STARDUST — University of Chicago researchers isolated individual particles (shown in the test tube) of the Murchison meteorite (at right) that are unchanged since their condensation from material ejected by a star. The isotopic and elemental composition of such grains provides detailed knowledge of stellar physics and cosmochemistry.

Stardust confirms
element-formation theories

By Catherine Foster

Argonne researchers have reached for the stars -- and seen what's inside.

In collaboration with colleagues at the University of Chicago, Washington University and the Universita di Torino in Italy, Argonne scientists examined stardust from a meteorite and found remnants of now-extinct technetium atoms made in stars long ago.

The stardust grains are tiny bits of stars that lived and died before the solar system formed. Each grain is many times smaller than the width of a human hair, and carries a chemical record of nuclear reactions in its parent star.

Famed scientist P.W. Merrill 50 years ago observed the signature of live technetium -- an element that has no stable isotopes -- in the starlight from certain types of stars, thereby proving the then-controversial theory that stars make atoms via a process called nucleosynthesis. The researchers' discovery that their stardust grains once harbored live technetium brings the science of nucleosynthesis full circle.

"Finding traces of technetium decay products in stardust provides a very precise confirmation of the theories of how atoms are made inside stars," said Michael Savina, Argonne scientist and the lead author on the research, which is published today in Science. "The fact that we can both predict and measure very tiny effects in the chemistry of these grains gives us a lot of confidence in our models of how stars work."

Authors on the report, in addition to Savina, are Argonne's Michael Pellin and C. Emil Tripa (both MSD), Andrew M. Davis and Roy S. Lewis of the University of Chicago, Sachiko Amari of Washington University in St. Louis, and Roberto Gallino of Universita di Torino in Italy. Funding was provided by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, the University of Chicago, NASA, and the Italian FIRB Progetto Origine Astrofisica degli Elementi Pesanti Oltre il Ferro.

The work was made possible by a specialized instrument at Argonne called CHARISMA, the only instrument of its type in the world. "CHARISMA is designed to analyze very tiny samples -- the kind where you can't afford to waste atoms, because there are so few of them to work with," Savina said.

CHARISMA is presently being upgraded, with funding from the Department of Energy Office of Science and from NASA, in anticipation of samples from the Genesis mission to collect samples of the solar wind -- single atoms and electrically charged particles from the sun -- which scientists believe hasn't changed since the sun was born.

The research group at Argonne will be among the scientists to analyze the samples in an effort to better understand how the planets formed.

Current measurements of the sun's composition are not precise enough to answer key questions about events in the early solar system.

The researchers are also preparing to analyze samples from the Stardust mission, which recently captured dust grains from a comet's tail and will bring them back to Earth in 2006.

Argonne trio receives QASR
award for fast action

Shabbir Ahmed, Steve Calderone and Sheldon Lee (all CMT) have received Argonne-East Quality and Safety Recognition (QASR) Awards for calling 911 and possibly preventing a fire in Building 205.

The three were leaving work at about 9 p.m. Dec. 8, when they detected a faint odor of smoke and called 911. They stayed to direct the Argonne Fire Department to the scene and help open doors to offices. The source of the smoke was quickly located: a burned-out power strip that was causing heat damage to a wall. Firefighters unplugged the strip and prevented the damage from spreading.

Ahmed, Calderone and Lee were commended for their prompt action at the Jan. 20 Management Council meeting. They received certificates of appreciation and lunch for two at their choice of the Argonne Guest House or the Building 213 Cafeteria. Their names will appear on a plaque honoring all QASR Award winners.

"By not hesitating to call 911, these three may have prevented serious damage to Building 205," said Adam Cohen, assistant laboratory director for Integrated Safety Management. "It's a great example of how employees should be aware of, and use, the 911 system."

The QASR Award recognizes employees' contribution to safety and quality at the laboratory. To nominate an employee, contact Cohen at acohen@anl.gov.

Glass shop moves to larger space

By Margret Chang

For scientific glassblower Joseph Gregar, moving to a new workshop isn't just a change in location -- it's a chance to expand on a career of collaborating with some of Argonne's most successful researchers.

Gregar, who has been working at Argonne for 24 years, is currently operating the Chemistry Division glass shop from its new location on the main floor of Building 200. His facility is equipped with some of the most advanced glassblowing tools in the nation, allowing him to craft a wide variety of custom-made glassware for use in anything from chemical extractions to complex vacuum systems.

"I'm very excited about the new glassblowing facility," said Gregar, whose glass shop was previously housed in the basement of Building 200. "In the past, people would have to carry their glass down a flight of stairs and through several swinging doors just to see me, so I'm hoping that the convenience of my new location will give me the chance to interact with scientists from all disciplines."

