Thursday, October 16. 1997
The University Daily Kansan
Section A- Page 7
Three Americans receive Nobel Prizes in sciences
Physics, chemistry awards given for cell, atom work
The Associated Press
Six scientists, three of them American, won Nobel Prizes on Thursday for research into what makes cells go and how to make atoms sit still.
In chemistry, American Paul D. Boyer, John E. Walker of Britain and Jens C. Skou of Denmark were honored for discovering aspects of how the body's cells store and use energy, a fundamental process that affects everything from the building of bones to the contraction of muscles and the transmission of nerve impulses.
The physics prize went to Americans Steven Chu and William Phillips and Claude Cohen-Tanoudji of France for developing ways of trapping atoms of gas and
cooling them to within a millionth of a degree of nature's limit, which is -459 degrees Fahrenheit. At this limit, called absolute zero, atomic movement theoretically stops.
"It's wonderful," said Chu, a 49-year-old professor at Stanford University. "I'm delighted to be sharing it with some good friends, and I'm so happy for Stanford."
Phillips, 48, is a scientist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, Md., and Cohen-Tannoudji, 64, is a professor at the College de France and the Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris.
The discovery has already led to two major breakthroughs.
An invention of Chu's based on his method of laser cooling, dubbed the "atomic fountain," can improve the precision of atomic clocks 100 times. Atomic clocks are normally accurate to one second in 32 million years; Chu's improvement makes them accurate to a second in more than 3 billion years.
The discovery also has led to the creation of an entirely new form of
matter, the Bose-Einstein condensate. Einstein predicted in 1925 that atoms can join at very low temperatures into "superatoms" that all behave as a single particle. Nothing like that had ever existed in the universe until Colorado physicists created the material in their lab two years ago.
This year's Nobel prizes are worth $1 million each. The physics prize will be split equally among the three winners.
In chemistry, Skou, a professor at Denmark's Aarhus University, will receive half of the prize for his discovery in 1957 of an enzyme that regulates the concentration of dissolved potassium and sodium inside cells.
Boyer, a professor at the University of California at Los Angeles, and Walker, a researcher at the Medical Research Center Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology in England, will get the other half for decades of research on how the energy-storing molecule ATP, or adenosine triphosphate, does its job.
Utilities compete in California
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — Want to lower your electrical costs? Stop smoking. Want to serve the Lord while you pay your bill? Your utility company will match contributions you make toward missionary work.
Those are just some of the sales pitches Californians will hear as the Jan.1 deadline approaches for the deregulation of the state's electrical industry.
So far, more than 100 companies from around the country have registered to sell electricity in California, which is the largest state yet to deregulate power.
While most companies promise to provide the cheapest electricity, some are aligning themselves with causes such as environmentalism and religion.
Vermont-based Green Mountain Energy Resources L.L.C. is offering customers "ecrocredits," or discounts for developing environmentally-friendly habits such as car pooling or fitting the house with low-energy light bulbs. There are also discounts for those who quit smoking.
Another business, the Christian Energy Electrical Co. of Lynwood, Calif., is trying to sign up church congregations. It is offering to match contributions that church members make to missionary work at home and abroad.
The Legislature last year voted to open California's $20 billion power industry to competition, hoping to drive down the cost of power. As a result, about 10 million electrical customers, or 70 percent of California's power users, can choose their power provider in much the same way they select long-distance telephone service.
According to the theory, competition will decrease rates. Major utilities can still sell power but soon will have to compete with dozens of other companies for customers.
Because of the cost of producing and transmitting electricity, the margin for profit for the retailers is small, said Arthur O'Donnell, editor and associate publisher of the newsletter "California Energy Markets."
Under the law, consumer rates for power must be 10 percent below current levels by Jan. 1 and stay that way until 2002.
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Special Group Rate $9.00
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The Kansas City Blades would like to offer all KU students and faculty along with their families and friends a special group discount for our October 25th game. To receive this rate, fill out the attached form and send it to the SUA office or visit the Blades' representative in the Union on Wednesday, October 22nd, or Thursday, October 23rd between 11:00 a.m. and !;30 p.m.
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NAME: ___
ADDRESS:___
CITY:___
STATE:___ ZIP___
DAY PHONE #:___
OF TICKETS: ___ X $9 = $___
+ $ 2.00 (Handling)
Total Amount Enclosed: = $___
Check #:___
Visa___ MC___ AMEX___ DSC___
Credit Card #: ___ Exp.___
Signature:___
Mail To Mary Smith And Make Check Payable To:
Student Union Activities / 1300 Orcad / Lawrence, KS 66045
Or
Fax Order To Mary Smith:
(785) 864-4349
ALL ORDERS MUST BE RECEIVED BY OCTOBER 23, 1997. TICKETS WILL BE MAILED TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS.
If you would like more information, please call Lisa Anderson @ (816) 842-5233.