Researchers successfully controlled x-ray pulses using laser light, enabling new possibilities for quantum information storage and processing. This breakthrough has the potential to shape x-ray pulses on a femtosecond time scale.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed a method to design nanocomposites with desired properties, using a mix-and-match approach to combine materials on the nanoscale. This process enables new possibilities for electronic and energy technologies, including improved battery electrodes, photovoltaics, and electronic data storage.
A team of researchers has analyzed over 70,000 galaxies to test two modified gravity theories that aim to explain dark matter's effects on the universe. The study found that one theory, TeVeS, can be excluded due to large uncertainty in measurements, while another theory, f(R), still allows for exclusion of dark energy with current data.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have found a novel way to influence cancer cell behavior using physical forces, which may lead to new cancer treatments. The study reveals that the EphA2/ephrin-A1 receptor-ligand complex can sense mechanical properties of its environment.
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed a method to increase light-trapping in solar cells by using vertical arrays of silicon nanowires. This approach can potentially achieve higher efficiencies and lower costs, making it an attractive candidate for large-scale solar energy production.
Research reveals that a DNA interval in chromosome 9p21 increases the risk for coronary artery disease by regulating cell division genes, which can lead to vascular cell proliferation and narrowed coronary arteries. The study's findings suggest potential therapies targeting these genes could combat the disease.
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have made the closest look yet at kinesin protein's structural changes as it ferries molecules within cells. The high-resolution snapshots show kinesin moving up and down like a seesaw, propelled by an energy-giving compound called ATP.
A recent study has found that nicotine in third-hand smoke reacts with nitrous acid to produce dangerous carcinogens, posing a significant health risk to infants and toddlers. The researchers also discovered that even opening windows or using fans does not eliminate the hazard of third-hand smoke.
Researchers have developed MADmap, a new software tool that improves the mapping of the cosmic microwave background by accounting for noise in the data. The software uses a special code to weight and account for colored noise, which is a known characteristic of bolometers used to measure radiation at certain wavelengths.
A study found that black carbon aerosols from India are a major contributor to the decline in snow and ice cover on the Himalayan glaciers. The research suggests that greenhouse gases alone are insufficient to explain the melting, with black carbon contributing at least 30% of the impact.
Researchers at JBEI developed an Escherichia coli bacteria strain to produce biodiesel fuel and other chemicals directly from plant biomass, overcoming the limitations of traditional biofuel production. The microbes can efficiently convert biomass into fuels with minimal chemical modifications.
Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that introducing oxygen impurities into highly mismatched alloys can substantially enhance thermoelectric performance. This approach allows for the creation of materials with high thermopower and electric conductivity, promising a breakthrough in green energy production.
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed a copper-free version of click chemistry to label glycans in live mice, providing new insights into glycobiology and molecular imaging. The technique overcomes the toxicity issue of conventional copper-catalyzed reactions.
A new study extends gravitational lensing to smaller, older structures, improving understanding of dark matter distribution. Researchers use x-ray emissions to pinpoint galaxy cluster centers and measure total masses.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab developed a molecular worm algorithm to automatically analyze structures, speeding up material screening. The algorithm provides a realistic depiction of molecule geometry, allowing for more accurate predictions of catalysis and chemical reactions.
Wim Leemans, a physicist at the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, has won the 2009 E.O. Lawrence Award for his pioneering work in developing laser plasma wakefield accelerator technology. The award recognizes his scientific leadership and innovative contributions to advancing accelerator development.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have identified a new genetic mutation in the H1N1 flu virus that enables it to replicate in humans. The SR polymorphism mutation enhances polymerase activity and potentially pathogenesis of the virus in humans.
The facility will contain testbeds for building systems integration, allowing researchers to develop and validate technologies for N-ZEB. Berkeley Lab will work with industry partners to address key technical challenges and achieve aggressive energy savings.
Researchers from Berkeley Lab are measuring gas dispersion in Boston's subway system as part of a DHS study. The data will help develop next-generation biological and chemical agent detector systems, as well as inform planning for fires and other emergencies.
Scientists identified a rare type of star that likely exploded into the observed superbright supernova, SN 2007bi. The discovery reveals details about the extreme heat and pressure conditions in the star's core.
Researchers have uncovered the critical action shapshot of an enzyme known as the Rho transcription termination factor, a remarkable class of ring-shaped protein motors. The study reveals a rotary engine-like mechanism that enables the motor to selectively terminate transcription at discrete points along the genome.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab discovered a lead-free alternative to piezoelectric materials, bismuth ferrite, which enhances the piezoelectric effect under epitaxial strain. The study demonstrates reversible phase changes in thin films of bismuth ferrite, opening up new possibilities for devices and applications.
Researchers have engineered bowtie-shaped devices that focus and sort light in tiny spaces, enabling the creation of ultrafast detector arrays. By introducing asymmetry, scientists can control the plasmonic properties of these devices to produce filters with specific colors or energies.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab developed the first acoustic hyperlens, allowing for 8-fold magnification of sound-based imaging technologies. The device resolves details smaller than one sixth the length of the waves themselves, enabling new applications in medical ultrasound and underwater sonar.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed a method to control the assembly of nanoparticles into complex arrays using small molecules, enabling precise spatial distribution over multiple length scales. The technique uses block copolymers as a platform and can be directed by external stimuli such as light or heat.
Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's Accelerator and Fusion Research Division are making progress with their Neutralized Drift Compression Experiment-II (NDCX-II) accelerator, a specialized user facility designed to study warm dense matter. The NDCX-II can deliver high currents in short pulses of moderate energy, heati...
Berkeley researchers have imaged the human RISC-loading complex for the first time, proposing a model of how small RNA molecules target specific messenger RNAs for silencing and/or destruction. This work provides new insights into RNA interference mechanisms and has significant implications for gene regulation in humans.
A new technique called Hyper-SAGE amplifies MRI signals by up to 10,000 times, allowing for the detection of low concentrations of cancers and other clinical targets. This breakthrough enhances the sensitivity of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technology.
Researchers decipher missing piece of MRN complex, revealing how Nsb1 bends and channels molecules for homologous recombination. This discovery could lead to improved cancer treatments with fewer side effects.
BOSS is the largest survey in SDSS-III, measuring 1.4 million galaxies and 160,000 quasars to trace the details of the Universe's expansion history. The observation program will take five years and provide rich insights into cosmic structure and the contents of the Universe.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab independently confirmed the production of two individual nuclei of element 114, each with 114 protons but different numbers of neutrons. The discovery removes doubts about the validity of previous claims and paves the way for further exploration of superheavy elements.
A team of researchers has created the first full-star simulation of a white dwarf star's final hours leading up to a Type Ia supernova explosion. The simulations, run on supercomputers, provide detailed insights into the process and may be critical in understanding how these massive stellar explosions occur.
By applying strain to single-crystal vanadium oxide micro- and nanowires, researchers created phase inhomogeneity, a phenomenon critical to collective electronic behavior of correlated electron materials. This breakthrough could lead to designing and controlling phase inhomogeneity for future devices.
Researchers used light-activated proteins to pinpoint the neural cell responsible for a specific behavior in zebrafish, a breakthrough that could lead to new insights into biological systems and synthetic biology applications. This technique may also aid in optimizing biofuels and disease-fighting therapies.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab developed a technique to boost the electrical conductivity of nanorod crystals by 100,000 times using gold contacts. This method preserves the intrinsic semiconductor character of the starting nanocrystal, making it ideal for solar cells and energy production.
Researchers have observed single colloidal platinum nanocrystals growing in solution using liquid cell in situ transmission electron microscopy. The study reveals complex growth trajectories, including steady and spurt-like growth driven by coalescence events.
The Joint Dark Energy Mission aims to determine the nature of dark energy using three techniques: supernovae, weak gravitational lensing, and baryon acoustic oscillation. A new satellite design could revolutionize these methods, enabling precise measurements of expansion history.
Researchers create a method to image proteins at ultrafast speeds using x-ray pulses. The technique involves injecting tiny water droplets through a 'particle gun' into the path of bright, brief x-rays, which then diffract off the protein molecules.
Researchers have measured the largest effects of parity violation in an atom, using ytterbium-174 isotopes and detecting a hundred times larger effect than previous measurements in cesium atoms. The discovery promises significant advances in studying weak forces in the nucleus.
Berkeley Lab researchers produced non-toxic magnesium oxide nanocrystals that emit bright blue light, which could be used in bio-imaging or solid-state lighting. The nanocrystals also have the potential to play a role in long-term storage of carbon dioxide, a key technology for mitigating global warming.
Researchers have developed a new class of metamaterials that mimic celestial mechanics, allowing for the study of gravitational lensing and chaos in a lab setting. This breakthrough enables scientists to study relativity phenomena, such as gravitational lensing, in a controlled environment.
Researchers have developed a high-throughput protein pipeline that can analyze 40 proteins in weeks, compared to years with current techniques. This technique allows for the deciphering of extremophiles and better understanding of protein functions.
A new study reveals that the US is home to the fastest-growing wind power market worldwide, with a 60% increase in capacity additions in 2008. The report highlights the growth of wind projects across various states, including Texas, which leads the nation with over 7,000 MW of new wind capacity.
Researchers have found that a mutation in just one copy of the Bub1 gene can lead to aneuploidy in mice, increasing the risk of genetic disorders like Down syndrome and pregnancy loss. The study's findings suggest that age is also a contributing factor, with older female mice having fewer offspring.
Researchers have developed a new technique to track solubilization during an ionic liquid pretreatment of biomass, enabling rapid evaluation of various ionic liquids. The method uses auto-fluorescence and visualization techniques to monitor cellulose and lignin during the process.
Researchers have developed a new design for solar cells using arrays of nanoscale pillars, each a single crystal, to efficiently convert light into charge-carrying electrons. The efficiency of the test device was measured at six percent, which is higher than most photovoltaic devices based on nanostructured materials.
A team of scientists used PALM microscopy to show that bacterial membrane proteins can spontaneously form clusters without being actively distributed. The researchers found that random lateral protein diffusion and protein-protein interactions generate complex, ordered patterns in the chemotaxis network.
Researchers observed chemical changes in Desulfovibrio vulgaris cells as they endured air exposure, enabling some to survive through orchestrated metabolic events. This study provides a new window into bacterial adaptation and processes.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley have discovered a mild and relatively inexpensive procedure for removing oxygen from biomass, potentially replacing traditional petrochemical feedstocks. The formic acid treatment converts glycerol into allyl alcohol, used to manufacture polymers, drugs, and other chemical products.
Researchers have developed bio-friendly nanocrystals that act as individual investigators of activity within a cell. These nanocrystals can track proteins in real-time, allowing for the study of biomolecules one at a time. The breakthrough has significant implications for understanding complex biological systems.