This convenience will make it far easier for Argonne and University of Chicago researchers to make use of Gregar's skills as a fourth-generation, master scientific glassblower -- a profession that provides highly specialized glass apparatus for research laboratories, production facilities and many other aspects of scientific work. Each glass apparatus is designed and constructed by the scientific glassblower based on collaboration with individual researchers, thus making it possible to create intricate experimental designs that would never be found in catalogs.

With 38 years of these scientific collaborations under his belt, Gregar has become a well-respected figure in his profession. A world-renowned craftsman, Gregar has industrial and research glassblowing experience in specialties ranging from cryogenics to quartz fabrication. In 1999, he was awarded the prestigious R&D 100 award from R&D Magazine for being a co-inventor of the Gregar Extractor, a device that extracts components from solids and places them in a liquid -- the form needed for most chemical analysis. Gregar has also served as president of the American Scientific Glassblowers Society and continues to be an active member in order to keep up with the latest technologies and advances in his field.

Randy Winans (CHM), director of the Basic Energy Sciences Synchrotron Radiation Center at the Advanced Photon Source (APS), had a personal experience of Gregar's skill when he asked the glassblower to design miniature glass flow reactors to use at an APS beamline.

"We came to Joe with a rough idea of the flow reactor design, which required expert attention because they are only supposed to be a millimeter thick," said Winans. "With our initial design, the reactors frequently broke, but Joe quickly designed and built a reinforced reactor and had our entire system working within a day."

Indeed, Gregar's glassblowing career at Argonne has left scientists with a legacy of fascinating experimental glassware. Examples of his work can be found in all shapes and sizes, from the miniature "glass cells" used to hold samples for the experiments at the Advanced Photon Source, the nation's most brilliant source of X-ray beams, to the extraction-distillation system used in Argonne's Plastic Recycling Program. Gregar has also designed special glass containers for Argonne's Premium Coal Sample Program, built glass laboratory apparatus for the Center for Nanoscale Materials, and devised glassware to get ice slurry into human arteries as part of a treatment for heart attack victims developed by Argonne and the University of Chicago.

Gregar's diverse skills attract scientists to the Building 200 glass shop. According to Joe Michael (CHM), a gas-phase chemist, Gregar's ability to work with many types of glass has been extremely beneficial to his research.

"Gas-phase chemists, like myself, deal with reactions that require high-purity reagents. Glass is quite inert, and you can store compounds without worrying about degradation. Also, Joe happens to be an expert at quartz glassblowing, and some applications require scientific equipment that can withstand high temperatures. Joe can make scientific equipment from quartz -- a high-purity silica glass that can withstand temperatures of up to 2,000 degrees F," explained Michael.

"Joe Gregar gives Argonne scientists the edge," said John Schlueter (MSD), who regularly asks Gregar to build intricate cells for growing superconducting crystals. "He is always available to discuss new glassware designs. This is a real benefit both from a convenience and cost perspective, because we don't waste valuable time trying to work with external vendors. It really makes a difference when you have a person that can design unique, custom-made glassware right in your own lab."

For more information, visit the Glassblowing Shop Web site or contact Gregar at ext. 2-3550 or jgregar@anl.gov.

Health fair to offer heart
and cholesterol screening

A Health Fair will be conducted from 8 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Feb. 17, in Argonne-East's Building 213 Cafeteria.

The FitForums HeartCheck includes a finger-stick cholesterol profile, fasting glucose, body mass index measurement, blood pressure check and heart attack risk assessment for a $5 fee. Brochures and giveaways will also be available.

Registration deadline is Tuesday, Feb. 10.

For more information or to register, contact the Argonne-East Medical Department at ext. 2-2800.

Ensemble troupe to perform

In celebration of Black History Month, the Black Ensemble Theater troupe will perform at Argonne-East's Advanced Photon Source Conference Center Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 12:30 p.m.

Sponsored by Argonne and the U.S. Department of Energy, the troupe will perform excerpts from their award-winning shows: "Doo Wop Shoo Bop," "Mama Said," "Howling at the Moon" and "The Ella Fitzgerald Story." The performance will feature musical genres from the 1950s and 1960s, and include the music of Etta James, Sam Cooke, Koko Taylor and others.

All Argonne, Department of Energy and University of Chicago employees whose schedules permit are invited to attend. Refreshments will be served after the performance and employees will have an opportunity to meet the cast.

For more information call Carolyn Arthur (HR-DPO) at ext. 2-9023 or Kimberly Simpson (DOE) at ext. 2-2700.

Do you know...

Philip Emeagwali, a computer scientist and civil engineer, uses his expertise in mathematics and computers to make significant contributions to society. In 1989, Emeagwali developed a formula that used 65,000 separate computer processors to perform 3.1 billion calculations per second -- a feat that led computer scientists to understand the need to create a system that allowed multiple computers to communicate. He also discovered mathematical equations that enabled the petroleum industry to extract more petroleum from oil fields.

Emeagwali won the 1989 Gordon Bell Prize, the Nobel Prize of computer science.

