This week’s Website Wednesday is the website for the NSCL – the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory.  Their website is http://www.nscl.msu.edu/ This is a science lab on the campus on MSU (Michigan State University).  I took a tour of the lab when they had an open house this past Saturday.  I always knew that the lab was there, but never gave it much thought.  But now that I’ve learned more about it – it’s very cool.  A lot of great research is going on there – with scientists coming from all over the world to perform experiments.  The main research that goes on is rare isotopes and nuclear science.  The lab also is not just focused on themselves, but is community minded.  In addition to the research at the lab they offer educational opportunities for elementary students on up to post graduate.  You can read a brief page about the lab at http://www.nscl.msu.edu/ourlab and http://www.nscl.msu.edu/about.

The more exciting information about the lab is that, as it was put in the community, the FRIB is coming to our crib.  The FRIB is the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams.  This will allow MSU to lead research again and advance science even further. This is great for MSU and Michigan as it will bring billions of dollars into the economy over the next several years as they build the lab, staff it, and people visit from around the world to use the lab. For a light-hearted, but serious look at what the FRIB will do – check out the Rare Isotope Rap (really – check it out even if you think you don’t like rap!)