Podcasts about Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

United States national laboratory located near Berkeley, California

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Best podcasts about Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Latest podcast episodes about Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

The Energy Gang
The new politics of power: What's really driving up American electricity bills? And what can we do about it?

The Energy Gang

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2026 46:57


US residential electricity prices have risen by more than 40 per cent since the start of 2021, which is much faster than general inflation. Utilities requested a total of $31 billion in increased rates last year, double the amount in 2024. And investor-owned utilities are planning to spend $1.4 trillion on capital projects over the next five years – enough on one calculation, to build almost 2,000 Hoover Dams at today's prices. So why are American electricity bills going up, and what can be done to provide some relief for hard-pressed consumers?In this episode, host Ed Crooks and regular contributor Dr Melissa Lott are joined by Charles Hua, founder and executive director of PowerLines, a nonprofit launched in 2024. Charles's focus is on US states' Public Utilities Commissions: the roughly 200 commissioners across the country who oversee around $200 billion in annual spending and ultimately determine what consumers pay. He calls them the “US Supreme Court justices of energy”.The discussion opens with questions of consumers' perceptions, and how they align with reality. The data show that in the past few years, electricity bills have been rising, on average, explaining why the issue has been rising up the political agenda.Recent Ipsos polling commissioned by PoweLines found that four in five Americans feel powerless about energy costs. The proportion who believe their state officials are serving their interests as consumers fell from 38 per cent to 29 per cent in a single year. Charles calls this "a new politics of electricity." It is a domain that until recently sat outside mainstream political attention, but now reaches governors' offices and the White House.Charles and Melissa then unpack what is actually driving the increases. Melissa walks through the top five cost drivers identified in the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's analysis: fuel and wholesale supply, distribution costs, generation capex, transmission costs, and cost recovery from extreme weather events. Charles points beyond the line items to a fundamental issue: the traditional utility business model, which structurally rewards capital spending. The question about the impact of data centers is unavoidable. Charles breaks it down: until now, data centres have not been a meaningful driver of price increases across most of the country. But that does not mean they will not be in future. PJM's capacity auction, where prices have rocketed, is one early signal that the picture is starting to change.Charles offers three solutions. First, get more out of the existing grid, which is currently running at roughly 50 per cent utilisation, through technologies he describes as "ibuprofen for the grid." Second, modernise the utility business model, potentially drawing on the UK's totex approach, where utilities can earn a return on operational as well as capital spending. Third, improve grid planning, particularly how load is forecast and how integrated resource plans are built.Melissa zooms out to remind listeners what is actually at stake. Borrowing a line from Amory Lovins, she says: "I don't care about my electrons. I care about cold beer and hot showers." The question is not just about price, but about whether households can keep their homes safe and liveable year-round. You can learn more about PowerLines at PowerLines.org. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

American Thought Leaders
How Classical Arts Training Helps Kids Unlock Their Full Potential | Sherry Zhang

American Thought Leaders

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2026 34:57


Leonardo da Vinci once wrote that the key to developing a “complete mind” was to “study the science of art. Study the art of science. Learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else.”In 2009, Sherry Zhang and a group of dedicated California parents who were disillusioned with the schools in their area decided to co-found an academic institution that would put this philosophy into practice.A former Silicon Valley entrepreneur and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory postdoctoral chemist, Zhang shares her unexpected journey from working in a garage tech start up to being a founding member of a classical academy.In this episode, Zhang discusses the core philosophy behind classical education—built upon three tenets: truth, goodness, and beauty. She reveals how intensive training in classical Chinese dance, ballet, visual arts, and music causes students to develop habits of perseverance, focus, and attentiveness that transfer to academics.In an age dominated by instant gratification and digital distraction, Zhang explains how the structure of classical arts provides order that children long for.One student, Hugo, came to the San Francisco High School of the Arts unable to focus and with failing grades. After one year at the school, he began to prosper academically, and his mother was stunned. His story is just one among many, Zhang says.Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and the guest, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

Energypreneurs
The Internet Taught Us How to Run a Grid. We Just Haven't Noticed Yet.| Ep 264 | Bruce Nordman [Re-edited]

Energypreneurs

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2026 49:42


Bruce Nordman spent nearly 40 years at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory asking one question: what if we ran electricity the way we run the internet? His answer reframes everything. A notebook computer is already a nanogrid — it can run on battery or grid power, and it distributes electricity to every USB device plugged into it. Scale that idea up, add a price signal that machines (not people) respond to, and you have a model for the entire electricity grid — one that works the same way whether you're in California or an off-grid village in Sub-Saharan Africa. We cover the three things every grid actually needs to coordinate — energy, power, and capacity — why Bell Labs dismissed the internet before it existed, and why Bruce believes electricity technology is still trapped in the 19th century. This conversation ends on a teaser: direct current power distribution, and why your house might one day run almost entirely on it. Part 2, coming soon. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: Facebook @sohailhasnie X (Twitter) @shasnie LinkedIn @shasnie ADB Blog Sohail Hasnie YouTube @energypreneurs  

MRS Bulletin Materials News Podcast
Episode 8: Electrochemical device driven with a capacitive ratchet mechanism

MRS Bulletin Materials News Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2026 4:55 Transcription Available


In this podcast episode, MRS Bulletin's Laura Leay interviews Gideon Segev from Tel Aviv University in Israel and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Shane Ardo from the University of California, Irvine about their ratchet-based ion pumps (RBIPs). Consisting of a nanoporous capacitor-like structure, the RBIP drives a flux of charged particles at voltages as low as 50 mV, while redox reactions need at least 1.23 V. Furthermore, the ratchet is selective where ions can be sorted based on their diffusion coefficient. This opens doors for efficient devices for desalination and selective ion separation. This work was published in a recent issue of Nature Materials. 

Energy Policy Now
Is a New Era of Electricity Prices Beginning?

Energy Policy Now

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2026 41:18


For years, electricity prices broadly tracked inflation. New pressures may be changing that. --- Electricity prices have become a major political issue in the United States, with policymakers increasingly focused on rising utility bills and the costs of meeting growing electricity demand. At the same time, renewable energy has often been blamed for driving prices higher. But what does the data actually show? Ryan Hledik of The Brattle Group discusses research conducted with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory on U.S. electricity price trends. The research finds that, nationally, electricity prices have largely tracked inflation, though significant regional differences tell a more complicated story. Hledik explains the factors that really drive electricity prices, the role of renewable energy, natural gas, and infrastructure investment, and why electricity costs vary so dramatically across the country. Hledik also explores whether 2025, when electricity prices rose faster than inflation nationally, marks the beginning of a new era of rising electricity prices, or a temporary departure from a longer-term trend. Ryan Hledik is an alumni policy advisor with the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy and a principal with The Brattle Group. Related Content: Congestion in General Equilibrium: Nodal Electricity Pricing, Production, and Welfare https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/research/publications/congestion-in-general-equilibrium-nodal-electricity-pricing-production-and-welfare/ Boomtowns in the Battery Belt: Risks and Opportunities of Clean Energy Investments in Small Towns of America https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/research/publications/boomtowns-in-the-battery-belt-risks-and-opportunities-of-clean-energy-investments-in-small-towns-of-america/ How PJM Is Grappling With Data Center Power Demand https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/commentary/podcast/how-pjm-is-grappling-with-data-center-power-demand/ Energy Policy Now is produced by The Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania. For all things energy policy, visit kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Physics World Weekly Podcast
Thermodynamic computing: noise as a resource, not an enemy

Physics World Weekly Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2026 37:47


Noise is the enemy of many computing paradigms. Conventional computers are power hungry because they must operate at energy levels well above those of electronic fluctuations in silicon. The problem is much more acute in quantum computing, where noise is a significant barrier to creating practical processors. But what if we could use noise as a computational resource? That is the idea behind thermodynamic computing – which is the focus of this episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast. My guest is the theoretical physicist Stephen Whitelam – who joins me down the line from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in the US. “Generative Thermodynamic Computing” by Stephen Whitelam

The Energy Gang
How US utilities are adapting to a high-growth world for power demand. The head of America's largest electricity industry group explains the critical role played by regulators

The Energy Gang

Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2026 48:12


The era of stagnant electricity demand in the US is over. Data centres, electrification, and reshoring of manufacturing are driving a surge in demand that is stronger that anything that anyone currently working in the industry has yet seen in their professional lifetimes. The question of which market and regulatory structures are needed to respond to this new and fast-changing world is now at the centre of the policy debate.Host Ed Crooks is joined by Drew Maloney, President and CEO of the Edison Electric Institute, the trade body representing America's investor-owned utilities, which together serve more than 70 per cent of the US population. Drew argues that the current moment is exposing a fundamental divide in the US power system: vertically integrated, regulated utilities can plan generation, transmission, and distribution over 20-year horizons, while competitive markets like PJM are struggling to send the investment signals needed to get new power plants built.The conversation starts with one of the hottest topics in US politics: affordability and household electricity bills. There are some misconceptions about electricity bills that have gained traction with the American public. Drew points to EEI research showing that 34 states have kept increases in electricity rates below general consumer price inflation over the past five years. And he adds that the states where prices are rising fastest tend to be in deregulated markets, where capacity costs are climbing but no new generation is being built.Ed draws on the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's 2025 study of electricity bills and data centres (You can read that study here.). That study found that demand growth alone did not explain rising bills, and that the drivers vary significantly by region, from wildfire mitigation costs in California to capacity market dynamics in PJM and New England.They move on to another hot topic in the industry today: whether data centres and other large loads should go “off grid” and rely entirely on local on-site generation. Drew pushes back against the narrative that this model is now becoming widespread, arguing there is more talk than action. Building duplicative generation to create “five nines” reliability for a data centre is expensive, and can still be unreliable without grid backup. It also pulls investment and workforce away from the shared infrastructure that benefits all customers. Most data centres want grid access, even if some are pursuing hybrid approaches in the interim until their hook-ups to the network can be connected.The episode also covers FERC Chairman Laura Swett's emerging approach to market intervention, the prospects for bipartisan permitting reform in Congress, and the ratepayer protection plan brokered between the White House and the major hyperscalers. Drew closes with an optimistic long view: the current moment, though it needs careful management, could be an opportunity to transform the US grid for the better.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Entangled Things
Episode 139: Quantum and Chemistry with Bert de Jong

