Articles tagged with National Laboratories
Common bacteria can turn microgears by swimming in a suspended solution, providing insights into design of hybrid biomechanical systems driven by microorganisms. The speed and direction of gear rotation can be controlled by manipulating oxygen levels.
A pilot project in Sequim, Wash., uses NASA satellites and sensors to predict daily river flow with higher accuracy. This helps regional natural resource managers assess the abundance of water resources.
Scientists have discovered how bacteria survive in rock environments, enabling the potential for bio-batteries powered by animal waste and cleaning up oil spills. The 'rock-breathing' bacteria can construct tiny biological wires to conduct electrons to minerals, generating electricity.
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.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory are developing a way to control the Casimir force, which attracts objects at the nanoscale. The goal is to limit its attractive properties and make it repulsive, enabling frictionless motion through nanolevitation for novel NEMS devices.
Researchers produced single-molecule resolution images of peptide-mineral interaction, revealing mechanisms that molecules use to bind to surfaces. Peptides slow down or speed up crystal growth depending on conditions, offering potential solutions for pathological mineralization and kidney stone treatment.
The US is losing its leadership in discovering and growing new crystalline materials due to a decline in industrial research labs and foreign investment. The National Academy report highlights the Ames Laboratory as a center for new materials research and training ground for young researchers.
Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory have achieved world-record energies in laser-accelerated particles, accelerating protons to 254 million miles per hour. The technique has potential applications in cancer treatment and is expected to contribute to future advances in modern cancer radiotherapy.
Researchers are developing a new imaging technique to detect tissue damage in breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy. Preliminary results show that the technique can identify changes in skin tissue days before severe reactions occur, potentially allowing for preventative treatment and improved patient outcomes.
The Linac Coherent Light Source has embarked on pioneering research in physics, structural biology, energy science, chemistry, and more. Researchers have successfully observed atomic physics phenomena with unprecedented detail, creating stop-action movies of molecules in motion.
A team led by Case Western Reserve University physicist Tom Shutt is planning the world's largest WIMP catcher, a 20-ton liquid xenon detector that could increase detection chances by 30,000 times. The experiment aims to confirm the dark matter theory and understand the universe's composition.
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...
The IBEX mission reveals a 'noodle soup' of solar material at the outer fringes of the heliosphere bubble, with an arc-shaped ribbon of high-pressure material. The discovery challenges model predictions and provides key information about the properties of the interstellar cloud.
A feasibility study on new carbon capture and storage technology has been funded for the $140 billion pulp, paper and paperboard industry. The study aims to assess the potential for safely storing CO2 in deep underground basalt formations.
A team of scientists led by Giday WoldeGabriel has discovered the oldest nearly intact Ardipithecus ramidus skeleton, dating back 4.4 million years. The fossil provides significant insights into the early stages of human evolution and challenges existing theories.
Researchers discovered how bacteria convert methylmercury into a less-toxic form, a trait that lets them survive in mercury-rich environments. Understanding this mechanism may be a viable way to combat methylmercury pollution.
Researchers found that adding graphene to titanium dioxide-based batteries enhances their performance, with electrodes containing graphene charging and discharging faster than those without. This breakthrough could lead to the development of more efficient lithium-ion batteries using inexpensive materials.
The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will lead a $6.8 million study to examine the environmental impacts of marine and hydrokinetic power. The project will investigate risks to wildlife and habitats, conduct laboratory and field experiments, and predict long-term effects.
UC San Diego researcher Hoanh Vu is working on a three-year grant project to study laser-plasma interactions for safe nuclear ignition. His research could lead to the development of nuclear fusion as an alternative energy source, increasing safety and security in nuclear stockpile stewardship.
Researchers have enhanced a technique using algae as sentinels to detect toxins in municipal water supplies, showing broader applications and real-world results. The technology can be applied across various environments, even when algae are starved for nutrients.
The Obama administration has allocated over $327 million in Recovery Act funding to support scientific research, instrumentation, and laboratory infrastructure projects at ten DOE national laboratories across six states. This funding will create new jobs while maintaining the US's scientific leadership and economic competitiveness.
The Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has received over $5 million to advance climate research and analyze smart power grids. The new initiatives will provide vital funding and tools for researchers, integrating climate and power grid analyses to inform science-informed decisions.
The EMSL's Chinook supercomputer, commissioned for research, can perform over 160 trillion calculations per second, ranking it among the world's top 40 fastest computers. It will aid in understanding complex biological, chemical, and physical processes to address environmental and energy challenges.
The US Department of Energy's national laboratories have won 46 R&D 100 Awards for their exceptional work in technology transfer and innovation. These awards recognize the department's commitment to advancing energy security, environmental protection, and economic growth.
Researchers at PNNL developed acoustic tags to measure salmon survival rates and a hydro model to direct fish away from predators. These technologies aid in improving salmon passage at Columbia Basin's hydroelectric dams.
PNNL has won two R&D 100 Awards for its PowerPuck technology, which harnesses environmental heat to create sustainable electrical power. The laboratory also developed an ultrasensitive ESI-MS Source & Interface, increasing sensitivity in human health studies and enabling precise measurements of chemical compounds.
Scientists at PNNL have developed a new method for capturing more heat from low-temperature geothermal resources, enabling virtually pollution-free electrical energy generation. The approach uses biphasic fluid and nanostructured metal-organic heat carriers to boost power generation capacity.
Physicist Ivan Vitev, a leading expert in quantum chromodynamics, receives PECASE for his work on quark-gluon plasma properties. His research has been used to study the universe's conditions after the Big Bang.
Two Brookhaven Lab scientists, Jason Graetz and Paul Sorensen, have been recognized for their pioneering research in hydrogen storage and heavy-ion collisions. Graetz's work focuses on developing new materials with improved hydrogen-storage properties, while Sorensen's research explores the properties and phases of quark-gluon plasma.
Alexandre Tartakovsky's research on subsurface flow aims to clean up buried nuclear or toxic contaminants and store carbon dioxide from fossil fuels underground. His models help researchers trap contaminants and transform them into harmless minerals.
A new study aims to improve understanding of plutonium transport in groundwater, which is crucial for addressing radionuclide contamination at Department of Energy (DOE) sites. The research will use advanced techniques to measure minute amounts of plutonium and identify geochemical processes controlling its mobility.
A computer model developed by four US national laboratories helps airport authorities screen passengers for pandemic influenza, estimating false negatives and assessing risk. The simulation suggests key factors to reduce the spread of disease, including pre-flight screening, symptom testing on arrival, and advances in diagnostics.
The US Department of Energy has announced a $777 million initiative to fund 46 Energy Frontier Research Centers, including one at Caltech led by Harry Atwater. The center will focus on understanding light-material interactions for optimal solar energy conversion.
The report assesses challenges in simulating the national power grid due to changing energy needs, intermittent renewable sources, and smart grid technologies. The study aims to devise ways to solve grid congestion issues and improve efficiency, with potential benefits for consumers and the environment.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have made significant contributions to optimization problems, dynamical systems theory, and climate change modeling. The duo was named Fellow by the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) for their work on software development and numerical methods.
The Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) has named 183 individuals as Fellows for their significant impact on the fields of applied mathematics and computational science. These professionals have made substantial contributions to various areas, including number theory, partial differential equations, and algorithm design.
The Smart Charger Controller automatically recharges electric vehicles during times of least cost to the consumer and lower demand for power. Widespread use of these devices could help advance a smart power grid and reduce the nation's dependency on oil.
The Department of Energy has established a new Energy Frontier Research Center at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to study catalysis for solar energy and fuel cells. The center will be led by chemist Morris Bullock and will focus on grand challenges in converting electrical energy into chemical bonds and back again.
The US Department of Energy has funded a research center at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to study carbon storage underground. The Center aims to develop new technologies to sequester CO2 and manage fluid dynamics, chemical interactions, and biological reactions in the subsurface.
Scientists have decoded the structure of a needlelike protein complex on Shigella bacteria, essential for infection, revealing new insights into the mechanism of bacterial injection systems that could lead to new drugs.
Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory have discovered a potential weakness in the cell walls of certain plant materials, making them vulnerable to enzymatic attack. This insight could lead to an economical and viable process for producing biofuels from biomass.
The Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) produces the world's brightest X-ray laser, allowing researchers to capture molecular details with unprecedented resolution. This technology has far-reaching implications for medicine, energy research, and other fields.
Lead from human activities causes clouds to form at warmer temperatures with less water, altering rain and snow patterns. The presence of lead also changes the distribution and density of clouds, affecting the amount of earth's heat that escapes into space.
ESnet4 network provides highly reliable, high-bandwidth connectivity to support and advance the US scientific community. The award recognizes ESnet's efforts to meet the increasingly data-intensive demands of the DOE research community.
Researchers at Argonne's Leadership Computing Facility are continually seeking ways to further reduce the power needed to operate supercomputers. By leveraging the Chicago area's cold climate to chill water used for cooling, they save up to $25,000 per month in electricity costs. The team is also experimenting with varying chilled wate...
Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory have created a 'family tree' of genes expressed in woody and herbaceous plants, uncovering clues for engineering plants more efficient for biofuel production. They identified 94 and 61 genes that may carry the genetic instructions for making enzymes controlling cell-wall modification.
A novel compound called azelaic acid has been identified as a primer for the plant's immune system, leading to increased systemic plant immunity and disease resistance. The discovery was made by researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Chicago.
Scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory have developed a DNA-based assembly line for predictable, high-precision nano-construction, enabling the rapid assembly of new biosensors and solar cells. By controlling DNA interactions, they can regulate interparticle distances and assemble nano-objects into complex structures.
Researchers from PNNL found that nitrogen-doped anatase titanium dioxide can split water using visible light, while rutile cannot. This discovery could lead to more efficient hydrogen fuel production and environmental cleanup methods.
The DOE Office of Science will receive $1.2 billion in funding to support major construction, laboratory infrastructure, and research initiatives. This investment will create thousands of jobs and accelerate new technology development, while modernizing the nation's scientific infrastructure.
Researchers used high-intensity X-rays to examine the interaction between shockwaves and liquid jets, providing insights into combustion efficiency and emissions. The discovery may lead to advances in internal combustion engines and industrial applications.
The research, led by Johan Bollen, created a high-resolution graphic depiction of the virtual trails scientists leave behind when they retrieve information from online services. The map reveals unexpected relations between scientific domains and emerging relationships capturing the collective interest of the scientific community.
A team of researchers has discovered a way to turn the electrical resistance of a molecular junction 'on' and 'off' by manipulating its orientation, paving the way for the development of nanoscale electronic devices. The findings could lead to the creation of reliable switches for next-generation electronics.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have identified the mechanism behind EuO's increased magnetic ordering temperature when subjected to pressure. This discovery paves the way for manipulating material properties through strain or chemical substitutions, aiming to reach room temperature.
A team of researchers has created a solid-state metamaterial device that can modulate tiny waves of radiation in the terahertz range, setting a standard for performance. The device, which is controlled electronically, can process terahertz frequencies 30 times faster and with greater precision than conventional optical devices.
BioSET and Brookhaven Lab have patented a synthetic peptide, B2A, that enhances bone growth in spine fusion surgeries. The peptide is used in a combination medical device called AMPLEX, which has shown promising results in preclinical studies.
The Department of Homeland Security has accepted PNNL to test and evaluate commercially available radiation detectors through its new GRaDER program. This will ensure emergency responders have the best tools available to detect radiation.
Choong-Seock Chang, a NYU researcher, has received a massive DOE award to simulate plasma behavior on the world's most powerful computer. His goal is to advance research in plasma fusion, which could provide environmentally safe electricity for over a million years.
Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have found a way for massive stars to grow despite radiation pressure that should prevent it. Gravitational instabilities cause companion stars to form around massive stars, allowing them to feed on gas and dust.
A team of researchers has illuminated the structure of reactive oxygen species in a vital enzyme using a unique light-based probing technique. The study reveals details about flavoproteins involved in biochemical reactions, including oxygen activation, which is essential for energy conversion in animals and plants.