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On the Fourth of July, Paul Steffes will stare into the Pasadena, California, evening sky. He will not look for fireworks. Instead, his gaze will focus on the heavens while his ears brace for a beep generated 520 million miles away. It will be an American achievement he’s waited on for 11 years.
Steffes, a professor in Georgia Tech's School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, is a member of the Juno Science Team.
He’ll be in California with fellow team members on Independence Day as the spacecraft reaches its destination: Jupiter. The mission will improve our understanding of the birth of the solar system and the mysteries of its largest planet.
It arrives in Jupiter’s orbit five years after it was launched by NASA and the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) and 11 years after Juno was created with Steffes as an original member of the team.
Peering under the clouds to find a recipe
Officially, the spacecraft is the Jupiter Near-polar Orbiter. It’s called Juno because of the tales of Greek and Roman mythology.
Juno was the wife of Jupiter, the king of the gods who visited other worlds and used clouds to hide his mischief.
But Juno was able to look through them to see what Jupiter was up to. That’s what the spacecraft will do as it orbits the giant planet from as low as 3,000 miles above the clouds.
“When you see a picture of Jupiter, you’re seeing cloud tops that form the outer reaches of the atmosphere,” said Steffes. “It’s like seeing a veneer. You’re not seeing deep down.”
To sense what’s below those clouds, Steffes and his peers will utilize Juno’s microwave radiometer (MWR) instrument. It will measure radio waves from Jupiter’s deep atmosphere, providing a first-ever glimpse of what the planet is made of.
Steffes said microwave radio waves are similar to cellphone signals, which are constantly modified by clouds, rain, and gases.
“If you look at the bars on your phone as you walk next to a fish tank, you’ll notice you’ll have fewer bars. The water absorbs the radio energy from the cell tower to your phone,” he said. “Just like the cellphone idea, we’re going to measure the microwave radiation – the signals coming out of the atmosphere. Based on how they’re affected by the clouds and gases, we’ll know what’s down there.”
While revealing levels of hydrogen, ammonia, and other atmospheric components, Juno will discover the depths of Jupiter’s bands and clouds that are scattered high in the atmosphere. This includes the famous Great Red Spot, which has swirled on the planet for more than 300 years and is two to three times as large as Earth.
Matching 6,000 lab recipes
Steffes and his graduate student, Amadeo Bellotti, will both be in Pasadena for Juno’s July 4 orbital insert. They’ll standby as Jupiter’s massive gravity pulls in the basketball court-sized spacecraft at a speed of more than 40 miles per second.
Juno will counteract that force by using its engines to place itself into a polar orbit around the planet. It takes about 47 minutes for the machine to communicate with Earth, meaning the Georgia Tech scientists will have to hold their breath as they wait for conformational beeps that Juno was successful in its tug-of-war maneuver.
Once Juno finds its orbit, the professor and student will wait until late August for the first MWR data. Then they’ll begin to decipher Juno’s information based on years of work atop Georgia Tech’s Van Leer Building.
Steffes’ research group has performed more than 6,000 microwave measurements to simulate the Jupiter atmosphere in their pressure vessel, which is located inside an oven on the roof of the building. Once they receive the planetary data, they’ll match it with their lab simulations.
“Our measurements cover a variety of pressures, temperatures, and compounds that Juno will likely find during its 20 months in orbit,” said Bellotti. “This portfolio of possible signatures will, at first look, give us a sense of the elements and compounds that form Jupiter’s atmosphere. Over a period of years, we’ll discover the actual mixture of different constituents in the atmosphere.”
The MWR is just one of Juno’s nine instruments. The others, which Georgia Tech is not associated with, will help determine the core of the planet; map magnetic and gravity fields; explore the planet’s poles, auroras, and magnetosphere; and take pictures from never-before-seen vantage points.
Jupiter contains more material than every other planet, comet, and asteroid in the solar system, combined. It was the first planet to form, and scientists believe it can unlock countless mysteries of the solar system’s formation.
“I think we’re going to be surprised by what we find,” said Steffes. “I think we may discover that conditions vary from location to location. For example, conditions under the Great Red Spot could be totally different from the rest of the planet. It will be very interesting and exciting.”
Jason Maderer writes for the Georgia Tech News Center.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A Lake County man who spent 20 years behind bars for a crime he didn't commit will now receive compensation from the state, a process sped up by a bill signed by the governor on Friday.