Entangled Things

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2026 42:16 Transcription Available


In Episode 139, Patrick and Ciprian are joined by Bert de Jong, senior scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The team discusses quantum computing's role in material science and energy, exploring industry challenges and strategic partnerships. The conversation emphasizes innovation urgency and national labs' influence on the future.Bert de Jong is the Director of the Quantum Systems Accelerator, which is part of the National Quantum Initiative. In addition, de Jong is the Team Director of the Accelerated Research for Quantum Computing (ARQC) Team MACH-Q, funded by DOE ASCR, focused on developing software stacks for near-term quantum computing devices. In addition, de Jong has a program in AI and machine learning to understand biomolecular processes, and discover new materials and molecular crystals for gas adsorption. de Jong serves as the Department Head for Computational Sciences, and leads the Applied Computing for Scientific Discovery Group, which advances scientific computing by developing and enhancing applications in key disciplines, as well as developing HPC, quantum and AI tools and libraries for addressing general problems in computational science. 

waterloop
A New Strategy: Water Is National Security

waterloop

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2026


Water is emerging as a defining factor in U.S. economic growth and national security—from where data centers and energy projects can scale to how communities absorb the rising costs of floods, droughts, and insurance risk. In response, a new Aspen National Water Strategy has been released, laying out a plan to rethink how the country manages water. This episode is a conversation with the co-leads for developing the strategy, Martin Doyle of Duke University and Newsha Ajami of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.Their central argument is a shift in framing: water is not just an environmental or local utility issue—it's a core economic input and a strategic asset. The discussion explores how that plays out today, from AI and energy demands tied to water availability to insurers effectively redrawing the map of risk across the country. It also gets into what's holding the system back, including fragmented governance, outdated infrastructure models, and policies that don't align with how water actually moves through watersheds.The strategy outlines priorities including governing for outcomes instead of process, investing in rural landscapes that underpin national water supply, and expanding infrastructure to include natural systems, data, and people. Doyle and Ajami also highlight the need to remove barriers to adopting solutions that already exist, and to rethink financing and business models so innovation can scale. It's a clear-eyed look at how water is shaping the economy and risk landscape today—and what it will take to treat it as the national priority it has become.waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

China Daily Podcast
英语新闻丨AI繁荣令美国电价飙升

China Daily Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2026 4:57


When Kurt Borchardt opened his latest electricity bill, he thought there was a mistake.当库尔特·博查特(音译)收到最新一期电费账单时,他简直不敢相信自己的眼睛。"Our electric bill doubled in one month. Almost a $3,000-$4,000 jump on a single bill," wrote Borchardt, co-owner of Artisanal Brew Works in Saratoga Springs, New York, describing the shock on social media."我们一个月的电费翻了一番。单张账单就涨了近三四千美元,"纽约萨拉托加斯普林斯市Artisanal Brew Works啤酒厂合伙人博查特(音译)在社交媒体上描述了当时的震惊。The brewery had already endured a slow winter season, traditionally its weakest period. Then came what he said was a 133-percent increase in electricity prices. The company's National Grid bill has now become its second-largest expense after rent, squeezing margins at a time when customer traffic remains slow.该啤酒厂刚熬过传统上最惨淡的冬季淡季。紧接着就遭遇了133%的电价涨幅。如今,国家电网公司的账单已成为该厂仅次于房租的第二大开支,在客流量持续低迷之际进一步挤压利润空间。"When I saw that bill, I fell out of my chair," Borchardt told local television station WTEN. His frustration reflects a broader national trend."看到账单时,我惊得从椅子上站了起来,"博查特对当地电视台WTEN表示。他的无奈折射出美国正面临的全国性趋势。Electricity prices in the United States are emerging as a new source of economic strain, raising concerns about inflation, industrial competitiveness and political risk, particularly after a colder-than-average winter drove up heating demand and tightened natural gas markets.美国电价正成为新的经济压力源,引发对通胀、工业竞争力和政治风险的担忧——特别是在遭遇比往年更冷的冬季,取暖需求上升而天然气市场供应趋紧之后。The most recent US Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index report showed that overall inflation rose 2.4 percent in the past 12 months ending in January while electricity prices increased 6.3 percent. Though gasoline prices have fluctuated, electricity bills have continued to climb steadily, placing sustained pressure on both households and businesses.美国劳工统计局最新消费者价格指数报告显示,过去12个月(截至1月)整体通胀上涨2.4%,而电价涨幅达6.3%。尽管汽油价格有所波动,电价却持续攀升,给家庭和企业带来持续压力。One key factor behind the rise in electricity prices is surging power demand from data centers and artificial intelligence applications. As the US accelerates investment in AI infrastructure, electricity consumption from large-scale computing facilities has expanded rapidly, placing additional strain on an already aging power grid.电价上涨的关键推手之一是数据中心和人工智能应用的电力需求激增。随着美国加速AI基础设施投资,大型计算设施的耗电量快速扩张,给本已老化的电网带来额外负担。"Since electricity is a very inelastic good, these price increases will continue to put upward pressure on inflation," Aaron Pacitti, an economics professor at Siena University, told China Daily. "One of the main drivers of this increase is the rise in electricity demand from data centers and increased usage of AI.""由于电力属于极度缺乏弹性的商品,这些涨价将持续推高通胀,"锡耶纳大学经济学教授亚伦·帕西蒂(音译)向《中国日报》表示,"主要驱动因素之一就是数据中心用电需求增长和AI使用量增加。"According to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, data centers accounted for about 4.4 percent of total US electricity consumption in 2023. Depending on the pace of broader economic growth, that share is projected to rise to between 6.7 percent and 12 percent by 2028.据劳伦斯伯克利国家实验室数据,2023年数据中心约占美国总用电量的4.4%。根据整体经济增长速度,预计到2028年这一比例将升至6.7%至12%。Similar challenges are emerging in other major technology markets as governments seek to balance the rapid growth of artificial intelligence with the need for a reliable power supply.随着各国政府寻求在AI快速发展与可靠电力供应之间取得平衡,其他主要科技市场也面临类似挑战。In the United States, the surge in electricity demand is already beginning to show up in capacity markets.在美国,电力需求激增已开始在容量市场中显现。PJM's latest capacity auction for the 2027-28 delivery year fell 6,623 megawatts short of its reliability requirement, underscoring a growing imbalance between electricity supply and demand, according to a Dec 17 news release from the grid operator, which serves 13 states and the District of Columbia.根据为13个州及哥伦比亚特区服务的电网运营商PJM去年12月17日发布的新闻稿,其最近一次2027-2028交付年度的容量拍卖较可靠性要求缺口达662.3万千瓦,凸显电力供需失衡加剧。Capacity auctions are forward-looking markets in which grid operators secure commitments from power plants to ensure sufficient supply during future peak demand periods.容量拍卖是电网运营商确保未来高峰用电期供应的前瞻性市场。"But this auction leaves no doubt that data centers' demand for electricity continues to far outstrip new supply, and the solution will require concerted action involving PJM, its stakeholders, state and federal partners, and the data center industry itself," said Stu Bresler, executive vice-president of market services and strategy at PJM."但此次拍卖明确表明,数据中心的电力需求仍远超新增供应,解决方案需要PJM、利益相关方、州和联邦合作伙伴以及数据中心行业本身采取协同行动,"PJM市场服务与战略执行副总裁斯图·布莱斯勒(音译)表示。Economists warn that persistently higher utility costs could weigh on overall economic momentum.经济学家警告,持续高企的公用事业成本可能拖累整体经济动能。Production costs生产成本For manufacturers, especially in energy-intensive sectors, higher electricity prices translate directly into rising production costs.对制造商而言,尤其是在能源密集型行业,电价上涨直接转化为生产成本上升。"Higher energy costs will act as a drag on growth and competitiveness for US firms and heighten the affordability issues facing US households," Pacitti said. "Since demand from data centers and AI is unlikely to subside anytime soon, these price increases will act as a modest headwind to growth.""能源成本上升将拖累美国企业的增长和竞争力,加剧美国家庭的支付难题,"帕西蒂说,"由于数据中心和AI需求短期内不太可能减弱,这些涨价将成为增长的轻微阻力。"Beyond demand growth, structural challenges are also contributing to the problem. In many parts of the country, utility companies purchase electricity through wholesale markets, and when demand rises faster than supply, prices increase for all consumers, according to Ari Peskoe, director of the Electricity Law Initiative at Harvard Law School.哈佛大学法学院电力法律倡议主任阿里·佩斯科认为,除了需求增长,结构性挑战也在加剧问题。美国许多地区的公用事业公司通过批发市场购电,当需求增长快于供应时,所有消费者的电价都会上涨。economic strain /ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˈstreɪn/经济压力fluctuate /ˈflʌktʃueɪt/波动inelastic good /ˌɪnɪˈlæstɪk ˈɡʊd/缺乏弹性的商品capacity markets /kəˈpæsəti ˌmɑːkɪts/容量市场capacity auction /kəˈpæsəti ˌɔːkʃən/容量拍卖utility costs /juːˈtɪləti ˈkɒsts/公用事业成本

Physics World Weekly Podcast
Quantum Systems Accelerator focuses on technologies for computing

Physics World Weekly Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2026 34:45 Transcription Available


Developing practical technologies for quantum information systems requires the cooperation of academic researchers, national laboratories and industry. That is the mission of the  Quantum Systems Accelerator (QSA), which is based at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in the US. The QSA's director Bert de Jong is my guest in this episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast. His academic research focuses on computational chemistry and he explains how this led him to realise that quantum phenomena can be used to develop technologies for solving scientific problems. In our conversation, de Jong explains why the QSA is developing a range of  qubit platforms − including neutral atoms, trapped ions, and superconducting qubits – rather than focusing on a single architecture. He champions the co-development of quantum hardware and software to ensure that quantum computing is effective at solving a wide range of problems from particle physics to chemistry. We also chat about the QSA's strong links to industry and de Jong reveals his wish list of scientific problems that he would solve if he had access today to a powerful quantum computer.   This podcast is supported by Oxford Ionics.

