Friday, January 19, 2007

Microscope U


submit by troym; comments by blogger jgl

From a MSFS faculty member’s perspective, the distance learning would be a neat resource for students since some programs don’t have access to electron microscopes, Raman spectroscopy, etc. Of course, learning about instrumentation without physically being in the lab is tricky. I have a feeling as online instruction advances, outsourcing specialty courses like this will become more common.

The McCrone Group, Inc., internationally recognized as a world leader in microanalysis and the nation's Premier Microscopy Resource, announces today the opening of its unparalleled new state-of-the-art learning center in Westmont, Illinois. The Learning Center is home to the College of Microscopy, hosting the largest array of advanced modern microscopy courses and instrumentation within any single educational facility in the United States.

The unique College of Microscopy specializes in training material scientists, crime lab personnel, First Responders, researchers, and technicians how to locate and identify unknown or suspect materials using light microscopy, electron microscopy, and FTIR and Raman spectroscopy.

The McCrone Group estimates that the College of Microscopy will train more than 1,000 students per year. Long-range plans for the College of Microscopy include offering formalized distance learning and advanced degree programs. The staff of the McCrone Group has been teaching scientists and researchers for more than 45 years.

Vick's Bottle


by blogger jgl

During a recent trip to the airport, Michael Vick surrendered a water bottle with a secret compartment that contained a marijuana-like smell, according to security personnel. I hope the smell test is reliable. Even if the test (for THC, I imagine) comes back negative and there was never anything illegal in the water bottle, his reputation will be affected. Maybe even in a negative way.

Vick reluctantly surrendered a water bottle to security at Miami International Airport that smelled like marijuana and contained a substance in a hidden compartment. He was not arrested and was allowed to board an AirTran flight that landed in Atlanta before noon Wednesday.

Under Florida law, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine. First offenders rarely do any jail time.

The bottle was found to have a compartment that contained "a small amount of dark particulate and a pungent aroma closely associated with marijuana," a Miami police report said. The compartment was hidden by the bottle's label so that it appeared to be a full bottle of water when held upright, police said.

Eh... suspicious. For the professionals, if there was marijuana in there at one time, what are the chances of detecting THC? Good? Lousy?