Sen. Mike McGuire and Assemblyman Bill Dodd announced that the state of California – through the California Victim Compensation Board – will provide $936,880 to Luther Ed Jones Jr., who was released from prison in February.
Dodd and McGuire worked together to have the compensation for Jones included in SB 1186, a larger victim compensation bill authored by state Sen. Ricardo Lara, who agreed to add the provision to his bill last month.
The payment was approved by the State Legislature this week and signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday.
“These funds won’t right the wrong of Mr. Jones’ time in prison, far from it, but we hope these dollars will help him and his family rebuild their lives,” McGuire said.
“I’m thankful that our colleagues and Gov. Brown helped Sen. McGuire and I get Mr. Jones the compensation he’s entitled to,” said Dodd.
Jones was convicted in 1998 of molesting his then-girlfriend's older daughter, and sentenced to 27 years in prison. The conviction came at the end of the second trial in the case, after the jury in his first trial deadlocked.
Altogether, he spent about two years in jail awaiting trial and another 18 years in the state prison system, spending time in different prison hospital facilities due to a variety of serious health problems.
In February, the young woman who had been the alleged child victim contacted the Lake County District Attorney's Office to say that she had been coerced by her mother – who was involved in a custody fight with Jones over a young daughter they had – to lie about Jones molesting her.
District Attorney Don Anderson and his staff immediately investigated the matter and concluded that Jones was innocent, filing a writ of habeas corpus to have him set free.
On Feb. 16, exactly one week after the young woman had first spoken with District Attorney's Office staff about her recantation, Judge Andrew Blum signed the writ of habeas corpus, ordering that Jones be released immediately and bypassing any further hearing process.
Attorney Angela Carter, who heads the county's public defender contract, subsequently began to represent Jones and coordinated with the Northern California Innocence Project at Santa Cruz University School of Law to help Jones file suit to claim compensation for his time in prison.
The compensation claim is tallied at a rate of $140 per day for 6,692 days of incarceration, the Northern California Innocence Project reported.
In May the settlement was granted by the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board – which formally became the California Victim Compensation Board on Friday – but the process requires the Legislature and governor to appropriate the funds.
The Northern California Innocence Project – which has experience crafting legislation to improve and streamline the claims process for those wrongly incarcerated – worked with McGuire and Dodd to include Mr. Jones’ allocation in SB 1186.
“We were able to include the $900,000 into the larger bill so it worked out really well. We are so grateful,” McGuire said.
He added, “What we were really encouraged about was this had bipartisan support.”
Jones' son, Ko'Fawn Jones, offered particular thanks to Northern California Innocence Project Board member Rick Walker and Lucy Carter, the organization's policy director, for helping make the legislation happen.
But he added that he won't be excited until his father actually receives the money from the state.
Since his February release, Luther Jones, now 71, and his family have struggled with transitioning him back to home. In particular, his deteriorating health has required his son to quit his job in order to be his father's full-time caregiver, which has made it challenging to make ends meet.
Luther Jones' significant medical issues – including liver and kidney disease – have left him bedridden, and made the issue of his compensation more urgent. “It's been a nightmare,” Ko'Fawn Jones said, adding that things have “gotten to the breaking point.”
Over the past month, Luther Jones has been hospitalized. “He's just coming out of a coma and not able to talk,” his son explained.
McGuire told Lake County News that the legislation takes effect immediately, with the funds to be disbursed likely within a week.
Ko'Fawn Jones said the funds will help him take better care of his father, although his health prognosis is not good.
“They just said there's nothing else that can be done,” Ko'Fawn Jones said of the doctors' conclusion. “He won't get better.”
Carter called the bill signing “wonderful news,” explaining that Jones originally had been told that he may not receive compensation until late summer.
Still, she pointed out that it doesn't change the fact that he's been in and out of the hospital since his release, or erase the time he spent in prison or change the fact that someone manipulated a child in order to have him incarcerated.
“No amount of money makes up for that kind of loss of liberty. It is a serious, significant failing of our justice system and it makes me sad,” she said.
Added McGuire, “I cannot imagine what the last two decades have been like for Mr. Jones.”
As for Jones finally getting the help to which he's entitled from the system, McGuire said, “It's about time.”
