BNL Video | Explorations at the Frontiers of Physics

9/11 Remembrance 2017

Brookhaven Lab staff attended a ceremony on Monday, Sept. 11, 2017, to remember those who died in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and to honor those who participated in the rescue efforts. The ceremony was held at the Lab's 9/11 memorial and featured remarks by Brookhaven Laboratory Director Doon Gibbs, U.S. Department of Energy Brookhaven Site Office Manager Frank Crescenzo, and Brookhaven Lab Fire Rescue Chief Tim Kelly.

Detector challenges at the LCLS

The SLAC Linear Coherent Light Source (LCLS) is the world's first hard X-ray free electron laser. It opened the door to revolutionary experiments in atomic and molecular dynamics. A major upgrade (LCLS-II) is now underway. A 4 GeV superconducting electron linear accelerator will be installed in the LCLS tunnel, enabling an increase in the repetition rate from 120 to 1 million pulses per second. Challenges and current status are presented.

From NSLS to NSLS-II and Beyond: Accelerator Physics Challenges

Nearly a half-century ago, scientists considered the synchrotron light appearing in their electron accelerators a severe hindrance to producing the high energy particles they needed to study the fundamental forces in nature. This "nuisance" light, however, had extremely useful characteristics.

2017 Chasman Award: Tiffany Victor: Understanding the Nutrient Distribution in the Soil of Beneficial Plant-Fungi Interactions Using Infrared Imaging

Chasman Award recipient Tiffany Victor explores how to enhance the symbiotic relationship between plants and microbes and the potential to grow bio-energy crops on nutrient-poor lands.

2017 Chasman Award: Hannah Herde: Building an Olympian: Assembling the Next Generation of the ATLAS Particle Physics Detector

Chasman Award recipient Hannah Herde speaks about the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, which measures the building blocks of our universe and searches for new ones. In her talk, Herde describes efforts at Brookhaven Lab to build the next generation of the ATLAS experiment's innermost particle detector.

Circle of Safety

Motor vehicle accident prevention expert Ed Sierra introduces the "Circle of Safety"—walking around a vehicle—to check for safety concerns before driving.

The History of the Brookhaven Laboratory Site

Natural and Cultural Resources Manager Tim Green talks about the history At the same location where soldiers passed through for two world wars and Irving Berlin wrote "God Bless America," staff at Brookhaven Lab lead and collaborate with some of the world's brightest minds as an asset for innovation and inspiration with seven Nobel Prize-winning discoveries and countless other advances, supporting the U.S. Department of Energy's mission to discover the solutions that power and secure our nation's future.

Preventing Tick-borne Disease by Heritably Immunizing Populations of White-footed Mice

During this BSA Lecture, Kevin Esvelt of Massachusetts Institute of Technology discusses his lab's work with communities on Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard to prevent tick-borne human illness by developing hereditary traits in mice that could immunize them, removing a vital link in the spread of Lyme disease.

Unlocking the Materials Genome Through Combinatorial Nanoscience

During this BSA Distinguished Lecture, Chad Mirkin of the International Institute for Nanotechnology at Northwestern University discussed the novel "nanocombinatorics" approach to create unique combinations of atoms from across the Periodic Table of Elements.

AAAG Lecture: Beyond Inclusion: Diversifying Biomedical Science

Edward Smith Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University presented this talk at Brookhaven Lab, hosted by the Lab's African American Affinity Group during Black History Month.

Interface Science and Catalysis Group at Brookhaven's Center for Functional Nanomaterials

Group leader Dario Stacchiola describes how his group captures atomic-scale catalytic processes in real time and under reaction conditions.

Electron Microscopy Group at Brookhaven's Center for Functional Nanomaterials

Group leader Eric Stach discusses the electron microscopy instrumentation and techniques that his group uses to study the structure and chemistry of materials at the atomic scale.

Electronic Nanomaterials Group at Brookhaven's Center for Functional Nanomaterials

Group leader Kevin Yager explains that the mission of his group is to fabricate and measures the properties of nanoscale architectures with interesting electronic behaviors.

Theory and Computation Group at Brookhaven's Center for Functional Nanomaterials

Group leader Mark Hybertsen explains that his group works in collaboration with experimental colleagues to identify structures with particular functional capabilities.

Soft and Bio Nanomaterials Group at Brookhaven's Center for Functional Nanomaterials

Group leader Oleg Gang talks about the methods his group develops to direct the self-assembly of nanoscale systems from organic and inorganic components into functional materials with desired properties.

Veterans at Brookhaven National Laboratory: In Service to Science

In service to science, veterans who served in our nation's military and have embarked on new adventures at Brookhaven Lab help keep the Laboratory at the forefront of scientific discovery.

Picturing Physics: How Topology Helps Untangle the Puzzle of the Shapes of Things

During this Brookhaven Women in Science (BWIS) Lecture, Moira Chas of Stony Brook University discusses how topologists approach questions of space and shape for materials.

Institutional Computing Cluster Installation

Brookhaven Lab recently installed at its Scientific Data and Computing Center a new institutional computing cluster from Hewlett Packard Enterprise. This time-lapse video shows the installation.

