Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0600 http://measurementdb.com/ Measurement R&D News en-us http://measurementdb.com/images/logo.gif http://measurementdb.com/ mdb@measurementdevices.com http://measurementdb.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=852 New Enterprise Carbon Manager (ECM) utilizes Microsoft .NET technology to collect data from global emissions sources and more TORONTO, CANADA -- Zerofootprint has introduced a completely new system that enables business to both track and manage carbon emissions through a single solution. The new Enterprise Carbon Manager (ECM) utilizes Microsoft .NET technology to collect data from global emissions sources, provides real-time data feeds, secure global access, and ensures accurate reporting. “It has become increasingly clear in the face of the climate change impacting all of us, that every major organization and municipality will have to find ways to reduce carbon emissions,” said Dr. Ron Dembo, CEO and Founder of Zerofootprint. Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0600 http://measurementdb.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=851 Stamford, UK & Hayward CA, USA -- Guava Technologies, Inc. presented at the recent Molecular Targets & Cancer Therapeutics Symposium* information on their recent advancements that describe an experimental methodology and the new Guava® Simplicity Analysis Software which exploit the advantages of plate based flow technology. These technological improvements result in an overall process that can significantly expedite the drug discovery process by providing a means for extraction of key findings from the highly complex data sets encountered with functional screening of siRNA knockdown assays. Solid tumors comprise genetically heterogeneous cell populations whose growth and survival depends on the complex interplay of distinct, yet overlapping, signaling networks. A major challenge in developing a course of therapy is determining which signaling nodes to target for a specific malignancy. Profiles from siRNA gene silencing are integral to mapping disease-specific signaling cascade(s) and provide insight to key targets for therapeutic intervention. Successful siRNA screening relies not solely upon optimizing transfection, but also cell analysis systems capable of high content screening (HCS) at the single cell level, within overall populations (sample well), and across multiple data sets. The presentation describes how the Guava EasyCyte™ Plus System, with integrated Guava Simplicity Software, provides a revolutionary platform for secondary target validation and compound screening. Sat, 20 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0600 http://measurementdb.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=850 Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0600 http://measurementdb.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=849 {CAPTION: An architectural drawing of the planned replacement for Campbell Hall, showing the bridge between LeConte Hall (left) and the third floor of the new research building.} BERKELEY CA, USA — An $11 million grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will help the University of California, Berkeley, build a state-of-the-art precision measurement laboratory in the planned new home for the astronomy department and part of the physics department. The award, announced recently (Nov. 24), was one of three NIST grants totaling $24 million to build research facilities at universities that will advance technologies and research in line with the mission of the Department of Commerce, which oversees NIST. While the building will remain the home of the astronomy department, it also will accommodate physics department laboratories, including high-precision measurement labs in the basement. The new UC Berkeley facility, to be called the Center for Integrated Precision and Quantum Measurement (CIPQM), will occupy the basement level of a building to be erected on the site of Campbell Hall, which now houses the astronomy department and offices of the College of Letters and Science. The new Campbell Hall building will provide space for the physics department to expand from neighboring LeConte and Birge halls. Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0600 http://measurementdb.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=848 [Confocal Raman microscopy image of stress in a silicon crystal caused by indentation with a 20 micrometer long wedge. The image does not show the silicon but rather the magnitude of stress in the crystal, with compressive stress around the wedge going up from the base line. Vampiric red “fangs” reveal tensile stress associated with cracking at the ends of the indentation. Click image to retrieve animated “fly-by” of image in avi format (large file). AVI clips require Windows Media Player (or equivalent), a free download – click here. -- Credit: Stranick, NIST - Click to View hi-resolution image] Gaithersburg MD, USA -- Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have demonstrated their ability to measure relatively low levels of stress or strain in regions of a semiconductor device as small as 10 nanometers