Nuclear Decelerator: Last U.S. Particle Collider on Chopping Block

With the Tevatron in mothballs, the Brookhaven Laboratory collider now faces possible closure due to budget cutbacks

By John Matson

LOOKING FORWARD: The PHENIX detector at the RHIC collider analyzes the results of high-speed particle smashups. Image: BNL

Until recently, the American particle collider was a thriving species spanning a variety of habitats from coast to coast. But now it finds itself on the endangered list.

Since 2008 the number of colliders in the U.S. has dwindled from four to one. And the last surviving member of the species, the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, N.Y., may soon fall victim to the same budgetary blight that has already felled so many other towering scientific facilities. Just last year the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) phased out the larger Tevatron collider at Fermilab in Illinois, citing fiscal constraints. The increasingly rare breed known as the collider is a particle accelerator in which two beams of high-energy particles intersect to collide head-on inside giant detectors, which allow physicists to sift through the wreckage for short-lived particles or evidence of new physical phenomena.

The RHIC collider is one of three major projects now under scrutiny as federal science agencies seek to reconcile their portfolios of physics facilities with tightening budgets. The DoE and the National Science Foundation have requested that a panel of nuclear physicists, chaired by Robert Tribble of Texas A&M University, advise the government on how to get the most science out of limited funds. It appears likely that at least one of the costly projects?either RHIC, the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility in Virginia or the planned Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) in Michigan?will fall victim to the cost-cutting. Any termination would cost hundreds of jobs and affect thousands of scientist users.

"The three of these things ? they can't all fit within the budgets that the DoE has been told to anticipate for the next five years or so," says Steven Vigdor, associate laboratory director for nuclear and particle physics at Brookhaven. "It's conceivable, but I think it's a long shot, that there's a compromise solution that doesn't involve terminating something."

The RHIC collider, with a staff of about 750, could provide the biggest target for cost-cutters. Its operation costs the DoE roughly $170 million annually. But RHIC is also the only facility of the three that is currently in operation, and it seems to be hitting its peak, having recently been upgraded. RHIC rams protons or heavy nuclei from gold, copper or uranium atoms together at nearly light speed to investigate what produces the proton's spin as well as the universe's composition in the earliest instants after the big bang. The high-speed collisions of heavy ions produce a nearly frictionless fluid called a quark?gluon plasma, a hot bouillabaisse of the fundamental particles that form the heart of all atoms. Quark?gluon plasma was first produced at RHIC in 2005, and scientists there are now working to explore at which temperatures the quarks and gluons freeze out from their fluid state into protons and neutrons.

Like the other two facilities, RHIC comes highly recommended by nuclear physics advisory groups. A 2012 report by the National Research Council identified the completed RHIC upgrade, and an ongoing upgrade at Jefferson Lab, as strategic investments whose exploitation "should be an essential component of the U.S. nuclear science program for the next decade."

The Tribble panel operates under the auspices of the Nuclear Science Advisory Committee (NSAC), which provides guidance to the federal funding agencies. Tribble's subcommittee will meet in Maryland over four days in early September, during which time representatives of the various facilities will have an opportunity to lobby for their projects. "We and the other laboratories are taking this really seriously in the sense of a threat to our continued operation, and for FRIB to their continued construction," Vigdor says.

Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=63192fb833c03ae53c44983ebbd8af06

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Madonna helps fund University scolarship in Pennsylvania

Madonna?s concert tour promoter, Live Nation MTours Inc., recently donated $5,000 to the Brandon E. Bitner Memorial Scholarship at Susquehanna University, at the Bitner family?s request. The donation resulted from the family?s permitting a photograph of the Mt. Pleasant Mills teen to be used in Madonna?s MDNA world tour, as part of a video montage that decries bullying.

Brandon was 14 when he ended his life in November 2010, having described repeated bullying he endured from peers. At the Madonna concert, his photo is one of seven flashed briefly on a video screen, with his name and the message "R.I.P.," during the singer?s performance of "Nobody Knows Me." The montage has already been viewed by audiences around the world, with the tour scheduled to arrive in the United States August 28

"This has been a huge blessing to Brandon's memory," said Bitner?s cousin Katie Goodling, who maintains a website, www.brandonbitner.com, and a Facebook page, facebook.com/ripbrandonbitner, where video of the concert?s photo montage is posted. "I have interacted with so many different Madonna fans from across the world on Facebook, Twitter and even LinkedIn since [his photo] started appearing on the stage each night. They have been so supportive and kind."

