Scientists at Berkeley Lab have provided the first 'unambiguous demonstration' of phonon-based lasers by observing coherent phonon transport in superlattices. This breakthrough could lead to new advances in heat transfer applications and the development of phonon lasers.
NERSC recognized four award recipients for their exceptional impact on scientific understanding and society. Victor Ovchinnikov was awarded an Early Career Award for his work on computational modeling of conformational transitions in large biological molecules.
Researchers studied how a protein complex called Mre11-Rad50 reshapes itself to take on different DNA-repair tasks, revealing insights into its dynamic structure and biological outcomes. The findings could guide the development of better cancer-fighting therapies and more effective gene therapies.
The National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center has accepted a new Cray XC30 supercomputer named Edison, designed for scientific productivity. The system features nearly 2.4 quadrillion floating-point operations per second and can handle both data analysis and simulation and modeling with equal efficiency.
Researchers have determined how Cas9, a bacterial enzyme, identifies and degrades foreign DNA during viral infections and induces site-specific genetic changes. The presence of short DNA sequences known as PAM is critical to the ability of Cas9 to target and cleave DNA sequences.
New research from Berkeley Lab and the National Runners' and Walkers' Health Study found that runners had a significantly lower risk of breast cancer mortality compared to walkers. Exceeding current exercise recommendations may provide greater protection, with runners experiencing a 40% reduction in risk per MET hour.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab developed a process-friendly technique to cool microprocessor chips using carbon nanotubes, improving heat transport efficiency by six-fold. The method, suitable for manufacturing computer chips, reduces thermal interface resistance and enhances cooling performance.
A new study by Berkeley Lab researchers found that white roofs are the most cost-effective option over a 50-year time span, with savings of $2 per square foot compared to black roofs. Green roofs, while more expensive upfront, offer environmental and amenity benefits that may mitigate their financial burden.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab created highly sensitive tactile sensors using composite films of carbon nanotubes and silver nanoparticles, 10 times more sensitive than previous pressure sensors. These e-whiskers can be integrated into various systems to enable robots to 'see' and 'feel' their surroundings.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have found a new form of quantum matter called a three-dimensional topological Dirac semi-metal (3DTDS) in sodium bismuthate, promising faster transistors and compact hard drives. The discovery features intriguing non-saturating linear magnetoresistance.
Researchers developed a new technique called SWARPES to study electronic properties at buried interfaces in metal oxides. This allows for the selective examination of subsurface interfaces with soft or hard x-rays.
Andrew Sessler, former Berkeley Lab Director, wins Fermi Award for his work on particle accelerators and storage rings. He is recognized for advancing the science and technology frontier in research and development.
The Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) has made the most precise calibration yet of the universe's 'standard ruler', measuring its scale to an accuracy of one percent. This precision is crucial for determining the nature of dark energy and understanding the expansion history of the universe.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have created a micro-sized robotic torsional muscle/motor made from vanadium dioxide, achieving unprecedented power density and speed. The device can catapult objects over 50 times its own weight with remarkable efficiency.
Berkeley Lab researchers show that aerobic glycolysis is not the consequence of cancerous activity but a cancerous event. Increased sugar uptake in breast cells activates oncogenic signaling pathways, leading to cancerous growth. The study provides possible new targets for diagnosis and therapeutics.
Berkeley Lab researchers find that microscopic fibers of lithium form in the electrolyte during cycling, causing short circuits and overheating. The team discovered subsurface structures underneath dendrites, revealing a clear path forward for enabling widespread use of lithium anodes.
Berkeley Lab researchers unveiled the first soluble single-layer 2D honeycomb SOFs with precise control over dimensionality, holding implications for sensing, separation, energy sciences, and biomimetics. The breakthrough uses non-covalent supramolecular interactions to maintain solubility in water.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab created a zero-index metamaterial that generates phase mismatch-free nonlinear light, holding promise for future quantum computing and networking. The material features a fishnet structure and has been shown to preserve optical momentum conservation in all directions.
A team of scientists at Berkeley Lab has developed a new material that exhibits the highest shape-memory effect ever recorded in an oxide material. This breakthrough discovery opens up exciting possibilities for future nanoelectromechanical devices and other state-of-the-art nanosystems.
Studies conducted by Berkeley Lab researchers suggest that methane emissions from oil and gas production may account for a significant portion of underestimated emissions in California and nationwide. The research found that methane emissions are 1.3 to 1.8 times higher than current official inventory estimates in California.
A team of researchers from Berkeley Lab has made the first in situ electronic structure observations of a metal-organic framework (MOF) as it adsorbs carbon dioxide gas. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of Near Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy in probing MOF chemistry and gas adsorption.
Scientists have observed 28 extremely high-energy events that confirm the presence of astrophysical neutrinos from outside our solar system. These findings suggest the existence of cosmic accelerators accelerating particles to energies above 50 trillion electron volts, exceeding the LHC's proton acceleration capabilities.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed a lithium-sulfur (Li/S) battery with more than twice the specific energy of lithium-ion batteries and up to 1,500 cycles without significant capacity loss. The battery's high performance makes it promising for electric vehicles with long driving ranges.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have revealed the origins of a 'stripe phase' in a material linked to superconductivity. By studying ultrafast optical techniques and X-ray scattering, they found that electrons become concentrated in stripes throughout the material, leading to an energy threshold for electrical currents.
The DOE has awarded $25.4 million to five leading companies for the development of next-generation supercomputers, advancing exascale computing technology vital to national security and scientific research. The partnerships will focus on designing energy-efficient, high-bandwidth interconnects for future HPC architectures.