The Documentary Podcast
New elements

The Documentary Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2026 26:29


What does it take to make something which has never existed on Earth before? The search for element 120 on the periodic table has begun at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California. Cosmologist Andrew Pontzen, who is used to studying the processes of creation, visits the 88-inch Cyclotron facility at Berkeley, where the next new element may be created very soon. To uncover what motivates scientists to pursue something that is possibly only produced in the violent explosions of stars he speaks with the scientists trying it now, the scientists who last made an element at Berkeley 50 years ago, and a historian of the fraught history of element discovery. The answer is not as straight forward as he suspected.

The Water Zone
Engineering the Future of Water with Peter Fiske

The Water Zone

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2026 55:01


Peter Fiske, Executive Director of the National Alliance for Water Innovation at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, explores the future of water production and reuse. He highlights major advancements in desalination, filtration, and resource recovery technologies that are reshaping how industries treat and repurpose water. Fiske also discusses emerging methods for extracting magnesium and rare earth elements from fracking brine, along with innovations like reactive plasma processing for high‑tech sectors. He explains how water movement directly impacts energy use and how new local regulations aim to increase the safe reuse of produced water. Podcast Recorded on January 8, 2026

Big Picture Science
Beyond the Periodic Table

Big Picture Science

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2025 56:18


You interact with about two-thirds of the elements of the periodic table every day. Some, like carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen, make up our bodies and the air we breathe. Yet there is also a class of elements so unstable they can only be made in a lab. These superheavy elements are the purview of a small group stretching the boundaries of chemistry. Can they extend the periodic table beyond the 118 in it now? Find out scientists are using particle accelerators to create element 120 and why they've skipped over element 119. Plus, if an element exists for only a fraction of a second in the lab, can we still say that counts as existing? Guests: Mark Miodownik – professor of materials and society at the University of College London and the author of “It's a Gas: The Sublime and Elusive Elements That Expand Our World.” Kit Chapman – Science historian at Falmouth University, author of “Superheavy; Making and Breaking the Periodic Table.” Jennifer Pore – Research Scientist of Heavy Elements at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Featuring music by Dewey Dellay and Jun Miyake Big Picture Science is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to inquire about advertising on Big Picture Science. You can get early access to ad-free versions of every episode by joining us on Patreon. Thanks for your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Big Picture Science
Beyond the Periodic Table

Big Picture Science

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2025 56:18


You interact with about two-thirds of the elements of the periodic table every day. Some, like carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen, make up our bodies and the air we breathe. Yet there is also a class of elements so unstable they can only be made in a lab. These superheavy elements are the purview of a small group stretching the boundaries of chemistry. Can they extend the periodic table beyond the 118 in it now? Find out scientists are using particle accelerators to create element 120 and why they've skipped over element 119. Plus, if an element exists for only a fraction of a second in the lab, can we still say that counts as existing? Guests: Mark Miodownik – professor of materials and society at the University of College London and the author of “It's a Gas: The Sublime and Elusive Elements That Expand Our World.” Kit Chapman – Science historian at Falmouth University, author of “Superheavy; Making and Breaking the Periodic Table.” Jennifer Pore – Research Scientist of Heavy Elements at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Featuring music by Dewey Dellay and Jun Miyake Big Picture Science is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to inquire about advertising on Big Picture Science. You can get early access to ad-free versions of every episode by joining us on Patreon. Thanks for your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Choses à Savoir TECH VERTE
Les réfrigérateurs cessent (enfin) de polluer ?

Choses à Savoir TECH VERTE

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2025 3:03


L'annonce remonte à octobre 2023, mais elle mérite clairement qu'on s'y attarde à nouveau. Des chercheurs du Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory et de l'Université de Californie à Berkeley ont présenté une technologie de refroidissement radicalement nouvelle, capable de bouleverser un secteur aujourd'hui sous pression climatique. En ligne de mire : les hydrofluorocarbures, ces gaz réfrigérants ultra-polluants encore largement utilisés dans la climatisation et la réfrigération.Le principe exploité est à la fois simple et élégant. Lorsqu'un matériau change d'état — solide, liquide ou gazeux — il absorbe ou libère de la chaleur. La glace qui fond refroidit son environnement : tout le monde l'a déjà constaté. Les chercheurs sont partis d'un autre phénomène bien connu : l'ajout d'ions peut modifier le point de fusion d'une substance sans en augmenter la température. C'est exactement ce qui se passe lorsque l'on sale les routes en hiver pour empêcher la formation de glace.L'équipe californienne a transposé ce mécanisme dans un système de refroidissement inédit, baptisé cycle ionocalorique. En appliquant un très faible courant électrique, inférieur à un volt, les chercheurs déplacent des ions à l'intérieur du dispositif. Ce mouvement modifie le point de fusion du matériau utilisé, provoquant une variation de température spectaculaire. Lors des tests, un mélange de sel iodé et sodique a permis de faire fondre du carbonate d'éthylène — un solvant courant dans les batteries lithium-ion — avec un écart thermique atteignant 25 degrés Celsius. Une performance inédite pour ce type de technologie. « Personne n'avait jusqu'ici développé une solution qui soit à la fois efficace, sûre et respectueuse de l'environnement », souligne Drew Lilley, ingénieur en mécanique au laboratoire de Berkeley. Contrairement aux systèmes classiques, basés sur la compression et l'évaporation de fluides frigorigènes très polluants, ce procédé se passe totalement d'hydrofluorocarbures. Un enjeu crucial, alors que l'amendement de Kigali impose une réduction de 80 % de leur usage d'ici 2048.Autre atout majeur : le carbonate d'éthylène utilisé peut être produit à partir de dioxyde de carbone, ouvrant la voie à un système au potentiel climatique nul, voire négatif. Pour Ravi Prasher, autre chercheur du projet, l'équation repose sur trois critères clés : impact climatique, efficacité énergétique et coût. Et, pour la première fois, les résultats préliminaires semblent satisfaisants sur les trois fronts. Les travaux, publiés dans la revue Science, montrent même que cette technologie pourrait rivaliser avec, voire dépasser, les systèmes actuels. Le défi désormais est industriel : passer du laboratoire à des applications à grande échelle. De nouvelles équipes testent déjà d'autres sels, notamment à base de nitrates recyclables. Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.

Business Pants
Dell's $6bn “gift”, OpenAI's code red, Costco as moral center, and proxy advisors say no to a director

Business Pants

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2025 55:25


The Giving TreeMichael and Susan Dell to donate $6.25 billion to fund 'Trump accounts' for 25 million U.S. kidsLyft CEO: This Giving Tuesday, I'm matching every rider's donationDavid Risher: $78M in 2023Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos commit $102.5 million to organizations combatting homelessness across the U.S.: ‘This is just the beginning'The wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez in Venice is estimated to have cost between $46.5 million and $55.6 millionMacKenzie Scott's $19 billion donations have turned philanthropy on its head—why her style of giving actually worksFighting back! (Stakeholders Rule!)New York City Council passes landmark AI oversight packageThe New York City Council unanimously passed a collection of bills that are designed to provide a heightened level of oversight for the city's use of artificial intelligence tools.Bernie Sanders and Mamdani joined the Starbucks picket line in Brooklyn More than 1,000 Amazon employees sign open letter warning the company's AI ‘will do staggering damage to democracy, our jobs, and the earth'Costco sues Trump administration over tariffs, seeks full refundCostco filed a lawsuit at the U.S. Court of International Trade on Friday, saying the administration's tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are unlawful.The 1977 law has historically been used to impose sanctions against other nations.Exxon bid to dismiss Connecticut climate lawsuit failsA judge moved the case closer to trial after rejecting the company's request to toss it out.OpenAI Completed Its Conversion. A New Ballot Initiative Seeks to Reverse ItA coalition that tried and failed to block OpenAI's conversion earlier this year is back with a new tactic: a California ballot initiative aimed at reining in the startup's power.The planned initiative, dubbed the California Charitable Assets Protection Act, was filed Monday with California's attorney general. It doesn't mention OpenAI by name, but calls for the creation of an oversight board empowered to review and potentially reverse conversions to nonprofit organizations engaged in scientific and technological research that have happened in the state since January of 2024.Starbucks to settle with over 15,000 New York City workers for roughly $35 millionStarbucks will pay about $35 million to more than 15,000 New York City workers to settle claims it denied them stable schedules and arbitrarily cut their hours.The company will also pay $3.4 million in civil penalties under the agreement with the city's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection.It also agrees to comply with the city's Fair Workweek law going forward.Fighting back! (Shareholders Rule!)Michael Burry calls Tesla ‘ridiculously overvalued' and knocks tech industry for a widely used practiceThe post is critical of Tesla and the technology industry as a whole for its use of stock-based compensation and then ignoring it as a legitimate expense.Burry said Tesla share dilution should continue following shareholder approval of CEO Elon Musk's historic pay package.Second proxy adviser calls for vote against Westpac director over ASX stintA second influential proxy adviser has recommended institutional investors vote against re-electing Westpac non-executive director Peter Nash, citing his six-year stint on the board of the troubled Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).CGI Glass Lewis said in a new report on Tuesday that investors should vote against Nash who joined the Westpac board in March 2018 and chairs the board's audit committee.Norway wealth fund to back call for Microsoft human rights report at AGMMicrosoft AGM takes place on December 5Norway wealth fund is Microsoft's eighth-largest shareholderThe fund also said it would vote against the re-appointment of CEO Satya Nadella as chair of the board, as well as against his pay package.PotpourriOpenAI declares ‘code red' as Google catches up in AI raceIn the memo, reported by the Wall Street Journal and The Information, Altman said the company will be delaying initiatives like ads, shopping and health agents, and a personal assistant, Pulse, to focus on improving ChatGPT.This includes core features like greater speed and reliability, better personalization, and the ability to answer more questions, he said.Corporations say they prioritize people. So why do so few chief people officers become CEOs?Only 16 of the CEOs at the 1,000 biggest companies have HR experience.Stephanie Mehta is CEO and chief content officer of Mansueto Ventures, publisher of Inc. and Fast CompanyMATTUplifting stories:Costco sues Trump admin seeking tariff refunds before Supreme Court rules if they're illegalWhy it's uplifting:Costco is the retail bulwark against stupidity - and they're getting paid for it with persistent quarterly growthCostco board member defends DEI practices, rebukes companies scrapping policiesCostco Under Fire in 19 States for Taking Stand Against TrumpSecond proxy adviser calls for vote against Westpac director over ASX stintWhy it's uplifting:This IS NOT AN ACTIVIST DRIVEN VOTE, and it isn't about attendance! This is purely driven by conflict of interest - an ASX listed company using an ASX board member, a board member who up until 6 years ago lead KPMG in Australia - and KPMG is now Westpac's auditorThe move is underway - ISS/GL were never going to vote against directors in the US first, but Australia is much easier to targetGoogle's data centers could actually be going to the moonWhy it's uplifting:While we couldn't solve the climate crisis for the sake of HUMANITY, we WILL solve it for the sake of AI:one hundred trillion times more energy than we produce in all of Earth todayThe space pitch arrives when Earth is starting to look like a bad long-term landlord for the AI build-out. A 2024 Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory report found that U.S. data centers already chew through about 4.4% of the country's electricity, and that share could climb to as much as 12% by 2028 as GPU farms multiply. McKinsey puts a price tag on the race to scale data centers: roughly $6.7 trillion in global data center capex by 2030, about $5 trillion of that aimed at AI-ready infrastructureextraterrestrial data centers could cut emissions by a factor of 10 compared with their earthbound cousinsAlso, GTFO!