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Many Californians are looking forward to a three-day weekend this year to enjoy Independence Day, as is the case with all major holidays, and the California Highway Patrol is urging motorists to slow down and enjoy it responsibly.
Over this holiday weekend, the CHP will observe a maximum enforcement period, or MEP, focused on speed enforcement.
The MEP began at 6:01 p.m. Friday and will continue through 11:59 p.m. Monday.
To keep the roadways safe for everyone, all available officers will be watching for motorists who are speeding, distracted, or driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs.
“Saving lives is always the first concern for our officers,” CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said. “Motorists will help make everyone’s holiday safer by driving sober, fastening their seat belts, and obeying the speed limits.”
During the 2015 Independence Day MEP, 26 people were killed on California roadways. Two of those fatalities occurred due to unsafe speed. In addition, another 339 individuals were injured during the MEP due to unsafe speed.
Regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes. Of those who died in CHP jurisdiction in 2015, 38 percent were not wearing seat belts.
“Our officers would rather provide education and other aid to motorists than write tickets,” Commissioner Farrow said. “However, they will be looking for anyone who is driving impaired and posing a danger on the roadways.”
During last year’s Independence Day weekend, the CHP made 930 DUI arrests within a 54-hour period.
To assist officers in keeping the roadways safe, motorists are also encouraged to report suspected drunk drivers by calling 911. Be prepared to provide a description of the vehicle, location, and direction of travel.
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Everyone is welcome to come to Middletown to watch free family movies outdoors during this beautiful California summer.
The movies are offered on the second Saturday of each month at dusk at the Middletown Square Park – the park that is part of the new library and senior center complex on Highway 29/Calistoga Road.
On Saturday, July 9, the Middletown Area Merchants Association and Hardester's Markets present “The Borrowers” featuring John Goodman.
In order to keep this event free to the public, the movie is sponsored by Twin Pines Casino.
The Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College is hosting the event and refreshments will be available for purchase from the Middletown Rancheria Tribal Youth.
Turn it into a full family event when you bring a picnic dinner, acoustic instruments, or games to play while waiting for the movie to begin at dusk. Don’t forget to bring a blanket, chairs, and a jacket.
For more information, visit www.middletownareamerchants.com or call 707-987-0998.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Fourth of July is a time for celebration, barbecues and fireworks, but the loud noise and flashes of light from fireworks, and the commotion of celebrating people can be frightening for your pet.
Besides fireworks, there are other hazards to watch out for.
Here are some tips from regional animal control professionals to keep your pet safe this holiday.
Give your pet a safe haven
It’s less stressful and safer to leave your dog home rather than bring them to a July 4 celebration.
Keep cats and dogs indoors where they will be cool and in a familiar environment. Leave the radio or television on to mask the sound of fireworks.
Left outside, a frightened pet may jump over or dig under a fence, or get hurt trying to hide or get away. Cats may run and become disoriented and lost, or hide somewhere for days.
If you know your pet might become anxious, ask your veterinarian for medication to keep them calm. You may have to start the medication in advance, so plan ahead. Exercising your dog before you go may help tire them out and make them less anxious.
Make sure your pet has a collar with an ID tag
A dog license is important, and can be traced back to you, but for a quick return of your pet without a stop at the shelter, an ID tag with your contact information is the best.
For permanent identification, consider having your pet microchipped. This way, even if the tag falls off or your pet won’t wear a collar, you will still have a way to get them back home.
Lake County Animal Care and Control offers microchipping services. Call them at 707-263-0278.
If your pet is already chipped, don’t forget to keep your contact information current. Have an updated picture of your pet in case you have to put up signs.
Hazardous items
When celebrating, remember that items such as alcoholic beverages, lighter fluid, matches and citronella products can be harmful if ingested or inhaled, and should be kept away from pets.
Some foods, such as chocolate, onions, garlic, raisins, grapes, some nuts, avocados and caffeinated drinks also are harmful to pets.
Avoid giving your pet bones which can splinter or cause blockage, and table food in general which can cause intestinal upset or pancreatitis.
If your pet needs sunscreen or bug repellent, use products specifically for pets. For your pet’s safety, keep them away from areas where fireworks will be used.
Vehicles
As a reminder don’t leave your pet in a vehicle, even for just a moment, even with the windows cracked.
