Plant biologists have increased crop productivity by modifying genes involved in photoprotection, allowing for more efficient use of sunlight. The study shows a 14-20% increase in modified tobacco plants, which could be applied to other crops like rice.
Researchers from Berkeley Lab developed a way to image thin-film solar cells in 3D using optical microscopy, revealing internal obstacles that can trap electrons and reduce efficiency. The method has already improved understanding of the benefits of treating CdTe solar cells with cadmium chloride.
Researchers have recreated the universe's origins and nature of matter by simulating high-energy nuclear collisions. The simulations show that the quark-gluon plasma exhibits a twisting, whirlpool-like structure, with swirling rings and vortices that can be measured experimentally.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab integrated a water-splitting catalyst onto semiconductor to create more stable and efficient artificial photosystems. The composite film successfully supported chemical reactions without damaging sensitive semiconductors, achieving a three-day run time.
Scientists discover that rising CO2 levels have boosted terrestrial carbon uptake, slowing the growth rate of atmospheric CO2. The increase in carbon absorption is attributed to enhanced photosynthesis and plant respiration, particularly in tropical and high-latitude ecosystems.
Scientists at Berkeley Lab created a single device that can act as both a laser and an anti-laser, enabling flexible operation in optical communication. The device uses parity-time symmetry to balance amplification and absorption, allowing for control over light behavior.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab discovered a complex system of cell regulation that acts as quality control for genetic information transport out of the nucleus. They found that proteins associated with aberrant strands of genetic code are regulated, enabling gateway proteins to recognize and block them from exiting the nucleus.
Researchers reconstructed the genomes of over 2,500 microbes from sediment and groundwater samples, revealing an incredible 80% of known bacterial phyla. The discovery sheds new insights into the importance of subsurface microbes in carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles.
Researchers have developed a new way to reveal crystal features in functional materials using infrared light, allowing for detailed imaging at the nanoscale. The technique enables better design and optimization of material properties, with applications in electronics, energy conversion, and biological studies.
A new tool developed at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory enables researchers to interactively explore brain hierarchical processes and shed light on neurological diseases like Alzheimer's. Brain Modulyzer combines multiple views of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data to provide context for brain connectivity data.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab developed a hybrid enzyme capable of churning out 2,550 product molecules per hour, comparable to biological counterparts. The study represents a major advance for artificial metalloenzymes, which promise to open up a world of beneficial molecular products not currently possible with natural enzymes.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab break major barrier in transistor size by creating a gate only 1-nanometer long, challenging the conventional 5-nanometer threshold. The achievement enables electrons to be controlled with smaller gate lengths using carbon nanotubes and molybdenum disulfide.
Researchers discovered that missing enhancers result in abnormal heart function, a finding that bolsters the significance of noncoding regions. A comprehensive genome-wide map of 80,000 human heart enhancers was also provided to facilitate interpretation of human genetic data sets.
A new toolkit has been developed to simulate, analyze and visualize particle accelerator studies using advanced visualization tools and supercomputers. This enables faster and more efficient simulations, reducing memory usage and saving computer time.
Scientists from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed a highly accurate DNA-based method to detect and distinguish sources of microbial contamination in water. The new method, using the award-winning PhyloChip, was found to be more sensitive than conventional methods at assessing health risks.
Berkeley Lab scientists create direct method to study electrochemical double layer using 'tender' X-rays, revealing changes in electric potential and charge properties. This breakthrough advances materials design and development of improved electrochemical systems.
Researchers have discovered a potential new biomarker that can predict cancer patient prognosis and response to treatment. The biomarker is based on the degree of gene overexpression in genes regulating genome integrity.
The median installed price of solar in the US fell by 5-12% in 2015, with residential systems declining 5% and utility-scale projects falling 12%, according to two new studies from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The report attributes recent system price declines to reductions in hardware costs and 'solar soft' costs.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab create a nanoscale display case to reveal new structural details for challenging molecules, including complex compounds and potential drugs. The new technique stabilizes molecules in sturdy structures, enabling precise X-ray views of their atomic structure.
The report confirms that wind power is the largest source of U.S. electric-generating capacity additions, with $14.5 billion invested in new capacity in 2015. The average capacity factor among projects built in 2014 reached 41%, up from 31% among projects built from 2004-2011 and 26% among projects built from 1998-2003.
Scientists developed a new X-ray microscopy technique to image nanoscale changes in lithium-ion battery particles as they charge and discharge. The real-time images reveal non-uniform charging processes that curbs battery performance over time, offering insights to improve batteries for electric vehicles and smartphones.
Scientists have revealed the molecular steps that turn on bacteria's pathogenic genes by visualizing DNA supercoiling and HU protein interactions. The study found that supercoiling can trigger gene expression in single-celled prokaryotes, opening up new avenues for developing drugs to prevent or treat bacterial infections.
A new study from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that all e-cigarettes emit toxic compounds, with factors like temperature affecting emission levels. The study identified two additional carcinogens not previously reported in e-cigarette vapor.
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have harnessed carbon dioxide to neutralize toxicity in ionic liquids, streamlining the biofuel production process and reducing costs. The process could significantly lower production expenses and make biofuels more sustainable.
The Large Underground Xenon (LUX) experiment has completed its search for dark matter with sensitivity far exceeding expectations, but yielded no trace of a dark matter particle. This result eliminates many potential models for dark matter particles, offering critical guidance for the next generation of dark matter experiments.