When Madonna?s tour producers asked the Bitner family to name a donation recipient?one that raises awareness of bullying?they suggested the Bitner Scholarship at Susquehanna. Bitner was an accomplished violinist who played in what was formerly the university preparatory program?s youth orchestra. The scholarship fund has supported the talent of a Susquehanna music major each year since it was established in 2010. Senior violinist Amanda Simensky, of Westminster, Md., is the scholarship recipient for 2012-13.

"To see our efforts and the prominence of Brandon's Facebook page lead to something so huge is surreal," Goodling said. "I'm also extremely happy that LiveNation donated money to his scholarship, which helps keep it alive from year to year."

Source: susqu.edu

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MadonnaTribeNews/~3/dF60264gs2I/modules.php

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Syrian regime airstrikes kill 23 in eastern city

BEIRUT (AP) ? A fighter jet bombed an apartment building Friday in eastern Syria, killing at least 21 people after rebels in the area made significant advances in the city and took control of a major checkpoint, activists said.

In Damascus, shells from mountains overlooking the Syrian capital crashed into the rebellious suburb of Daraya as part of a days-long government offensive to regain control of the area. Activists said at least 15 people were killed in the shelling and clashes.

The air raid on Mayadin, a city in Deir el-Zour province near the Iraqi border, occurred after rebels gained control of a key checkpoint on a bridge over the Euphrates River there, local activist Abu Omar al-Deery said.

He claimed that rebels have largely gained control of Mayadin for the first time in the 17-month-old uprising in Syria, adding that the only part still in the hands of the regime is an artillery position on a hill overlooking the city.

Rebels seeking to oust President Bashar Assad have been fighting to expand their foothold along the eastern frontier. The opposition already controls a wide swath of territory along the border with Turkey in the north, as well as pockets along the frontier with Jordan to the south and Lebanon to the west.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 21 people, including 12 women and a child, were killed in the airstrike. Al-Deery put the death toll at 23. The figures and details could not be independently confirmed due to tight controls over the media in Syria.

"There was a real massacre in Mayadin. I believe it is to avenge the takeover of the city by the Free Syrian Army," al-Deery told The Associated Press through Skype.

Fighting also continued around the southern Damascus suburb of Daraya, the scene of intense clashes this week. The Observatory, which relies on a network of activists on the ground, said 15 people died there Friday, many from injuries suffered in battles the day before. The Local Coordination Committees, a key activist group, said 21 people were killed in Daraya.

Damascus residents reported hearing loud explosions as shells fired from the Qasioun mountains overlooking the capital slammed into Daraya and the nearby suburb of Moadimiyeh.

Human rights groups say more than 20,000 people have died since the Syrian uprising against Assad erupted in March 2011 and evolved into a civil war. The bloodshed already has spilled over into neighboring countries.

In neighboring Lebanon, fresh clashes broke out Friday in the northern city of Tripoli between supporters and opponents of the Syrian regime, killing two people and wounding 17 others, Lebanese security officials said.

Gunmen from the Alawite neighborhood of Jabal Mohsen fought armed elements from the neighboring district of Bab Tabbaneh, which is populated by Sunnis. The Alawite sect is an offshoot of Shiite Islam. Assad comes from Syria's Alawite minority, while rebels fighting his regime are mostly Sunnis.

Among those wounded by sniper fire was a technician working with journalists in the area.

Lebanon, a country that suffered its own 15-year civil war from 1975 to 1990, has an explosive sectarian mix of Sunni and Shiite Muslims, Christians and Palestinian refugees, as well as deep divisions between pro- and anti-Syrian factions.

Syria was in virtual control of its smaller neighbor for many years, posting tens of thousands of troops in Lebanon, before withdrawing under pressure in 2005. Even without soldiers on the ground, Syria remains influential, and its civil war has stirred longstanding tensions that have lain under Lebanon's surface.

