WASHINGTON — A microscopy expert said there was nothing unique about the silicon found in the anthrax spores recovered from the 2001 letter attacks.
The presentation Friday to a scientific panel confirmed nothing new but provided the group, convened by the National Academy of Sciences, a glimpse into the investigative science used in the wake of the nation's first major bioterrorism event.
"I think the letter powders are not unique with respect to (silica) and (oxygen) elemental signatures," said Joseph Michael of Sandia National Laboratory.
The FBI has yet to close its case but has accused Frederick resident Bruce Ivins, a researcher at Fort Detrick's U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, of processing and mailing the anthrax.
Michael's presentation is part of an 18-month, $880,000 National Academy of Sciences study commissioned by the FBI. It was the second day this week the panel met.
The study seeks to affirm the validity of the investigative science, but will stay clear of examining how the FBI connected Ivins to the crime.
Ivins died from an apparent suicide last year. The 2001 attacks killed five people and sickened 17.
Michael studied the powders recovered from letters sent to the Washington offices of Sens. Tom Daschle and Patrick Leahy, and the New York Post.
He used Scanning Electron and Scanning Transmission Electron microscopes to study the structures of thousands of the irradiated, lifeless spores.
Michael said it was clear the silicon in the spores occurred naturally and were not added to weaponize the bacteria. The same study of the RMR-1029, a flask of liquid Ames strain anthrax investigators think Ivins drew from to create the powder anthrax, did not contain silica, Michael said.
He said the elemental signatures in the spores from the Daschle, Leahy and New York Post letters were indistinguishable.
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Round 2: Snow expected to fall today, Wednesday
Fast on the heels of the largest 24-hour snowfall to hit the Frederick County since 1983, meteorologists are predicting another round of heavy snow and wind to hit today.
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning Monday afternoon for the area, including Frederick County, and said 10 to 20 inches of snow is possible by Wednesday night.
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Weather-related closings, delays
A list follows of weather-related closings and cancellations for this week.
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Fire and police blotter
Police search for robber
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School closures cause makeup schedule revision
Even though Frederick County Public Schools are closed today -- using the sixth snow day this school year -- the school system will not hold school on the Monday Presidents Day holiday as the first scheduled snow makeup day.
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Crowds pay respect to fallen marine
Even U.S. Marines couldn't hold back tears Monday at the viewing of their colleague, Sgt. David Smith.
The procession to the Frederick Christian Fellowship Church was led by Frederick County Sheriff's deputies. Dressed in full military regalia, Marines carried Smith's casket into the church followed by family members as more Marines stood at attention.
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