Latest news with #SannaSevanto
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
LANL publish drought findings for piñon pine, juniper plants
LOS ALAMOS, N.M. (KRQE) – Scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) published surprising findings about how native plants respond to drought. Researchers studying the water usage of piñon pine and juniper have found that piñon trees have the ability to change how they drink water when rain is scarce. Sandia National Labs team with Explora for X-R Conference It's a behavior never studied before in plants, and it could mean that our forests are more resilient than previously thought. 'There's a lot that we don't understand yet. Even if there are papers out there that say piñon juniper forests will die in 2030 or 2050. Something like that. But those models don't take this into account,' says Sanna Sevanto, LANL senior researcher. Sevanto also believes that this plant behavior may be bred into our own crops, making them more productive during droughts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Small business owners invited to meet with LANL scientists at Tuesday event
An event designed to connect local business owners with some of the brightest minds at Los Alamos National Laboratory will take place Tuesday in Santa Fe. The event, presented by the New Mexico Small Business Assistance Program, will provide participating business owners with the chance to interact with LANL scientists to work out any technical challenges or other issues they may be facing. According to a news release, the event will feature a 'matchmaking' segment during which business owners will meet one on one with scientists to discuss how to take advantage of their expertise. That will be followed by a casual networking session. Sanna Sevanto, a LANL scientist who has taken part in two of the events in the past, said she and her associates at the lab love participating in the gathering each year, partly because it represents a departure from much of the work they normally do. 'The scientists feel like it makes a difference with the companies,' she said. 'With many of their projects, they don't see immediate results. But in this case, they're directly solving challenges so [the companies] can go forward.' Savanto said LANL scientists are eager to tackle all sorts of challenges on behalf of business owners. A typical issue might be a company that does not have the means or equipment to test a new product to verify its viability. She said LANL scientists sometimes can perform that task for the business, helping prepare the product for the market. In other instances, the LANL staff can help solve a more direct problem. The small businesses that are eligible to participate in the event include farms, she said, so if an orchard owner is having issues with frostbitten crops, LANL scientists might be able to help them find an innovative, affordable way to keep their trees warm enough to avoid that fate. 'It is rewarding,' Savanto said. 'Our researchers and technicians love these projects because we are interacting with people directly.' The event is open to New Mexico small business owners who are experiencing a problem that is slowing or stopping their production. The event normally is limited to 15 businesses. That number already has been met this year, LANL spokesperson Avery Arena said, but officials have decided to keep registration open through the weekend to accommodate more businesses. The event takes place from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday on the LANL campus in Santa Fe. Those taking part in the event will receive additional information after registering at A spokesperson declined to provide the address as a security measure, but participating businesses will receive the location after they register.