The 'X' Zone Radio Show
Rob McConnell Interviews - DONNELL DUNCAN - How Some of Science's Biggest Discoveries. Unwittingly Support the Bible

The 'X' Zone Radio Show

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2025 42:16 Transcription Available


Donnell Duncan, P.E., S.E. is the author of the revolutionary new book; Faith Science - "Where Faith and The Scientific Method Collide." While studying Applied Physics in 2000, he did research on the Cosmic Microwave Background, an important aspect of The Big Bang Theory at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. This research was led by Dr. George Smoot who consequently won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2004. He is an author, speaker and blogger with an international following. He was twice listed as a finalist for the Atlanta Power 30 Under 30 Awards. A structural engineer by profession, he holds a professional engineer's license (P.E.) in the State of Georgia and a structural engineer's license (S.E.) in the State of Illinois. He was also awarded the Model Law Structural Engineer Certificate (M.L.S.E.) by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. He is the founder of The Cracked Door Foundation, an organization dedicated to empowering young professionals with biblical principles. He obtained a BS in applied physics from Morehouse College, along with a BS and an MS in civil engineering (structural emphasis) from Georgia Institute of Technology. - www.faithscienceonline.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-x-zone-radio-tv-show--1078348/support.Please note that all XZBN radio and/or television shows are Copyright © REL-MAR McConnell Meda Company, Niagara, Ontario, Canada – www.rel-mar.com. For more Episodes of this show and all shows produced, broadcasted and syndicated from REL-MAR McConell Media Company and The 'X' Zone Broadcast Network and the 'X' Zone TV Channell, visit www.xzbn.net. For programming, distribution, and syndication inquiries, email programming@xzbn.net.We are proud to announce the we have launched TWATNews.com, launched in August 2025.TWATNews.com is an independent online news platform dedicated to uncovering the truth about Donald Trump and his ongoing influence in politics, business, and society. Unlike mainstream outlets that often sanitize, soften, or ignore stories that challenge Trump and his allies, TWATNews digs deeper to deliver hard-hitting articles, investigative features, and sharp commentary that mainstream media won't touch.These are stories and articles that you will not read anywhere else.Our mission is simple: to expose corruption, lies, and authoritarian tendencies while giving voice to the perspectives and evidence that are often marginalized or buried by corporate-controlled media

Tech Gumbo
AI Isn't Raising Your Power Bill, AI Browsers Can Be Hacked, Microsoft Bans AI Flirting, and PayPal Joins ChatGPT

Tech Gumbo

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2025 22:08


News and Updates: New research from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory finds rising U.S. electricity prices stem from aging infrastructure, costly parts, and natural disasters — not AI or data centers. Brave Software exposed vulnerabilities in AI browsers like Perplexity's Comet and Fellou, showing hidden text in images can trigger prompt-injection hacks that access user data. AI search tools from Google, OpenAI, and others surface less popular websites than traditional search, broadening source diversity and fueling a new field called “Answer Engine Optimization.” PayPal will integrate directly into ChatGPT via OpenAI's new Agentic Commerce Protocol, enabling users to chat, shop, and pay without leaving the platform starting in 2026. Microsoft's Mustafa Suleyman reaffirmed that Copilot won't engage in romance or erotic chats, emphasizing emotionally intelligent but “boundaried” AI designed for safety and family use. OpenAI finalized its conversion to a public-benefit corporation valued at $130 billion, giving Microsoft a 27% stake and pushing its market cap above $4 trillion as the firms deepen cooperation.

ACM ByteCast
Cecilia Aragon - Episode 75

ACM ByteCast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2025 52:08


In this episode of ACM ByteCast, Bruke Kifle hosts ACM Distinguished Member Cecilia Aragon, Professor in the Department of Human Centered Design and Engineering and Director of the Human-Centered Data Science Lab at the University of Washington (UW). She is the co-inventor (with Raimund Seidel) of the treap data structure, a binary search tree in which each node has both a key and a priority. She is also known for her work in data-intensive science and visual analytics of very large data sets, for which she received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) in 2008. Prior to her appointment at UW, she was a computer scientist and data scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and NASA Ames Research Center, and before that, an airshow and test pilot, entrepreneur, and member of the United States Aerobatic Team. She is a co-founder of Latinas in Computing. Cecilia shares her journey into computing, starting as a math major at Caltech with a love of the Lisp programming language, to vital work innovating data structures, visual analytics tools for astronomy (Sunfall), and augmented reality systems for aviation. She highlights the importance of making data science more human-centered and inclusive practices in design. Cecilia discusses her passion for broadening participation in computing for young people, a mission made more personal when she realized she was the first Latina full professor in the College of Engineering at UW. She also talks about Viata, a startup she co-founded with her son, applying visualization research from her lab to help people solve everyday travel planning challenges. We want to hear from you!

GREY Journal Daily News Podcast
How Deep Isolation's Technology is Transforming Nuclear Waste Management

GREY Journal Daily News Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2025 2:56


Deep Isolation licensed its nuclear waste disposal technology, including repository systems and canister patents, to Navarro Research and Engineering. Navarro, which holds federal contracts with agencies such as the Department of Energy and NASA, will use these technologies to enhance its waste management services at sites in Idaho, Nevada, and Washington. Deep Isolation's borehole disposal system, demonstrated in 2019, uses directional drilling for deep geologic storage of radioactive waste. In 2022, Deep Isolation received a $3.6 million DOE grant to develop a universal canister system for storage, transport, and disposal of advanced reactor waste, collaborating with NAC International, UC Berkeley, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The company also signed a memorandum of understanding to license its technology to Amentum for projects in Europe and the Pacific.Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NucleCast
Dr. Rich Tighe, Exploring Y-12: The Heart of Nuclear Security

NucleCast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2025 34:01


In this episode of NucleCast, Adam interviews Dr. Rich Tighe, the president and CEO of Consolidated Nuclear Security, discussing the current operations and future outlook of the Y-12 National Security Complex. Rich explains the complex's historical significance, its current missions, and the challenges it faces in workforce recruitment and safety. The conversation also touches on modernization efforts, collaboration with design agencies, and the importance of community support. Rich shares his aspirations for the future, including the need for continued growth and innovation in nuclear security.Richard (Rich) Tighe is president and chief executive officer of Consolidated Nuclear Security, the Bechtel led management and operating contractor for the Y 12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, with a workforce of approximately 9,500. Tighe (pronounced “tie”) joined CNS in September 2022, and led the company through the separation of the Pantex Plant from CNS's management and operating contract. Before the separation, Tighe led a combined 13,500 employees through significant growth and record performance. As the National Nuclear Security Administration mission and project scope grew at the sites, CNS met all deliverables to the military under Tighe's leadership. Additionally, during his tenure, CNS added more than 1,500 team members, including engineers, scientists, professional staff, and craft workers, and both sites improved safety performance, achieving more than 12.6 million consecutive hours without a lost time injury. Under Tighe's leadership, CNS has been awarded a 2-year contract extension at Y-12.Before joining CNS, Tighe served for nearly 4 years as president and general manager of National Aerospace Solutions (NAS), the Bechtel-led test operations and sustainment contractor for the Arnold Engineering Development Complex at Arnold Air Force Base near Tullahoma,Tennessee. He also was manager of strategy, marketing, and business development for Bechtel's Nuclear, Security, and Environmental global business unit, an $8 billion business. He served as the NS&E representative to the Bechtel Group Marketing and Business Development Committee and represented Bechtel on the board of managers for NAS and Kwajalein Range Services.Tighe joined Bechtel in 2006 as marketing and business development manager; he was elected principal vice president in 2016 and senior vice president in 2023. Before his service with Bechtel, Tighe worked for Lockheed Martin at the Nevada Test Site for more than a decade, holding several scientific and management posts and ultimately advancing to assistant general manager for high-hazard test and evaluation.Tighe was a postdoctoral fellow in the Nuclear Science Division of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory at the University of California.He earned a Ph.D. in experimental nuclear physics from the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, and a B.S. in physics from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa.Socials:Follow on Twitter at @NucleCastFollow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcastSubscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to NucleCast@anwadeter.org

Energypreneurs
E264: Rethinking Electricity Like the Internet

Energypreneurs

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2025 55:22


In this episode, our guest is Bruce Nordman, a long-time researcher from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Bruce brings four decades of experience in energy efficiency and introduces his revolutionary vision for transforming how buildings use electricity, drawing strong parallels with the evolution of internet technology. We explore the concept of "nanogrids," price-responsive appliances, and how a decentralized approach to energy, using price signals instead of commands, can reshape both on- and off-grid systems. Bruce highlights the untapped potential of DC power, the role of embedded intelligence in devices, and how smart automation can lead to a more resilient, efficient, and affordable energy future for everyone from California to remote villages in Asia and Africa. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: Facebook @sohailhasnie X (Twitter) @shasnie LinkedIn @shasnie ADB Blog Sohail Hasnie YouTube @energypreneurs Instagram @energypreneurs Tiktok @energypreneurs Spotify Video @energypreneurs

