 |
|||
| ARGONNE HOME PAGE | ARGONNE INTRANET | NEWS HOME PAGE | BACK ISSUES |
| |
|||
| ARGONNE HOME PAGE | ARGONNE INTRANET | NEWS HOME PAGE | BACK ISSUES |
Hitchhiking molecules could have survived fiery comet collisions with Earth, according to a major new experiment done by researchers at Argonne, the University of California at Berkeley, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
A report of the results was presented April 5 at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society in San Diego. They have also been published in the February issue of the international scientific publication, Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere.
The experiments simulated a high-velocity comet collision with Earth. The results give credence to the theory that the raw materials for life came from space and were assembled on Earth into the ancestors of proteins and DNA.
Randy Winans and Mike Ahrens of Argonne's Chemistry Division were members of the research team performing the experiments. The researchers shot a soda-can sized bullet into a nickel-sized metal target containing a teardrop of water mixed with amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. More than 70 varieties of amino acids have been found in meteorites -- many the suspected cores of comets that smashed to earth -- and are presumed to exist in interstellar dust clouds.
"Comets are all frozen, so amino acids could be preserved within them," Winans said. "Assuming that the comets did not directly hit the Earth, but glanced the surface, they could have survived the fall."
Not only did a good fraction of the amino acids survive the simulated comet collision, but many polymerized into chains of two, three and four amino acids, called peptides. Peptides with longer chains are called polypeptides, while even longer ones are called proteins.
The ballistic test was designed to simulate the type of impact that would have been frequent in Earth's early history, some four billion years ago, when rocky, icy debris in our solar system accreted to form the planets in what must have been spectacular collisions. Much of the debris would have resembled comets -- "dirty snowballs" thought to be mostly frozen water surrounding a rocky core -- slamming into Earth at velocities greater than 16 miles per second (25 km/sec).
The severity of the laboratory impact was akin to an oblique collision with the rocky surface of the Earth -- a comet hitting the surface at a shallow angle rather than head-on.
After the experiment, the materials were analyzed by Winans and Aherns at Argonne, using the laboratory's liquid chromatography and mass spectroscopy expertise, to determine the species and concentrations of molecules present.
The experimental results suggest that some ice from the comet would remain intact as a liquid puddle concentrated with organic molecules ideal for the development of life. This impact scenario provides the three ingredients believed necessary for life: water, organic material and energy.
The work was sponsored by the National Science Foundation, NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy.
Thousands of visitors will tour Argonne-East and learn about its science and technology research during an education day and public open house Sept. 14-15.
Students and faculty from area high schools and colleges will be the first to tour the Illinois site, on Friday, Sept. 14. The following day, Argonne will open its doors to the general public with more than 100 science exhibits, demonstrations and presentations.
The last open house, held in May 1999, attracted about 15,000 visitors.
Many divisions have representatives coordinating open house activities for their organizations (see list on page 2).
Open houses are an important part of Argonne's outreach program, said Community Affairs Manager Cindy Wilkinson (OPA), who is coordinating the event. The events give the public a chance to see the kinds of research their tax dollars support. For students, a chance to meet scientists and engineers and see their work may lay the foundation for future careers in science and technology.
"Employees who have ideas for exhibits or demonstrations, and those wanting to help build or run them, should contact their representatives," Wilkinson said. "It's definitely not too early to start."
2001 OPEN HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES
| APS Rick Fenner 2-5280 BIO Don LeBuis 2-3944 CHM Cathy Carbaugh 2-3579 CMT Jan Muller 2-4455 DEP Deon Ettinger 2-4272 and Linda Washington 2-1751 DIS Dee Seymour 2-8023 EA Loren Habegger 2-3761 ECT Jill Morgenthaler 2-2725 ESH-SME Mary Lou Elson 2-3351 ER Carol Rosignolo 2-8589 ES Midge Urban 2-3724 | ET Chuck Malefyt 2-5125 |
Kathleen Gabric, a biology teacher at Hinsdale Central High School, is the recipient of the Ellis P. Steinberg Award for Excellence in Pre-College Science Teaching.
