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Livermore researcher Bruce Buchholz and colleagues at the Karolinska Institute are looking at victim's teeth to determine how old they are at the time of death. Using the Lawrence Livermore's Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry, Buchholz determined that the radioactive carbon-14 produced by above-ground nuclear testing in the 1950s and 1960s remains in the dental enamel, the hardest substance in the body. The radiocarbon analysis showed that dating the teeth with the carbon-14 method would estimate the birth date within one year. Age determination of unknown human bodies is important in the setting of a crime investigation or a mass disaster, because the age at death, birth date, and year of death, as well as gender, can guide investigators to the corr

A new study of the High Arctic climate roughly 50 million years ago led by the University of Colorado at Boulder helps to explain how ancient alligators and giant tortoises were able to thrive on Ellesmere Island well above the Arctic Circle, even as they endured six months of darkness each year.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2010, its budget is about $6.9 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives over 45,000 competitive requests for fu

"Speaking just for myself, I was concerned when I heard about these bonuses," said David Weber, chairman of the Zoo-Museum District's board. It stands out from "what we've heard from the other institutions and the cost-cutting measures they're taking."

In Boyle's case, Hellman said, the financial officer deserved her bonus, even though she started so late in 2010. "She gave us a really good transition," he said, "and we rewarded her for that outstanding contribution."

"It removes any concerns that taxpayers might have," Hellman said. "But we're still going to use incentive compensation in certain years and with certain people. We still believe it's right."