Spending on utility-funded energy efficiency programs will double by 2025, reaching $9.5 billion, as states in the Midwest and South expand their programs, driven by policies requiring cost-effective energy savings and energy efficiency resource standards.
Researchers found that the critical transcription factor TFIID can co-exist in two distinct structural states, enabling recognition and binding to DNA sequences. This discovery provides new insight into gene expression regulation, a process crucial for growth, development, health, and survival of all organisms.
A Type Ia supernova with a redshift of 1.71, dating back 10 billion years, has been detected using the Hubble Space Telescope's data by the Supernova Cosmology Project. This discovery provides valuable insights into the expansion history of the universe and the nature of dark energy.
Scientists found that impure domains in polymer-based organic photovoltaic cells can lead to improved performances if made sufficiently small. By studying the trifecta of ALS beamlines, they discovered a happy medium between purity and domain size that should be easier to achieve than ultra-high purity.
Scientists at Berkeley Lab have identified a persistent error in computer simulations of molecular-scale motion, known as 'shadow work.' By accounting for this error, accurate calculations can be recovered. The research has implications for fields such as medical and biological research, new materials, and quantum mechanics.
Researchers at JBEI identified the first enzyme capable of boosting galactan in plant cell walls, increasing the amount of sugars that can be fermented into fuels. This discovery provides an important new tool for engineering advanced bioenergy fuel crops.
Researchers developed an elegant and powerful new microscale actuator based on vanadium dioxide material, which expands and contracts in response to temperature variations. The actuators are smaller than human hair width and offer large force and displacement, suitable for biological and microfluidic applications.
Berkeley Lab scientists develop a blood test that can detect radiation exposure, measure dose, and separate individuals with inflammation injuries in hours. The test uses biochemical markers from eight DNA-repair genes.
The insurance industry is taking a proactive role in addressing climate change by managing risks and investing in emission-reduction technologies. The sector has developed new products and services to encourage sustainable practices, such as energy-efficient homes and renewable energy investments.
Researchers found that even three-nanometer-sized nanocrystals can suffer from dislocation-mediated plastic deformation when subjected to stress. This challenges the long-held assumption that ultrafine nanocrystals are defect-free.
Researchers have developed a real-time CT-scan test rig for ceramic composites at ultrahigh temperatures, enabling the analysis of mechanical properties and microcrack damage. The test rig provides crucial information to predict ceramic composite structural integrity and safe lifetime.
Six Berkeley Lab scientists, from various divisions, were elected APS Fellows in 2012 for their outstanding research and contributions to the physics enterprise. These individuals represent a high count for a single institution, with only half of one percent of APS members being elected as Fellows annually.
Researchers developed a new nanotech tool to probe solar-energy conversion, revealing exquisite chemical details with a resolution thought impossible. The tool combines scan/probe microscopy and optical spectroscopy, enabling scientists to examine nanoscale chemistry and interactions with light.
Researchers found that nitrous oxide emissions in California may account for 8% of total greenhouse gas emissions, with a potential impact on the state's 2020 emission reduction targets. The study used a new method combining atmospheric measurements and model predictions to estimate N2O levels.
The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation has awarded a $2.1 million grant to the University of California at Berkeley's Berkeley Center for Cosmological Physics to advance dark energy research through the BigBOSS project. BigBOSS aims to study dark energy with unprecedented precision using revolutionary technologies.
Susan Celniker, a leading expert in genomic analysis of Drosophila, and Wim Leemans, a world leader in laser plasma acceleration, have been named AAAS Fellows for their outstanding contributions to science. They were recognized by their peers for their pioneering work in genomics, genetics, and laser-plasma particle beam research.
The installed price of US solar photovoltaic systems decreased by 11-14% in 2011 and 3-7% in California's first half of 2012. Module prices fell precipitously since 2008, while non-module costs like installation labor and marketing declined by 30% from 1998 to 2011.
Metallic glass alloys are three times stronger than industrial steel but have variable breaking points due to preparation method. Researchers developed a novel computational technique that simulates and predicts the breaking points of metallic glasses, shedding light on their mechanical properties.
The U.S. Department of Energy's ESnet has deployed the world's fastest science network, serving national laboratories, universities, and research institutions at 100 gigabits per second. This upgrade accelerates discovery in fields like energy, climate science, and cosmology by enabling faster data sharing and analysis.
The BOSS survey maps quasars to study dark energy, revealing a new era of the universe's expansion history. By analyzing the Lyman-alpha forest, scientists can measure BAO and calibrate the rate of expansion.
Joint BioEnergy Institute researchers identify a gene in rice plants that improves extraction of xylan and release of sugars needed for biofuels by over 60%. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient production of advanced biofuels.
Researchers have designed a compound that suppresses symptoms of Huntington's disease in mice by targeting mitochondria, potentially leading to new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. The synthetic antioxidant XJB-5-131 improves mitochondrial function and enhances neuron survival.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab discovered that protein-folding funnels can also apply to self-assembly of multiple proteins. The findings provide important guidelines for future biomimicry efforts, particularly in device fabrication and nanoscale synthesis.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab's Accelerator and Fusion Research Division develop a new method to measure the energy spread of electron beams in laser plasma accelerators. The experiment finds that local energy spread can be as small as half a percent, enabling more precise control over the beam.
PaR-PaR allows researchers to create complicated protocols for robots within an hour after minimal training. The language is based on computer science principles and enables sharing of robotic protocols across laboratories.
