Fermilab Today Monday, April 10, 2006  
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Monday, April 10
11:00 a.m. Academic Lecture Series - Curia II
Speaker: S. Dodelson, Fermilab
Title: The Smooth Universe - Course 6 (3rd Lecture)
2:30 p.m. Particle Astrophysics Seminar - Curia II
Speaker: Y. Wang, University of Oklahoma Title: Dark Energy Search
3:30 p.m. DIRECTOR'S COFFEE BREAK - 2nd Flr X-Over
4:00 p.m. New Bs Flavor Oscillation Result from CDF - 1 West

Tuesday, April 11
3:30 p.m. DIRECTOR'S COFFEE BREAK - 2nd Flr X-Over
4:00 p.m. Accelerator Physics and Technology Seminar - 1 West
Speaker: A. Burov, Fermilab Title: Coherent Transverse Electron-Antiproton Instability In the Recycler Ring

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Weather Mostly Sunny  70º/49º

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Secon Level 3

Cafeteria
Monday, April 10
-Wisconsin Cheese
-Corned Beef Reuben
-Shepherd's Pie
-Pot Roast
-Turkey Craisins Wrap
-Meat Lover's Pizza
-Pacific Rim Rice Bowl

The Wilson Hall Cafe accepts Visa, Master Card, Discover and American Express.

Wilson Hall Cafe Menu

Cafeteria

Wednesday, April 12
Lunch
-Barbecued Pork Ribs
-Braised Greens
-Carrots Marsala
-Vernazza Cake

Thursday, April 13
Dinner
-Roasted Vegetable Salad w/Feta
-Veal Chops Oreganata
-Porcini and Tomato Risotto
-Swiss Chard in Garlic & Olive Oil
-Pear & Almond Strudel

Chez Leon Menu
Call x4512 to make your reservation.

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New Results from CDF
Ivan Furic from University of Chicago will present new Bs Flavor Oscillation Result from CDF at a special 4:00 meeting today in 1 West.
Bodman addresses safety, the ILC, and the future of U.S. science
Bodman
(Click for larger version.)
Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman's All-Hands Meeting at Fermilab emphasized safety, U.S. scientific leadership and the future of Fermilab.

"Your personal safety and indeed the safety of all the Department employees, and contractors, has been a top priority of mine since I got here a little over a year ago," Bodman told a packed auditorium during his April 7 visit to the laboratory. "The things you do are very dangerous. I've seen it first hand." Bodman praised Fermilab's safety record, which met safety targets for 2005. "It is a terrific accomplishment and one I hope you will continue," he said. He also praised Fermilab for voluntarily reporting trace amounts of tritium in Indian Creek. "You reported it even though it posed no threat to the environment or human health," he said. "The way you handled this issue, in my view, is a credit to all of you."

Bodman stressed the importance of science and technology for maintaining an economic edge in the United States, noting Fermilab's important roles.

"Your work over the decades has led to great science-to breakthrough concepts, and to the United States' unquestioned leadership in physics. This has benefited our nation in many ways," he said. "Successful futures are built on past successes. And in this respect, you have every reason to be optimistic and confident about your future."

As part of the American Competitiveness Initiative, which seeks to increase U.S science funding, the administration's budget request for 2007 calls for about a half a billion dollar increase up to a level of 4.1 billion for DOE Office of Science, already the largest funder of basic physics research in the world. "The president has recognized the contribution that fundamental research makes to our nation; particularly to its economic competitiveness and to our quality of life as Americans," said Bodman. "No better example of that can be found than this laboratory."

Bodman cited Fermilab successes, such as electron cooling and its contribution to Tevatron luminosity, as well as results from the year-old MINOS project. He remarked on the crucial role that Fermilab expertise will play in future projects. "The Large Hadron Collider at CERN depends on your work," he said. "The science there will stand on the shoulders of Fermilab's achievements and experience."

On the possibility of hosting the ILC at Fermilab, Bodman said he fully supports exploring the possibilities of bringing the international linear collider to Fermilab. "There are a great many difficult steps that will be needed for this to occur; this audience understands better than I just what those steps are and how difficult they will be--but it is a goal worth fighting for," he said.

Bodman reminded the Fermilab audience of his roots in Illinois, where he grew up, and his background as an MIT-trained scientist. "I hope that you will get the idea that, somehow or other, one of your own got the got job [as Energy Secretary]," he said. "And I have not forgotten who I am."
--Siri Steiner

In the News
The Economist,
April 6, 2006:

Accidence and substance

THE unknown pervades the universe. That which people can see, with the aid of various sorts of telescope, accounts for just 4% of the total mass. The rest, however, must exist. Without it, galaxies would not survive and the universe would not be gently expanding, as witnessed by astronomers. What exactly constitutes this dark matter and dark energy remains mysterious, but physicists have recently uncovered some more clues, about the former, at least.

One possible explanation for dark matter is a group of subatomic particles called neutrinos. These objects are so difficult to catch that a screen made of lead a light-year thick would stop only half the neutrinos beamed at it from getting through. Yet neutrinos are thought to be the most abundant particles in the universe. Some ten thousand trillion trillion-most of them produced by nuclear reactions in the sun-reach Earth every second. All but a handful pass straight through the planet as if it wasn't there.
Read More



Safety Tip
Watch out for the geese
We are running an updated version of a "seasonal" Safety Tip first published in April 2004, and again last year.

Poet Alfred Lord Tennyson said, "In the Spring a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love." Well, why should Canada Geese be any different? All around the lab at this time of year, goose pairs are tending to mates and nests full of eggs. Their responsibilities include protecting against all threats, real or imagined. Those perceived threats often come from Fermilab employees.

Already this year, a few employees have had encounters with exuberant goose parents. These encounters usually occur because of the humans' own exuberance in avoiding or attacking geese rather than any evil intent on the part of the birds. The best way to avoid problems with geese during spring time is simply to stay away from them. Use an alternate door for the few weeks the geese will be attached to the nesting spot, or just take a few seconds to walk around the area rather than "challenging" their territory.

The lab has a limited ability to prevent problems in critical areas, such as temporary fences between nests and walkways, or deterrent chemicals to grassy areas where geese forage. In some highly sensitive areas, such as the Daycare Center, we can evict badly behaving nesters forcibly.

We should always keep in mind that we are justifiably proud of Fermilab's friendly relationship with nature. And nature is not always as convenient, pristine, or safe as we might like.

Safety Tip of the Week Archive

Accelerator Update
Baby Buffalo
They're here! Seven baby buffalo were born last week, and more are on the way. (Click on image for larger version.)
Announcements

Fermilab Club Fair, April 12
Are you looking for a new lunch time activity or new activities for you and your family? Check out the first annual club fair, which will be held in the Atrium on Wednesday, April 12, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. There will be prizes, giveaways, demonstrations, virtual flight simulation, singing and dance performances. Something for everyone. Come see what Fermilab clubs have to offer. Participating clubs are: Creative Writers, Association of Rocketry, Barnstormers Model Airplane, Chess, Garden, Singers, NALWO, International Folk Dance, Scottish Country Dance, English Country Dance and Folk/Barn Dance, Amateur Radio and the Go Club.

Spring Fling Book Fair, April 26, 27
Check out the fair on April 26 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and April 27 from 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the Atrium. Proceeds from the book fair go toward subsidizing some of our recreation programs.

Power Outage
A major power outage will occur next Saturday, April 15. The outage will be from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and will affect the education center, MINOS and MiniBooNE. Please note that the education center will be closed for that day.

Professional Development
New classes are always being added to the professional development schedule. For the most up-to-date course offerings, go to the web page.

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