Nominees are sought for
Idaho women's awards

Argonne-West employees are eligible to be nominated for two awards recognizing the contributions of women to the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) and persons making contributions in the promotion and advancement of women.

The INEEL Woman of the Year and the Federal Women's Program Recognition awards will be presented at an award ceremony on Thursday, March 25, marking Women's History Month. The program will be held at the University Place in Idaho Falls.

The Tenth Annual INEEL Woman of the Year Award will honor an INEEL woman who has made significant contributions in her career field and in her community. The theme for this year's award is "Women Inspiring Hope and Possibility".

The Eighth Annual Federal Women's Program Recognition Award will honor an INEEL employee, male or female, who has made contributions in the promotion and advancement of women in the workplace.

Both awards are sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Idaho Operations Office Federal Women's Program, Argonne-West's Office of Diversity, and Bechtel (BBWI's) Diversity Initiatives Department.

Nominations for either award can be made for any full-time Argonne-West or INEEL employee and DOE-Idaho, BBWI and INEEL-related contractors. Nominations will be reviewed and selected by a panel comprising representatives from DOE-ID, BBWI and Argonne-West.

The deadline for nominations is Friday, Feb 27. Send nominations to Shelly Havlovick (NPS-ES) at Argonne-West's Building 791, fax it to ext. 3-7885 or e-mail it as a PDF file to Shelly.Havlovick@anl2. anl.gov. For more information, or a nomination form, call Havlovick at ext. 3-7653.

Valentine's Day run is planned

The Argonne Running Club will host a Valentine's Day run Friday, Feb. 13, starting from the lobby of Building 200 at noon.

Runners will cover three miles, and the walking course is two miles. Employees and guests of all ability levels are welcome. Refreshments will be served after the event.

More information about the Argonne Running Club is online.

Tax seminar offered by credit union

A tax seminar sponsored by the Argonne Credit Union will be held at the Lisle Hyatt Hotel's Willow Room, 1400 Corporetum Drive, Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m.

Tax expert Robert Dylla, Sr. will discuss new tax laws, review tax-saving opportunities and answer tax-related questions.

The seminar is free but seating is limited. To reserve a seat, contact the credit union at ext. 2-5800 or (630) 810-9600.

Research to be discussed
at 2^nd `Theory Afternoon'

The Second Argonne Theory Afternoon Seminar will be held at Argonne-East Monday, Feb. 16, in Building 362, Conference Room F108, highlighting research activities across the laboratory and the people behind the work.

There will be four talks, each about 30 minutes in length, with 15 minutes for questions and discussion. Presenters will include:

1:30 - 2:15 p.m. -- Nobel Prize winner Alex Abrikosov (MSD), "Unusual Metal-Insulator Transition and its Consequences"

2:15 - 3 p.m. -- Jorge Moré (MCS), "Evolution in Optimization"

3:30 - 4:15 p.m. -- Csaba Balazs (HEP), "Dark Matter"

4:15 _ 5 p.m. -- James W. Truran (PHY and University of Chicago) "Nuclear Astrophysics at Argonne"

A social hour will be held from 5-6 p.m.

For more information, contact Ed Berger (HEP) at ext. 2-6211.

Retirees

Janet M. Anderson (IPD) retired Jan. 7 with 11 years of service.

Frank J. Bittles (PFS-CS) retired Jan. 30 with 27 years of service.

David A. Compton (PFS-CS) retired Jan. 5 with 28 years of service.

Ratindra Das (PFS-FEL) retired Jan. 5 with 12 years of service.

Gary R. Gunderson (AOD) retired Jan. 30 with 39 years of service.

Ruth A. Hill (HEP) retired Jan. 9 with 27 years of service.

James M. Joswick (PHY) retired Jan. 5 with 38 years of service.

Howard Kelley Jr. (PFS-DR) retired Jan. 5 with 39 years of service.

Gloria M. King (OCF-BUD) retired Jan. 23 with 17 years of service.

Carolyn J. Kowalski (ES) retired Jan. 7 with 13 years of service.

Karen Kroczek (PFS-PM) retired Jan. 15 with 12 years of service.

William P. McDowell (AOD) retired Jan. 9 with 40 years of service.

Frank Nelson (IPNS) retired Jan. 5 with 13 years of service.

Richard W. Patete (PFS) retired Jan. 5 with 35 years of service.

Ankur Purohit (ET) retired Jan. 12 with 29 years of service.

Chris A. Reilly (ER) retired Jan. 5 with 35 years of service.

Susan L. Santarelli (PFS) retired Jan. 15 with 28 years of service.

Questions about Social Security
to be answered

A representative of the Social Security Administration's Joliet office, will visit Argonne-East's Human Resources office Wednesday, Feb. 18, from 8 a.m. to noon.

To schedule a meeting, call ext. 2-2989.