Science on Saturday (Audio)

Right below your feet is a source of renewable energy that is largely untapped. It heats groundwater by conduction and convection as it travels toward the surface of the earth. Lawrence Livermore National Lab scientists Carol Bruton and John Ziagos explain how geothermal energy can be used to generate electricity or heat buildings. Series: "Lawrence Livermore National Lab Science on Saturday" [Science] [Show ID: 15238]

Creating a star on Earth is the goal of the National Ignition Facility (NIF), the world's largest laser. When completed in 2009, NIF will focus 192 giant laser beams on a BB-sized target filled with hydrogen fuel - fusing, or igniting, the hydrogen atoms' nuclei. This is the same fusion energy process that provides the life-giving energy from the sun. NIF Director, Ed Moses, describes how NIF works and its potential to provide a limitless supply of clean, safe energy. Series: "Lawrence Livermore National Lab Science on Saturday" [Science] [Show ID: 15237]

Veterinarians are playing an important role in protecting the nation's food supply. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory veterinarian Dr. Pamela Hullinger describes how scientists at the lab are working to develop tests and computer disease models to detect toxins and keep our national livestock safe from foreign diseases. Series: "Lawrence Livermore National Lab Science on Saturday" [Agriculture] [Show ID: 15236]

Most scientists agree that man-made carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere is the main cause of climate change. So why not store it somewhere instead of releasing it to the air? Great idea and scientists have been thinking about this for some time. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory scientist Julio Friedmann discusses carbon capture and storage (CCS), and how it might be used. Series: "Field Trip at the Lab: Science on Saturday" [Science] [Show ID: 15235]

The physical and chemical properties of hydrogen make its use superior to fossil fuels. Producible virtually anywhere from using electricity, it is a simple, non-toxic molecule that can generate electricity or power vehicles cleanly, efficiently, and even silently, if we choose. Development of hydrogen automobiles has been hindered, however, because hydrogen is much more difficult to store than gasoline. Gene Berry, Research Scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and high school teacher Dean Reese, explore the need for alternatives to gasoline and what role hydrogen might play. Series: "Field Trip at the Lab: Science on Saturday" [Science] [Show ID: 14497]

Will we run out of certain forms of energy, such as oil, and what are the replacement options? How does hydrogen fit into the future U.S. energy picture? What is carbon sequestration and why does it matter? What about sustainable energy sources such as solar, wind and geothermal? John Ziagos, Atmospheric, Earth, and Energy Department at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and high school teacher Dean Reese present the latest information on the earth's total energy budget to see what forms of energy we will be harnessing in the future. Series: "Field Trip at the Lab: Science on Saturday" [Science] [Show ID: 14494]

Carbon dating is a technology borne out of archeologists' desire to date ancient artifacts but it has also spawned exciting applications in biomedical science. Techniques refined at Lawrence Livermore National Lab’s Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry are being used to address research questions as diverse as the age of the DNA in our brains to how long chemicals remain in our bodies. Research Scientist Ken Tutereltaub and high school teacher Bret States highlight the principles of carbon dating and how AMS technology is being used to provide insights into challenging problems in biomedicine. Series: "Field Trip at the Lab: Science on Saturday" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 14493]

The occasional appearance of comets has awed humans throughout history. But how much do we really know about comets? Did a comet kill the dinosaurs? And, what can comets tell us about our own ancient history? With comet dust from NASA’s Stardust mission, scientists like Hope Ishii, a Research Scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, are beginning to answer these questions. She and high school teacher Tom Shefler look at how comets formed, their role in the Earth's history and the clues about what happened over 4 billion years ago. Series: "Field Trip at the Lab: Science on Saturday" [Science] [Show ID: 14492]

Imagine a sphere much smaller than a pea releasing enough energy to supply all of the electricity needs of the United States for a brief moment in time. How could this be possible? At the National Ignition Facility, a huge laser in Livermore, California, scientists and engineers are nearly ready to make this a reality. Edward Moses, the Project Manager at National Ignition Facility, explains how energy can be compressed to extreme power levels to potentially provide for a future of clean energy for our world. Series: "Field Trip at the Lab: Science on Saturday" [Science] [Show ID: 14491]

All life forms are written in a standard genetic code, unique to each species. These codes have been revealed for hundreds of plants, animals, and microorganisms in just the past five years. Learn about the many exciting areas of science that are opening up because of the new genomic information. Series: "Field Trip at the Lab: Science on Saturday" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 11543]