The Steinberg Award is given annually to a pre-college science teacher who has shown excellence and innovation in teaching the fundamentals of science. The award consists of a plaque and $500.
Gabric, who has been a biology teacher at Hinsdale Central since 1988, was recognized for her innovative methods and commitment to science education. For example, she created a Web site to help students and their families become more involved in her class.
In addition, Gabric and a colleague received a $5,000 grant to purchase DNA fingerprinting equipment to carry out DNA labs in their classrooms. Gabric also is involved in a survey sponsored by the Smithsonian Institute to look at the effects of Problem Based Learning on retention and attitude toward learning.
The award commemorates Ellis P. Steinberg, who had an illustrious career in nuclear chemistry and was director of Argonne's Chemistry Division from 1982 until his retirement in 1988. After retiring, he was active in the lab's educational programs, working to improve the quality of science education.
Nominations for the Steinberg Award can be made by students, parents and other interested community members. Funds for the award are provided by family, friends and colleagues of Steinberg.
The award is administered by Argonne and the Argonne chapter of Sigma Xi. For information on making a nomination, contact Cindy Wilkinson in OPA at 2-5561.
The new Macintosh computer operating system, OS X, will be demonstrated Tuesday, April 17, from 9:30-11 a.m. in Argonne-East's Building 221 Room A216.
Apple Representatives will be on hand to answer questions and help Mac users plan the move to OS X (pronounced "ten."). The demonstration is open to all interested employees.
Apple's next-generation operating system features a UNIX-based foundation that provides stability and performance, and a new interface called "Aqua." Internet tools are also built-in.
Mac OS 9-compatible programs run in OS X, and are compatible with new applications for Mac OS X.
The Guest House Restaurant will be closed Saturday, April 14, and Sunday, April 15 for the Easter holiday.
Regular hours will resume on Monday, April 16.
Argonne's retirement plan vendors have announced their interest rates for staff and non-staff retirement plans for the second quarter of 2001.
| Vendor | Rate | Contributions From | Earned Through |
| TIAA Traditional | 7% | 4/1/01 - 6/30/01 | 2/28/02 |
| TIAA Supplemental | 6.5% | 4/1/01 - 6/30/01 | 2/28/02 |
| Lincoln National (Old Account) | 3.5% | 4/1/01 - 6/30/01 | 6/30/01 |
| Lincoln National (No Load) | 5.55% | 4/1/01 - 6/30/01 | 6/30/01 |
| Prudential Fixed Interest* | 6.3% | 7/1/00 - 6/30/01 | 6/30/01 |
| Prudential Guaranteed | 5% | 4/1/01 - 6/30/01 | 12/31/02 |
* Only available to non-staff participants
Service Awards for March include:
40 Years
Vernon F. Stipp (IPNS).
35 Years
Joseph L. Midlock (ASD).
30 Years
Jean C. Glover (PHY).
25 Years
Thomas E. Baldwin (DIS), Keith L. Derstine (RAE), Ezzat Danial Doss (TD), Charles E. Lahm (FAC), Arne P. Olson (TD), Rosario Torres (APS), Lawrence J. Wesley (PFS).
20 Years
Amrit S. Boparai (CMT), Patric Den Hartog (XFD), Christopher Saricks (ES), Judith A. Wozniak (RAE).
15 Years
John K. Basco (CMT), Bruce M. Biwer (EA), David J. Chaiko (CMT), Todd J. Frickey (FAC), Aravinda M. Kini (MSD), Paula D. Mann (PFS), William R. Ramos (RPS), Diane B. Simms (ASD).