The Quantum Universe

During this BSA Distinguished Lecture, Hitoshi Murayama discusses how scientists have major puzzles to solve by, for example, uncovering more about the Higgs boson discovered nearly five decades after it was predicted and investigating the mysterious, invisible dark matter that holds the universe together.

Solar-Driven Water Splitting

During this BSA Distinguished Lecture, Harry Gray of the California Institute of Technology explains how he and other researchers are investigating the structures and mechanisms of hydrogen-evolving catalysts for solar-driven molecular machines to store solar energy.

Directed Self-Assembly Opens New Pathways for Nanotechnology

Brookhaven Lab physicists Aaron Stein and Kevin Yager discuss their directed self-assembly technique that enables different molecular patterns—in this case, parallel lines and dots—to coexist within a single nanostructure in specific arrangements. The ability to direct the self-assembly of materials into complex nanostructures could enable advances in microelectronics, sensing, and other applications.

Structural Biology: Studying Living Things as They Jiggle and Wiggle

Seán McSweeney begins the 515th Brookhaven Lecture with an introduction to proteins. He then explains how x-rays from NSLS-II can provide new capabilities to study proteins—as they jiggle and wiggle—to learn more about them, including their remarkable roles in repairing damaged DNA.

The Discovery of Gravitational Waves from Colliding Black Holes

During this BSA Distinguished Lecture, Imre Bartos of Columbia University provides an introduction to gravitational waves, and then describes how their recent discovery opens a new window to the universe, expanding the frontiers of astrophysics and cosmology.

Visitor Safety at Brookhaven National Laboratory

Guidelines for ensuring a safe visit to Brookhaven National Laboratory.

My Voice Was Heard: 4-Posters

Reducing the prevalence of deer ticks on the Lab site is a top priority for the Environmental Protection Division. Ticks carry disease, and deer a primary vector for spreading ticks. Tim Green and the Environmental Protection Division devised a program using 4-poster stands with insecticide to reduce the prevalence of ticks on local deer. The deer visit the 4-poster stands to feed, and while there they rub up against the pesticide. The result is a safer, healthier Lab site. These Brookhaven Lab employees in the Environmental Protection Division spoke up. They saw an opportunity, offered a solution, and got management support. Their voices were heard.

My Voice Was Heard: Parking Lot Barrier

The Machine Shop staff worked with the Traffic Safety Committee to come up with a solution to prevent delivery trucks from rolling unimpeded across a parking lot and into their shop. Now, truck drivers see the high visibility barricade as they approach the area, and the risk of an automobile accident and damage from a rolling truck is greatly reduced. These Brookhaven Lab employees spoke up. They saw an opportunity, offered a solution, and got management support. Their voices were heard.

What Will Earth Be Like in 50 Years?

Ernie Lewis begins the 514th Brookhaven Lecture by examining the current health of Earth's climate and environments. Following a brief "tour" through the years leading up to the first Earth Day, he then discusses lessons learned and Brookhaven Lab scientists' research that may be applied, today and in the future, to determine what Earth will be like 50 years from now.

Manipulating Nanostructures With Light

Kevin Yager begins the 513th Brookhaven Lecture with a brief introduction to the nanoscale—the tiny world within our own where elements are so small they are measured in billionths of a meter. Yager then discusses the light-based techniques and laser tools he has developed to arrange molecules into ordered patterns and specific shapes to fabricate more perfect, complex nanostructures.

Jim Powell: Maglev Pioneer

2016 marks the 50th anniversary of the first published paper on Maglev by retired Brookhaven Lab scientists Gordon Danby and James Powell. The two researchers invented and patented maglev technology — the suspension, guidance, and propulsion of vehicles by magnetic forces.

Powell and Danby's Grand Idea: 50 Years of Maglev History

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first published paper on magnetic levitation (maglev) vehicles—authored by now-retired Brookhaven Lab researchers James Powell and Gordon Danby—James Powell's son Jesse presents this lecture on maglev's past, present, and potential for the future.

How Data Becomes Physics: Inside the RACF

The RHIC & ATLAS Computing Facility (RACF) at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory sits at the center of a global computing network. It connects more than 2,500 researchers around the world with the data generated by millions of particle collisions taking place each second at Brookhaven Lab's Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC, a DOE Office of Science User Facility for nuclear physics research), and the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider in Europe. Watch this video to learn how the people and computing resources of the RACF serve these scientists to turn petabytes of raw data into physics discoveries.

My Brother's Keeper: Welcome Ceremony & Discussion Panel

Celebrating the second anniversary of President Barack Obama's "My Brother's Keeper" initiative, Brookhaven National Laboratory collaborated with SUNY Old Westbury to bring more than 160 students from New York City and Long Island to the Laboratory for a day of mentorship and engagement in science.

Quarks, Gluons & Lattice QCD: Cooking the 'Perfect' Soup With Supercomputers

During the 512th Brookhaven Lecture, Swagato Mukherjee tells you about the "perfect" soup physicists can't get enough of. Not some thick, lumpy chowder—a nearly perfect liquid made from some of the universe's most basic ingredients. Plus, he shows you "kitchens" around the world, where he's using powerful supercomputers to fine-tune the recipe.