Clashes over the past few days in Tripoli represent some of the most serious fighting in Lebanon in several months. The mostly Sunni city weathered gunbattles in May, when fighting over Syria killed eight people.

Tensions surged Monday. Several attempts to mediate a cease-fire have failed. In all, 17 people have been killed in the city this week, and more than 100 have been wounded.

Meanwhile, the wife of a journalist for a U.S.-funded television network who was reported missing in Syria said Friday he is believed to be in the custody of pro-government forces there. Alhurra TV correspondent Bashar Fahmi, a Jordanian citizen of Palestinian origin, and his Turkish cameraman, Cuneyt Unal, are said to have been captured in the city of Aleppo after entering Syria on Monday.

Fahmi's wife, Arzu Kadumi , said she had been informed of witness reports that her husband was seen alive.

Turkish journalist Murat Can, who has investigated the case, says his contacts informed him that Fahmi was injured in the shoulder, and that he and Unal had been captured by pro-government militiamen known as "shabiha."

A third journalist, Austin Tice has reported for The Washington Post, McClatchy Newspapers and other media outlets from the Middle Eastern country, is also reported missing in Syria.

His father, Marc Tice, said his son hasn't been in contact with his editors or his family in Texas in more than a week.

The Washington Post reported that the 31-year-old Tice spent time with rebel fighters in the north after entering Syria from Turkey in May. He then traveled to Damascus, where he was one of the few Western journalists reporting from the capital.

___

Associated Press writers Terry Wallace in Dallas and Christopher Torchia in Istanbul contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-regime-airstrikes-kill-23-eastern-city-163056711.html

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Senegal, AU seal deal on ex-Chad dictator trial

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) ? Senegal and the African Union have finalized a deal on how to try a former Chadian dictator who is accused of ordering thousands of political opponents to be tortured or killed.

The move announced Wednesday comes about a month after preliminary agreement was reached. Earlier in July, the International Court of Justice had ordered Senegal to try Hissene Habre or extradite him after years of delays.

"We are one step closer to justice today," said Alioune Tine, president of the Dakar-based African Assembly for the Defense of Human Rights (RADDHO). "We're counting on Senegal and the African Union to move quickly now and to begin Habre's trial before even more survivors die."

The Senegalese government has said it intends to start proceedings against Habre before the end of the year. Under the deal finalized Wednesday, an African magistrate will preside over the special court in Senegal and will be assisted by two Senegalese judges.

"The holding of these proceedings will show that Africa can try Africa," said Robert Dossou, the AU representative who signed the deal along with Senegal's justice minister.

Habre ruled the Central African nation of Chad from 1982-1990 and sought exile in Senegal after being ousted from power, where has has kept a low-profile while living in a posh villa in an upscale neighborhood.

A Chadian truth commission has accused Habre of more than 40,000 political killings during his eight-year rule, and a court there already has sentenced him to death in absentia.

Habre has since become a symbol of impunity in Africa, living freely in Senegal despite an indictment on charges of crimes against humanity.

In 2005, Belgium indicted Habre based on complaints filed there by survivors of his regime. Brussels then brought Senegal before the court in The Hague after Senegalese authorities failed to extradite him. Habre's Senegalese-based lawyer dismissed the international court's ruling as a "new kind of judicial imperialism."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-08-23-Senegal-Habre/id-404b563387d6461d812aee7b7b868cf7

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Injury-prone Vick down again for Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick (7) holds his mid-section after getting hit hard by New England Patriots linebacker Jermaine Cunningham (96) during the first quarter of an NFL preseason football game in Foxborough, Mass., Monday, Aug. 20, 2012. Vick left the game after the play. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick (7) holds his mid-section after getting hit hard by New England Patriots linebacker Jermaine Cunningham (96) during the first quarter of an NFL preseason football game in Foxborough, Mass., Monday, Aug. 20, 2012. Vick left the game after the play. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick (7) holds his mid-section after getting hit hard by New England Patriots linebacker Jermaine Cunningham (96) during the first quarter of an NFL preseason football game in Foxborough, Mass., Monday, Aug. 20, 2012. Vick left the game after the play. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

New England Patriots linebacker Jermaine Cunningham (96) drops Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick (7) to the field on a hard hit during the first quarter of an NFL preseason football game in Foxborough, Mass., Monday, Aug. 20, 2012. Vick left the game after the play. At left is Philadelphia Eagles tackle Todd Herremans. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick (7) is helped off the field after taking a hard hit against the New England Patriots during the first quarter of an NFL preseason football game in Foxborough, Mass., Monday, Aug. 20, 2012.(AP Photo/Steven Senne)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) ? Michael Vick has required four medical tests and completed four passes in the first two preseason games.