across. Their recent results* not only will impact the design of future generations of integrated circuits but also lay to rest a long-standing disagreement in results between two different methods for measuring stress in semiconductors. Mechanical stress and strain in semiconductors and other devices is caused by atoms in the crystal lattice being compressed or stretched out of their preferred positions, a complex—and not always harmful—phenomenon. Stress in the underlying structure of light-emitting diodes and lasers can shift output colors and lower the device’s lifetime. Stress in microelectromechanical systems can lead to fracture and buckling that also truncates their lifespan. On the other hand, stress is deliberately built into state-of-the-art microcircuits because properly applied it can increase the speed of transistors without making any other changes to the design. “Stress engineering has allowed the semiconductor industry to increase the performance of devices well beyond what was expected with the current materials set,” said NIST research physicist Robert Cook, “thus avoiding the significant engineering problems and expense associated with changing materials.” Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0600 http://measurementdb.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=847 An alternative to tradition liquid nitrogen delivery Mountain View , CA, USA -- MMR Technologies introduced their new elan2 Liquid Nitrogen Generator product line in 2006. It was a recipient of one of the 2006 Top 100 R&D Awards. The winning of an R&D 100 Award provides a mark of excellence known to industry, government, and academia as proof that the product is one of the most innovative ideas of the year. Yet it is not widely known in R&D circles. The elan2™ Liquid Nitrogen Generators completely replace liquid nitrogen (LN2) delivery and storage. The Generator footprint is smaller than most storage dewars and eliminates the need for delivery access. LN2 is available for dispensing at the push of a button precisely when you need it. You dispense LN2 without having to use cryogenic gloves because the transfer Dewar need not be held during transfer. One can can put one in an office or in your laboratory – wherever it is convenient! Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0600 http://measurementdb.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=846 Gaithersburg MD, USA -- Electroshock weapons—such as stun guns and other similar devices that temporarily incapacitate a person by delivering a high-voltage, low-current electric shock—have helped law enforcement officers safely subdue dangerous or violent persons for years. The use of these weapons has been challenged, however, by claims that they may have contributed to more than 150 deaths in the United States since 2001. Now, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) are working toward a standard method for accurately assessing the electrical output of these devices, the results of which can be used in establishing baselines for future medical and safety studies. Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0600 http://measurementdb.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=845 Ipswich, UK -- Genevac has announced a new white paper and online video that present the revolutionary new technology behind the Rocket™ Evaporator that enables it to dry or concentrate as many as six flasks (each containing up to 450ml solvent) five times faster than conventional evaporators. The new technique has already generated significant interest in applications including environment analysis, medicinal chemistry, natural products purification and chiral separation where large volumes of solvent typically have to be removed. A 2-stage cold trap built into the Rocket Evaporator provides very high levels of solvent recovery, even with volatile organic solvents. Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0600 http://measurementdb.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=844 Using an optical microscope, several images of a 60 nanometer gold particle sample (shown in red) are taken at different focal positions and stacked together. Credit: NIST Gaithersburg MD, USA -- A novel technique* under development at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) uses a relatively inexpensive optical microscope to quickly and cheaply analyze nanoscale dimensions with nanoscale measurement sensitivity. Termed “Through-focus Scanning Optical Microscope” (TSOM) imaging, the technique has potential applications in nanomanufacturing, semiconductor process control and biotechnology. Optical microscopes are not widely considered for checking nanoscale (below 100 nanometers) dimensions because of the limitation imposed by wavelength of light—you can’t get a precise image with a probe three times the object’s size. NIST researcher Ravikiran Attota gets around this, paradoxically, by considering lots of “bad” (out-of-focus) images. “This imaging uses a set of blurry, out-of-focus optical images for nanometer dimensional measurement sensitivity,” he says. Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0600 http://measurementdb.