could hold the key to the origins of our solar system. Wozniakiewicz , a postdoc who has been working in the Lab's Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, was recently awarded the prestigious…
Ten scientists named Distinguished Members of Technical Staff
Ten Laboratory researchers have been named Distinguished Members of Technical Staff (DMTS) for their extraordinary scientific and technical contributions to the Laboratory and its missions as acknowledged by their professional peers and the larger community. Jim Candy of the Engineering Directorate, John Castor of the Weapons and Complex Integration Principal Directorate,…
Former Lab postdoc receives AFOSR award
Kramer Akli has been named one of the recipients of the 2012 Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR ) Young Investigator award. Akli completed his original thesis work at LLNL as a graduate student at the University of California, Davis. While at LLNL, he was supported through a Student Employee Graduate Fellowship awarded by the Lab. Upon graduation, Akli…
Girls to explore science and math careers at conference
The 33rd annual Tri-Valley Expanding Your Horizons Conference returns on Saturday, Feb. 25, to Diablo Valley College, San Ramon Campus at 1690 Watermill Road, San Ramon. The conference begins at 8:30 a.m. The daylong event is held for girls, grades 6-9, from Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton, San Ramon and Sunol school districts to increase interest and foster awareness of…
Lab's Science on Saturday draws standing room only audience
More than 1,100 local people and more worldwide attended the first lecture in the popular "Science on Saturday" series this past Saturday. For the first time, the program was broadcast over the Internet, allowing participants to interact with the presenter by asking questions during the presentation. This year's Science on Saturday program, now in its 17the season, is…
Media Advisory Lab's 'Science On Saturday' Lecture: Sleuthing Seismic Signals
WHO: Lab scientist Sean Ford and teacher Ken Wedel will present, "Sleuthing Seismic Signals: Understanding Earthquake Hazards and Monitoring Nuclear Explosions," at the next Science on Saturday lecture. WHAT: The probability of a magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquake in the Greater Bay Area during the next 30 years is 63 percent, or about two out of three. The presenters…
LLNL offers another exceptional season of Saturday science lectures
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's popular lecture series, "Science on Saturday," returns Feb. 4 and runs through March 3. This year's talks cover a wide range of current topics including the Lab's work on the Mercury Messenger; effects of earthquakes; space junk; and restoring sight to the blind.The lectures are free of charge and will be held in the Bankhead…
Optical Society of America names two Lab employees fellows
Laboratory employees David Fittinghoff and Edward Moses have recently been elected as fellows of the Optical Society of America (OSA). Fittinghoff, a physicist in the Physics Division, has been recognized for his "foundational work in optical field ionization using ultrashort pulses and innovative engineering in ultrafast optics and outstanding contributions to OSA." His…
Newsline's year in review now available on Web
Newsline's month-by-month highlights from 2011 are now online. As in the past, listings are in four categories: Science and Technology; People; Operations; and Awards. However, in a departure from past practice, the 2011 Year-in-Review appears only electronically; there will be no print edition.The highlights are available on the year in review Web page in a variety of…
Lab researchers gain microscopic understanding of nuclear fusion
Lab scientists have taken a crucial step toward describing thermonuclear reactions from first principles. Over the past decade, progress has been made in understanding the static properties of light nuclei based on realistic interactions among protons and neutrons. But ab initio calculations of nuclear scattering and reactions have been mostly confined to systems of four…
Foy's fun with science a career highlight
"Wisdom begins with wonder." -- Socrates During a science experiment, Frances Foy helped a fifth grade student dip a blown-up balloon into a container of liquid nitrogen. As the balloon shriveled amid a cloud of white vapor while classmates 'oohed' and 'aahed' in amazement, Foy asked, "What is happening? Something is changing." For two decades, Foy has been demonstrating…
Lab researcher clarifies water's ionic conductivity
Lab researcher Sebastien Hamel of the Condensed Matter and Materials Division's Quantum Simulation Group has resolved a long-standing issue concerning the evaluation of ionic conductivity in fluids using quantum molecular dynamics (QMD) simulations. Quantum simulations have offered new insight into the microscopic dynamical processes of proton transport and into the…
Tri-Valley Science and Engineering Fair to expand
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has announced plans to expand the Tri-Valley Science and Engineering Fair (TVSEF) it has sponsored for the past 15 years. The fair, affiliated with the Intel Corporation, has served students in Alameda County so successfully that it has become a model for fairs within neighboring communities. Because of this success, the Intel…
