Blog-IT-o ergo sum

	7/24/2005

While trying to understand how the fact that protein molecules must observe the laws of thermodynamics means that the Theory of Evolution can be considered an essential foundation of physics, I stumbled across this, which lead to this...

Why Libertarians lament government and its creep - Case study 2531936

Some might say man's quest for knowledge trumps all concerns. But, I say why on earth are my tax dollars being spent by a nuclear weapons development facility to study protein folding? Obviously, somewhere down the line a good Congressman from New Mexico or California convinced his fellows (or otherwise snuck it by them) that it just makes good sense to allow nuclear physicists to explore molecular biology in their free time. Hey, there is a health component to nuclear explosions afterall. Perhaps the new operators will get this facility more focused.

LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Oct. 14, 2002 -- Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory and the University of California, San Diego, have created the first computer simulation of full-system protein folding thermodynamics at the atomic-level. Understanding the basic physics of protein folding could solve one of the grand mysteries of computational biology....

Los Alamos National Laboratory is operated by the University of California for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) of the U.S. Department of Energy and works in partnership with NNSA's Sandia and Lawrence Livermore national laboratories to support NNSA in its mission.

Los Alamos enhances global security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction, and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health and national security concerns.

(If these guys can solve one of the grand mysteries of computational biology maybe there is hope for those hard drives turning up afterall. Don't blog it though.)

9:10:29 PM

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