Researchers have captured a molecular mechanism behind the water splitting reaction of photosynthesis using nanoscale imaging and chemical analysis. The study could help inform the design of artificial photosynthetic systems producing clean and renewable energy from sunlight and water.
A team of scientists from Stanford University has developed a gene-targeting, antiviral agent against COVID-19 using CRISPR technology. The system delivers PAC-MAN into lung cells, neutralizing the coronavirus and stopping it from replicating inside cells.
New research evaluates how US wind plant performance changes with age, finding that older plants experience relatively low levels of decline in peak performance compared to European fleets. Fungi food choices study reveals enzymes used for breaking down plant cell walls can be mass-produced and used in industrial processes.
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory launch three new projects to quantify and reduce the carbon intensity of agriculture. The projects aim to increase yield while decreasing emissions, making biofuel production more sustainable and profitable for farmers.
Researchers have discovered a potential coronavirus therapy using structural biology and X-ray crystallography. The study revealed that antibodies derived from SARS survivors can potently block entry of SARS-CoV-2 into host cells, with one candidate antibody showing promising results.
Scientists have observed long-lived plasmons in a new class of conducting transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) called quasi 2D crystals. The study reveals that these plasmons could enhance light intensity by more than 10 million times, opening the door for renewable chemistry and electronic materials controlled by light.
Researchers propose refocusing dark matter detector efforts to seek out newly suggested types of dark matter signals that may have been overlooked. This includes absorption-related processes and energy signatures in the MeV range, which could be more common than previously detected signals.
The study reveals that despite its widespread distribution, the cotton genome is remarkably stable, with only minor differences between species. This knowledge can inform breeding practices and improve crop yields.
Researchers are using high-efficiency mrixS to study oxygen atoms and metal states in battery electrodes. The technique helps detect chemical states, track electron movement, and measure degradation, leading to improved battery performance.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed a technique to produce atomic-scale 3D images of nanoparticles, enabling precise measurement of their atomic positions. They also created an antiferromagnetic switch for computer memory and processing applications, revolutionizing spin-based electronics.
Biofuels have yet to reach cost parity with conventional petroleum fuels, but engineers can engineer plants to produce valuable chemical compounds as they grow. A new study defines the optimal amount of bioproducts plants need to produce for a cost-effective process, promising cheaper alternatives to petroleum fuels.
An international team of scientists has proposed a method to design climate-resilient energy systems. The study found that urban areas are expected to hold more than two-thirds of the world's population by 2050, and distributed energy systems will play a vital role in climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab are developing fiber optic sensors to monitor offshore wind operations and underground natural gas storage. These sensors aim to detect issues such as gearbox failure and marine mammal activity, improving the reliability and safety of these systems.
Researchers develop new technique to analyze X-ray telescope observations of 'empty' space within Milky Way galaxy, finding no evidence for 3.5 keV line associated with dark matter decay. The study's results limit simple models of dark matter and pave the way for future discoveries.
Scientists at Berkeley Lab have discovered a natural mosquito-killing compound that could lead to safer and more effective anti-mosquito products. Researchers have also made progress on developing fast-charging batteries and created a new library of artificial antibodies with molecular precision.
A team of Berkeley Lab cosmologists, led by George Stein and Uros Seljak, developed a code that best identified a mock signal hidden in simulated particle-collision data. Their efficient machine learning tool, called sliced iterative optimal transport, can run on a simple desktop or laptop computer.
A team of scientists has developed a nature-inspired design for artificial photosynthesis, capable of generating large sources of renewable energy using CO2. The system consists of nanoscale tubes that mimic the structure of living photosynthetic cells, allowing for efficient conversion of sunlight into fuel.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab developed a graphene-based transducer that converts electric signals into sound with efficiency and control. The technology has the potential to revolutionize audio products, offering crystal-clear sound quality and improved performance.
A study of 4,788 child-parent pairs and 2,380 siblings found that 36-58% of coffee intake is genetically determined, with environmental factors influencing the amount consumed. The correlation between parent's and offspring's coffee drinking increased with each quantile, suggesting a complex interplay between genetics and environment.
Researchers have developed a graphene system that combines superconducting, insulating, and ferromagnetic properties, enabling new physics experiments and potential applications in quantum computing. The device was created using an ultrathin trilayer graphene structure with boron nitride layers.
Researchers found that hydroxyl radicals have a surprising partner in crime - Criegee intermediate. This new pathway could help explain age-related diseases and cancer, as well as how food decomposes over time. The study points to an unexpected link between atmospheric chemistry and our bodies' ability to ward off disease.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab uncover mechanisms behind dinosaur blood vessel preservation and identify diverse giant viruses worldwide. The study uses X-ray imaging and spectromicroscopy to demonstrate how soft tissue structures may be preserved in dinosaur bones.
A pilot project with high school students in Florida's Everglades inspired a hands-on learning experience in microbiology. The students collected soil samples and analyzed DNA sequences, leading to the publication of their data in a reputable scientific journal.
A recent study led by JGI uncovered a broad diversity of large and giant viruses belonging to the NCLDV supergroup. The genomes of these viruses are significantly larger than previously known, with some being up to 100 times the size of typical viruses.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab demonstrate a 'photo-thermal' solar umbrella that can double evaporation rates in polluted wastewater, reducing the environmental impact of settling ponds. The device uses mid-infrared light to absorb and retain heat, enhancing evaporation rates by more than 100%.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have made significant strides in developing a novel cancer drug that targets KRAS gene mutations, as well as chelating heavy metals with artificial proteins. Additionally, scientists have discovered a natural mechanism in human tooth enamel that prevents cracks from forming, allowing teeth to last a lifetime.