The New Quantum Era
From Exascale to Quantum Advantage with Bert de Jong

The New Quantum Era

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2025 32:29 Transcription Available


In this episode, Sebastian Hassinger sits down with Bert de Jong, a leading computational chemist and Director of the Quantum Systems Accelerator at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. They explore Bert's journey from high-performance classical computing to the front lines of quantum research, his vision for the future of the U.S. National Quantum Initiative (NQI) center he leads, and the scientific and engineering challenges that will define the next era of quantum computing.Key Topics CoveredCareer Arc: Bert reflects on his 27-year career in the national lab system, moving from classical computational chemistry and HPC to becoming a leader in quantum computing research and center management.Genesis of Quantum Focus: He describes his pivot to quantum in 2014, prompted by the scaling limitations of classical simulations and the promise of quantum systems to tackle “bigger and bigger” problems.Role of National Labs and NQI: Discussion of the U.S. National Quantum Initiative and the unique positioning of national labs in driving foundational science and cross-sector collaboration through centers like QSA.QSA's Multimodal Approach: Insight into QSA's decision not to “choose a lane,” advancing superconducting qubits, trapped ions, and neutral atoms in parallel, and the unique innovations—like integrated photonics—enabled by this breadth.Neutral Atom Milestones: Highlights the rapid progress in neutral atom systems (including work with QuEra and Misha Lukin), and the looming advent of devices with dozens of logical qubits and error correction.Logical Qubits and Error Correction: Bert explains how all quantum modalities are advancing toward error-corrected logical qubits, and why 100-logical-qubit prototypes are a realistic five-year goal.Scientific Impact: A discussion of what constitutes “quantum (scientific) advantage,” and why Bert believes that chemistry, materials science, high-energy, and nuclear physics will be the first domains to benefit from quantum systems unavailable to classical computing.Balancing Science and Engineering: Exploration of the transition from fundamental scientific challenges to applied engineering problems as quantum hardware matures—touching on device manufacturing, integrated photonics, and the symbiosis between national labs and industry partners.Quantum Software Innovation: Bert's perspective on bridging researcher expertise with usable tools, including his work on open-source quantum compilers (e.g., BQSKit/biscuit) and the importance of diverse, in- terdisciplinary teams.Looking Ahead: Bert's vision for the next five years: transitioning quantum from promise to prototypes that deliver real scientific results, and solidifying a collaborative ecosystem across labs, universities, and industry.Notable Quotes“HPC, quantum, and AI are all just tools—what matters is how we use them to solve real science problems.”“We're at the point where error-corrected quantum prototypes with 100 logical qubits and high fidelity could deliver a true scientific advantage within five years.”“National labs bring together deep science, advanced engineering, and a culture of collaboration that's essential at this stage of quantum's development.”“Quantum advantage isn't a buzzword for us—it's about doing science that can't be done any other way.”Episode HighlightsBert's transition from classical to quantum and the pivotal role of DOE research centers.How QSA's cross-modality approach both accelerates hardware and fosters cross-institutional partnerships.A preview of upcoming neutral-atom milestones and why industry is watching closely.The importance of open standards and software that supports a rapidly diversifying hardware landscape.The public sector's role in driving “over the horizon” technology, derisking pathways beyond what private startups can take on alone.Ambitious, concrete goals for the next five years: prototype quantum systems delivering early scientific wins, not just more research papers.If you enjoy deep dives into the intersection of science, engineering, and the future ofquantum technology, subscribe and share The New Quantum Era.

Unexplainable
Nightmare at the end of the universe

Unexplainable

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2025 26:09


Dark energy is the strange stuff that makes up the vast majority of the universe and will ultimately lead to the end of everything. Unless it doesn't exist at all. Guests: Adam Riess, astrophysicist at Johns Hopkins University, and Nathalie Palanque-Delabrouille, director of the Physics Division at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and member of The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument For show transcripts, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠vox.com/unxtranscripts ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠For more, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠vox.com/unexplainable⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And please email us! ⁠⁠⁠⁠unexplainable@vox.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ We read every email.Support Unexplainable (and get ad-free episodes) by becoming a Vox Member today: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠vox.com/members Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Radio El Respeto
Programa 173- Ciencia de Cerca con Eva Nogales -Especial en directo desde el Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales

Radio El Respeto

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2025 93:57


Únete a una experiencia única en el corazón de la ciencia. Este programa de "Radio El Respeto" se emite en directo desde el prestigioso Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales en Madrid, con la participación estelar de Eva Nogales. Nacida en Colmenar Viejo (Madrid), Nogales es una de las científicas más destacadas del panorama internacional en biofísica y biología estructural. Licenciada en Física por la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, obtuvo su doctorado en la Universidad de Keele (Reino Unido), donde estudió la dinámica estructural de la tubulina utilizando radiación de sincrotrón. Su carrera despegó en el Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (EE.UU.), donde, bajo la tutela de Kenneth Downing, logró un hito al determinar la estructura atómica de la tubulina mediante cristalografía electrónica, identificando el sitio de unión del fármaco anticancerígeno Taxol. Actualmente, es Profesora de Bioquímica, Biofísica y Biología Estructural en la Universidad de California, Berkeley, Investigadora del Instituto Médico Howard Hughes y Científica Senior en el Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Nogales es una pionera en el uso de la criomicroscopía electrónica (cryo-EM), una técnica revolucionaria que permite visualizar complejos macromoleculares en su estado nativo con resolución casi atómica. Entre sus numerosos reconocimientos destacan el Premio Shaw en Ciencias de la Vida y Medicina (2023), considerado el "Nobel Oriental", la elección como miembro de la Academia Nacional de Ciencias de EE.UU. (2015), el Mildred Cohn Award de la ASBMB (2016) y la Medalla de Oro de Colmenar Viejo como Hija Predilecta. Su trabajo no solo ha avanzado la comprensión de procesos celulares fundamentales, sino que también ha abierto caminos para tratamientos contra el cáncer y otras enfermedades. En este evento especial, exploramos su vida, sus descubrimientos y su visión sobre el papel de la ciencia en la sociedad, en un diálogo cercano y dinámico. Acompáñanos en el Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales para vivir la ciencia en primera persona, en un ambiente que combina divulgación, inspiración y conexión con el público. Síguenos en Redes Twitter: https://twitter.com/radioelrespeto Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/radioelrespeto/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/radioelrespeto Redes Sociales del Equipo: | Pablo Fuente | https://www.instagram.com/pablofuente/ | Nacho Sevilla | https://twitter.com/nachorsevilla | Fernando Sierra | https://twitter.com/Peeweeyo1

Cities and Memory - remixing the sounds of the world
High energy in Mexico: Connecting la Presidenta, the P'urhépecha nation and the university.

Cities and Memory - remixing the sounds of the world

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2025 8:35


 I developed my composition from the gentle hubbub of people inside the echoey library of one of the world's great universities: the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)— the National Autonomous University of Mexico. In July 2007, UNESCO proclaimed the UNAM Central Library, along with the UNAM Campus as World Heritage sites. The recording was created by Mexican sound recordist par excellence Erick Ruiz Arrellano.  This simple spatial human reverberance at UNAM generated multiple sound memories for me, with intersecting  connections. The key connection is between my research on 1920s nationalism and the high energy Dance of the Old Men, from the P'urhépecha peoples of Michoacán; and Mexico's current presidenta, Dr. Claudia Scheinbaum Pardo, who studied at, and was then a professor at UNAM, working on energy and climate change. For her undergraduate thesis she spent time in the P'urhépecha region working on energy and stoves.  My composition juxtaposes and interweaves various sonic fragments and threads combining human voices—UNAM library hubbub, President Claudia Scheinbaum, my voice as translator and narrator—and two P'urhépecha musical ensembles. In the 1990s, I lived and studied in Michoacán, Mexico for my doctoral thesis. Although British, I was fascinated by Mexican histories and heritages, and decided to focus on uses of Indigenous P'urhépecha dance, music and ritual practices for high level state processes of national-identity formation and tourism in the 1920s, after the end of the revolution. The President and the government versions of “heritage” to generate Mexicanness to unite the extraordinarily diverse country that is Mexico; and to market and attract tourists to Mexico from the USA. I focused on the appropriation of La Danza de Los Viejitos, Dance of the Old Men, from the Island of Jarácuaro, Lake Pátzcuaro (along with Noche de Muertos on the Island of Janitzio). Part of my time was spent in the archives at UNAM, seeking newspapers, photographs and audio samples from the 1920s.  In the early 1990s, Mexican President, Dr. Claudia Scheinbaum Pardo, studied for an undergraduate degree in engineering at UNAM. For her undergraduate thesis, she spent weeks in the P'urhépecha village of Cherán Atzicuirín (Cheranástico), with the intention of teaching and studying issues of energy in relation to wood-burning stoves, but realized that she was learning more from the P'urhépecha villagers. In the 1990s, she studied for her doctoral research at UNAM, including time at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California at Berkeley. She went to become a Research Professor at UNAM, focusing on steel-making.  Although our lives and experiences are profoundly different, I share some connections with President Dr. Claudia Scheinbaum Pardo through our understandings of P'urhépecha lifeways; of UNAM; of Presidential processes; and also of the University of California.  As I now live and work in the USA, and given the recent events of USA President Trump in relation to tariffs and migration, I have selected an excerpt of President Scheinbaum speaking after the tariff announcement. I have also included sound fragments of her speaking about her time as an undergraduate student in Cherán Atzicuirín and as professor at UNAM.  Sound Fragments: Original  Library of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)— the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Erick Ruiz Arrellano.  Added Fragment 1 Message from President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo to the people of Mexico Feb 2, 2025 “Good afternoon, everyone. As you're probably aware, yesterday the United States government imposed 25 percent tariffs on products we export to your country. Look, this hasn't existed for 30 years, because we have a Free Trade Agreement. The last Free Trade Agreement was signed by President López Obrador and President Trump himself.…” Fragment 2 Message from President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo to the people of Mexico Feb 2, 2025 “… To our Mexican sisters and brothers in the United States, I want to tell you that your President and an entire people are here to defend you. If you wish to return to Mexico, we welcome you here. The people of Mexico are brave and full of dignity. They are the most wonderful people on earth. I tell you, your President is here. We have courage and determination, but always, as I have said on other occasions: we must act with a cool head and love for the people. Nothing we do will affect the dignity and interests of the Mexican people. I suggest we wait for President Trump's response to our proposal. And in tomorrow's "Mañanera," in "The People's Morning Conference," I will be informing you of the first steps of what we call Plan B. As Juárez said: Nothing by force, everything by reason and law. And between individuals, as between nations, respect for the rights of others is peace.” NOTE: “Júarez” was Benito Júarez, the 26th President of Mexico (1858–1872), the first Indigenous president of Mexico (Zapotec) and the first democratically elected Indigenous president in postcolonial Latin America.  The famous axiom implies that peaceful coexistence is based on the recognition and observance of laws and standards that protect the rights of all. Júarez expressed this phrase in a specific historical context, after the victory of the Republic after that Second Mexican Empire. The axiom has been transformed into a slogan that remains pertinent and that emphasizes the importance of ethics and morals in the construction of peace.  Fragment 3 Scheinbaum visiting the P'urhépecha village of Cherán Atzicuirín (Cheranástico), Michoacán. July 2023. When she was Mayor of Mexico City, Scheinbaum visited Cherán Atzicuirín (Cheranástico), a village where she spent weeks as an UNAM undergraduate student of Physics, researching for her undergraduate thesis on energy and cooking stoves.  As rain falls, a P'urhépecha banda accompanies Scheinbaum and villagers as they dance through the streets to one of the homes.  “Here in Michoacán they use a pottery griddle (comal)”  Fragment 4 Recordando mi época de investigadora en la UNAM.  Remembering my time as a researcher at UNAM.  Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo Aug 4, 2023 In 2023, when she was Mayor of Mexico City, Scheinbaum took time to explain her long career as a researcher at UNAM, in the Institute of Engineering, studying energy and climate change, specifically related to steel production and emissions reductions.  “I pursued a career as a university professor and researcher in the Institute of Engineering at UNAM. Through those years I studied energy and climate change and one of the subjects I studied was specifically the steel-making industry.” Fragment 5 La Danza de los Viejitos, The Dance of the Old Men, Pichátaro, Michoacán 1996  Recorded as part of my doctoral research  In this brief recording, the ensemble Los P'urhépecha from the Island of Jarácuaro are playing and dancing the Dance of the Old Men inside the church in the tiny P'urhépecha village of Pichátaro. I had the privilege of playing violin with the ensemble for many years. The ensemble is comprised of violins, vihuela and guitarrón. The zapateado—fast foot-work— is performed wearing shoes with wooden soles.  The echoey sounds P'urhépecha music and dance inside the colonial architecture in the tiny P'urhépecha village seem to pair with the echoey human voices inside the library of UNAM. Library at UNAM, Mexico City reimagined Ruth Hellier.

