Friday Flyer - April 23, 2021

The Friday Flyer comes out every other week. Look for the next issue on May 7. 

 

Spotlight on LaMargo Gill

Many Friday Flyer readers will recognize LaMargo Gill as the person who often sends the link to the Flyer. She thoroughly edits each Friday Flyer, along with proposals, reports, articles, talks, activities, webpages...and more, as editor in the Fermilab Office of Education and Public Engagement. She makes sure every comma is in the correct place, every word spelled correctly, and every link accurate. She gives credit to her parents for her natural editing skills. LaMargo explains, “They taught me, at an early age, the importance of the English language, both written and spoken.” In addition to editing, LaMargo also performs many other duties: she makes certificates, manages listservs, and maintains lists of QuarkNet teachers, mentors, and fellows. As registrar she has managed graduate credit for professional development.

If you have ever had the chance to meet LaMargo, you know that she is not only a top-notch editor, but an all-around top-notch person. Her smile and friendly greetings brighten the mood of everyone she meets. According to Marge Bardeen, “LaMargo is the nicest and most generous person I know. It was a pleasure to work with her!” Ken Cecire speaks for all QuarkNet staff when he says, “LaMargo is the person I can always count on to turn over last-minute editing jobs not only with maximum cheer, but also never complaining or chiding (even when maybe I would have deserved it). Just as important, LaMargo is always the person who would wish a good day or a great weekend and was always friendly in the office at Fermilab.”

LaMargo is retiring at the end of this month after 30 years at Fermilab. Her warm personality, professionalism, and impeccable editing skills will be missed by many at Fermilab and in QuarkNet. In retirement, LaMargo plans to spend more time with family and friends, participate in more church activities, travel, dance, and roller skate. 

Congratulations, and Happy Retirement, LaMargo. We wish you all the best!

LaMargo Gill is retiring after 30 years at Fermilab.


News from QuarkNet Central

The Big Analysis of Muons (BAM) will take place on May 10–14 this year. BAM is a simplified CMS or ATLAS masterclass that retains most of the interesting parts of the current CMS and ATLAS masterclasses but is simple enough to explain to students via screencasts, text, and online discussion. Watch for updates coming soon at quarknet.org > MASTERCLASSES, in FF, and maybe your inbox.

On Wednesday during our last QuarkNet Educational Discussions (QED), we learned about winds, tides and waves on Saturn's largest moon (Titan) from Michael Heslar from the University of Idaho. (Read more from this Sky & Telescope article (H/T Maria Niland).) This was scheduled to be the last QED of the 2020–21 academic year, but there may be a bonus session on the recent g-2 news yet to come. Stay tuned!

It's a bird...It's a plane...It's Virginia QuarkNet teacher (and LHC fellow) Mike Fetsko jumping off of a desk in front of his students! Find out more about this true story in this newsclip from the Richmond, Virginia, CBS affiliate. (Spoiler alert...in the newsclip you learn that Mr. Fetsko is the recipient of an R.E.B. Award for Teaching Excellence.) Way to go, Mike!

 

 

Physics Experiment Roundup

Although the last FF focused a great deal on the recently announced g-2 experiment results, there's still more to share! If you missed the two online lectures announced in that Flyer, no need to fret, as both were recorded. What Can Wobbling Muons Tell Us About the Particles in Our Universe? was recorded on April 17 and The Anomalous Magnetic Moment of the Muon on April 21. Seeker has created a short video on the g-2 results (H/T Marge Bardeen), and the NY Times has provided a lesson plan on the topic (H/T Spencer Pasero). APS Physics tapped into the talents of Jorge Cham (PHD Comics) to provide a set of cartoons to explain the muon g-2 anomaly. The Physics Girl explains the muon g-2 result to her production team. 

The Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) is home to many past, present, and future experiments. It is located within the beautiful Black Hills region of South Dakota, a region considered to be sacred land by the Lakota and other tribal groups. Symmetry highlights some SURF's efforts to connect with Native American communities in order to operate in a way that is respectful to the land and to the people who are native to that region.  

Symmetry follows a xenon atom on its journey from the atmoshpere to the LUX-ZEPLIN (a.k.a. LZ) dark matter experiment located at SURF. While some dark matter detectors are found deep underground (LZ, we're looking at you), Phys.org connects us with a couple of astrophysicists who think other dark matter detectors could be found up, like way (way) up. And from Fermilab, scientists have demonstrated a new technique that will advance the search for dark matter based on quantum technology. 

In recognition of Earth Day yesterday, CERN highlights some of its state-of-the-art technologies that may help lead to a healthier environment in the future. 

 

 

Resources

Fermilab's Don Lincoln has a new video out this week: What's the truth about antigravity? Kirsty Duffy focuses on supernovae in her latest video of the Even Bananas series. From Ars Technica, explore the quantum world in this seven-part series (H/T Marge Bardeen). 

Do you gesture when you talk? Turns out that doing so may actually help your learning

Picture a Scientist, a recent NOVA episode on PBS, focuses on discrimination in science and provides some perspectives on how science can become more equitable and open to all. 

 

 

Just for Fun

Do you have a bit of extra time this weekend for an experiment you can do at home? If so, check out the culinary challenge How Warm is Sweet Enough? from Scientific American. Maybe that's not your cup of tea, so here are 55 other experiments that can be done with materials you may have lying around the house. If those aren't up your alley, well, perhaps simple, at-home experiments just aren't for you. :-)

And finally...QuarkNetters, you've asked for it, so now we bring to you (thanks to the SmithsonianThe Patents and Trademarks Behind Jelly BeansCheck. (By the way, not only is April 22 Earth Day, but apparently it's also National Jelly Bean Day in the US!)

 

 

QuarkNet Staff:
Mark Adams: adams@fnal.gov  
Ken Cecire: kcecire@nd.edu
Spencer Pasero: spasero@fnal.gov 
Shane Wood: swood5@nd.edu 

Additional Contacts