Researchers used X-ray microscopy to analyze lithium batteries and employed machine learning to speed up the learning curve about process that shortens battery life. Infrared microscopy also goes off-grid with new technique, enabling time-sensitive experiments and broadening biological spectromicroscopy scope.
India aims to quintuple wind and solar energy capacity by 2030, which could hold greenhouse gas emissions at 2018 levels while nearly doubling electricity supply. Researchers also discover a hidden charge-generating pathway in copper-phthalocyanine:fullerene material for more efficient sunlight conversion.
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have discovered that gold atoms undergo rapid, reversible nucleation processes before forming stable crystals. Using advanced electron microscopy, they observed individual atoms falling apart and reorganizing multiple times before establishing a stable nucleus.
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have demonstrated how a world-leading electron microscope can image actinide samples as small as a nanogram, reducing costs and radiation exposure. This breakthrough allows for the investigation of other actinides and advances new materials for radiation cancer therapy.
Researchers used cosmic microwave background data to map location and density of missing baryons around galaxy groups. The measurements reveal that these halos extend up to 6 million light-years from their center, challenging previous models.
Researchers from Berkeley Lab analyze total cost of ownership of electric and diesel long-haul trucks, finding electric trucks have a 13% per mile lower total cost of ownership. The study also shows future reductions in battery costs could reduce the difference to 50% per mile by 2030.
A recent study by Berkeley Lab scientists confirms the hypothesis that a protein called ORF8 holds the answer to understanding how the new strain of coronavirus evolved. Meanwhile, a new report assesses the economic costs of widespread power outages and finds that utilities rarely account for direct and indirect costs.
COSMIC, a multipurpose X-ray instrument at Berkeley Lab's Advanced Light Source, has made groundbreaking contributions in fields ranging from batteries to biominerals. It offers world-leading soft X-ray microscopy resolution below 10 nanometers and extreme chemical sensitivity.
A research team led by Berkeley Lab has captured high-resolution videos of nanoparticles forming solid-like layers at the interface between oil and water. The findings could help optimize liquid structures for advanced biomedical applications such as drug discovery and targeted cancer treatment.
A Berkeley Lab team successfully simulated a complex aspect of particle collisions using a quantum algorithm, accounting for neglected quantum effects. The researchers' approach meshes quantum and classical computing, allowing for efficient resources and improved accuracy.
A team of Berkeley Lab chemists have characterized some properties of einsteinium, overcoming obstacles to report the first study. They measured the bond distance and discovered physical chemistry behavior different from expectations, gaining a better understanding of the actinide series.
A mouse study suggests that the genetic contribution to anxiety is partially mediated by the gut microbiome. Researchers used 3D X-ray imaging to gain new insights into the reproductive biology of tsetse flies, which carry a deadly parasite that causes African sleeping sickness.
Researchers developed multiple feasible technology pathways to achieve carbon-neutrality by 2050, with cost estimates ranging from 0.2% to 1.2% of GDP. The study suggests increasing energy efficiency, switching to electric technologies, and deploying clean electricity can help meet this goal.
Researchers have produced a high-quality reference sequence of the complex switchgrass genome using samples from 10 experimental gardens across eight states. This allows breeders to test what genes affect the plant's adaptability to various environmental conditions and associate climate adaptations with switchgrass biology.
A new test can identify chromosomal mutations in sperm produced after chemotherapy and radiation treatments, which may affect fertility and child health. The AM8 FISH protocol measures aneuploidy and other chromosomal aberrations in treated sperm, providing a potential tool for men seeking to have children.
Researchers detected high-energy X-ray emissions around a group of neutron stars, known as the Magnificent 7, which could be attributed to theorized axions or dark matter. The study uses supercomputing and data analysis to predict axion production in neutron star cores.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have launched a comprehensive resource on carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies and policies to mitigate climate change. The CDR Primer provides an overview of various techniques, including sequestering carbon in soil through improved agricultural practices.
A new class of crystalline material called avalanching nanoparticles (ANPs) overcomes the diffraction limit without heavy computation or a super-resolution microscope. ANPs enable real-time high-resolution bioimaging of cells' organelles and proteins, as well as ultrasensitive optical sensors and neuromorphic computing.
A team of researchers determined the atomic structure of a coronavirus protein thought to aid in evading human immune cells. The structural map enabled investigations into how SARS-CoV-2 ravages the human body and laid groundwork for targeted antiviral treatments.
Researchers developed a framework to evaluate climate change adaptations for water and energy systems, finding that conserving water can alleviate electricity grid stress. The study applied this framework to California, highlighting two possible adaptation pathways: one energy-intensive and another that saves both water and energy.
Researchers have designed an effective material for speeding up the extraction of hydrogen from alcohols, using earth-abundant metals instead of precious ones. The catalyst, made from tiny clusters of nickel metal, accelerates the reaction efficiently and cleanly.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed new methods for producing cerium-134, a radioisotope that could serve as a tunable PET imaging surrogate for several alpha-emitting therapeutic isotopes. This breakthrough enables the creation of single molecular systems for both diagnosing and treating cancer in real time.
Researchers have developed an efficient method to study phage-microbe interactions, which can reveal bacterial receptors exploited by phages and cellular mechanisms used to respond to infection. The approach has implications for understanding microbiomes, developing new medicines and addressing antibiotic-resistant infections.
Berkeley Lab researchers have developed a machine learning model that can design structures with desired optical properties, speeding up the process by at least two to three orders of magnitude. The CUORE experiment has collected a record-breaking dataset for a 'neutrinoless' experiment, surpassing previous experiments by about 10 times.
