January 2019 – July 2022
An arsenic-containing compound produced by a soil bacterium shows promise as a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Research by the Berkeley Center for Structural Biology’s Collaborative Crystallography program demonstrated arsinothricin’s effectiveness against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. https://biosciences.lbl.gov/2019/04/24/bcsb-helps-characterize-new-arsenic-based-antibiotic/
On Monday, April 29, Lab Director Mike Witherell sent a Level-One message to all employees on sexual harassment in science.
The Lab celebrated 25 years of Daughters and Sons to Work Day last Thursday, with 124 children taking part in numerous activities, including tours, hands-on demos, a science festival, and some inspirational words from Lab Director Mike Witherell. A special thanks to the volunteers who helped out. https://berkeleylab.exposure.co/take-your-daughters-sons-day
During a talk at Nerd Nite East Bay in Oakland on Monday, Berkeley Lab’s Jacklyn “Jackie” Gates, who leads the Nuclear Science Division’s Heavy Elements Group, shared how scientists make and study heavy elements. https://youtu.be/BW4RqVLBNCM
Ellen Tauscher, former Congresswoman representing California’s 10th District and former UC Regent, passed away on Monday. She visited Berkeley Lab most recently last summer (left). https://www.politico.com/story/2019/04/30/ellen-tauscher-dead-at-67-1293104
Geoffrey Chew, a theoretical physicist with longtime connections to Berkeley Lab’s Physics Division, passed away on April 11 at age 94. He worked with Edward Teller on the Manhattan Project and was a student of Enrico Fermi. He was the co-creator of the Chew-Low theory for meson nucleon scattering. https://commons.lbl.gov/display/physics/Remembering+Geoffrey+Chew
Berkeley Lab researchers set out to explore how deviations from Planck’s Law could impact energy-related technologies based on nano- and micro-structured geometries. Practical applications for this early-stage energy conversion include solar power, water desalination, and thermal storage. https://newscenter.lbl.gov/2019/04/26/exploring-new-ways-to-control-thermal-radiation/
Nominations for Exceptional Achievement and the Berkeley Lab Prize-Lifetime Achievement Awards are due June 30. The awards recognize staff for significant accomplishments in advancing the Lab’s mission and strategic goals. Honorees will be celebrated at a ceremony in the fall. https://recognition.lbl.gov/
Lab researchers Roger Falcone, Pamela Ronald, Uros Seljak, and Omar Yaghi have been elected into the National Academy of Sciences in recognition of their exemplary original research. The four new members bring the number of Berkeley Lab scientists elected as NAS members to 84. https://newscenter.lbl.gov/2019/04/30/new-nas-members-2019/
A new 3D particle-in-cell simulation tool developed by Berkeley Lab researchers and CEA Saclay is enabling cutting-edge simulations of laser/plasma coupling mechanisms that were previously out of reach of standard PIC codes used in plasma research. https://cs.lbl.gov/news-media/news/2019/a-breakthrough-in-the-study-of-laserplasma-interactions/