Fermilab Today

Between 600 and 700 high school students attended the event, which allows students to meet face to face with career scientists, engineers and mathematicians.

Students talk about food science with representatives from FONA International. Photo: Cindy Arnold

An expo attendee checks out a 3-D printer. Photo: Cindy Arnold

Photo of the Day

3-D-printed CMS detector

James Wetzel, a staff scientist on CMS at the University of Iowa, used a 3-D printer to make a number of these CMS detector models. The U.S. CMS collaboration is distributing them to U.S. universities that participate in CMS, the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation and other CMS-related organizations. Wetzel's work building 3-D detector models is supported by the U.S. CMS Outreach Project. Photo: Reidar Hahn

In Brief

Employees learn to be better environmental stewards at Fermilab Earth Week Fair

Fermilab scientist Peter Kasper (not pictured) brought his ELF cycle to Fermilab for display at the Earth Week Fair. Photo: Eric Korzeniowski, ESH&Q

On Thursday, April 24, Fermilab hosted its Earth Week Fair in the Wilson Hall atrium.

The fair featured the laboratory's Garden Club and Sustainability Committee, as well as outside organizations such as SCARCE, Friends of the Fox River and the Midwest High Speed Rail Association. Employees also manned solar energy and bicycle commuting booths and an office-supply swap table.

Fermi Garden Club members display onion plants and various squashes grown in the Village. They talk with fair attendees about the benefits of gardening. Photo: Eric Korzeniowski, ESH&Q

In the News

Synopsis: IceCube neutrinos pass flavor test

From Physics, April 28, 2015

The IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the South Pole is a large array of photodetectors buried in ice. In 2013, the instrument reported signals from the highest energy neutrinos ever observed. Now, two teams of researchers have independently estimated the type, or flavor, of these neutrinos. As opposed to an earlier analysis, these new results are consistent with the neutrinos coming from cosmically large distances. Further work may begin to probe the physics going on at the neutrino sources.

From ESH&Q

Sharing the road with pedestrians and bicyclists

Martha Michels

Martha Michels, head of ESH&Q, wrote this column.

Now that the warm weather is finally upon us and bicyclists, joggers and walkers have taken to the roadways, there are increased chances of collisions with motorists.

According to a recent Fermilab Security case report, on March 30, an employee driving to work had a less than friendly verbal exchange with a non-Fermilab bicyclist. The encounter ended with the bicyclist putting his foot on the employee's vehicle and the employee contacting security. On April 8, two employees were walking on Main Ring Road for exercise when they were nearly sideswiped by a vehicle.

We urge everyone to be aware of traffic safety and follow the Illinois Rules of the Road. These rules are enforced at Fermilab, and they apply to motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians alike.

Motorists should watch for pedestrians and bicyclists and respect bicyclists' rights to share the road. Motorists should also remember that driving a little slower for a few minutes beats taking a chance you may regret for life.

Many have voiced concern that some bicyclists ride through stop signs without stopping or looking for oncoming traffic. There have also been complaints that some bicyclists ride more than two abreast, taking up a full lane or more. The Illinois vehicle code (625ILCS 5/11-1505.1) states that "persons riding two abreast shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic." Although riding two abreast is legal, the Illinois Vehicle Code also recommends riding single-file if possible. This is safer because it presents less chance of bicycles impeding traffic flow. Motorists must leave three feet of space when passing a bicycle. It's the law.

The Fermilab Community Advisory Board has said that bicyclists impeding traffic have been an issue in the Fox Valley area. Batavia and Kane County Forest Preserve police have ticketed bicyclists whose behavior puts others at risk, and Fermilab has issued tickets to bicyclists as well. The penalty for bicycle moving violations is the same as for motor vehicle moving violations.

Fermilab promotes education and awareness through the Fermilab Environment Safety and Health Manual, traffic safety awareness training and Fermilab Today articles. The Fermilab gate guards also occasionally stop bicyclists to advise them of the Illinois bicycle rules of the road.

If bicyclists, motorists and pedestrians all comply with state laws, it will help keep the roadways safer for all.

For more information, talk to your supervisor or division safety officer, or visit the Traffic Safety Subcommittee Web page.

In Brief

Science Next Door May newsletter now online

The May edition of Science Next Door, Fermilab's monthly community newsletter, is now available online. View it or subscribe to get the latest about the laboratory's public events, including tours, lectures, arts events and volunteer opportunities.

Safety Update

ESH&Q weekly report, April 28

This week's safety report, compiled by the Fermilab ESH&Q Section, contains one incident.

An employee working in an awkward position felt a pain in his left side where it had been pressed against a cabinet. He received first-aid treatment.

See the full report.

In the News

DUGL sees Nepalese earthquake

From Sanford Underground Research Laboratory's Deep Thoughts, April 27, 2015

On Saturday, a devastating earthquake struck Nepal, one of the poorest countries on Earth. The 7.8 magnitude temblor, followed by a 6.7 magnitude aftershock, destroyed villages and towns, trapped hundreds on Mt. Everest, and took the lives of more than 4,000 people. Many news sources say that number is expected to grow as rescuers reach remote areas.

For about 50 million years, the Indo-Australian Plate has been pushing itself beneath the Eurasian Plate, a collision that gave rise to the Himalayan Mountains. As the plates continue to collide, pressure builds until finally an earthquake occurs to relieve the stress. The Indo-Australian Plate is pushing under the Eurasian Plate at a rate of nearly 2 inches per year.

"This is one of the fastest convergences on Earth," said Victor Tsai, Assistant Professor of Geophysics at the California Institute of Technology. "The collision is causing the Himalayas to grow taller every year."