Emily Chang’s Tech Briefing
KCBS exclusive with NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang on the future of AI

Emily Chang’s Tech Briefing

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2025 1:07


Artificial intelligence is being called the Manhattan Project of our time by government leaders, and one of the leaders in the development of AI maintains that safety and human values are key to that advancement, KCBS Business Reporter Jason Brooks had an exclusive interview with Nvidia CEO and Founder Jensen Huang at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Photo by Randy Dumalig

The Daily Scoop Podcast
As Musk exits government, Hegseth gives DOGE team more influence on Pentagon contracting

The Daily Scoop Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2025 4:43


Billionaire tech titan Elon Musk's time as a “special government employee” is coming to an end, but the DOGE team at the Defense Department will soon have greater influence on Pentagon contracting. Since President Donald Trump began his second term in January, Musk has spearheaded the Department of Government Efficiency's push across the federal government to find “waste, fraud and abuse,” slash certain types of spending and cut the workforce. A DOGE team was set up at the Pentagon — as well as other federal agencies — to implement those efforts. Musk wrote Wednesday night in a post on X that his time as a special government employee was coming to an end but: “The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.” In a sign that DOGE's influence will continue at the Pentagon, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth issued a new directive this week giving those personnel more oversight of contracting efforts. Hegseth wrote in a May 27 memo to senior Pentagon leadership, combatant commanders, and DOD agency and field activity directors that: “The Department of Defense (DoD) Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team will have the opportunity to provide input on all unclassified contracts. The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (USD(A&S)), or its designee, will coordinate with DOGE to ensure that the opportunity for review of the Performance Work Statement/Statement of Work, accompanying estimates, deliverable descriptions, and requirements approval/validation documents, occurs when the requirements package is provided to a DoD contracting office to initiate a procurement or prior to the package being provided to a non-DoD assisting agency (e.g., General Services Administration).” In a video released Wednesday on X, Hegseth said the Pentagon had already saved more than $10 billion working with DOGE on previous efforts to review spending, including from a “line-by-line audit of over 50 contract vehicles.” Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced Thursday that the government would build a new supercomputer powered by NVIDIA chips and based at a department user facility at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Officials said the supercomputer will be named Doudna after UC Berkeley scientist Jennifer Doudna, who co-invented CRISPR gene editing technology and won the Nobel Prize back in 2020. The Doudna supercomputer, which is geared toward high-performance computing and training artificial intelligence technology, will be based at the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center. It is only the latest Energy Department project designed for the AI age: El Capitan, a supercomputer based at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and currently the world's fastest, is also designed with machine learning in mind, as is Frontier, a DOE supercomputer housed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee. A spokesperson would not comment further on how the Doudna supercomputer's speeds might compare to other systems. Government supercomputing projects, including those focused on AI, are now supported by the same national laboratory system that incubated the Manhattan Project, which produced the world's first atomic weapons. The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast  on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.

Short Wave
What's The Environmental Cost Of AI?

Short Wave

Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025 15:12


By 2028, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory forecasts that U.S. data centers could use as much as 12% of the nation's electricity. The reason: generative AI. Since 2022, AI innovation by four leading tech companies — Google, Microsoft, Meta and Amazon — has led to annual increases in both energy and water consumption. So, in this episode, Short Wave co-host Emily Kwong probes huge water footprint of AI. We begin with the rise of data centers, then look at how computers came to need so much water and, finally, what tech companies are doing to try to turn the ship around. P.S. Part 2 talks about the leading solutions in the green AI movement. So don't miss our Friday episode! Curious about tech and the environment? Email us at shortwave@npr.org — we'd love to hear from you! Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwaveLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

PORTRAITS
Asteroid Strike

PORTRAITS

Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2025 26:14


Geologist Walter Alvarez was working away on some limestone samples in Gubbio, Italy, when he became intrigued by an odd layer of rock. He was looking at the K-T boundary. Underneath it, there are dinosaur fossils. Above it, there are none. And Walter was about to stumble on the reason why.In this final episode of our science series, we pair a rock sample from the K-T boundary with a unique portrait by Carmen Lomas Garza to tell the story of the dinosaur extinction -- how it happened, why it happened, and who figured it out.With Kirk Johnson, director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, and Taína Caragol, curator of painting and sculpture and Latino art and history at the National Portrait Gallery.See the portraits we discussed:Walter Alvarez, by Carmen Lomas GarzaLuis Alvarez, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

The Industrial Real Estate Podcast
The Industrial Power Crunch Nobody's Talking About

The Industrial Real Estate Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2025 55:40


In this episode of the Industrial Real Estate Show, I sit down with Dave Riess, CEO of Wonder, to unpack the real-world opportunities and challenges of putting solar on industrial rooftops. From navigating aging roofs and structural concerns to understanding how rooftop solar can boost NOI, Dave explains it all in plain language. We also dive into how demand for electricity is rapidly outpacing supply — and why smart real estate owners should start thinking about solar and power infrastructure now. Whether you're solar-curious or already deep in the weeds, this conversation is packed with practical insights and surprising takeaways.About Dave:Dave holds a B.A. and B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of San Diego. Before co-founding Wunder in 2014, he worked in platform development for venture-backed technology organizations and with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's Energy Technologies and Grid Integrations divisions. Under his leadership, Wunder has managed over $1 billion in commercial and industrial solar transactions.Connect with Dave:LinkedIn: / davidriess Website: https://www.wunderpower.com/--

KPFA - UpFront
Department of Housing & Urban Development Announcement Could Evict 15,000 Californians; Plus, Update on Federal Employee Fired by DOGE

KPFA - UpFront

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2025 59:51


00:08 — Ben Christopher is a reporter for CalMatters covering housing policy. 00:33 — Rhodes Berry, until last month, an Assistant Chief Counsel at the Department of Energy, based at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The post Department of Housing & Urban Development Announcement Could Evict 15,000 Californians; Plus, Update on Federal Employee Fired by DOGE appeared first on KPFA.

Science Friday
DESI Data Strengthens Evidence Of Change In Dark Energy

Science Friday

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2025 18:20


Researchers built the largest 3D map of our universe yet. What they found supports the idea that dark energy could have evolved over time.One of the mysteries of the universe is why it expands at the rate that it does. Back in 1998, two teams of researchers observed that not only was the universe expanding, but that the rate of expansion was increasing. That observation was the basis for a concept now known as dark energy. In the years since, cosmologists have been trying to get a handle on better measurements of that effect, and hoping to figure out what dark energy actually might be.This week, researchers on a project called DESI, the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument, released results based on their first three years of data at an international physics conference. They found that it appears possible that dark energy—whatever it is—has changed over the lifetime of the universe. In other words, the so-called cosmological constant may not, in fact, be a constant. The data is not quite statistically significant yet, so researchers can't definitively say that this is true, which leaves many questions about the nature of dark energy still unresolved.Dr. Andrei Cuceu of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Dr. Adam Riess of Johns Hopkins University and the Space Telescope Science Institute join Host Flora Lichtman to talk about the new research, and what remains to be discovered in dark energy.Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.

Entrepreneurs for Impact
#220: Cyrus Wadia, CEO of Activate – $3.6B for PhD Scientists Founding 200 Startups. 1,000 Application for 50 Fellowships. Corporate and University Partnerships. Nike, Amazon, and the White House.