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=843 NIST researchers have developed a new approach for “electronic noses.” Comprised of 16 microheater elements and eight types of sensors, the tiny device could be a potent tool for applications such as sniffing out nerve agents, environmental contaminants, and trace indicators of disease, in addition to monitoring industrial processes and aiding in space exploration. Click for larger image- Graphic Courtesy NIST Gaithersburg MD, USA -- Marrying a sensitive detector technology capable of distinguishing hundreds of different chemical compounds with a pattern-recognition module that mimics the way animals recognize odors, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have created a new approach for “electronic noses.” Described in a recent paper,* their electronic nose is more adept than conventional methodologies at recognizing molecular features even for chemicals it has not been trained to detect and is also robust enough to deal with changes in sensor response that come with wear and tear. The detector could be a potent tool for applications such as sniffing out nerve agents, environmental contaminants, and trace indicators of disease, in addition to monitoring industrial processes and aiding in space exploration. Mon, 10 Nov 2008 04:55:13 -0600 http://measurementdb.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=842 Correlation between nanosecond X-ray flashes and stick–slip friction in peeling tape Nature 455, 1089-1092 (23 October 2008) -- The article (title above), by Carlos G. Camara1,2, Juan V. Escobar1,2, Jonathan R. Hird1 & Seth J. Putterman1 (-- 1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA; 2. These authors contributed equally to this work) states in part: ".. Here we report that peeling common adhesive tape in a moderate vacuum produces radio and visible emission, along with nanosecond, 100-mW X-ray pulses that are correlated with stick–slip peeling events. ... The intensity of X-ray triboluminescence allowed us to use it as a source for X-ray imaging. The limits on energies and flash widths that can be achieved are beyond current theories of tribology." Mon, 27 Oct 2008 08:32:13 -0500 http://measurementdb.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=841 {Photo of A plasma discharge in MRX - The two flux cores and magnetic diagnostics are visible; courtesy Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory}Chennai India -- Syrma Technology has successfully produced a miniature magnetic coil product that creates the critical pick-up sensor in a probe that measures the magnetic field between two plasma streams as part of the Magnetic Reconnection Experiment (MRX) at the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab (PPPL). Earlier versions of the probe and pick-up sensor coils were built in the PPPL laboratory, but the MRX research team sought outside manufacturers with the capability to produce such a small size precision magnetic coil in higher volumes. They turned to Syrma technology as Syrma demonstrated the ability to meet the specifications with many years of experience producing precision coils for the demanding requirements of the disk drive industry, and for a myriad of other electronic / magnetic applications. The MRX experiment, where the probes are used, studies the fundamental physics of magnetic reconnection, the results of which will advance the fundamental understanding of solar physics, astrophysics, magnetospheric physics, and fusion energy research. Sun, 19 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500 http://measurementdb.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=840 An Article by Otto S. Wolfbeis - Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Chemo- and Biosensors, University of Regensburg 93040 Regensburg (Germany) Ref: .Advanced Materials Early View (Articles online in advance of print); Volume 20 Issue 19, Pages 3759 - 3763 (WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) Abstract Excerpt "Fluorescence microscopy is widely used for chemical imaging of intrinsically fluorescent chemical species, such as chlorophylls, or nonfluorescent species (e.g., DNA) that have been labeled appropriately or to which a relevant molecular probe has been added. However, there are numerous analytes that neither have an intrinsic luminescence nor can be rendered luminescent with the help of labels or probes. Such parameters include oxygen, pH, CO2, ammonia, and glucose. There are also numerous applications where the 2D distribution of a chemical or physical parameter is of interest. The use of a sensor paint is ideal in such situations. ..." Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500 http://measurementdb.