Following Fission Fragments: Nuclear Data for New Neutrino Physics

During the 511th Brookhaven Lecture, Libby McCutchan discusses the National Nuclear Data Center, the mysterious neutrino, and how she and other scientists are using sophisticated databases to shed light on neutrinos for big questions not yet answered. She also discusses how this research could be applied to technologies to identify materials being produced for nuclear weapons in order to help prevent them from falling into the wrong hands.

The Safe Conduct of Research — A Safety Mindset is Always With You

Brookhaven Science Associates and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Brookhaven Site Office are working together with Lab management and staff to ensure that Brookhaven is known as a lab that fosters a safe working environment, and is known for its operational excellence. Having a safety mindset matters in the laboratory and in all parts of your life.

A New Method to Diagnose Prostate Cancer

During the 510th Brookhaven Lecture, Yonggang Cui explains how he and a multidisciplinary team of collaborators created the Proxiscan™ imaging platform—a compact, high-resolution digital gamma camera to image prostate cancer. Cui also discusses results from clinical trials and possible applications for this technology to detect breast, ovarian, and other cancers as well.

Synchrotron Science...and Bugs?

During the 509th Brookhaven Lecture, Wah-Keat Lee highlights synchrotrons' advantages over conventional x-ray sources for research, while explaining how resolution, sensitivity, and contrast affect overall capabilities. He then discusses his past research with insects.

My Voice Was Heard: Pesticides

Andrew Kuroski and Erik Dalen work in pest control at the Lab. By attending conferences and seminars, they learn the latest tools and tactics for their field. They found improved ways to reduce the tick population problem on the Lab grounds—and ticks are carriers for many diseases, including Lyme. These Brookhaven Lab employees spoke up. They saw an opportunity, offered a solution, and got management support. Their voices were heard.

My Voice Was Heard: Superior Spray Solution

Rob Holland of Central Fabrication Services produces specialized precision tools and parts for use by researchers at Brookhaven Lab. Previously, the spindle on the horizontal milling machine was cooled by jets of lubricant spraying at 300 pounds per square inch. The work area was wet and slippery and Rob had to use a step-stool to reach into the machine to manually adjust the water jets by hand. Then he had an idea: install remote-controlled spray nozzles to keep himself well clear of the tool. Now with this improved tool, he's working more efficiently, more cleanly, more safely. This Brookhaven Lab employee spoke up. He saw an opportunity, offered a solution, and got management support. His voice was heard.

My Voice Was Heard: PeopleSoft and the Research Library

Subscriptions were a paper-driven process at the Research Library. Then its Technical Services team realized line organizations could handle memberships and subscription orders with a digital solution—a People-Soft module—which put control into users' hands. Research Library Technical Services, Accounts Payable, and the Information Technology Division's Applications staff determined functional, fiscal, and technical needs, and a new online module went live in October 2014. These Brookhaven Lab employees spoke up. They saw an opportunity, offered a solution, and got management support. Their voices were heard.

Using Nuclei to Catch Shape-Shifting Protons in the Act: One Hypothesis, Two Colliders

During the 508th Brookhaven Lecture, Dennis Perepelitsa introduces his hypothesis that protons with most of their energy concentrated in single quarks or gluons are particularly small and shaped differently too. He then describes his analysis of data from particle collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider and the Large Hadron Collider to test his hypothesis.

'Universe or Multiverse?'

During this BSA Distinguished Lecture, Andrei Linde explains how a new cosmological theory of an inflationary multiverse, which is supported by developments in string theory, would change accepted views on the origin and global structure of our universe, as well as where and how we fit in it.

Tracking Ion Migrations at the Nanoscale in Rechargeable Batteries

During the 507th Brookhaven Lecture, Dong Su explains how he and his colleagues are using advanced tools at the Center for Functional Nanomaterials at Brookhaven Lab to study materials and determine how different atomic-level structures can improve performance for rechargeable batteries.

All-Employee Meeting with Deputy Secretary of Energy Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall completed her goal of visiting all 17 Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratories after meeting staff and touring several major facilities at Brookhaven Lab during her time on site Tuesday, Sept. 22. She addressed Lab staff at an all-employee meeting in Berkner Hall.

BWIS Lecture: "The Planet Within: Caves from Earth to Mars and Beyond"

Professor Penelope Boston, New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology, studies the spectacular underground landscapes of Earth—caves—using them as models for the subsurfaces of other planets. Some of the most magnificent and chemically extreme caves on Earth are inhabited by an amazing array of microorganisms. She studies these unique lifeforms and the biosignatures that they leave behind. Such traces can be used to provide a "Field Guide to Unknown Organisms" for developing life detection space missions can also provide the basis for future human habitations on other planets.

Designing & Giving a Good Research Presentation

Brookhaven Women in Science sponsored this lecture, featuring Theodore Sampieri of the Lab's English for Speakers of Other Languages program and titled, "Designing & Giving a Good Research Presentation."

Seeking the Origin of Asymmetry

In this 2015 Sambamurti Lecture, Xin Qian of Brookhaven Lab's Physics Department explains the process physicists use to design a scientific experiment aiming to address the question of why we are made of matter, not antimatter. He then reviews scientists' progress and discusses challenges for the future.