Entrepreneurs for Impact

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2025 51:29


Activate helps scientists and engineers bring their transformative technologies to life. Through a two-year paid fellowship, these science entrepreneurs receive the support they need to turn their ideas into hard-tech startups. Fellows work on climate solutions, advanced manufacturing and robotics, new uses of chemistry and materials, reimagined food and agriculture, space innovations, and more. As a nonprofit organization, Activate partners with philanthropies, universities, government programs, the corporate sector, and VC investors to help fellows bridge the gap from lab to commercialization — all without taking any equity in their startups.Cyrus Wadia is the CEO of Activate. He was previously director of worldwide product sustainability at Amazon, vice president of sustainable business & innovation at Nike, and assistant director of clean energy and materials R&D in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Cyrus was also a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, a senior program officer at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and the founding co-director of the Haas School of Business CleanTech to Market initiative. He holds a Ph.D. in energy and resources from UC Berkeley and an M.S. in chemical engineering from MIT.--✅ PODCAST TOPICS:Activate has supported 249 fellows, catalyzed $3.6 billion, and helped launch 197 startups. Fellows receive a salary and a $100,000 recoverable grant to develop deep-tech startups addressing societal challenges, especially in climate.Technical founders, particularly PhD scientists, face challenges shifting their mindset from research to business objectives. They must quickly learn skills like hiring, culture-building, fundraising, and balancing technical tasks with managing a business.Cyrus emphasizes stronger university collaborations to foster entrepreneurial thinking among scientists and clearer corporate guidance about market needs and significant industry challenges. This clarity would help Activate choose Fellows aligned with commercial demand.Activate currently receives around 1,000 high-quality fellowship applications each year but can only support 50 due to limited resources. Personally, Cyrus advises prioritizing mentorship early in one's career. He maintains balance through cycling and clear work-life boundaries. He also recommends Rick Rubin's book "The Creative Act: A Way of Being" to founders and innovators.--

Catalyst with Shayle Kann
A skeptic's take on AI electricity load growth

Catalyst with Shayle Kann

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2025 56:23


The predictions are coming in hot. Data centers could grow to consume more than 9% of U.S. electricity generation by 2030, according to EPRI. That's more than double its current estimated data center load. AI will increase global data center power demand 165% by 2030, says Goldman Sachs. And billions of dollars are at stake. Utilities, megasite developers, and data center operators are all basing major decisions on predictions like these. But they're also the kinds of predictions we've seen before. In 1999, when the internet was growing fast, a couple researchers claimed it would grow to consume half of all U.S. power generation within a decade — until a team at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory debunked it. Jonathan Koomey was one of those researchers. Although today's predictions about energy usage are tamer than those in 1999, Jonathan still has questions about the current hype around AI power demand. He's is now the founder and president of Koomey Analytics, which has published multiple papers on the topic, including a recent report for the Bipartisan Policy Center: Electricity Demand Growth and Data Centers: A Guide for the Perplexed. So what are the assumptions that go into these new predictions? And how do they hold up to scrutiny? In this episode, Shayle talks to Jonathan about why he questions the hype around AI load growth predictions and why he believes energy constraints will incentivize the AI industry to focus on efficiency. Shayle and Jonathan cover topics like: The time lags and proprietary data that hinders precise data center load estimates, both in historical analyses and future predictions The difficulty of reproducing the predictions of even prominent institutions like the IEA The two basic assumptions that go into predictions: AI demand and AI power requirements Why Jonathan believes conventional wisdom relies on questionable sources, like Nvidia's business plan The unexplored areas of AI energy efficiency, like computer architecture, software improvements, algorithms, and special purpose computers Recommended resources Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: 2024 United States Data Center Energy Usage Report Nature: Will AI accelerate or delay the race to net-zero emissions? Joule: To better understand AI's growing energy use, analysts need a data revolution WSJ: Internet Hype in the '90s Stoked a Power-Generation Bubble. Could It Happen Again With AI? Open Circuit: The data center boom: ‘All the cheap power is gone' Credits: Hosted by Shayle Kann. Produced and edited by Daniel Woldorff. Original music and engineering by Sean Marquand. Stephen Lacey is executive editor. Catalyst is brought to you by EnergyHub. EnergyHub helps utilities build next-generation virtual power plants that unlock reliable flexibility at every level of the grid. See how EnergyHub helps unlock the power of flexibility at scale, and deliver more value through cross-DER dispatch with their leading Edge DERMS platform, by visiting energyhub.com. Catalyst is brought to you by Antenna Group, the public relations and strategic marketing agency of choice for climate and energy leaders. If you're a startup, investor, or global corporation that's looking to tell your climate story, demonstrate your impact, or accelerate your growth, Antenna Group's team of industry insiders is ready to help. Learn more at antennagroup.com.

KPFA - UpFront
Inside the DOGE cuts

KPFA - UpFront

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2025 59:59


00:08  What happens when they cut the weather service  Eugene Cordero, professor of Meteorology and Climate Science at San Jose State University.   00:21  What it's like to get fired from a job you love  Rhodes Berry, until last month, Assistant Chief Counsel at the Department of Energy, based at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.   The post Inside the DOGE cuts appeared first on KPFA.

Federal Drive with Tom Temin
Federal researchers get a chance to pitch their research at a special event today

Federal Drive with Tom Temin

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2025 10:15


Later today, the National Lab Research SLAM will bring 17 early career scientists from the Department of Energy's national laboratories to present their cutting-edge research in a fast-paced, engaging competition. The event is sponsored by the House Science & National Labs Caucus and the Senate National Labs Caucus, and gives federal science agencies to showcase their role in advancing innovation and developing the next generation of STEM leaders. To learn more about the event, Federal News Network's Eric White spoke with Christine Zachow, Manager of the Academic Engagement Office & Science Education Operations at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, as well as Meg Rodriguez, Director of the Career Pathways office at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, who you'll hear from first. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Federal Drive with Tom Temin
Federal researchers get a chance to pitch their research at a special event today

Federal Drive with Tom Temin

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2025 9:30


Later today, the National Lab Research SLAM will bring 17 early career scientists from the Department of Energy's national laboratories to present their cutting-edge research in a fast-paced, engaging competition. The event is sponsored by the House Science & National Labs Caucus and the Senate National Labs Caucus, and gives federal science agencies to showcase their role in advancing innovation and developing the next generation of STEM leaders. To learn more about the event, Federal News Network's Eric White spoke with Christine Zachow, Manager of the Academic Engagement Office & Science Education Operations at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, as well as Meg Rodriguez, Director of the Career Pathways office at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, who you'll hear from first. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Shift Key with Robinson Meyer and Jesse Jenkins
How to Talk to Your Friendly Neighborhood Public Utility Regulator

Shift Key with Robinson Meyer and Jesse Jenkins

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2025 68:55


The most important energy regulators in the United States aren't all in the federal government. Each state has its own public utility commission, a set of elected or appointed officials who regulate local power companies. This set of 200 individuals wield an enormous amount of power — they oversee 1% of U.S. GDP — but they're often outmatched by local utility lobbyists and overlooked in discussions from climate advocates. Charles Hua wants to change that. He is the founder and executive director of PowerLines, a new nonprofit engaging with America's public utility commissions about how to deliver economic growth while keeping electricity rates — and greenhouse gas emissions — low. Charles previously advised the U.S. Department of Energy on developing its grid modernization strategy and analyzed energy policy for the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.On this week's episode of Shift Key, Rob and Jesse talk to Charles about why PUCs matter, why they might be a rare spot for progress over the next four years, and why (and how) normal people should talk to their local public utility commissioner. Shift Key is hosted by Jesse Jenkins, a professor of energy systems engineering at Princeton University, and Robinson Meyer, Heatmap's executive editor.Mentioned:PowerLinesMIT's Utility of the Future studyWho's controlling our energy future? Industry and environmental representation on United States public utility commissionsPreviously on Shift Key: How to Fix Utility Bills in AmericaRob's downshift; Jesse's downshift.--This episode of Shift Key is sponsored by …Download Heatmap Labs and Hydrostor's free report to discover the crucial role of long duration energy storage in ensuring a reliable, clean future and stable grid. Learn more about Hydrostor here.Music for Shift Key is by Adam Kromelow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MIB Agents OsteoBites
Live-cell whole tissue models reveal sources of dynamic signaling heterogeneity and single cell drug response variation in the metastatic niche

MIB Agents OsteoBites

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2025 67:29


Osteosarcoma Webinar Series: Alexander Davies, DVM, PhD joins us on OsteoBites to discuss his work which is focused on dynamic tumor-microenvironment signaling cross-talk, signal integration, and the development of 3D organotypic and tissue models to study these interactions using live-cell microscopy techniques. Results from studies in the Davies Lab demonstrate the utility of a novel dynamic live-cell tissue model, the lungSITE model, to quantitatively measure and understand tumor signaling dynamics and behaviors within the context of the lung metastatic niche. Data obtained from this model provided new insights into how spatial position and temporal response influence signaling dynamics, specifically in osteosarcoma lung metastasis, to create intratumoral signaling heterogeneity and consequent single-cell drug response variation. Dr. Alexander Davies graduated with a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and a D.V.M., with an interest in comparative oncology, from the University of California, Davis. He then completed a post-doctoral fellowship in cancer biology at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory before joining The Ohio State University as faculty in the Department of Veterinary Biosciences. While at OSU he was a member of the Comprehensive Cancer Center and faculty in the Cancer Biology and Cancer Engineering programs. Currently, Dr. Davies is an Assistant Professor at the Knight Cancer Institute within the Division of Oncological Sciences and Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center (CEDAR) where his work focuses on dynamic tumor-microenvironment signaling cross-talk, signal integration, and the development of 3D organotypic and tissue models to study these interactions using live-cell microscopy techniques.

The Biotech Startups Podcast

Part 4 of 4: My guest today is Rafael Rosengarten, CEO and Co-Founder of Genialis, the RNA biomarker company. Genialis is reimagining biomarkers for every target, drug, and patient using a combination of precision oncology, RNA, and AI. Rafael, a biomedical research veteran, combines academic excellence with industry innovation. A Dartmouth graduate with a Yale doctorate, he conducted postdoctoral research at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where he co-invented the j5 DNA assembly tool. As co-founder of the Alliance for AI in Healthcare, he advocates for responsible AI integration in medicine, drawing from his extensive background in evolution, immunology, bioengineering, and genetics.