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=839 New bio-imaging mass spectrometry center at Georgia Tech aims to unravel the molecular complexities of biological systems [(Georgia Tech Photo: Gary Meek): Georgia Tech School of Chemistry and Biochemistry professor Thomas Orlando and graduate student Irene Anestis-Richard conduct an experiment with the single photon ionization mass spectrometer.] Atlanta GA, USA -- (By Abby Vogel ) Understanding biology at the systems level is difficult, especially when studying complex specimens like tissue slices or communities of organisms in a biofilm. Scientists must be able to identify, quantify and locate the molecules present in the samples. At Georgia Tech, researchers from the Colleges of Sciences and Engineering have joined forces to create the Center for Bio-Imaging Mass Spectrometry (BIMS), which aims to tackle these types of challenges. "We organized this center in 2007 when we saw the enormous potential of mass spectrometry imaging tools and realized that we had a unique ensemble of people at Georgia Tech that would enable us to excel in this field," said Al Merrill, a professor in the School of Biology and the Smithgall Chair in Molecular Cell Biology. Mass spectrometry imaging is a powerful analytical technique with the potential to unravel the molecular complexities of biological systems. It allows researchers to visualize the spatial arrangement and relative abundance of specific molecules – from simple metabolites to peptides and proteins – in biological samples. Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500 http://measurementdb.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=838 Energy Solutions, Inc. identifies how the financial crisis is impacting natural gas prices and what that means for businesses. Verona WI, USA -- (PRWEB) -- A weaker economy typically leads to lower natural gas prices as supplies outpace demand, but in today's world that's just one side of the equation. "There's more at work here than just the fundamentals of supply and demand. The fallout from the current financial crisis is also impacting natural gas prices," says Valerie Wood, President of Energy Solutions, Inc. In its most recent analysis, The Link Between Natural Gas Prices and the Financial Crisis, Energy Solutions, Inc. explores how the fate of Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch, and AIG has impacted natural gas prices. It also looks at the remaining financial players and identifies how they too could impact the direction of natural gas prices. Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:52:59 -0500 http://measurementdb.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=837 Crowthorne, UK -- Viscotek has released an application note that describes a new light scattering technique that could be very helpful in Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) applications where the demands of sample solvent and mobile phase are different. Solvent enhanced light scattering (SELS) in combination with Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) allows users-with two different solvents-to separately optimise the sample preparation step and the chromatographic conditions to increase the dn/dc value to get better light scattering responses. In the application note an example of a fluoropolymer analysis by SELS-GPC is shown. Although the fluoropolymer is quite soluble in Tetrahydofuran (THF) the dn/dc in this solvent is very low and the light scattering response poor. Thu, 18 Sep 2008 10:21:29 -0500 http://measurementdb.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=836 There is no reason to be concerned for the safety of the world a Staff Report from the MeasurementMedia Division, of Temperatures.com, Inc. Southampton PA, USA-- The popular news given to the developments at CERN and the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) seem to naturally bring out fear in the Popular Press and others about the possibility of serious safety problems associated with the possible production of microscopic black holes. Statements are heard like: "Don't they swallow matter, or the Earth or something?" Or "Some think the production of microscopic Black Holes will end the world. Tune in tomorrow, that is if we are still here" On the eve of the first beam trial, September 9, 2008, we actually witnessed the ABC Evening News in the USA use words to that effect. Their writers or "reporters" evidently had not taken the time to learn that no collisions were even planned for about another year! Our only conclusion is that they also had not checked facts and the majority opinions of scientists, much like the recent report in The New York Times about Radon tests on Granite countertops. (And that one seems to be still making the rounds!) It seems like too little knowledge is an especially bad, bad thing here! The ever wary staff at CERN and elsewhere, however, have actually anticipated such concern years earlier and already issued more than a mere statement, they collected and published published series of serious, normal, scientific reports to acknowledge, allay and explain such fears and the lack of a problem. (The news and links to the reports weren't very difficult to find on the CERN website, see the link and descriptions below. So much for due diligence on the part of the "Working" Press!) Sun, 14 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500 http://measurementdb.