A new study by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory estimates that modern off-grid lighting could create 2 million potential new jobs globally. The transition to solar-LED systems would replace fuel-based lighting, providing better job quality and stability.
A team of physicists and astronomers has created the largest-ever three-dimensional map of distant galaxies to measure dark energy's effects on the universe's expansion. The Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) program reveals the structure of the universe over 650 cubic billion light years.
Scientists with Berkeley Lab developed a way to chemically assemble transistors and circuits that are only a few atoms thick, yielding functional structures large enough for real-world applications. This breakthrough helps pave the way for scalable and repeatable atomic electronics or more computing power in smaller areas.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed a new method to predict material stability in semiconductors, crucial for creating efficient solar fuel generators. By analyzing bismuth vanadate, they found complex chemical instabilities that must be addressed to achieve stable performance.
Scientists at Berkeley Lab have discovered a possible secret to dramatically boosting the efficiency of perovskite solar cells, potentially increasing conversion rates up to 31 percent. The discovery involves exploiting the unique properties of facets on individual grains in the crystalline material.
NERSC is optimizing 20 leading science applications for the new Cori system, set to arrive in July. The system will feature Intel's Xeon Phi Knights Landing processor, with optimizations focusing on thread scaling, vector parallelism and on-chip MCDRAM.
Chemists at Berkeley Lab have successfully created a bionic enzyme by replacing iron in muscle protein with iridium, enabling a new type of chemical reaction. The discovery opens the door to converting complex structures in biomass and natural gas into higher-value materials and molecules for pharmaceuticals.
A new mathematical framework developed by Robert Saye accurately resolves intricate fluid dynamics near evolving interfaces, allowing for the study of complex phenomena like bubble aeration and propeller blade optimization. High-order methods outperform low-order methods in accuracy and computing power.
The Materials Project has released a vast dataset of material properties, including 1,500 compounds and 21,000 organic molecules, to accelerate battery research. The data enables computationally driven design and discovery of new materials with improved performance and energy density.
Researchers developed a device that can absorb up to 90% of chemotherapy drugs in 25-30 minutes, reducing their circulation and potential harm. The system targets tumors with a concentrated dose while capturing the majority of drugs like a sponge, potentially improving treatment outcomes.
A recent study has found that copper is essential for breaking down fat cells, and its deficiency may be linked to obesity. The nutrient can be found in foods like oysters, leafy greens, mushrooms, seeds, nuts, and beans, with an estimated daily requirement of 700 micrograms.
A new study from the US Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory estimates that solar power could deliver $400 billion in environmental and public health benefits by 2050. The study finds that a high-penetration solar scenario would result in significant greenhouse-gas emissions reductions, air-pollution health and ...
The Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory will participate in a new National Microbiome Initiative to advance understanding of microbiome behavior and protect healthy microbiomes. The initiative aims to investigate fundamental principles governing microbiomes across ecosystems and develop new tools to study them.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab engineered a strain of bacteria that enables a one-pot method for producing advanced biofuels from plant material, simplifying the production process and potentially lowering costs. The breakthrough could help make biofuels a viable competitor to fossil fuels.
Scientists have discovered a tightly wound spiral molecular arrangement in liquid crystals, which could improve LCD performance and help unravel its formation. The study uses a pioneering X-ray technique to confirm the twisted structure, revealing unusual optical properties that warrant further research.
State RPS policies have contributed to over half of US renewable electricity growth since 2000. The report finds that RPS policies will require a substantial increase in US renewable electricity supplies by 2030.
Scientists with Berkeley Lab have demonstrated the ability to electrically generate and control valley electrons in a two-dimensional semiconductor, which could lead to faster and more energy-efficient computing technologies. The breakthrough enables future computer chips to process more information with less power.
A team led by Berkeley Lab scientist Gang Ren captured the first 3-D images of individual double-helix DNA segments attached to gold nanoparticles. The images reveal the flexible structure of the DNA segments, which could aid in building molecular devices for drug delivery, biological research, and electronic devices.
Berkeley Lab scientists discover a family of nature-inspired polymers that spontaneously assemble into hollow crystalline nanotubes in water. The nanotubes have uniform diameters and can be tuned for specific functions, opening up new possibilities for filtration, desalination, and more.
Berkeley Lab researchers discover organic molecules depress surface tension, enabling larger cloud droplets to form. This finding could improve the accuracy of climate change models predicting cooling effects of reflective clouds.
Researchers have made a major breakthrough in understanding how cells find the right DNA to copy, revealing the role of TFIID and its ability to recognize different sequences for different genes. This finding paves the way for understanding and treating various malignancies.
Scientists at Berkeley Lab have developed a device that enables NMR spectroscopy with hyperpolarized xenon gas to analyze molecular interactions in viscous solutions and fragile materials without disrupting their order. This breakthrough could help improve advanced polymers, filters, catalysts, and liquid-crystal displays.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed a new materials recipe for a battery-like hydrogen fuel cell, pushing its performance forward in key areas. The graphene-encapsulated magnesium crystals act as 'sponges' for hydrogen, offering a compact and safe way to store hydrogen.
Physicists have made breakthrough in understanding plasma turbulence that drives fusion energy, using high-resolution multi-scale simulations. The study resolves multiple turbulence instabilities and explains heat loss mismatch between theoretical predictions and experimental observations.
Scientists at Berkeley Lab have developed MIDI-STEM, a new method that improves images of light elements using fewer electrons. This technique allows for high-resolution views of lightweight atoms and materials with a mixture of heavy and light elements.