The Biotech Startups Podcast

Part 3 of 4: My guest today is Rafael Rosengarten, CEO and Co-Founder of Genialis, the RNA biomarker company. Genialis is reimagining biomarkers for every target, drug, and patient using a combination of precision oncology, RNA, and AI. Rafael, a biomedical research veteran, combines academic excellence with industry innovation. A Dartmouth graduate with a Yale doctorate, he conducted postdoctoral research at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where he co-invented the j5 DNA assembly tool. As co-founder of the Alliance for AI in Healthcare, he advocates for responsible AI integration in medicine, drawing from his extensive background in evolution, immunology, bioengineering, and genetics.

The Biotech Startups Podcast

Part 2 of 4: My guest today is Rafael Rosengarten, CEO and Co-Founder of Genialis, the RNA biomarker company. Genialis is reimagining biomarkers for every target, drug, and patient using a combination of precision oncology, RNA, and AI. Rafael, a biomedical research veteran, combines academic excellence with industry innovation. A Dartmouth graduate with a Yale doctorate, he conducted postdoctoral research at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where he co-invented the j5 DNA assembly tool. As co-founder of the Alliance for AI in Healthcare, he advocates for responsible AI integration in medicine, drawing from his extensive background in evolution, immunology, bioengineering, and genetics.

The Biotech Startups Podcast

Part 1 of 4: My guest today is Rafael Rosengarten, CEO and Co-Founder of Genialis, the RNA biomarker company. Genialis is reimagining biomarkers for every target, drug, and patient using a combination of precision oncology, RNA, and AI. Rafael, a biomedical research veteran, combines academic excellence with industry innovation. A Dartmouth graduate with a Yale doctorate, he conducted postdoctoral research at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where he co-invented the j5 DNA assembly tool. As co-founder of the Alliance for AI in Healthcare, he advocates for responsible AI integration in medicine, drawing from his extensive background in evolution, immunology, bioengineering, and genetics.

Flanigan's Eco-Logic
Charles Hua on Modernizing the Electric Utility Regulatory System

Flanigan's Eco-Logic

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2024 31:07


In this Convo of Flanigan's Eco-Logic, Ted speaks with Charles Hua, Founder and Executive Director of PowerLines, a new nonprofit organization aiming to modernize utility regulation to accelerate affordable, reliable, and clean energy for American consumers. He is also an energy analyst who has worked at Rewiring America, DOE's Loan Programs Office, and now at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory as a research affiliate.Charles wants people to pay attention to the enormous influence that public utility commissions (PUCs) have on the U.S. energy transition, and get involved with this long-neglected area, pushing for a utility regulatory system that can better serve American consumers, grow the economy, and support communities. His concern is that most states have an outdated utility regulatory system that is not prepared to tackle modern energy challenges. He also claims that there are 200 commissioners controlling the monopolistic utilities at the heart of America's electricity system, with over 200 billion dollars in utility spending.By engaging with the people, policies, and processes needed to deliver on this agenda, PowerLines approach is to pull together a big tent coalition of people interested in public utility commission (PUC) reform, including PUC staffers themselves, state legislators, clean energy providers and customers, academics and researchers, as well as grassroots groups. They'll serve as a hub for modernizing utility regulation by bringing together these diverse stakeholders to share ideas, resources, and solutions on a path forward to effective utility regulation.Charles and Ted dig into the problems with PUCs, discussing the unrestrained, unregulated authority over the U.S. electricity system. With the immense power and significance on the country's clean energy future, Charles highlights opportunities for reform, including the revision of statutes, the effectiveness of integrated resource plans, decarbonization, equity, and creating more latitude or space for regulators to embrace a more forward-thinking, innovation-oriented mindset.

Climate Stack
Powering the Future: Vish Ganti on Virtual Power Plants and Open Standards

Climate Stack

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2024 30:24


In this episode of The Climate Stack,  Mansi sits down with Vish Ganti, a visionary product leader at the nexus of clean energy, AI, and fintech. Together, they explore the transformative potential of virtual power plants (VPPs) in reducing reliance on carbon-intensive peaker plants and stabilizing the grid. Vish sheds light on how VPPs integrate distributed energy resources (DERs) and the critical need for open standards to create a frictionless ecosystem.VPPs are a prime example of how smart software optimizations can revolutionize the deployment and utilization of physical energy assets. By leveraging software to orchestrate diverse DERs, VPPs enable more efficient energy management, reducing waste and enhancing grid reliability. Discover why simplifying communication between DERs is essential for advancing sustainable energy solutions and making power management through VPP aggregators a reality.Our Guest Vish GantiVish is currently serving as Senior Director of Product Management for Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) at Qcells, Vish specializes in developing scalable energy platforms that integrate first-party hardware with industry-leading solutions from partners like Enphase, Tesla, and SolarEdge. His expertise lies in transforming distributed energy resources into bankable grid assets through advanced edge AI technologies, enabling smarter energy systems and sustainable revenue models.Previously, Vish held leadership roles at AutoGrid, where he spearheaded the development of AutoGrid Flex, a SaaS platform for VPPs and 24x7 Carbon-Free Energy solutions, and contributed to the company's acquisition by Schneider Electric. He also worked with renowned organizations such as CPower Energy, Johnson Controls, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, focusing on demand response, DER optimization, and energy system innovation.Vish holds a Master of Science in Electrical & Energy Systems from San Francisco State University and a Bachelor of Science in Electronics & Communications from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University. A thought leader in the clean energy space, Vish has co-authored industry-recognized publications and continues to drive impactful solutions that advance the global transition to renewable energy.https://www.linkedin.com/in/vishganti/Your Hosts Mansi Shah - Joshua Marker ClimateStack

Big Picture Science
Beyond the Periodic Table

Big Picture Science

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2024 54:00


You interact with about two-thirds of the elements of the periodic table every day. Some, like carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen, make up our bodies and the air we breathe. Yet there is also a class of elements so unstable they can only be made in a lab. These superheavy elements are the purview of a small group stretching the boundaries of chemistry. Can they extend the periodic table beyond the 118 in it now? Find out scientists are using particle accelerators to create element 120 and why they've skipped over element 119. Plus, if an element exists for only a fraction of a second in the lab, can we still say that counts as existing? Guests: Mark Miodownik – professor of materials and society at the University of College London and the author of “It's a Gas: The Sublime and Elusive Elements That Expand Our World.” Kit Chapman – Science historian at Falmouth University, author of “Superheavy; Making and Breaking the Periodic Table.” Jennifer Pore – Research Scientist of Heavy Elements at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Featuring music by Dewey Dellay and Jun Miyake Big Picture Science is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to inquire about advertising on Big Picture Science. You can get early access to ad-free versions of every episode by joining us on Patreon. Thanks for your support!   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seismic Soundoff
241: How Geophysics is Revolutionizing Archaeological Exploration

Seismic Soundoff

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2024 27:49


"Geophysics and archaeology are merging in a powerful way, helping us understand ancient communities without damaging their sites. It's about learning from the past while honoring it." In this episode, we look at how geophysics transforms archaeology by enabling researchers to uncover hidden historical sites without digging. Guests Michael Wilt and Richard Krahenbuhl discuss incredible advances in non-invasive tools like ground-penetrating radar and drones, which help archaeologists map ancient structures, even in challenging urban environments. From Egypt's pyramids to hidden city sites, learn how geophysical tools give us new ways to explore history and preserve it for future generations. KEY POINTS & TAKEAWAYS > How Geophysics is Shaping Archaeology: Discover how methods like radar, magnetics, and resistivity are helping archaeologists "see" beneath the surface without disturbing sensitive sites, preserving cultural heritage along the way. > Challenges of Urban Archaeology: Hear about the unique struggles of working in cities, where modern infrastructure like pipes and cables can interfere with data, and discover how researchers overcome these obstacles. > The Future of Non-Invasive Tech: Geophysical archaeology is evolving fast with emerging tools like drones and AI. Find out how these innovations lead to more precise data and help archaeologists uncover even the faintest traces of history. > Real-World Impact on Communities: From preserving early Christian structures to documenting West Africa's historic sites, learn how geophysics helps connect people and students with their past while respecting cultural sensitivities. > Becoming a Geophysical Archaeologist: Inspired by this field? Explore the unique blend of skills that bridge archaeology and geophysics, and hear what it takes to work in this exciting, emerging area. Listen to this episode to learn how geophysical tools push archaeology forward, giving us new ways to study and preserve our history. Dr. Richard Krahenbuhl is a research assistant professor in the Geophysics Department at the Colorado School of Mines. Dr. Michael Wilt is an affiliate with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. THIS EPISODE SPONSORED BY BLUWARE Bluware's InteractivAI is a human-powered AI seismic analysis tool, revolutionizing the way geoscientists extract value from seismic data. Unlike traditional seismic interpretation tools that just "check the box" for AI through black box algorithms, InteractivAI puts the interpreter in the driver's seat by presenting an intuitive, live feedback loop. Users experience a faster and more comprehensive interpretation, leading to higher-confidence decision-making. Learn more at https://bluware.com. LINKS * Visit https://seg.org/podcasts/episode-241-how-geophysics-is-revolutionizing-archaeological-exploration for the complete show notes and links to read this special section. SHOW CREDITS Andrew Geary at TreasureMint hosted, edited, and produced this episode. The SEG podcast team comprises Jennifer Cobb, Kathy Gamble, and Ally McGinnis. If you have episode ideas or feedback for the show or want to sponsor a future episode, email the show at podcast@seg.org.

Big Brains
Storm Warning: Why Hurricanes Are Growing Beyond Measure, with Michael Wehner

Big Brains

Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2024 27:34


We all know that extreme weather events like hurricanes are getting worse due to climate change, but what scientists would really like to know is: By how much worse exactly? This year a team of researchers argued that hurricanes have become so much more extreme due to climate change that we need to add a new category 6 to the Saffir-Simpson scale, which measures the wind speed of hurricanes.One of those scientists was Michael Wehner from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Using the latest and fastest computers to model how a warming world is reshaping extreme weather events, Wehner is leading a  new realm of climate modeling called "end-to-end attribution." This would allow us to not only understand how much worse disastrous weather is becoming but even quantify that difference in terms of damage and destruction.Big Brains is sponsored by the Graham School for Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies.