The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) has successfully developed a robotic suite capable of servicing satellites in orbit, enabling resilience for the US space infrastructure. The Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites Integrated Robotic Payload (IRP) will enable satellite upgrades and repairs, reducing complexity and cost.
A NRL multi-disciplinary team developed a nonvolatile and reversible procedure to control single photon emission purity in monolayer tungsten disulfide by integrating it with a ferroelectric material. This novel heterostructure introduces a new paradigm for control of quantum emitters.
Researchers use high-resolution mass spectrometry to analyze fuels and complex petroleum products, revealing compositional changes in weathered crude oil. The studies provide useful information for oil spill cleanup and exposure concerns, and may lead to significant advancements in fuel formulation and handling.
Researchers have identified a new class of semiconductor nanocrystals with bright ground-state excitons, overcoming the dark exciton problem. This discovery could revolutionize the development of highly efficient light-emitting devices and other optoelectronic technologies.
Amaris McCarver and her team discovered a millisecond pulsar, GLIMPSE-C01A, in the stellar cluster Glimpse-CO1 using VLITE images and archival data. This finding holds potential for establishing a celestial GPS system for satellite navigation in space.
The WISPR team has imaged turbulent eddies, or Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities (KHI), in solar transients for the first time. These structures are thought to occur regularly at the interface of fluid flows when the right conditions arise.
Researchers have created a new quantum algorithm, CVQE, that can simulate electronic systems and study physical properties. This breakthrough could lead to faster calculations and more accurate predictions in materials science and chemistry.
Researchers at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) have made a significant advancement in optical computing by employing distributed feedback in optical fibers. This approach offers scalability to process multiple neurons simultaneously while maintaining high-speed performance and energy efficiency.
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory has discovered nearly 300 gamma-ray pulsars, transforming the field of pulsar research with more than 15 years of data from Fermi. These cosmic clocks have been used in experiments to search for gravitational waves and study their origins.
Scientists have detected solar-wind hydrogen in lunar samples, indicating that water on the Moon's surface may provide a vital resource for future lunar bases and longer-range space exploration. Hydrogen has the potential to be used directly on the lunar surface when there are more regular or permanent installations.
A team of astronomers and astrophysicists detected and localized a fast radio burst using the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder, providing vital information on its origins. The detection was part of an international effort that improved understanding of fast radio bursts in distant galaxies.
Researchers developed SARS-CoV-2 nanoparticle probes to track host cell surface Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) binding and endocytosis. These non-infectious probes enable real-time tracking of viral attachment and effects on cells, offering a powerful system for studying COVID-19 mechanisms.
Researchers at the Naval Research Laboratory created a new type of electronic component that surpasses the speed of 5G networks. The gallium nitride-based resonant tunneling diode displays record current outputs and switching speeds, enabling applications in millimeter-wave region and terahertz frequencies.
Researchers at NRL have discovered a new platform for quantum technologies by suspending two-dimensional (2-D) crystals over pores in a slab of gold. This approach may help develop new materials for secure communication and sensing technologies based on unique atomic laws.
Researchers at US Naval Research Laboratory developed a new technique that enables precise control over quantum dot wavelengths, paving the way for breakthroughs in quantum information technologies and brain-inspired computing. This achievement could lead to new technologies that harness the strange properties of quantum physics for co...
Scientists at NRL discovered a new method to passivate defects in next generation optical materials, improving optical quality and enabling miniaturization of light emitting diodes. The technique produces a 100-fold increase in material's optical emission efficiency, paving the way for high-efficiency optoelectronic devices.
Scientists have developed a method to directly write quantum light sources into monolayer semiconductors, enabling precise placement and real-time design of arbitrary patterns of single photon emitters. This breakthrough paves the way for emerging applications in secure communications, sensing, and quantum computation.
Scientists at NRL have developed a chip-based beam steering technology that steers laser light in two dimensions without mechanical devices, offering improved steering capability and higher scan speed rates. The new technology has potential applications in chemical sensing, monitoring emissions, and other industrial facilities.
Researchers at Naval Research Laboratory have discovered a new material that emits light much faster than conventional materials, enabling larger power, lower energy use, and faster switching for communication and sensors. The discovery could lead to 20 times more intense LEDs and lasers.
Researchers at NRL have developed a method to reduce optical losses in hexagonal boron nitride devices, enabling more efficient lasers and nanoscale optics. This breakthrough has significant applications for ultra-high resolution microscopes, solar energy harvesting, optical computing, and targeted medical therapies.
An international team detected radio frequency emission from colliding neutron stars, providing the longest-lasting electromagnetic signature. The discovery uses a new VHF/UHF receiver system and VLITE instrument to track the source's evolution.
Researchers at the Naval Research Laboratory have discovered a new phase change mechanism in monolayer Transition Metal Dichalcogenides (TMDs) that can be used to create highly sensitive chemical vapor sensors. The sensors can detect nerve agents and explosives with high selectivity and sensitivity.
Researchers found a high prevalence of resistant bacteria strains in Kenyan individuals, with agriculture and prophylactic use of antibiotics contributing to the issue. The study suggests the need for effective public health policies and improved infection control measures.
Researchers at NRL's Chemistry Division developed a 3-D Zn sponge replacing powdered zinc anode in Ni-Zn batteries. The battery provides energy content and rechargeability rivaling lithium-ion while avoiding safety issues.
A team of astronomers using ALMA observed a supermassive black hole at the center of galaxy Abell 2597 feeding on chaotic downpour of cold, clumpy clouds. The discovery provides evidence for 'cold, chaotic accretion', a process that challenges traditional models of how black holes grow.
