NASA's new nuclear reactor could change space exploration
The Kilopower reactor assembly. NASA Image.
Want to start a space colony? Even if you don’t, space agencies across the globe do. Whether it’s a moon base now, à la the Trump administration’s plans for NASA, or a Mars landing later, such a colony will need a lot of power. And given the possibility of light-obscuring dust storms on the Red Planet and the moon seeing an uneven amount of sunlight, solar panels may not cut it. But don’t worry — Los Alamos National Lab has a plan.
It hinges on nuclear power, which, at its most basic, consists of harnessing energy from radioactive elements. (Full story)
World’s finest gold specimen probed with LANL neutrons
The Ram’s Horn, from the Mineralogical
and Geological Museum at Harvard
University. Harvard photo.
Using neutron characterization techniques a team of scientists have peered inside one of the most unique examples of wire gold, understanding for the first time the specimen’s structure and possible formation process. The 263 gram, 12 centimeter tall specimen, known as the Ram’s Horn, belongs to the collection of the Mineralogical and Geological Museum Harvard University (MGMH). (Full story)
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Also from the LA Reporter this week:
NNSA approves ‘Critical Decision 1’ for Advanced Sources And Detectors project
Illustration shows a portion of the ASD accelerator
and target vessel. LANL Graphic.
The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has approved Critical Decision-1 (CD-1) for the Advanced Sources and Detectors Project (ASD), a cornerstone of the Enhanced Capabilities for Subcritical Experiments portfolio (ECSE). ASD is a proposed 20-million electron volt (MeV) accelerator that will generate X-ray images, or radiographs, of subcritical implosion experiments for the nuclear weapons program.
“The ECSE portfolio is designed to better understand plutonium when it is subjected to extreme pressure from explosively driven shocks, a central mission need for NNSA’s science-based Stockpile Stewardship Program,” said Thom Mason, Director of Los Alamos National Laboratory. (Full story)
Squashed quantum dots can possibly emit more stable light
Some of the amazing features of the squashed dots are that the spectrally narrow light emitted has a highly stable intensity plus non-fluctuating emission energy. According to the Los Alamos National Laboratory’s new research, the stressed colloidal quantum dots signify a practicable substitute for the current in use nanoscale light sources. Additionally, they earn the title nanoscale, single-particle light sources for further application in medical diagnostics, optical quantum circuits, and ultrasensitive sensors.
In comparison to the conventional dots, the newly produced squashed dots offer great flexibility for bringing about manipulation in the emission color along with the exceptional subthermal, narrow linewidth. (Full story)
Nineteen Northern New Mexico students receive $28,500 In scholarships
The Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Foundation recently awarded $1,500 Scholarships to 19 nontraditional students from Northern New Mexico.
Regional College/Returning Student (RCRS) Scholarships support individuals seeking a certification or two-year degree from a local accredited college, university or trade school after a gap in formal education.
The RCRS program is part of the Los Alamos Employees’ Scholarship Fund (LAESF), the largest scholarship pool in Northern New Mexico with funding primarily contributed by LANL employees, contractors and retirees. (Full story)
Also from the Daily Post this week:
2019 Summer physics camp for young women
One day [of the a two-week Summer Physics Camp] will be dedicated to visiting Los Alamos National Laboratory research facilities, which may include the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center, the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, CINT, and the NMC Biolab.
The camp will focus on boosting your understanding of the physics of the Sun, Earth, and everything in between and also introduce you to how to write your resume, interview for a job, and how to make some tasks fun by learning the basics of computer programming. (full story)
Ex-LANL biologist says he has an allergy solution
Cliff Han shows off two of his AllerPops,
Journal photo.
A retired Los Alamos National Laboratory biologist thinks he has found the solution to long-term allergy relief.
It’s a lollipop. Specifically, a lollipop that Cliff Han says tackles what he believes is the root cause of environmental allergies, rather than the symptoms. By stabilizing levels of “good” oral bacteria, he says, his product helps “switch off” an overworking immune system that makes people sneeze or cough. (Full story)