The Center for Functional Nanomaterials at Brookhaven National Lab

Scientists from all over the world visit the Center for Functional Nanomaterials to explore strange phenomena hidden on the nanoscale—an exciting and powerful landscape spanning just billionths of a meter. The U.S. Department of Energy opened the CFN, one of its five nanoscale science research centers in the United States, to develop unprecedented energy technologies and solve fundamental scientific puzzles.

NSLS-II: The New Synchrotron Light Source at Brookhaven Lab

During the 506th Brookhaven Lecture, Ferdinand Willeke provides an overview of the National Synchrotron Light Source II and its accelerator complex. He then discusses highlights from the development and commissioning processes, the machine's current status, and an outlook for the future.

Defensive Driving

Ed Sierra, Quality Management Office, gives advice about defensive driving tactics at Safety Day 2015.

The Safe Conduct of Research

Brookhaven Science Associates and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Brookhaven Site Office are working together with Lab management and staff to ensure that Brookhaven is known as a lab that fosters a safe working environment, and is known for its operational excellence.

Advancing Science

During this BSA Distinguished Lecture, Chief Executive Officer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and former U.S. Congressman Rush Holt discusses advancing science and his experiences as a scientist in politics.

2015 Open Space Stewardship Program Keynote Speech

During the ninth annual Open Space Stewardship Program (OSSP) celebration at Brookhaven Lab, Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski presented the keynote speech. The OSSP was designed at the Lab to help local land stewards manage their properties with students who, as "citizen scientists," learn about the scientific process while going out to the field to collect useful data.

Scanning the Structure of Steel From Nuclear Reactor Vessels

During the 505th Brookhaven Lecture, Lynne Ecker explains the molecular process for materials inside nuclear reactors becoming brittle over time. She then discusses new capabilities at the National Synchrotron Light Source II for collecting large amounts of data from different steel alloys to monitor and understand their performance.

Catching Catalysis in the Act: In Situ Studies With X-Rays and Electrons

During the 504th Brookhaven Lecture, Dario Stacchiola provides an introduction to catalysis and in situ studies to watch catalysts in action. He then discusses his research, highlighting important catalytic processes essential for producing industrial quantities of cleaner fuels to help meet the world's energy needs.

What Are Climate Models Good For?

During this BSA Distinguished Lecture, climate scientist Gavin Schmidt of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies discusses climate models; assesses their strengths, limitations, and credibility; and demonstrates that they are, indeed, good for something.

Managed Print

To save money and reduce resource consumption, Brookhaven National Lab staff are encouraged to use networked printers in favor of individual personal printers.

NSLS-II Capabilities

Brookhaven scientists discuss some of the first beamlines to host users at NSLS-II: Eric Dooryhee at the X-ray Powder Diffraction (XPD) beamline, Stuart Wilkins at the Coherent Soft X-ray (CSX) beamline, Lisa Miller at the Submicron Resolution X-ray Spectroscopy (SRX) beamline, and Yong Chu at the Hard X-ray Nanoprobe (HXN) beamline.

Looking for Light From Dark Energy: Building the World's Largest Digital Camera for the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope

During the 503rd Brookhaven Lecture, Paul O'Connor begins with overviews of digital imaging technology and evidence of dark energy and dark matter. He then explains ambitious performance goals for the LSST and efforts to ensure that technological challenges are met. O'Connor also describes proposals for a new generation of imaging sensors for future astrophysical exploration.

Expanding Plant Oil Production: Learning How to Make Leaves Fat

During the 502nd Brookhaven Lecture, Changcheng Xu explains how he and his collaborators use biochemical and genetic analyses to identify important protein components that control oil synthesis and storage in plant leaves. He also discusses the potential biotechnological implications of efforts aimed at enhancing oil accumulation in abundant plants for renewable, carbon-neutral bioenergy production.

National Synchrotron Light Source II Dedication Ceremony

U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz dedicated the world's most advanced light source, the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The dedication ceremony also included remarks from U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, U.S. Congressman Lee Zeldin, Stony Brook University President and Brookhaven Science Associates (BSA) Co-Chair Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D., and Brookhaven Lab Director Doon Gibbs.

National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) Dedication Ceremony — Senator Charles E. Schumer Comments

U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz dedicated the world's most advanced light source, the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The dedication ceremony also included remarks from U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, U.S. Congressman Lee Zeldin, Stony Brook University President and Brookhaven Science Associates (BSA) Co-Chair Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D., and Brookhaven Lab Director Doon Gibbs.

Negative Particles for Positive Breakthroughs: Characterizing Electrons in Novel Materials at NSLS-II

During the 501st Brookhaven Lecture, Ignace Jarrige explains how electrons behave and affect unique materials' properties. He then discusses how the Soft Inelastic X-ray Scattering beamline being built at the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) will provide unprecedented accuracy for future research.

Small Science, Big Impact: Basic Research with Bacteriophage T7

During this 500th Brookhaven Lecture, Bill Studier explains how basic research on a simple virus enabled development of the T7 expression system. Since it was patented in 1984, more than 1,000 companies have licensed the T7 system to produce proteins for commercial purposes, including medical diagnostics and treatments.

