brookhavenlab: This is the kind of chemistry experiment that saves millions of lives. Back in 1976 Brookhaven scientists synthesized the first successful radiotracer - called 18FDG - for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. In this photo, chemist Joanna Fowler is working with an early synthesis apparatus that created the radiotracer, which is still the same compound used world-wide for brain research and cancer diagnosis. This morning, the New York Section of the American Chemical Society is designating Brookhaven’s Chemistry Building as a Historical Chemical Landmark (a lot of capital letters, we know) for blazing that radiotracer trail.  Curious about how this breakthrough compound works its magic? When injected, 18FDG (fluorodeoxyglucose) serves as a stand-in for glucose, the body’s main source of energy. While traveling through sugar-hungry tissue, the short-lived radioactive isotope of fluorine - that’s the 18F - emits particles called positrons (antimatter electrons!), which interact with the body’s electrons and send off energetic back-to-back gamma rays. Those signals, picked up by a PET scanner, produce maps of metabolic activity in the brain and body.  I did research at the Brookhaven National Labs when I was in High School.  It was a project about the Pine Barrens.  I used to do a lot of science things.  COOL.
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brookhavenlab:

This is the kind of chemistry experiment that saves millions of lives.

Back in 1976 Brookhaven scientists synthesized the first successful radiotracer - called 18FDG - for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. In this photo, chemist Joanna Fowler is working with an early synthesis apparatus that created the radiotracer, which is still the same compound used world-wide for brain research and cancer diagnosis.

This morning, the New York Section of the American Chemical Society is designating Brookhaven’s Chemistry Building as a Historical Chemical Landmark (a lot of capital letters, we know) for blazing that radiotracer trail. 

Curious about how this breakthrough compound works its magic? When injected, 18FDG (fluorodeoxyglucose) serves as a stand-in for glucose, the body’s main source of energy. While traveling through sugar-hungry tissue, the short-lived radioactive isotope of fluorine - that’s the 18F - emits particles called positrons (antimatter electrons!), which interact with the body’s electrons and send off energetic back-to-back gamma rays. Those signals, picked up by a PET scanner, produce maps of metabolic activity in the brain and body. 

I did research at the Brookhaven National Labs when I was in High School.  It was a project about the Pine Barrens.  I used to do a lot of science things.  COOL.

dontcookbilly: Long Island Press: Kings Park Mental Center Awaiting Wrecking Ball NO! The questionably haunted (and totally freaky) Kings Park mental hospital looks like its going to be destroyed. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!  I grew up right by here - like not even 5min away.  This is devastating.  The grounds are beautiful and the buildings are incredible.  Nothing like you ever see today.  My childhood will be destroyed in May.
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dontcookbilly:

Long Island Press: Kings Park Mental Center Awaiting Wrecking Ball

NO! The questionably haunted (and totally freaky) Kings Park mental hospital looks like its going to be destroyed.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!  I grew up right by here - like not even 5min away.  This is devastating.  The grounds are beautiful and the buildings are incredible.  Nothing like you ever see today.  My childhood will be destroyed in May.

I am home on Long Island for the weekend.  As a point of reference, the house is two main floors and my room is the only bedroom on the lower level.  There has been some aggressive, what can only be described as, scratching coming from the ceiling? inside the wall? on the lower level, ahhh.  My parent can’t figure out what it is, but they think it’s just a chipmunk.  A very aggressive chipmunk, I guess.

Long story short I am sleeping on the couch upstairs tonight but I can STILL HEAR THE SCRATCHING/CLAWING.  It’s driving me crazy.  I also have irrational fears of being attacked by a rabid chipmunk or other outdoorsy beast* while I’m sleeping.  They’re all not like Alvin, Simon and Theodore.

*e.g. squirrel, raccoon, opossum