Even on a relatively mild 72-degree day, the temperature inside the vehicle can soar to over 110 degrees, and an animal can suffer irreversible brain and organ damage after only 15 minutes.
A dog in the bed of a pickup truck can become overheated as well, and the hot metal or even a rubber mat could burn your dog’s feet.
If you’re going out onto the lake, fit your dog with a life preserver in case they go overboard.
SACRAMENTO – California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith is reminding Californians about the importance of safe food handling to prevent foodborne illness while enjoying picnics, barbecues and other outdoor activities during the summer season.
Salmonella, E. coli and Campylobacter are bacteria most commonly-recognized for causing an estimated 76 million cases of foodborne disease in the United States each year. Most of these cases are mild and cause symptoms for only a day or two, but some cases are more serious.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in six, or 48 million Americans, contracts a foodborne illness each year. Of those that become sick, nearly 128,000 people will be hospitalized, and 3,000 will die as a result of their illness.
There are easy and effective steps Californians can take to help lessen the chance of contracting a foodborne illness.
“You can protect yourself, your family and friends from foodborne illness while at picnics and barbecues by following simple food safety tips,” said Dr. Smith.
Following these four “C’s” can prevent foodborne illnesses.
Chill
· Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. Bacteria can grow in foods kept in the temperature “danger zone” (41°F-135°F) or (5 °C-58 °C) for an extended period of time.
· Refrigerate leftovers to less than 41°F or 5 °C as soon as possible, but definitely within 2 hours.
· Use shallow pans and loosely cover hot foods while in the refrigerator to facilitate cooling and allow warm air to escape.
· Select cold foods at the grocery store last, and put them away first when you get home to keep them cold.
· Refrigerated foods that are packaged in hermetically sealed or vacuum packaged containers should always be stored in the refrigerator. Storing these types of vacuum-packaged products at room temperature could allow the production of Botulism toxin.
· Follow package instructions, especially when it comes to keeping foods refrigerated.
· Thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator or in a microwave immediately prior to cooking. Never thaw frozen foods on the counter.
Clean
· Wash your hands with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food. Humming “happy birthday” twice while washing hands is a good way to ensure you are washing long enough.
· Scrub cutting boards with hot, soapy water after preparing each item and before moving on to the next food. If your cutting board has deep grooves or cut marks which make it difficult to clean, consider replacing it.
· Wash and thoroughly rinse utensils and cutting boards with soap and water. Thoroughly cleaning them with a bleach solution (made of one tablespoon of unscented liquid bleach diluted in one gallon of water) will provide effective sanitation action.
· Cover any cuts or skin abrasions on your hands to avoid contaminating the food.
· Keep pets and household chemicals away from food preparation areas.
Prevent cross contamination
· Keep raw and cooked foods separate.
· Use separate cutting boards and knives for chopping ready-to-eat produce and raw meats.
· Never rinse raw poultry because it spreads germs around the kitchen sink, which can serve as a source of contamination for other foods.
· Discard used marinades.
· Use clean utensils and plates to remove cooked foods from grills and pans. Never place cooked foods back into the dish that held the raw or uncooked foods.
· Separate raw and uncooked meats from ready-to-eat items when shopping at the grocery store. Place raw meats in disposable, plastic bags away from other foods.
· If you use reusable shopping bags for groceries, designate specific bags for meats to avoid cross-contamination. Wash and dry bags as they become soiled.
· Store bags used for groceries at home in a manner that protects them from other sources of contamination such as pets, children, and chemicals.
· Thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator in water-tight containers to prevent juices from leaking onto ready-to-eat and cooked foods.
Cook
· Use an accurate thermometer to measure the final internal temperature of meat and meat products. Color is an inaccurate way to determine if meat is sufficiently cooked.
· Measure the temperature in the thickest part of the food, ensuring the thermometer does not touch bone or the cooking pan, which can give you an inaccurate reading.
· Wash thermometers after each use.
· Wait until foods are completely cooked before taste testing.
· When using a microwave to cook or reheat food, be sure to rotate or stir the food to facilitate thorough heating. Additionally, some labels recommend a “resting time” for the food after cooking before it should be served. Those instructions should be followed in order to allow the heat to evenly distribute.
Visit CDPH’s Cooking Raw Meats for additional information.