Habitat for Humanity Dedication Ceremony

Lab Director Doon Gibbs presented house keys to Kimberly Butler, a new homeowner in the hamlet of Mastic Beach. Lab employees volunteered with Habitat for Humanity to help build the home for Butler, a local U.S. Army veteran.

Photosynthesis, Earth Systems Models and the Arctic

Alistair Rogers, leader of the Terrestrial Ecosystem Science & Technology Group, gave the morning keynote address at the 2014 Young Researchers Symposium.

Reflections on my Career in Science, Administration, and Service to the Nuclear Physics Community

Robert Tribble, deputy director for Science and Technology, gave the afternoon keynote address at the 2014 Young Researchers Symposium.

Artificial Photosynthesis: Making and Breaking Bonds with Protons and Electrons

During this 499th Brookhaven Lecture, Dmitry Polyansky explains how artificial photosynthesis—inspired by plants' natural ability to convert sunlight to usable energy—can help meet future energy demands. He also highlights progress, challenges, and strategies for developing catalysts to convert solar energy into energy-packed fuels as efficiently as possible.

NSLS-II Achieves First Light

The National Synchrotron Light Source II detects its first photons, beginning a new phase of the facility's operations. Scientific experiments at NSLS-II are expected to begin before the end of 2014.

Vector Boson Scattering: Watching the Higgs Boson at Work with the ATLAS Particle Detector

During this 498th Brookhaven Lecture, Marc-Andre Pleier of the Physics Department provides an overview of the Standard Model of fundamental particles and interactions as well as the Higgs discovery in 2012. He then discusses how he and fellow ATLAS collaborators use the detector to search for "fingerprints" of the rare W-boson scattering process, flaws or breakdowns in the Standard Model, and potential areas to discover new physics.

LCLS: A Stunning New View Through X-ray Laser Eyes

During this BSA Distinguished Lecture, Chi-Chang Kao—director of the U.S. Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory—provides an overview of scientists' first five years exploring uses for the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS).

Science Friday Explains "How to Make Quark Soup"

You don't need a time machine to marvel at the hot broth of quarks and gluons that made up all matter a microsecond after the Big Bang. You just need a ticket on the Long Island Railroad. Through massive feats of engineering, Brookhaven National Laboratory has devised a recipe for cooking up tiny ephemeral batches of this quark-gluon soup, a fluid which physicists Paul Sorensen say is the most "perfect" fluid ever discovered.

Stop Short

Brookhaven Lab's Ed Sierra talks about the right way to observe safety at stops signs, crosswalks, and in parking lots.

Final Shutdown at the National Synchrotron Light Source

The closing ceremonies for the final shutdown of the National Synchrotron Light Source, ending its 32-year run of groundbreaking science and innovation in engineering.

National Synchrotron Light Source: Lasting Memories

After 32 years of operations, the National Synchrotron Light Source closed down. Beamline scientists and users share their memories of this remarkable machine and the research it enabled.

Supercomputing Fundamental Particle & Nuclear Physics

During the 497th Brookhaven Lecture, Taku Izubuchi explained how scientists use a four-dimensional lattice and increasingly powerful supercomputers for calculations that address questions of quantum chromodynamics, the theory of "strong" interactions between subatomic quarks and gluons that form protons and neutrons of our universe.

RHIC Featured in "How The Universe Works" on the Science Channel

If you want to know how the universe works, part of the answer lies in understanding the building blocks of matter—before they became inextricably bound within the protons, neutrons, and atoms that make up everything visible in our universe today.

Kitchen Fires Inspire New Solution for Unattended Stoves

Staff Services' Cathy Ennis shows the new solution to preventing kitchen fires in Lab dormitories: the auto-off, motion sensing stove.

Special PET Scans Seeking Symmetry in Quark-Gluon Plasma

During the 496th Brookhaven Lecture, Lijuan Ruan explained how she uses electron-positron tomography from quark-antiquark annihilations to study chiral symmetry, a characteristic that "broke" to form 99 percent of the visible mass in the universe and is thought to be restored during ion collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider.

Exploring the Small Size Limit of Quark Gluon Plasma

During the 2014 Sambamurti Lecture, physicist Anne Sickles discussed how correlations between particles created during collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) are being used to determine the properties of matter itself. She also explained how physicists, including those using the PHENIX detector at RHIC, are exploring the geometry of the nuclei's impact zones to determine just how small quark-gluon plasma can be.

To See or Not to See a Warhead: Imaging Nuclear Weapons With Neutrons

During the 495th Brookhaven Lecture, Istvan Dioszegi discussed the principles of neutron imaging and advancements to verify nuclear warheads, as well as why and how the technique might become a tool for verification under terms of the New START treaty.

Safety Day 2014 Activity Recap

A look back at Safety 2014: the people, the displays, the vendors, the activities.

Manipulating Light to Understand and Improve Solar Cells

During the 494th Brookhaven Lecture, Matthew Eisaman explained solar cells' important role in meeting the world's energy demands, the U.S. Department of Energy's SunShot Initiative to reduce the cost of solar cell-generated electricity by 2020, and solar cell research at Brookhaven Lab.

Kevin Yager on the Nanoscience of Studying Scattered X-rays

Kevin Yager, a scientist at Brookhaven Lab's Center for Functional Nanomaterials, discusses his research on materials spanning just billionths of a meter. Yager specializes in making new materials through meticulously guided self-assembly and probing nanoscale structures with a technique called x-ray scattering.

