Saturday lecture sets sights on the solar system
The Lab's popular 'Science on Saturday' lecture series continues this Saturday, Feb. 7 at 9:30 and 11:15 a.m. when John Bradley, LLNL scientist, and Dan Burns, Los Gatos High School teacher present, "Order from Chaos: The Birth of the Solar System," at the Bankhead Theater, 2400 First St., Livermore.
The lecture series kicked off last weekend with a heavy attendance of more than 1,100 students, teachers and community members. Those who were not seated in the theater for one of the two sessions were able to view the lecture on monitors in the lobby.
"It's gratifying to see this much interest in science from our area students, particularly on a Saturday," said Richard Farnsworth of LLNL's Science Education Program.
The next lecture takes an in depth look at the birth of our solar system, which formed from a cloud of interstellar gas and dust cloud approximately 4.6 billion years ago. Life began on earth approximately 3.5 billion years ago following a period of intense bombardment by asteroid fragments and comets, intense volcanism and finally development of a stable crust and a hospitable atmosphere. Thanks to ever-more powerful telescopes and other state-of-the-art observational methods, we are now able to directly see "stellar nurseries" and young stars at various stages of formation.
The talk also will discuss what triggers star formation in clouds, circumstellar disks, planet formation within the disks and early life on earth.
The Science on Saturday series of free lectures are geared for middle and high school students. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis; there is no pre-registration. Directions, maps and a complete list of lectures are available on the Science on Saturday Website. Science on Saturday is presented by LLNL's Science Education Program.
Tri Delta Transit to offer free commuter rides
The Tri Delta Transit Delta Express bus is offering free rides on its East Contra Costa County to LLNL route from March 2 – 6. Current commuters who use the bus also are eligible for a free ride.
No coupon or ticket is required. Just hop on board any Delta Express bus March 2 – 6 and your ride is free. Bring your laptop and enjoy free WiFi, or sit back and watch TV or listen to the radio on your headset.
Tri Delta is looking for more riders on this particular line that goes to and from the Lab with stops at Antioch, Oakley, Brentwood and Discovery Bay.
The bus line offers:
- Direct service inside LLNL
- Less expensive than driving (as little as $5/day)
- Luxury motor coaches with airplane-style seating
- Free WiFi on every motor coach
- Footrests and drop-down work surface for each seat
- TV/Radio with headset plug-in
- Flexible bus schedules and multiple pickup points along the route
- Guaranteed ride home program (if needed).
Employees in eastern Contra Costa County can ride the line for $6 for a one-way trip to or from the Lab or $110 for a monthly pass. The cost of the Delta Express monthly pass would fit in well with the Lab's pre-tax transportation program, which increased to $120 per month in 2009.
For more information on the free ride program and routes, see the flier. To purchase tickets, go to the locations on this Tri Delta Website.
