Researchers used simulations to determine ice VII's melting temperature in high-pressure conditions, finding a molecular solid phase below 450,000 atmospheres and a superionic solid phase above. This discovery opens up possibilities for water existing as a solid in Neptune, Uranus, and Earth's deep interiors.
Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have developed a new technique that enables creating detailed high-resolution images of cellular molecules. The method uses high-energy X-ray beams and complex algorithms to overcome current technology limitations.
Scientists have achieved a breakthrough in materials science by taking a detailed snapshot of nanoscale structures using the Lab's Dynamic Transmission Electron Microscope (DTEM). The study reveals brief changes in structure during cooling, providing insight into the formation mechanism of reactive multilayer foils.
LLNL scientists have successfully added unique green solvents to an explosive called TATB, improving crystal quality and chemical purity. This breakthrough aims to create safer explosives with reduced violent reactions.
Scientists have found that certain nanostructures are more susceptible to failure by fracture at specific sizes. This is due to phonon confinement, which affects thermal transport and electronic processes. The study provides valuable information for designing stable nanostructures with reduced fracture energy.
Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have created a 3D image of the material referred to as 'liquid smoke,' also known as aerogel. The study reveals that the lattice structure within aerogel is weaker than expected, with a blob and beam structure explaining its low density.
Scientists use a method developed for detecting underground nuclear tests to identify mine collapses and detect additional surface seismic waves. The new technique compares model seismograms to observed data, helping to differentiate between collapse events and other seismic activities.
Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have developed a new technique to visualize high-frequency acoustic waves in nanostructures, such as LED lights. By combining molecular dynamics simulations with terahertz (THz) radiation, they can detect these waves and gain insights into the dynamics of crystals under ultra-high s...
Researchers used NMR to study water in single-walled carbon nanotubes, revealing distinct properties. The findings could lead to more efficient desalination and demineralization using carbon nanotube membranes.
Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have developed a new imaging technique that allows for the capture of ultra-fast dynamics of solid materials at the nanoscale. This breakthrough enables the study of previously inaccessible phenomena such as fracture, shock formation and phase growth.
A new study published in Nature finds that ocean temperatures and sea level increases between 1961 and 2003 were 50% larger than previously thought. The results show sea levels rose by 1.5 millimeters per year, equating to a 2-inch increase in ocean levels over 42 years.
A new study suggests that geoengineering schemes could lead to a decline in the intensity of the global water cycle. The research found that reducing sunlight through
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory scientists performed a 400-year high-resolution global ocean-atmosphere simulation using the Community Climate System Model (CCSM). The study achieved substantial improvements in simulated surface winds and sea surface temperatures, as well as improved tropical variability and Arctic sea ice thick...
Researchers have developed a cubic-meter-scale antineutrino detector that can quickly and precisely monitor the operational status and thermal power of nuclear reactors over hour-to-month-time scales. This new tool provides a direct measurement of reactor performance, enabling nonproliferation efforts by detecting fissile material inve...
Scientists have identified two types of electromagnetic configurations in inertial confinement fusion implosions that affect dynamics and diagnosis. Researchers measured field strength and area densities using radiography with a pulsed monoenergetic proton source.
Scientists from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have pinpointed human-caused climate change as the cause of decreasing water flow in the West. The study found that warming temperatures and rising greenhouse gas levels are affecting snowpack, river flows, and ultimately, the water supply.
New research reveals that comet Wild 2's sample is missing ingredients expected in cometary IDPs and resembles chondritic meteorites from the asteroid belt. The high-speed capture of Stardust particles may have altered the material.
Recent research found California's temperatures have jumped statewide by more than 2.1 degrees Fahrenheit between 1915 and 2000, with the warming being fastest in late winter and early spring. The study suggests that natural causes alone cannot explain this trend and points to greenhouse gases and urbanization as contributing factors.
The analysis of noble gases in Stardust samples indicates that some particles match a special type of carbonaceous material found in meteorites and must have spent time near the sun. The study suggests an alternative mechanism for grain incorporation into comets, contradicting earlier formation theories.
Researchers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and MIT have created a quantum molecular dynamics simulation of a shocked explosive, revealing its chemical decomposition and transformation into a semi-metallic state. The study provides new insights into the microscopic properties of explosives during detonation.
Scientists have successfully measured the interaction between a single functional group and a carbon nanotube for the first time. The study found that the interaction strength depends on the electronic structure of the interacting molecule/CNT system, eliminating guesswork in designing new nanocomposite materials and devices.
Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory discovered a series of pressure-induced structural and electronic transitions in molten sodium, leading to a threefold drop in electrical conductivity. This unexpected behavior challenges traditional expectations of metals under extreme conditions.
A new study using a molecular clock indicates that smallpox evolved earlier than previously believed, with divergence times ranging from 16,000 to 68,000 years ago. The research provides a framework for studying the natural history of other diseases and suggests that local pools of old strains existed in geographically dispersed areas.
Scientists have located the spin transition zone of iron in Earth's lower mantle, a discovery that could improve our understanding of the planet's structure, composition, and dynamics. The study used advanced techniques to probe the electronic spin state of iron under high pressure-temperature conditions.
Researchers have identified human-induced changes in atmospheric moisture content using rigorous statistical methods. The study found that the atmosphere's water vapor content has increased by about 0.41 kg/m³ per decade since 1988, primarily due to human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.