The Smallest Drops of the Hottest Matter? New Investigations at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider

During the 493rd Brookhaven Lecture, Anne Sickles discussed how physicists determine what happens before, during, and after individual particle collisions among billions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). She then explained how collisions at RHIC enable physicists to probe deeper into the mysteries of quark-gluon plasma and the strong force.

EAP Talk: Stress Management for Caregivers

A presentation on caring for an elderly loved one. Topics include planning meals, bathing, visiting, paying bills, and more. Hosted by the Lab's Employee Assistance Program.

Physical Therapy Lunchtime Talk: Understanding Balance and How to Improve Yours

A talk about the issues that cause balance problems, how aging and or inactivity will affect balance, ways of testing balance, and how to challenge and improve balance safely.

BSA Retirement Program

Information about the two BSA retirement plans: 401(a) and 401(k). Updated for 2014.

What Goes Up Must Come Down: The Lifecycle of Convective Clouds

During the 492nd Brookhaven Lecture, Michael Jensen explained the importance of clouds in the Earth's climate system and how convective clouds form, grow, and dissipate. His discussion included findings from a major experiment designed to provide a holistic view of convective clouds and their environment.

A Fast, Versatile Nanoprobe for Complex Materials: The Sub-micron Resolution X-ray Spectroscopy Beamline at NSLS-II

During the 491st Brookhaven Lecture, Juergen Thieme explained benefits of spectroscopy and more intense x-rays at NSLS-II for next-generation research. Specifically, he discussed the new sub-micron-resolution x-ray spectroscopy (SRX) beamline—highlighting its speed, adjustability, and versatility.

Brookhaven Lab/BSA Employees Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity

On February 1, 2014, Brookhaven Lab/Brookhaven Science Associates employees volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and other organizations to help a build home for local veteran.

The Shape and Flow of Heavy Ion Collisions

During the 490th Brookhaven Lecture, Bjoern Schenke discussed theory that details the shape and structure of heavy ion collisions. He also explained how this theory and data from experiments at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider and the Large Hadron Collider are being used to determine properties of quark-gluon plasma.

2013 Young Researcher Symposium: Welcoming Remarks

Brookhaven Lab hosted the second-annual Young Research Symposium on Nov. 15, 2013, to spotlight the Lab's youngest and brightest researchers. Berndt Mueller of Brookhaven Lab welcomed attendees and offered his outlook for the future of nuclear and particle physics.

2013 Young Researcher Symposium: Speaker SÃ©amus Davis

Brookhaven Lab hosted the second-annual Young Research Symposium on Nov. 15, 2013, to spotlight the Lab's youngest and brightest researchers. SÃ©amus Davis of Brookhaven Lab and Cornell University gave a talk, titled "That's Impossible," based on his research experiences.

2013 Young Researcher Symposium: Career Panel Discussion

Brookhaven Lab hosted the second-annual Young Research Symposium on Nov. 15, 2013, to spotlight the Lab's youngest and brightest researchers. Former researchers, postdocs, and interns answered questions about their work experiences in current science-related careers.

Young Researcher Symposium: Keynote Talk

Brookhaven Lab hosted the second-annual Young Research Symposium on Nov. 15, 2013, to spotlight the Lab's youngest and brightest researchers. Esther Takeuchi of Brookhaven Lab and Stony Brook University gave the keynote address about her research for better batteries, including one that powers implantable cardiac defibrillators that help prevent heart attacks.

2013 Young Researcher Symposium: A Message From the Director

Brookhaven Lab hosted the second-annual Young Research Symposium on Nov. 15, 2013, to spotlight the Lab's youngest and brightest researchers. Brookhaven Lab Director Doon Gibbs offered the closing remarks.

"Doing More With Less: Cost-effective, Compact Particle Accelerators"

During the 489th Brookhaven Lecture, Dejan Trbojevic discussed accelerator technologies and techniques —"particularly a non-scaling, fixed-focused alternating gradient"—to focus particle beams using fewer, smaller magnets. He explained how these technologies could benefit eRHIC and particle therapies for combating cancer.

A Look Inside: NSLS-II Storage Ring

Look inside the storage ring of the National Synchrotron Light Source II, under construction at Brookhaven Lab. Exactly 843 magnets now encircle the ring. Their job will be to steer, stabilize, and store electrons racing around at near light speed.

ATLAS/BNL Physicist Marc-Andre Pleier Explains the Higgs Mechanism

ATLAS/BNL Physicist Marc-Andre Pleier explains his role in analyzing data from the Large Hadron Collider and the search for the Higgs boson.

Precision Measurements of the Hubble Constant and PASS

During this Pegram lecture, Nobel laureate and distinguished astrophysicist Adam Riess explained how scientists are using an increasingly precise Hubble constant value to constrain measurements for uncertainties in the current cosmological model, including the nature of dark energy and properties of particles called neutrinos.

Supernovae and the Discovery of the Accelerating Universe

During this Pegram lecture, Nobel laureate and distinguished astrophysicist Adam Riess discussed how his team of researchers discovered that the rate at which the Universe is expanding continues to increase, a phenomenon attributed to the mysterious dark energy first postulated by Albert Einstein.