10 Years
Nicholas Agos (PFS), John E. Beach (RPS), Conrad Bissonnette (PFS), Michael David Borland (AOD), Terry M. Cobbley (FAC), Dana R. Dixon (OCF), Mark S. Engbretson (MSD), Catherine Foster (OPA), Deanna Hollo (CHM), Calvin Jackson (PFS), David V. Laug (FAC), Andrew Mosele (PFS), Michael Muscia (ASD), Kent Oikle (PFS), Christopher Piatak (IPNS), Edward Plaskacz (RAE), Randall M. Shaw (RPS), James Stevens (ASD), Tye N. Tomchak (FAC), John Weizeorick (ECT), Shenglan Xu (XFD).
5 Years
Mary Kay Baudino (UPD), Roger L. Bergquist (PFS), Kevin A. Beyer (AOD), Roseann Csencsits (MSD), George R. Danklefsen, Jr. (RPS), Karl D. Duke (OCF), David A. Ercoli (PFS), George R. Lange (PFS), Lisha Li (IPD), Thomas Meier (XFD), Ilya A. Shkrob (CHM), Nancy VanWermeskerken (CHM), Steven G. Wallman (FAC), Robert W. Wray (ENT), Brian L. Wright (FAC), Morris H. Yates (ENT).
An international environmental conference to be held at Argonne-East May 14-18 will focus on how new science and technology is being applied to global environmental problems.
"Eco-Informa 2001: Environmental Risks and the Global Community -- Strategies for Meeting the Challenges," will highlight opportunities in four areas -- sustainable environment, engineering and biotech-nology, public policy and due process, and environmental information in the 21st century.
Presentations will cover environmental issues ranging from the cleanup of Cold War legacy sites and the current energy crisis to food safety issues such as bioengineering, organic foods, mad cow disease and hoof-and-mouth disease. Other topics include urbanization, global climate change and resource management. Participants will discuss approaches and tools such as information technology and Internet applications, environmental partnerships and communication, and geographic information systems and remote sensing.
Agencies participating include the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Defense, NATO, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, United Nations Environment Program, the World Health Organization and the World Bank.
Countries represented include Algeria, Austria, Canada, England, France, Georgia, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Liberia, Japan, Morocco, Norway, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Thailand, Ukraine and Uruguay.
The conference is co-hosted by Argonne and the Department of Energy's Center for Risk Excellence. For information on how to register and other conference details, see the conference web site or call extension 2-1520.
Argonne will celebrate the contributions of its administrative professionals with a buffet breakfast Wednesday, April 25.
Argonne Director Hermann Grunder will speak at the breakfast, to be held in Argonne-East's Building 213 Cafeteria. The breakfast will begin at 8 a.m., and Grunder will speak at 8:45 a.m.
All Argonne secretaries and clerical employees are invited to attend.
Electronics and Computing Technologies will offer a range of computer software classes at Argonne-East in May.
Full class descriptions are available on-line. To enroll, contact a division Training Management System representative. For more information about enrollment procedures, contact Diane Cavazos (ECT) at ext. 2-7153 or dkcavazos@anl.gov.
Unless otherwise noted, classes will be held in Building 221, Room A142, cost $215 and are limited to 10 participants.
"Intermediate Word 2000" (ECT374) -- Monday, May 7, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30
p.m. Prerequisite: "Introduction to Word 2000."
"Intermediate Excel 2000" (ECT375) -- Tuesday, May 8, 8:30 a.m. -
4:30 p.m. Prerequisite: "Introduction to Excel 2000."
"Intermediate Access Version 2000" (ECT376) -- Wednesday, May 9, 8:30
a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Class size limited to eight. Cost: $215. Prerequisite:
"Introduction to Access 2000."
"Intermediate PowerPoint 2000" (ECT373) -- Thursday, May 10, 8:30
a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Cost: $140. Prerequisite: "Introduction to PowerPoint 2000."
"Advanced PowerPoint 2000" (ECT382) -- Thursday, May 10, 1 p.m. - 4
p.m. Cost: $140. Prerequisite: "Introduction to PowerPoint 2000."