A new material called ZIOS has been designed to capture copper ions from wastewater with unprecedented precision and speed. The material selectively removes copper, a contaminant linked to disease and organ failure, without removing desirable ions or nutrients.
Scientists create one-dimensional array of individual molecules and precisely control its electronic structure. By manipulating individual molecules, they can create alternating charge patterns, allowing for information transfer in tiny circuits.
Researchers have developed a method to modify microbes for efficient production of compounds using computational models and CRISPR-based gene editing. This approach speeds up the research and development phase, enabling faster commercialization of sustainable bio-based products.
A public repository of 52,515 microbial draft genomes has been made available, revealing 44% new bacterial and archaeal diversity. The GEM catalog provides a valuable resource for understanding the biology and diversity of uncultivated microbes.
Researchers discovered that targeted financial incentives, leasing models, and property-assessed clean energy financing increase solar adoption equity in low- and middle-income households. This expansion can lead to a spillover effect, making surrounding neighborhoods more likely to adopt solar as well.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed a precision photon source made from an atomically thin semiconducting material, enabling the generation of single, identical photons. This breakthrough could aid in developing secure and fast quantum communication networks.
A new computer algorithm improves the quality of 3D molecular structure maps generated with cryo-electron microscopy, enabling researchers to determine atomic-level structural models. The algorithm enhances map resolution and visibility, particularly for complex biological molecules.
Researchers used picosecond time-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to study electron transfer between gold and titanium dioxide nanoparticles. They found two electrons transferred from gold to titanium dioxide, with only one in 1,000 photons generating an electron-hole pair.
Researchers have developed a new technique to fabricate tiny circuits from ultrathin materials for next-generation electronics. Plants are being engineered to produce new molecules with enhanced properties, while lignin is transformed into a precursor for a useful chemical with wide range of applications
Berkeley Lab scientists develop a tool using machine learning algorithms to guide synthetic biology development systematically. The Automated Recommendation Tool (ART) predicts how changes in a cell's DNA or biochemistry will affect its behavior and recommends the next engineering cycle.
The Quantum Systems Accelerator will harness quantum information science for discoveries that benefit the world and accelerate commercialization. The center will co-design solutions needed to build working quantum systems outperforming today's computers.
A Berkeley Lab study predicts warmer California temperatures will impact cool-season crops like broccoli and lettuce, while warm-season crops like tomatoes may require relocation. The research aims to ensure food security by predicting future climate conditions and informing agricultural response strategies.
The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded Berkeley Lab $1.6 million over three years to develop a superconducting magnet system for cancer treatment, while another project aims to advance rapid-fire laser technology for particle colliders and tabletop accelerators.
Berkeley Lab researchers introduce isolated defects to a type of commercially available thin film, creating a top-performing energy storage material. The new material has more than twice the energy storage density of previously reported values and 50% higher efficiencies.
Four low-cost air quality monitors provided actionable information during wildfire events, with correlations to reference monitors being 'phenomenally good.' However, the devices required adjustments and checks to use their numbers, with an estimated adjustment factor of 0.48 for PurpleAir PA-II monitors.
A Berkeley Lab study finds that California's winter precipitation will become 50% more variable by 2100, affecting agriculture, flood control, and water resource management. The MJO, a global rainfall pattern, is expected to transfer its precipitation-related atmospheric conditions to the West Coast via changes in strong winds.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab and JCAP develop new technique to map out nanoscale changes in bismuth vanadate, leading to improved oxygen production and reduced degradation. The study provides insight into the material's properties and their impact on water-splitting reactions.
A comprehensive catalogue of human genome's molecular elements has been produced by the ENCODE collaboration, providing insights into potential regulatory regions. The resource will help all human biology research moving forward, particularly in understanding genetic variants and their functions.
Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory are working to develop technology for efficient lithium extraction from geothermal brine in California. The projects aim to unlock the state's potential as a major supplier of lithium, essential for battery production and global demand is expected to skyrocket.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab used Advanced Light Source to produce 3D reconstructions of magnetization patterns in two rare meteorite samples. The study reveals a parent body with both melted and unmelted parts, pointing to a large planetesimal with a molten metallic core.
Researchers developed a new soft electrolyte that suppresses lithium dendrites, allowing for longer cycle life and improved safety. The technology enables the production of high-energy density batteries for electric aircraft and long-range electric cars.
Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that copper catalysts are superior to purely metallic-origin catalysts in producing ethylene after oxygen is depleted. The team developed a method to 'reactivate' the catalyst by re-adding and re-removing oxygen, improving efficiency.
A Berkeley Lab-led team has gained insight into bacterial DNA packing, enabling potential control over microbial behavior. Researchers at JBEI have developed synthetic biology tools unlocking complex plant engineering, allowing for more sophisticated traits in plants. High-performance windows with reduced energy consumption will be ins...
A team of scientists at Berkeley Lab has discovered a new form of the element mendelevium, creating the lightest known isotope, mendelevium-244. The discovery was made using the lab's 88-Inch Cyclotron and provides evidence for the existence of two separate decay chains with half-lives of 0.4 seconds and 6 seconds.
Researchers have discovered how XPG binds to and reshapes damaged DNA, illuminating its role in maintaining genetic stability. The protein's unique 'sculpting' activity allows it to bend DNA, recruiting proteins to fix damage, and may help prevent cancer by supporting homologous recombination.
Researchers characterized carp scales using X-ray imaging, revealing a toughening mechanism called adaptive reorientation. The study's findings may inspire the design of advanced synthetic materials.