Researchers have discovered a new class of bulk metallic glasses that exhibit enhanced fatigue endurance, thanks to a unique staircase-like fracture mechanism. This breakthrough paves the way for widespread adoption in industries such as smartphones, biomedical implants and aerospace engineering.
A rainforest microbe, Enterobacter lignolyticus SCF1, breaks down lignin by breathing it, potentially improving biofuel production. The microbe's enzymes degrade 56% of lignin in 48 hours, opening up new possibilities for efficient and sustainable biofuels.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed a technique to image individual carbon nanotubes, allowing for the characterization of their electronic and optical properties. This breakthrough enables the identification of specific species of nanotubes in functional devices, crucial for advancing nanotube technology.
Researchers have developed a new method to refine low-resolution X-ray crystallography data for biomolecules, combining PHENIX and Rosetta software. The new approach can aggressively optimize models to fit the data while presenting realistic geometry.
Researchers have recorded unprecedented observations of energy moving through diamond impurities, providing a starting point for new insights into critical electronic-state phenomena. The findings hold broad implications for magnetometry, quantum information, and sensing applications.
Berkeley Lab researchers design a programmable nanomaterial inspired by natural antibodies, capable of identifying diverse molecules. The new material resembles 'molecular Velcro' and has promising applications in chemical sensing and catalysis.
Researchers at Joint BioEnergy Institute create dynamic pathway regulation using stress-response promoters to improve chemical product production. This approach enables regulation of artificial metabolic pathways in response to toxic intermediate metabolites.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab identified thousands of enhancer sequences involved in craniofacial development, which regulate genes to fine-tune facial morphology. The study provides insights into the genetic drivers of normal craniofacial variation and may lead to better diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for birth defects.
A team of researchers from Berkeley Lab and the Scripps Research Institute used a new technique to study the role of MutS in DNA's mismatch repair system, providing new insight into genome integrity. The study validated the 'beads-on-a-string' model of DNA repair and revealed details about MutS that could be valuable for drug design an...
Researchers studied vanadium dioxide using ALS beamline 4.0.2 to investigate the origin of its metal-insulator transition, which could lead to faster and more energy-efficient electronic devices. The study identified roles for Pi-symmetry and delta-symmetry electron orbitals in controlling the transition.
Researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that upgrading airtightness to a uniform level could achieve as much as $33 billion in annual energy savings. Reaching the IECC standard would yield the most benefit, with significant energy cost savings and reduced airflow in homes.
Berkeley Lab researchers have developed a unique graphene liquid cell that enables the study of soft materials, including DNA and biological compounds. They have recorded the 3D motion of DNA connected to gold nanocrystals using transmission electron microscopy.
A team led by chemist Richard Saykally and theorist David Prendergast has observed contact pairing between guanidinium cations in aqueous solution, governed by water-binding energy. This phenomenon challenges the long-held assumption that like charges repel, suggesting a new understanding of ion interactions in water.
Researchers from China's Tsinghua University and the US Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have demonstrated high-temperature superconductivity in a topological insulator. This breakthrough is essential for creating 'fault-tolerant' quantum computers, which can solve complex problems much faster than current m...
Exposure to ionizing radiation during puberty increases the risk of developing aggressive ER negative breast cancers later in life. Researchers discovered that self-renewal of stem cells is the primary mechanism behind this increased risk.
Two new versions of a technoeconomic model for biofuels, incorporating latest state-of-the-art technologies, simulate critical factors in biorefinery process. The models enable researchers to concentrate efforts on cost-efficient biorefinery operations and explore promising strategies.
Researchers at the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis have developed a method to interface molecular hydrogen-producing catalysts with a semiconductor that absorbs visible light. This breakthrough enables the production of hydrogen fuel from sunlight without external electrical potential.
A comprehensive US study of over 50,000 home sales near 67 wind facilities found no measurable impact on nearby property values. The researchers controlled for various factors using sophisticated techniques, supporting previous findings that widespread impacts from wind turbines are likely to be small or non-existent.
Berkeley Lab researchers observed direct size-dependence in metal nanocrystal phase transformations during reactions with hydrogen gas. This discovery holds key findings for optimizing commercial applications, including hydrogen storage systems, catalysts, fuel cells, and batteries.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab used molecular dynamics simulations to study the onset of calcium carbonate formation, predicting the existence of a dense liquid form. This finding supports the aggregation-based mechanism of calcium carbonate formation and has implications for understanding the planet's carbon cycle.
The Daya Bay Collaboration has released new results on neutrino oscillation, measuring a key difference in neutrino masses known as mass splitting. The findings provide insight into the structure of matter and the evolution of the universe.
Researchers have designed a new material that can dynamically modify sunlight as it passes through a window, maximizing both energy savings and occupant comfort. The coating provides selective control over visible light and heat-producing near-infrared (NIR) light.
JBEI researchers have developed a one-pot process that combines pretreatment and saccharification into a single vat, eliminating the need for washing biomass and significantly simplifying downstream sugar recovery. The system achieved high glucose and xylose yields with minimal waste generation.
Researchers have discovered a unique new twist to the story of graphene, which appears to solve a long-standing problem in device development. The twist creates a new electronic structure in bilayer graphene, leading to surprisingly strong changes in its properties.
Scientists have developed a method to accurately predict the adsorptive properties of crystalline MTV-MOF systems, enabling the optimization of function and control of spatial disorder. The approach uses solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements with molecular-level computational simulations.