Backup Magnets Ready to Ship to LHC

Physicists and engineers in Brookhaven National Laboratory's Superconducting Magnet Division are in the final stages of assembling "replacement" magnets for the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at Europe's CERN laboratory.

Backing Up Safely

Backing up a vehicle requires extra effort and preparation to ensure safety for the driver and everyone around, as well as protecting personal and government property. Ed Sierra describes the steps BNLers can take to back up large vehicles safely.

Why Particle Physics Matters: Milind Diwan

Particle physicists dedicate their lives to understanding the fundamental nature of energy, matter, space and time. Why do they do it? Symmetry magazine asked some of them to explain: Why does particle physics matter?

Why Particle Physics Matters: Elizabeth Worcester

Particle physicists dedicate their lives to understanding the fundamental nature of energy, matter, space and time. Why do they do it? Symmetry magazine asked some of them to explain: Why does particle physics matter?

Summer Sundays | Exploring the Ultra Small

Big things happen in microscopic places at Brookhaven National Lab. Featured Interviews: Nora Detweiler, James Dickerson, Matt Sfeir, and John Halverson.

Massive Muon g-2 Electromagnetic Ring Leaves New York

The first leg of the mighty Muon g-2 electromagnet's journey to Fermilab went smoothly thanks to the engineering expertise of Emmert International. Watch these highlights of the 50-foot-wide, 17-ton ring's move across Brookhaven Lab and out to Smith Point Marina.

Summer Sundays | Atom-Smashing Fun!

Visit PHENIX and STAR, two detector experiments bigger than a house. Featured Interviews: Nora Detweiler, Brant Johnson, Paul Sorensen, Guillaume Robert-Demolaize, and Gene Van Buren.

Summer Sundays | Brilliant Light, Dazzling Discoveries

Brookhaven National Lab opens its doors to kids as thy put on a display of Brilliant Light and Dazzling Discoveries. Featured Interviews: Nora Detweiler, Juergen Thieme, Bill Leonhardt, Paul Gelfand, Lisa Miller, and Karen Chen-Wiegart.

'Magic Lenses for RHIC: Compensating Beam-Beam Interaction'

In the 488th Brookhaven Lecture, Luo discusses some collider fundamentals. He then introduces the electron lens system he helped develop at Brookhaven, explaining how it could help double the collision rate at RHIC and prepare the machine for future endeavors.

Higgs Discovery: How It Happened and What It Means

During this Sambamurti Memorial Lecture, Lipeles explains why physicists were looking for the Higgs boson, why they needed high-energy particle collisions, how they knew they found a new particle, and probing this new particle at the LHC.

The "Hot" (and "cold") Science of RHIC

A discussion of the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider by the Associate Laboratory Director for Nuclear and Particle Physics Berndt Mueller.

Electromagnet Move Down William Floyd Parkway

At midnight on June 24, 2013, a 50-foot-wide, circular electromagnet began the second leg of a 3,200-mile land and sea voyage from Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York to a new home at Fermilab in Illinois. During this leg, Emmert International transported the electromagnet 10 miles down William Floyd Parkway to the Smith Point Marina, where it was loaded on a barge later in the day.

Giant Electromagnet Move

On Saturday, June 22, 2013, a 50-foot-wide, circular electromagnet began its 3,200-mile land and sea voyage from Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York to a new home at Fermilab in Illinois. In the first part of the move, Emmert International and a team of Fermilab and Brookhaven Lab scientists and engineers transported the electromagnet across the Brookhaven Lab site to a staging area by its main gate.

New Piece of Old Lace in My Office, Come See!

Nuclear physicist Laurie Waters speaks on "Lace with Date: Come See the New Piece of Old Lace." The field of textile research is a fascinating combination of art, anthropology, sociology, and physical sciences.

'Stress During Pregnancy and its Effects on Women and Infants'

Psychology Professor Marci Lobel spoke on "Stress During Pregnancy and its Effects on Women and Infants," at Brookhaven National Laboratory on Thursday, May 30. The talk was sponsored by Brookhaven Women in Science (BWIS) and Brookhaven Science Associates (the company that manages the Lab).

'Why Has Earth NOT Warmed as Much as Expected? And Why Is This So Important?'

In the 487th Brookhaven Lecture, Stephen Schwartz speaks about his research on why Earth's temperature has not increased as much as expected from the observed increase in greenhouse gases, and what this might mean for the future.

Research at CERN - From the Highest Energies to the Smallest Particles

CERN Director General Rolf-Dieter Heuer presents first results from the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, including the recent discovery of a "Higgs" boson. He also discusses prospects for exciting new physics at the LHC.

Home Ownership & Financing Workshop

Joseph Jannace of the Foundation for Personal Financial Education speaks as part of the Lab's "Fiscally Fit" seminar series that focuses on buying, selling and financing real estate.

Symposium for Bill Willis: Testimonials

Nearly 100 friends, colleagues, and family members of the late physicist Bill Willis traveled from around the world to Brookhaven Lab on April 26 for a symposium to honor Willis' scientific career. Willis held positions at Brookhaven, CERN, and Columbia and Yale universities before his death on November 1, 2012.

