The smarter, safer, stronger, far-out materials of the future
The nation’s 104 nuclear power plants rely heavily on steel for many of their components, including the pressure vessels that contain uranium. But eventually, the steady barrage of radiation can degrade steel, making it susceptible to fractures.
Researchers at Caltech and Los Alamos National Laboratory have created nano–laminate composites, materials that could better disaster-proof future reactors. The laminates could be incorporated into steel to replace aging parts in existing plants. (Full Story)
Need for welders spurs new programs at SFCC
The need for welders at Los AlamosNational Laboratory and Caterpillar Inc. have spurred the creation of two new programs at Santa Fe Community College.
The school is now offering an associate in applied science degree in welding, beginning in the spring semester of 2013. A certificate program in welding will also be offered.
School officials said the new programs are not only due to the local demand, but a nationwide need for qualified welders. (Full Story)
Scholarships available
Students interested in returning to formal education after a break for military service or personal reasons areeligible for scholarships from the Los Alamos Laboratory Foundation.
The Los Alamos Employees Scholarship Fund provides $1,000 awards to candidates from Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, Los Alamos, San Miguel, Taos, Mora and Sandoval counties. (Full Story)
NAGC incorporated, looking for partners
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) announced the incorporation of the National Agricultural Genotyping Center (NAGC). Structured as a non-profit initiative for the purpose of agricultural development, the NAGC will leverage the benefits of high-throughput genotyping with the support of two of the nation’s most prominent organizations in the fields of science and agriculture. With incorporation complete, the NAGC now seeks partners looking to become a part of this project. (Full Story)
For more information on the NCGA click here
Preparing Sequoia for national security missions
Researchers from NNSA's three nuclear weapons laboratories are testing Sequoia's power and versatility by running unclassified science codes relevant to NNSA missions.
Los Alamos National Laboratory researchers will run asteroid and turbulence simulations, and Sandia National Laboratory scientists will explore the properties of tantalum on Sequoia. (Full Story)
Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who’s the fastest of them all?
The unveiling of Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Titan Cray XK7 supercomputer knocks every other computer in the world down one notch in the Petaflop Hall of Fame.
The Top500 notes that there are now 23 systems with performance better than a petaflop per second, “just four-and-a-half years after the debut of Roadrunner, the world’s first petaflop/s supercomputer.” (Full Story)
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