Friday, 6 December 1991 Washington, DC
1. DO RESULTS FROM "SAGE" REQUIRE EXISTENCE OF MASSIVE
NEUTRINOS?
Few experimental results have been more eagerly
awaited than the measurement of solar neutrino flux by the
Soviet-American Gallium Experiment. The first SAGE report
(Physical Review Letters, 9 Dec 91) indicates fewer neutrinos
than the "standard solar model" predicts. Big deal, you say, so
the standard solar model isn't up to standard! Indeed, earlier
experiments also found a "solar neutrino problem," but they only
detected high-energy neutrinos. SAGE detects low energy
neutrinos from the dominant p-p reaction, and the theory should
be much less uncertain. If the problem is not with the solar
model, it means something is happening to the electron neutrinos
on their way to earth. The speculation is that they change
flavor--and that would only be possible if they have mass. Such
properties are beyond the current standard model of particle
physics. The SAGE detector consists of 30 tons of Ga-71 in a
tunnel beneath a mountain in the Caucasus. Ga-71 converts to Ge-
71 by neutrino capture, and the Ge is extracted chemically.
2.NUNS OF IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY GET $10M FOR MILITARY
RESEARCH
in the FY 92 DOD appropriation (WN 29 Nov 91). From his position as
ranking minority member on Defense Appropriations, Rep. Joseph
McDade, who hails from Scranton, PA, earmarked $10M last year for
the University of Scranton, an obscure Jesuit college in the
Poconos that does not offer a PhD (WN 9 Nov 90). This year, lest
he be seen as favoring Jesuits, Rep. McDade inserted an earmark
of the same amount to the sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
who operate Marywood College in Scranton. Ad majorem Dei gloriam.
3. CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS CENTER OF MARINE RESEARCH AND
EXPLORATION
will be built in downtown Baltimore by NASA. It
marks the space agency's reluctant entry into inner space. Sen.
Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), who chairs the appropriations
subcommittee that funds NASA, inserted a $20M earmark for the
project in the FY 92 NASA appropriation. Along with museums and
exhibits, the Center will house the Maryland Biotechnology
Institute of the University of Maryland. Maryland officials
insist they support open competition based on merit review as the
best way to invest public funds, but if no competitive program
exists, Congressional earmarking is appropriate. Earmarks work if
you have friends on Appropriations.
4. EUROPEAN MINISTERS DELAY DECISION ON EUROPE'S FUTURE IN
SPACE
for one year. The European Space Agency's 13 member
governments refused to commit themselves to support of a long-
range program that includes the Columbus module and the Hermes
space shuttle. Columbus is Europe's share of Space Station
Freedom. The Germans led the move to postpone, but France agreed
more readily than expected. Both countries face strong
opposition to human space flight programs from scientists. The
indecision is a shock to US space officials who have used
international participation to bolster their case for continuing
the space station program.
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