News: - New Research Reveals Oxygen’s Contributions to Evolution - Large Centrifuge Helps Researchers Mimic Effects of Katrina on Levees - Sandia’s Z Machine Exceeds Two Billion Degrees Kelvin - New Sensor Technology Detects Chemical, Biological, Nuclear and Explosive Materials

Editor's Choice: - Static and Dynamic Headspace Autosampler - Orthogonal TOF Mass Spectrometer - Xylene Extractables and Viscosity Measurements

Try the NI Modulation Toolkit Online Now The National Instruments Modulation Toolkit extends the built-in analysis capability of LabVIEW with functions and tools for signal generation, analysis, visualization, and processing of standard and custom digital and analog modulation formats. With this toolkit, you can rapidly develop custom applications for research, design, characterization, validation, and test of communications systems and components that modulate or demodulate signals. Learn more>>>

Dispensette® Bottletop Dispensers The BRAND Dispensette® line of bottletop dispensers can often replace volumetric glassware and eliminate poured transfers to provide fast, safe, accurate and reproducible metered dispensing of virtually any laboratory liquid. The Dispensette dispensers come in three models, each optimized for a different range of liquids. Compatibility Guide at our website. Accessories available for serial, sterile and remote dispensing from bottles and nearly any unpressurized container. Available from leading lab supply dealers. Learn more>>>

Large Centrifuge Helps Researchers Mimic Effects of Katrina on Levees
Researchers studying the effects of Hurricane Katrina on the levees of New Orleans used a 150 g-ton centrifuge to model one of New Orleans' levee sections and the hurricane forces that led to its failure.

The goal of the test was to learn how layers of peat and clay beneath the levees might have contributed to the failure. The centrifuge is part of the National Science Foundation (NSF) George E. Brown, Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES), an interconnected, nationally distributed system of 15 facilities for studying the effects of full-scale earthquake forces on structures and materials. more>>>

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Ultra Low Temp chillers, baths & traps from FTS Systems ULT Series chillers deliver ultra low operating temps (to -90°C) in a compact footprint. Chillers from FTS deliver the highest heat removal available (500 watts @ –80°C). FTS also offers a full line of traps, baths, and NMR sample coolers. Learn more>>>

Sandia’s Z Machine Exceeds Two Billion Degrees Kelvin
Sandia’s Z machine has produced plasmas that exceed temperatures of 2 billion degrees Kelvin — hotter than the interiors of stars.

The unexpectedly hot output, if its cause were understood and harnessed, could eventually mean that smaller, less costly nuclear fusion plants would produce the same amount of energy as larger plants.

The phenomena also may explain how astrophysical entities like solar flares maintain their extreme temperatures.

“At first, we were disbelieving,” says Sandia project lead Chris Deeney. “We repeated the experiment many times to make sure we had a true result and not an ‘Ooops’!”

The results, recorded by spectrometers and confirmed by computer models created by John Apruzese and colleagues at Naval Research Laboratory, have held up over 14 months of additional tests. more>>>

New Sensor Technology Detects Chemical, Biological, Nuclear And Explosive Materials
Engineers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory, using an emerging sensing technology, have developed a suite of sensors for national security applications that can quickly and effectively detect chemical, biological, nuclear and explosive materials.

"We can use this technology to detect chemical and biological agents and also to determine if a country is using its nuclear reactors to produce material for nuclear weapons or to track the direction of a chemical or radioactive plume to evacuate an area," explained Paul Raptis, section manager. Raptis is developing these sensors with Argonne engineers Sami Gopalsami, Sasan Bakhtiari and Hual-Te Chien. more>>>

Static and Dynamic Headspace Autosampler EST Analytical’s Markelov HS 9000 static and dynamic headspace autosampler features a dual needle design and horizontal rotary mixing. Sensitivity can be increased up to 100× because the dual needle continually sweeps the headspace for concentration on the optional adsorbent trap or at the analytical column. more>>>

Orthogonal Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometer Waters’ LCT Premier orthogonal time-of-flight mass spectrometer is a compact, bench-top instrument configured for atmospheric pressure ionization (API) liquid chromatography/ mass spectrometry and is optimized for use with proprietary ACQUITY UPLC technology. more>>>

	Automated Xylene Extractables and Viscosity Measurements Polymer ChaR’s fully automated CRYSTEX determines the percentage of extractables in polypropylene (amorphous rubber content) and ethylene content based on specific IR sensors. In addition, a capillary viscometer is implemented to obtain the viscosity of the different components, amorphous and crystalline, and of the original sample.more>>>