A new study suggests that irrigation may not cool the globe in the future, contrary to previous findings. The research team analyzed temperature and irrigation trends in California's Central Valley and found a clear cooling effect in agricultural areas, but one that has recently slowed down.
Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory discovered that certain bacteria excrete proteins that aggregate metal nanoparticles, reducing their toxicity and mobility. This phenomenon could lead to the development of protein-based methods for cleaning up polluted environments on a larger scale.
Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have discovered the crystal structure of curium under pressure, revealing new insights into magnetically stabilized crystals. The study uses electron energy-loss spectroscopy and density functional theory to understand the electronic and magnetic structure of Cm.
A new study reveals the alterations in spore coat and germ cell wall that accompany transformation from a spore to a vegetative cell. Researchers used AFM to show the breakdown of spore coat structures, allowing a bacterium to emerge and reenter the replicating mode.
Researchers discovered the location and makeup of a pair of supermassive black holes in a galaxy collision, using adaptive optics to clear atmospheric distortion. The discovery sheds light on the coevolution of black holes and galaxies, with implications for understanding galaxy evolution and properties.
A new study suggests that tropical rainforests are crucial in slowing down global warming, while planting trees in mid- and high-latitude locations could exacerbate climate change. The research confirms that forests in these regions would not only fail to mitigate the effects of global warming but also potentially increase temperatures.
Livermore researchers have made the most accurate measurement of a nuclear isomer's excitation energy, a crucial step towards controlling its decay. This breakthrough could enable the use of isomers as high-energy density storage systems like batteries, and has implications for quantum computing, general relativity testing, and more.
A study found that warming temperatures since 1981 have caused annual losses of roughly $5 billion for major cereal crops. Global crop yields respond negatively to warmer temperatures, with a 3-5% drop in yield for each 1 degree Fahrenheit increase.
The analysis of Stardust particles from comet Wild 2 has revealed clues about the birth of our solar system, challenging some basic theories. The particles contain osbornite, a mineral that forms at high temperatures, indicating a volatile and dynamic environment during the solar system's infancy.
A new study reveals that planting trees can help slow down global warming, particularly in tropical rainforests where they absorb carbon dioxide and increase cloudiness. However, afforestation in mid- to high-latitude locations may actually create a net warming effect due to the albedo effect of forest canopies.
Using a free-electron laser, Livermore scientists captured single diffraction patterns of nanostructured objects before destruction and reconstructed images with features 50 nanometers in size. This 'lensless' imaging technique resolves 10 times smaller than optical microscopes.
Researchers created a mathematical code that describes how low-mass stars destroy helium-3 during evolution. This process resolves the discrepancy between helium-3 abundance and the Big Bang theory, providing insights into the universe's early stages.
Researchers observed atomic decay patterns to establish the existence of element 118, producing previously unknown isotopes. The discovery brings the total number of new elements discovered by the Livermore-Dubna collaboration to five.
Researchers have developed a new method to study materials under extreme conditions, revealing the evolution of high-strain-rate plasticity. The technique combines molecular dynamics simulations with experimental data from laser experiments, providing insights into metal deformation and material strength.
New research suggests that human-caused increases in greenhouse gases are directly linked to warming of tropical Atlantic and Pacific oceans, which contributes to hurricane intensity. The study used computer models to analyze SST changes in smaller hurricane formation regions.
The new barcode system uses biosensing nanowires with different metal stripes to detect a variety of pathogens. This technology can be used to identify sensitive single and multiplex immunoassays that simulate biowarfare agents, making it easier to detect bio threats in the field.
A study led by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory found a steady increase in sperm DNA fragmentation with increasing age of participants. Sperm motility showed a high correlation with DNA fragmentation, associated with increased risk of infertility.
Researchers have determined that gallium evens out the uneven bonds between plutonium atoms, leading to a stable high-symmetry cubic structure. The findings shed light on the nature of plutonium and improve confidence in its safety and reliability.
Researchers have created a membrane made of carbon nanotubes and silicon that can rapidly flow liquids and gases, making it a promising candidate for desalinization. The membrane's tiny pore size can block larger molecules, reducing energy costs by up to 75% compared to conventional membranes.
Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory discovered that three line defects in the crystal structure of metals create a stronger bond than when only two dislocations intersect. This finding has significant implications for hardening metals and could be applied to various industries, including construction and manufacturing.
The discovery of a blue ring around Uranus reveals similarities with Saturn's E ring, both associated with small moons. Researchers attribute the blue color to gravitational forces acting on dust particles that allow smaller ones to survive while larger ones are recaptured by the moon.
The MINOS collaboration has observed a significant fraction of muon neutrinos disappear, consistent with neutrino oscillation. This finding indicates that neutrinos have some mass, which helps explain how galaxies formed and the origin of matter in the universe.
Oxygen is essential for the development of complex biochemical networks that enable organisms to convert food into energy. The study found that even simple networks had anoxic pathways common to all life, but oxygen was necessary for higher life forms to evolve.
Recent changes in agricultural practices, such as more irrigation and higher yielding crops, can cool local temperatures by up to 4 degrees Fahrenheit. The study suggests that climate mitigation policies focusing only on carbon sequestration may be too simplistic.
Scientists have successfully created a novel class of metal nitrides made from noble metals, exhibiting unusual or unique properties. These new compounds may prove to be even more durable than current titanium nitrides used in the semiconductor industry.