Scientists at Berkeley Lab developed a tool to harness atomic flaws in diamonds to create ultrasensitive sensors for measuring electric and magnetic fields. They successfully measured phase transitions and pressure-induced phase changes, opening up new avenues for materials research.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab successfully image the atomic structure of peptoid nanosheets using cryo-EM, a breakthrough that could advance applications such as synthetic antibodies and self-repairing membranes. The study demonstrates unprecedented atomic precision and paves the way for designing soft materials at the atomic scale.
A new study by Berkeley Lab suggests that the East Asian Monsoon will shift geographically as the climate warms, leading to less rainfall in certain regions. The researchers used global climate models to investigate changes in the Hadley cell, resulting in a contraction of monsoon rains towards the equator during summer months.
Researchers used physics-informed generative adversarial networks (GANs) to model subsurface flow in the Hanford Site, achieving exaflop performance. The approach enabled estimation of hydraulic conductivity and hydraulic head with high accuracy, overcoming the limitations of traditional methods.
Etalumis, a probabilistic programming framework, has been developed to control existing simulators and run on large-scale HPC platforms. It enables researchers to interpret vast volumes of experimental data by essentially 'reversing' simulations, bringing new insights into complex physics problems.
Researchers have successfully demonstrated how machine-learning tools can improve the stability of light beams' size for experiments by adjusting parameters that largely cancel out fluctuations. The technique has been shown to reduce beam width errors from a few percent down to 0.4 percent, with submicron precision.
Researchers develop a versatile yet affordable battery membrane technology using AquaPIMs, enabling long-lasting and low-cost grid batteries. The new membrane reduces costs by eliminating expensive fluorinated polymer membranes, making flow batteries more viable for widespread adoption.
A team of scientists has developed a synthetic-molecule-based approach to isolate prion proteins in body fluids, paving the way for quick, noninvasive detection. The test also detects misfolded proteins associated with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
A crowdsourcing game called Foldit allows players to design protein structures that are reproduced in labs, showing their accuracy. Researchers also discovered how cooking affects the gut microbiome and found a new material to remove toxic sulfur dioxide gas.
A team of microbiologists developed CRAGE to study and produce secondary metabolites, compounds produced by microbes for internal and external messaging. The technique allows scientists to access these compounds more readily than before, filling significant gaps in our understanding of microbial interactions.
Researchers create biofuel precursors from municipal waste and discover unique optical phenomena in moire superlattices. A new model uses cellphone data to improve urban building occupancy estimates, aiming to enhance energy efficiency.
Scientists have identified thousands of novel messenger proteins in human microbiomes, which could lead to new medicines. A new TB drug has been approved, offering hope for treatment-resistant forms of the disease.
Researchers at EMSL and JGI selected proposals to study the impact of warming on soil microbial responses, algal photosynthesis, and plant-microbe interactions. The studies aim to understand how underground processes influence global nutrient cycles, with potential implications for climate change feedbacks.
A new study by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory used supercomputers to analyze the effects of wildfires on hydrological changes in a California watershed. The research found that post-wildfire conditions resulted in greater winter snowpack and subsequent summer runoff, as well as increased groundwater storage.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have identified a new possible pathway for forming carbon structures in space, shedding light on a radical wrinkle in complex carbon molecule formation. The study used a portable chemical reactor and X-rays to produce ringed molecules known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
Researchers used X-ray imaging and nanoscale techniques to analyze the chemical processes involved in aging oil paints. The study found that metal soaps can cause deterioration in artworks, particularly those composed of oil paints. The findings have implications for art conservation and potential solutions to prevent further damage.
Research predicts a 25% decline in evergreen conifer trees and a nearly doubling of broadleaf deciduous trees by 2100. This shift will have significant ecological and climatic implications for the entire ecosystem and carbon cycle.
A new study reveals that phosphorus-deficient soils reduced projected carbon dioxide uptake by 50% in the Amazon compared to current estimates. The Amazon Basin plays a critical role in mitigating climate change, but outdated assumptions have been used in models, leading to inaccurate predictions.
A new study by Berkeley Lab researchers found that cool roofs could protect urbanites from heat waves, reducing air temperatures and bringing down heat wave exposures by 35 million each year. The study predicts that heat waves will become two to 10 times more frequent across California's cities by mid-century.
A Berkeley Lab-led team used quantum annealing to solve a tough math problem that stumps even the world's most powerful supercomputers. The algorithm can evaluate multiple variables simultaneously and return the correct solution, potentially revolutionizing fields like systems engineering and operations research.
Researchers from Berkeley Lab and universities explored human evolution by studying chromosome regions. They discovered massive genetic material in centromere-proximal regions, including unique variation in genes that shape our sense of smell. Meanwhile, scientists created new spiraling crystals made of stacked layers of germanium sulf...
Researchers developed an algorithm that can identify a certain type of bacterial viruses called inoviruses, significantly expanding their known diversity. The tool was trained on a reference dataset and combed through over 70,000 microbial and metagenome datasets, ultimately identifying more than 10,000 inovirus-like sequences.
Researchers developed an affordable sensor network to track black carbon, a significant contributor to global warming and adverse health outcomes. The study found sharp variations in black carbon levels over short distances and time spans, with truck activity associated with high concentrations.
Researchers have created a new material that is both liquid and magnetic, allowing for the creation of printable liquid devices with potential applications in artificial cells and flexible electronics. The droplets can change shape to adapt to their surroundings and are preserved even when divided into smaller droplets.