Chemist Jeanne A. Hardy Talks on Caspases, Causative Factor in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Chemist Jeanne A. Hardy of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst presents "Handcuffing the Killers: Conformational Control and Real-Time Monitoring of Caspase Proteolytic Activity." Hardy was sponsored by Brookhaven Women in Science (BWIS) and Brookhaven Science Associates (the company that manages Brookhaven Lab).

Designing and Giving a Good Research Presentation

Ted Sampieri discusses how to prepare for and deliver an effective presentation. Hosted by Brookhaven Lab's Association of Students & Postdocs.

The Hard X-ray Nanoprobe at NSLS-II: A Big Microscope to Tackle Challenges at the Nanoscale

In the 486th Brookhaven Lecture, Yong Chu illustrates unique challenges and innovative approaches for x-ray microscopy at the nanoscale — measured in billionths of a meter. He also discusses measurement capabilities for the first science experiments at NSLS-II.

Valuing Diversity in the Workplace: Enabling Respect Through Communication

Assistance Lunchtime Talk by Nancy D. Losinno and Jude Treder-Wolff. Sponsored jointly by Brookhaven National Laboratory and Magellan Health Services.

Interdisciplinary Science Building Dedication Ceremony

A dedication ceremony was held at the new Interdisciplinary Science Building for energy research at Brookhaven Lab. Speakers included Lab Director Doon Gibbs, Department of Energy (DOE) Brookhaven Site Office Manager Frank Crescenzo, Brookhaven Science Associates Vice Chair and Stony Brook University President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D., New York State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle, and Associate Director of the Office of Safety, Security, and Infrastructure for the DOE Office of Science Marcus Jones.

Developing Women Leaders

Anna Marie Valerio, President of Executive Leadership Strategies, speaks on practical solutions for developing women leaders and pace of change within organizations and in society.

The Plasma Window

In the 485th Brookhaven Lecture, Ady Hershcovitch discusses the properties of plasma, the technology he developed to create plasma windows that separate empty space from air, and using plasma windows for science experiments and the air-sensitive electron welding process.

BWIS Event: 'Celebration of Women'

Five women from diverse backgrounds discuss the factors and people who inspired them. Presented by Brookhaven Women in Science (BWIS), March 20, 2013, Brookhaven National Laboratory. With support from Women in Science and Engineering (WISE, Stony Brook) and Zonta. Information about BWIS and its work to promote the advancement of women is available on the BWIS website: http://www.bnl.gov/BWIS/.

Exploring the Extreme Universe: Results from the VERITAS Gamma-ray Observatory

Brookhaven Women in Science (BWIS) hosted a talk by Reshmi Mukherjee, professor of physics and astronomy at Barnard College, Columbia University, titled "Exploring the Extreme Universe: Results from the VERITAS Gamma-ray Observatory," March 13.

Brookhaven Lab: Science Happens Here

From a World War I U.S. Army base to a world-renowned center of high-tech research: See how our site and our science have evolved to meet the challenges of the 21st Century.

EAP Lecture: Active Listening Skills

Speaker Jude Treder-Wolff discusses active listening, differences between hearing and active listening, barriers to active listening, and active listening skills. Part of the Emotional Intelligence series presented by the Employee Assistance Program.

Magnet Girder Assembly and Installation

It takes teamwork to assemble and install magnet girders for the storage ring of the National Synchrotron Light Source II. NSLS-II is now under construction at Brookhaven Lab.

Assertive vs. Aggressive: Emotionally Intelligent Communication

Speaker Jude Treder-Wolff of Magellan Health Services speaks on definitions of different communication styles; how assertiveness differs from aggressiveness; and components of assertive communication. Part of the Brookhaven Lab Employee Assistance Program Emotional Intelligence Series.

Nuclear Stability or Instability in the 21st Century: Will U.S.-Soviet Cold War History Repeat for China, India and Pakistan?

In the 484th Brookhaven Lecture, Thomas Graham explains the events that led to policy decisions on nuclear weapons in the mid-20th century. He also discusses how forces that drove the U.S. and former Soviet Union to stockpile large numbers of nuclear warheads are applicable in today's decisions on the size and types of nuclear weapons in arsenals among China, India and Pakistan.

Biomineralization and Biological Sensors

Professor Abel Moreno, of the University of Mexico, speaks on "Biomineralization and Biological Sensors" at the Brookhaven Women in Science Lecture, Feb. 7, 2013, Berkner Hall.

ePerformance: Goal Setting for Supervisors

Maggie Sullivan, Manager, Learning & Development, demonstrates the new ePerformance system within PeopleSoftHR for supervisors to conduct employee reviews and evaluations.

Coherent X-ray Scattering: Dynamics of Crowded Colloids and Other Stories

In the 483rd Brookhaven Lecture, Andrei Fluerasu discusses how techniques called coherent x-ray scattering and x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy, and the future National Synchrotron Light Source II will provide unprecedented capabilities for studying the structure and dynamics of complex materials.

'Opting for Happiness'

Magellan's Jude Treder-Wolff speaks on methods for achieving happiness and fulfillment in life. Part of the Lab's Employee Assistance Program noontime talk series.