SC07 spiral chronicles computing history

Fermilab exhibited the giant, blue spiral at SC07. The spiral documents the laboratory's computing history from 1968 to the present.

The giant, blue spiral object positioned at the front of the Wilson Hall Atrium is more than a curiosity. It chronicles the history of computing at Fermilab from 1968 to the present.

The spiral is from SC07 exhibit in Reno, Nevada. It displays information chronologically, beginning on the outer edge and spiraling upward and inward.

"We were looking for a design that would allow us to express all the historical information visually," said CD's Lisa Giacchetti.

Included on the spiral are color-coded timelines containing information on the progression of computing and technology, networking, data and storage, facilities and the experimental program. It also contains other historical Fermilab information, such as the number of PhDs at the laboratory and names of former directors.

VMS's Reidar Hahn conceived the design idea, with CD's Lisa Giacchetti, John Urish and Dave Ritchie and VMS's Fred Ullrich and Diana Canzone to plan the SC07 exhibit. It was inspired by the MINOS exhibit building.

The team worked to create a design with multiple domains of information on large scale. CD team members met with other members of division for a day-long workshop to develop the content domains. Ritchie gathered exhibit information from current and former CD members and from the VMS archives, and graphic designer Diana Canzone created the spiral design.

"People like to interact with a lot of data," said Ullrich. "They form their own comparisons and assumptions and learn something from their own interactions."

The spiral, which measures approximately 13 feet high and 44 feet long when unrolled, is made of printed fabric, stretched over a covered aluminum frame.

The Computing Division hopes to turn the collected data into a display showcase in Feynman Computing Center.

-- Rhianna Wisniewski

The spiral is pictured as part of Fermilab's exhibit at SC07.

Hearing on barriers to women's advancement in academic positions

From AIP FYI, Nov. 30, 2007

"It's not just good for science, it's good for America, it's good for our economy and our well-being. That's the point that needs to be infused throughout."
- Kathie Olsen, Deputy Director, National Science Foundation

Implicit bias, rather than explicit prejudice, is a major barrier to women's advancement in senior faculty positions at the nation's universities. American science and technology will not reach its full potential unless active efforts are made to address bias and other problems, witnesses concluded at a hearing of the House Subcommittee on Research and Science Education.

Read more

Dark matter stars may have lit the early universe

From ars technica, Nov. 30, 2007

New work from a team of physicists sheds light-bad pun intended-on the formation of the first stars in the universe. The unexpected twist? Dark matter could have played a major role in the formation of these "dark stars." Where conventional stars rely on fusion of light elements into heavier ones to counteract the astronomical gravitational forces acting on such a massive body, dark stars are held up by the annihilation reaction that occurs when dark matter comes into contact with antimatter.

Read more