That's an ominous sign for the Philadelphia Eagles.

The three-time Pro Bowl quarterback left Monday night's win at New England after injuring his ribs on his sixth play. He lasted just six plays against Pittsburgh before leaving with an injured left thumb.

X-rays on Vick's ribs at the stadium were negative, and an MRI and CT scan on Tuesday revealed he has no broken bones or fractured cartilage. Vick has a contusion of his ribs and of the soft tissue surrounding it. He also needed X-rays on his thumb when he got hurt in the first game. They also were negative.

Vick missed three games because of rib injuries in each of the past two seasons.

Vick has led the offense to just one first down in 12 plays so far.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-08-21-Eagles-Vick/id-1fce39e25ac54de986ae3ed50563e6e2

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Blue Microphones Tiki Review: The Perfect Little Computer Mic [Lightning Review]

No matter the computer, its built-in microphone is a piece of junk. But at just 2.3 ounces, the Blue Microphone Tiki might be the first USB mic designed well enough to be used by anyone. Your mama just figured out how to use Skype—if you call her with this plugged in, will she actually be able to understand what you're saying? More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/isy1Bu9IVlA/blue-microphones-tiki-review-the-perfect-little-computer-mic

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The UK's Top Addiction Specialists Launch Charter Adolescents ...

Have communications with your adolescent broken down? Do they seem unhappy or anxious?? Are you concerned they may be drinking or using alcohol or other addictive substances?

Then Charter Adolescents can help.

Research shows that Adolescents are more vulnerable than any other age group to developing, alcohol and other drug addictions in fact drug use is higher among young people than the adult population as a whole, yet there is a lack of specialist facilities to help them.

Which is why Mandy Saligari, Founder and Director of leading London addiction facility Charter Day Care, Residential and Counselling Centres has joined forces with Stephen Noel-Hill of Alchemy to form Charter Adolescents.

Stephen has extensive experience working with adolescents and young people spanning twelve years working at the Priory Hospital Roehampton and Adolescent Units in Holland.

Mandy has a well-established presence in independent schools lecturing on addiction, parenting for prevention and self-esteem. She has long since wanted to set up a service especially for adolescents addressing the issues that are brought to the surface in these school talks.

?Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to self-defeating coping mechanisms, our main aim with this service is to encourage a valuable sense of self, working with the young person and their parents ? many of whom just don?t know how to cope with the issues their children are raising or the behaviour they are presenting.? Mandy Saligari, Charter

Both Mandy and Stephen understand that that early intervention and prevention are fundamental to successful outcomes. It is this common vision that led them to merge Alchemy into Charter.

Charter Adolescents is an exciting new service that will do what Charter does best: intensive non-residential treatment and multi-disciplined counselling and therapy. The focus is on early intervention, education, emotional development and appropriate referral to give the adolescent and the family a new lease of life.

With a counselling team who are specialists in this area and experienced in work with young people, alongside Stephen?s expertise and Mandy?s guidance, this service will be dedicated to young people.

Working in groups, individual and family sessions and workshops, after school hours and at weekends, Charter Adolescents is an intensive and brief intervention and counselling service targeted to work with addictive disorders and emotional disturbance.

Charter is well established as a leading London addiction facility offering focused flexible and effective day care for all addictive disorders at competitive rates.

For more information visit www.charterdaycare.com or call 020 73234970 or email? info@charterdaycare.com

Charter Day Care, 15 Harley Street, London W1G 9QQ

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/crime-research/drugs-misuse-dec-1112-tabs/extent-young-tabs

Source: http://www.familyrapp.com/drugrapp/the-uks-top-addiction-specialists-launch-charter-adolescents/

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