Researchers found that high indoor CO2 concentrations can impair people's decision-making performance, particularly in schools and other spaces with high occupant density. The study used a novel test to assess cognitive performance, revealing large reductions in decision-making ability at CO2 levels of 1,000 ppm.
Researchers identified tissue mechanisms that may increase a woman's risk of breast cancer after exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation. Gene expression profiles show women with specific gene expressions are more likely to survive breast cancer, while others are at higher risk.
Researchers used HARPES to investigate the bulk electronic structure of GaMnAs, finding evidence that two prevailing mechanisms co-exist to give rise to ferromagnetism. This breakthrough provides a better fundamental understanding of electronic interactions in dilute magnetic semiconductors.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab develop a new technique to create sustainable heterogenized homogeneous nanocatalysts with high reactivity and selectivity. This breakthrough combines the best properties of both heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysts, enabling control over product distribution in industrial chemistry processes.
Researchers have developed an adaptor that makes genetic engineering of microbial components more predictable, converting regulators of translation into regulators of transcription in Escherichia coli. This allows for the construction of increasingly complex functions in microorganisms, enabling safer and more efficient production of e...
Scientists have proposed an experimental design for building a space-time crystal, a four-dimensional crystal that can study complex physical properties and behaviors. The device would be used to study phenomena like entanglement, where particles are connected even at vast distances.
DECam, the most powerful sky survey instrument built, relies on Berkeley Lab's red-sensitive astronomical CCDs for exceptional sensitivity and resolution. This collaboration has enabled scientists to collect images of distant galaxies and measure the expansion history of the universe with unprecedented precision.
Researchers have created the first detailed 3D model of the PRC2 protein complex, shedding light on its role in embryonic development and cancer. The model reveals how PRC2 interacts with chromatin and other proteins to regulate gene expression.
Dr. Jay Keasling has made significant contributions to synthetic biology, engineering microbial factories to produce affordable antimalarial drugs and biofuels. His work has improved the lives of millions of people in impoverished areas, making him a true science hero.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab identify protein FAM83A as a key player in breast cancer's resistance to widely used cancer therapy EGFR-TKIs. The discovery may provide new insights into the mechanisms behind this resistance and pave the way for novel therapeutic targets.
Researchers found that aerosol particles in the Amazon rainforest, including those containing organic compounds and terpenes, often have high levels of potassium salts. These salts play a crucial role in cloud formation by providing seeds for liquid droplets to condense on.
Electron mobility in iron oxide is crucial for understanding chemical reaction mechanisms, including uranium groundwater reactions and low-cost solar energy devices. The study reveals the rates of electron transport vary depending on iron oxide structure, with rates ranging from a single hop to five hops per nanosecond.
Researchers developed a comprehensive model to describe molecular bonding, enabling predictions of binding free energy and resolving past inconsistencies. The new model provides a clear means for measuring this key parameter, critical for understanding material interactions.
Researchers successfully probed the effects of light on matter at the atomic scale by mixing x-ray and optical light waves. This technique allows them to directly measure how light manipulates chemical bonds in materials, enabling new insights into light-matter interactions.
A study by Berkeley Lab scientists found that older men who consume more vitamin C, E, folate, and zinc have less sperm DNA damage. This suggests that adequate micronutrient intake can help counteract the detrimental effects of aging on sperm genome health.
Astronomers collected evidence indicating that the progenitor system of a Type 1a supernova contains a red giant star. The discovery provides an explanation for why these events vary slightly from galaxy to galaxy, refining the accuracy of cosmic measurements.
Researchers have developed a computational model that accurately simulates the interactions between flue gases and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for capturing greenhouse gases. The model enables the prediction of properties of open-site MOFs, which could dramatically lower energy costs in coal-burning power plants.
Scientists at Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley have made the first direct observations of distinctly quantum optical effects - amplification and squeezing - in an optomechanical system. The findings point toward low-power quantum optical devices and enhanced detection of gravitational waves.
Despite looming policy uncertainty, the US wind power market expanded rapidly in 2011, with new installations exceeding 6.8 GW and contributing $14 billion in investment. The study predicts continued strong growth in 2012 but warns of significant layoffs if demand for turbines does not pick up after 2012.
The Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) has released its first public data, providing spectra for 535,995 galaxies, 102,100 quasars, and 116,474 stars. This dataset will help track the universe's expansion history, probing gravity and dark energy.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have discovered that magnetic vortex formations in ferromagnetic nanodisks exhibit asymmetric behavior, breaking the symmetry required for vortex-based data storage devices. This finding challenges the potential application of these vortices in non-volatile Random Access Memory (RAM) systems.
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have made the first direct observations of electron-electron interactions in graphene. The study reveals that these interactions are critical to graphene's extraordinary properties, including its superconductivity and high-speed conductivity.
The BELLA laser system has delivered a petawatt of power in a pulse just 40 femtoseconds long at a pulse rate of one hertz, a world record for laser performance. This achievement enables the creation of compact particle accelerators and tabletop free electron lasers for investigating materials and biological systems.
The new SFPV technology allows for the creation of high-quality p-n junctions in semiconductors that are difficult to dope by conventional chemical methods. Researchers demonstrate the effect in configurations using copper oxide and silicon, achieving stable electrically contacted p-n junctions.
Researchers mapped ferroelectric structural distortions in individual nanocrystals using the world's most powerful transmission electron microscope. The study indicates that a monodomain ferroelectric state remains stable down to dimensions of less than 10 nanometers, and room-temperature polarization flipping was demonstrated down to ...