Scientists at NRL devised a novel combination to achieve uniform nanometer-thick shell on core particles, regardless of core size. This breakthrough technology creates new designer core/shell particles for multifunctional nanocomposites.
Researchers at the US Naval Research Laboratory have developed luminescent nanoparticles to image brain function, enabling real-time mapping of neural connections. The nanoparticles, specifically quantum dots, can track action potential changes with high fidelity and are ideal for interfacing with neurons.
Physicists create quantum dots with identical, deterministic sizes using a scanning tunneling microscope. This achievement opens the door to quantum dot architectures free from uncontrolled variations.
The NRL research team has developed a method to fabricate nanocrystalline spinel that is 50% harder than current spinel armor materials, offering improved protection and weight savings. The new material demonstrates increased hardness even at extremely small grain sizes, making it suitable for high-performance applications.
The Special Sensor Ultraviolet Limb Imager (SSULI) will provide accurate measurements of the upper atmosphere and ionosphere, useful for warfighter applications. The launch improves space weather forecasting, enabling better prediction of signals transmitted or reflected, influencing radar and communication systems.
Scientists at NRL detected water vapor in the atmosphere of tau Boo b, a hot Jupiter outside our solar system. The team measured the motion of the planet to establish its presence and determined it's six times more massive than Jupiter.
The Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Deepwater Horizon oil spill model accurately predicted shoreline oil impact, utilizing Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS). By combining satellite images with ocean circulation models, NRL developed BioCast to forecast water clarity and contaminant distribution.
Dr. Jeremy Robinson, a researcher at the Naval Research Laboratory, has won the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers for his groundbreaking work on graphene. He is building on his brother's research to develop new sensors and applications for nanoelectronic communication.
The STP-H4 payload complement includes three NRL experiments: SWATS, MARS, and GLADIS, which will investigate space weather and its impact on military and civilian systems. The experiments aim to improve forecasting capabilities and provide two-way communications for various sensor arrays.
The NRL-developed MIGHTI instrument will measure neutral winds and temperatures in the Earth's low-latitude thermosphere. The ICON mission aims to understand space weather events' impact on the ionosphere.
Researchers observed rapid transport of exhaust plume from final space shuttle launch to the Arctic, forming unusually bright polar mesospheric clouds. The findings are critical for improving forecasts of communication signal propagation and over-the-horizon-radar.
The NRL has developed a humanoid robot called the Shipboard Autonomous Firefighting Robot (SAFFiR) to fight fires on ships. The robot features enhanced multi-modal sensor technology, allowing it to navigate through narrow passages and interact with humans.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics have created a high-precision map of the Milky Way's magnetic field using radio observations from over 30 researchers and 41,000 measurements. The map reveals both large-scale and small-scale features of the Galactic magnetic field, including turbulence in the gas.
The 'sloshing' motion in the hot gas cloud of Abell 2052 helps redistribute heavy elements and limits star formation, while also affecting the growth of the galaxy's supermassive black hole. The Chandra observations provide insights into the complex interactions within the galaxy cluster.
The NRL SoloHI instrument will study coronal mass ejections and their effects on the solar wind, impacting power lines, satellite communications, and cell phone service. The Solar Orbiter mission will provide scientists with increased understanding of the Sun's influence on its environment and the solar dynamo.
The NRL-developed MIGHTI satellite instrument is part of the ICON mission to study the Earth's ionosphere and its impact on communications. The ICON mission aims to understand the extreme variability in the ionosphere, which can interfere with signals.
Scientists at NRL refurbish VAULT2.0 to double its cadence and reduce noise, enabling higher-resolution Lyα imaging of the solar chromosphere-corona interface. This will help uncover clues on coronal heating and provide valuable insights for future space missions.
Researchers at NRL demonstrate electrical injection, detection and precession of spin accumulation in silicon at temperatures up to 225°C, overcoming a major obstacle for spin-based devices. The findings provide key enabling steps for developing semiconductor spintronics that offer higher performance and lower power consumption.
The article reports on audio recordings of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker captured by Dr. Michael Collins, which match historical descriptions. The footage shows characteristics consistent with the species, including a large crest and rared-back posture.
Researchers at NRL have demonstrated the polarization of graphene's valley degree of freedom through scattering off a naturally occurring line defect, offering a potential path to valleytronics. This discovery could lead to more robust and efficient electronic devices.
The STEREO spacecraft provide a 360-degree view of the Sun, allowing NRL researchers to map its entire atmosphere continuously. This capability enables them to study the solar corona and inner heliosphere in unprecedented detail, shedding light on the evolution and structure of the solar atmosphere.
Researchers at NRL have discovered the nature of interactions between water-soluble semi-conductor quantum dots and dopamine, revealing a new way to detect changes in solution pH. The nano-scale sensor can visualize pH changes inside cells.
The Solar Probe Plus mission will explore the sun's corona and solar wind in unprecedented detail. The NRL's Wide-field Imager will provide direct measurements of the plasma and create 3-D images of clouds and shocks.
The Virtual Mission Operations Center (VMOC) enables approved users to request satellite services instantly, prioritized based on operational intent. The system reduces the need for a 'man in the loop', improving satellite utilization and command speed.
Physicists at the Naval Research Laboratory and University of Wisconsin-Madison predict that certain silicon surfaces can exhibit intrinsic magnetism, thanks to self-assembly processes. This discovery has the potential to enable single-spin magnetoelectronics, which could revolutionize memory and logic devices.