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=835 Geneva, Switzerland. The first beam in the Large Hadron Collider at CERN* was successfully steered around the full 27 kilometres of the world’s most powerful particle accelerator at 10h28 this morning. This historic event marks a key moment in the transition from over two decades of preparation to a new era of scientific discovery. “It’s a fantastic moment,” said LHC project leader Lyn Evans, “we can now look forward to a new era of understanding about the origins and evolution of the universe.” Starting up a major new particle accelerator takes much more than flipping a switch. Thousands of individual elements have to work in harmony, timings have to be synchronized to under a billionth of a second, and beams finer than a human hair have to be brought into head-on collision. Today’s success puts a tick next to the first of those steps, and over the next few weeks, as the LHC’s operators gain experience and confidence with the new machine, the machine’s acceleration systems will be brought into play, and the beams will be brought into collision to allow the research programme to begin. Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:58:49 -0500 http://measurementdb.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=834 Stamford, UK & Hayward CA, USA -- Guava Technologies, Inc. has announced that it is in the final stages of development of a series of new bead-based multiplex detection kits for cytokines and chemokines. The development effort is intended to meet the needs of drug discovery researchers focusing on the areas of immunology, inflammation, and oncology. The kits, which will be available within the next several months, will save researchers time and money, improving laboratory productivity and efficiency. Currently, researchers tend to use Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assays (ELISAs) to analyse secreted proteins such as cytokines and chemokines. ELISAs, though, are solid-phase assays and can only measure levels of one protein at a time. The new bead-based assays from Guava Technologies will be solution-based, enabling simultaneous quantitative measurement of up to 20 different proteins. Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:07:13 -0500 http://measurementdb.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=833 As needed in ballistics, combustion research, HV breakdown studies, flow visualisations, fluorescence - chemiluminescence recording of bioevents and other studies of transients Tring, UK -- Specialised Imaging Ltd. have introduced the new SIL-2 family of high performance, gated image intensifier systems to improve the sensitivity, gating time and spectral response and scope of operation of both high-speed video and ultra-high-speed framing cameras. Extensive triggering facilities and a comprehensive programmable timing range allow the SIL-2 to be readily interfaced to most any manufacturer's high-speed cameras, and in particular to high-speed video systems. Constructed around high gain MCP intensifiers these units provide an unmatched range of sensitivity, gain and resolution options to satisfy even the most demanding low light imaging applications. Incorporating a quartz input window enables the SIL-2 to capture events that emit radiation at the shorter wavelengths of the UV region right through to the Near Infrared. Sat, 30 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500 http://measurementdb.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=832 Geneva, Switzerland -- Symyx Technologies, Inc. has reported an enthusiastic response from European Chemical and Petrochemical companies to their growing suite of modular and integrated workflow tools for accelerating R&D innovation. Faced with an ever-increasing need to minimise the time to bring new ideas to market, Chemical and Petrochemical companies in Europe are looking to new generation R&D tools to enable experimentation to run significantly faster - and at less cost - so that projects can achieve a higher probability of success. Symyx Tools are designed to accelerate R&D while reducing costs. Innovative software-driven instruments integrate and automate laboratory experimentation, increasing testing capacity by 10-100 times while eliminating costly, labour-intensive routine work. Symyx Tools for Chemical and Petrochemical applications are completely modular, so they can be configured into a range of integrated workflows for specific experimental applications. Borealis, a leading provider of innovative, value creating plastics solutions, has implemented a Parallel Pressure Reactor (PPR) research tool supplied by Symyx Technologies as part of a project to drastically reduce the time taken to develop new materials. The first polymerisation trials were successfully completed at Borealis' Innovation Centre in Porvoo, Finland. Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500 http://measurementdb.