Last week in July, and we're running low on supplies...

 This last week (week 4) was characterized by a scarcity of vials, meaning that the number of runs I could start was limited. I already had several going that I started on Monday, and I still had the cold runs going through their second week of sampling. I think some of them might need another 2 weeks to fully finish... But, at the start of the week, we did look at some new compounds to try to see what method to use to analyze them. The nitrobenzene method is apparently pretty comprehensive, so we just decided to continue using that, since it gave us a nice peak. Since the nitrobenzene was reacting so slowly, we decided not to try to pursue that line of reactions, because I don't have a few months to wait for it to react. So, we're going to start trials of 2,4-dinitrotoluene and 1,3-dinitrobenzene next week. Since the new shipment of vials came in on Friday, I can now run samples to my heart's content. All the little things that you need to pay attention to while working in a lab...

The break from the routine of sampling and analyzing was on Friday, when there was a field trip up the Columbia River Gorge. We stopped at Vista House, the fish hatchery, Bonneville Dam, and Multnomah Falls. It ended up being a beautiful day to be out there, and the views from Vista House were incredible. Then, we stopped and said a quick hello to Herman the Sturgeon after lunch, before getting a tour of Bonneville, and getting to see the turbine hall, the fish ladder, and hearing about how and why the new turbines they have finished installing are better both in terms of energy production and fish safety. Since Bonneville is turning 75, I think they were due for a replacement. Finally, a stop by the ever-impressive Multnomah Falls, where some of our group went and hiked to the top. I was part of the group that walked to the bridge and back, which was still very pleasant (except for all the people there, but that's part of the experience of Multnomah), even if it wasn't as strenuous.