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DOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory


When matter melts

Researchers compare theory with data from STAR experiment to establish the temperature boundary where ordinary matter and quark-gluon plasma cross over. The team also finds that the highly dynamical systems of gold-gold collisions achieve thermal equilibrium.

Biological circuits for synthetic biology

Researchers aim to create biological circuits using RNA molecules for the engineering of programmable genetic networks. They have successfully eliminated protein requirements and developed a system that can sense RNA input and synthesize output signals, performing logic operations and regulating multiple genes. This breakthrough has si...

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 26, 2011

California's energy future: Aggressive efficiency and electrification needed to cut emissions

A joint report from Berkeley Lab suggests California can achieve 60% emissions reduction with current technology, while the remaining 20% will require advancements in technologies like artificial photosynthesis and fusion energy. The report recommends electrifying as much as possible, increasing efficiency measures, and changing human ...

Sharpening the nanofocus

Researchers at Berkeley Lab demonstrated antenna-enhanced gas sensing at the single particle level using a palladium nanoparticle on a gold nanoantenna. The technique amplifies plasmonic sensing signals, eliminating statistical characteristics and offering noninvasive, biocompatible applications.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalNature Materials·DateMay 17, 2011

Starting a new metabolic path

Researchers at JBEI have developed a technique called targeted proteomics that enables the rapid identification and quantification of specific proteins in cells or microbes. This technique can help identify bottlenecks in metabolic pathways, leading to improved efficiency and productivity in biofuel and therapeutic drug production.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalMetabolic Engineering·DateApr 20, 2011

New kid on the plasmonic block

Researchers at Berkeley Lab have demonstrated localized surface plasmon resonances in doped semiconductor quantum dots, opening up possibilities for plasmonic sensing and manipulation of solid-state processes. This discovery extends the range of candidate materials for plasmonics to include semiconductors, offering advantages such as d...

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalNature Materials·DateApr 18, 2011

Closing in on the pseudogap

A team of scientists has found that the pseudogap in high-temperature superconductors is not a gradual transition to superconductivity, but rather a distinct phase of matter. This discovery challenges current understanding and opens up new possibilities for achieving superconductivity at higher temperatures.

Enhancing the magnetism

Researchers at Berkeley Lab have enhanced spontaneous magnetization in special versions of bismuth ferrite, creating a stable nanoscale mixture of rhombohedral and tetragonal phases. This allows for electric control of magnetization at room temperature, opening the door to spintronic devices.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 18, 2011

Getting organized: Berkeley Lab study shows how breast cell communities organize into breast tissue

Researchers discovered that human mammary epithelial cells possess lineage-specific intrinsic abilities to self-organize into domains of lineage specificity, maintaining healthy bi-layered branching organization. The study provides insights into the coordination of stem cell differentiation and tissue architecture maintenance.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 11, 2011

Firefly glow: Berkeley Lab scientists develop a hydrogen peroxide probe based on firefly luciferin

Researchers have developed a new bioluminescent probe that enables real-time detection of hydrogen peroxide levels in mice, allowing for the tracking of infectious diseases or cancerous tumors without harm. The PCL-1 probe has provided evidence that hydrogen peroxide is continuously produced even in healthy animals.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 11, 2011

Challenges for biofuels: New life cycle assessment report from Energy Biosciences Institute

A new life cycle assessment report from the Energy Biosciences Institute identifies seven grand challenges for biofuels, including understanding farmers, feedstock options, and land use, as well as characterizing tailpipe emissions and their health consequences. The report aims to provide a comprehensive framework for evaluating the en...

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalACS Chemical Biology·DateFeb 9, 2011

A second pathway for antidepressants

Researchers at Berkeley Lab developed a fluorescent assay that reveals the mechanism of how fluoxetine inhibits TREK1 potassium channels, a key target for antidepressants. The study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying depression and opens up potential avenues for developing improved treatments.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 7, 2011

GRIN plasmonics

GRIN plasmonics combines transformation optics and plasmonics to control strongly confined light waves. The technique uses an isotropic dielectric material on a metal substrate to create efficient plasmonic devices, including Luneburg and Eaton lenses.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateJan 24, 2011