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=831 Purdue University agronomists believe that the optimum nitrogen rate is strongly related to the soils' capacity to supply nitrogen. [Caption: Optical reflectance sensors attached to a high-clearance sprayer measure corn's nitrogen level.Image Courtesy Purdue Extension] WEST LAFAYETTE IN, USA -/Media-Newswire.com/- Contrary to what's been considered the gospel for years about nitrogen rate recommendations, Purdue University agronomists believe that the optimum nitrogen rate is strongly related to the soils' capacity to supply nitrogen. The soils' ability to supply nitrogen is dependent on the amount of organic matter, drainage capability, rainfall, soil temperature, mineralization potential, leaching potential and denitrification potential, said Jim Camberato, Purdue Extension soil fertility and plant nutrition specialist. Camberato and Bob Nielsen, Purdue Extension corn management specialist, conducted trials over two years at seven Purdue research farms, 39 sites with a corn-after-soybean rotation and 18 sites with a corn-after-corn rotation. "After conducting nitrogen rate trials in '06 and '07, we found the optimum nitrogen fertilizer rate is not strongly related to yield potential," Nielsen said. "Or it could be said that higher yielding fields don't necessarily require higher nitrogen fertilizer rates. Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500 http://measurementdb.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=830 Geneva, Switzerland -- Using a Powdernium® Workstation, supplied by Symyx Technologies Europe SA, a major pharmaceutical company has established an accurate automated powder dispensing system for high throughput development of new formulations. Weighing and dispensing samples is one of the most tedious and time consuming tasks faced by formulation scientists. Manually dispensing sub-milligram to gram quantities of materials accurately and reproducibly often represents a significant bottleneck in laboratory workflow and keeps scientists from performing higher value tasks. Faced with limited staffing resources the Pharmaceutical company sought an accurate automated powder dispensing system that offered traceable results and could cope with several difficult-to-dispense materials. As a leading provider of integrated workflow improvement solutions, Symyx was able to provide the customer with a versatile workstation solution for accurate dispensing of a broad range of powders into a selection of different receptacles. Using a proprietary self-learning algorithm the Powdernium workstation has enabled the formulation department to successfully handle 600 weighings / day of 5 different powders (project target) with a relative standard deviation [RSD ] of less than 5%. Thu, 21 Aug 2008 08:50:47 -0500 http://measurementdb.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=829 U.Va. Psychology Professor Dennis Proffitt Helps 'Locked-In' Artist Create With Technology August 8, 2008 - In 2002, Peggy Chun, a Hawaii artist popular for her colorful and sometimes whimsical paintings of lush tropical vegetation and blue seas, was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a debilitating neurological disorder also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. (Media-Newswire.com) - August 8, 2008 — In 2002, Peggy Chun, a Hawaii artist popular for her colorful and sometimes whimsical paintings of lush tropical vegetation and blue seas, was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a debilitating neurological disorder also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Her mother, twin sister and a grandfather died of the same hereditary disease. Chun knew that with time she, too, would lose control of her muscles and eventually become fully paralyzed. But until then, she was determined to continue to paint, her profession and lifelong passion. Creativity was a way of life for her, no matter how she felt physically. In fact, on the days she felt the worst, she often painted her best — colorful, funny pictures of flying cows and smiling dolphins and dancing tigers and giraffes and hippopotamuses, and of pigs roasting marshmallows. As she lost control of her right hand, she learned to paint with her left. And when she could no longer paint with either hand, and became dependent on a ventilator to breathe for her, she learned to paint with a brush gripped tightly in her mouth. Soon her jaw muscles weakened and it appeared that she would never paint again. Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:40:29 -0500 http://measurementdb.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=828 Health Physics Science Society calls New York Times rebuffed radon article facts"very odd" CLEVELAND OH, USA - /PRNewswire/ -- The Health Physics Society (HPS) this week questioned the science and methodology behind a recent New York Times article on radon levels in granite countertops. HPS, a scientific and professional organization whose members specialize in radiation safety, called the radon levels cited in the article "very odd". The July 24 New York Times article, "What's Lurking in Your Countertop?", reported that a radon measurement contractor stated that exposure from granite countertops in the kitchen of a summer home in upstate New York were ten times higher than in other areas of the residence and attributed the elevated levels to uranium in the granite countertops. The article also reported that radon levels in the kitchen of the home were reported to be 100pCi/L, compared to basement levels of 6pCi/L. In a special bulletin posted on its Web site, HPS strongly took issue with those numbers, as follows: Sat, 09 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500