Articles tagged with National Laboratories
Scientists have found magnetic fluctuations responsible for superconductivity in a compound called plutonium-cobalt-pentagallium (PuCoGa5). This 'unconventional superconductivity' could lead to a new class of superconducting materials and the synthesis of room-temperature superconductors.
Researchers study electron hopping in magnetic materials to understand macroscopic effects and predict material properties. Techniques like inelastic x-ray scattering reveal energy needed for electron movement, which could lead to optimized spintronics and innovative technologies.
Researchers have identified materials with high charge mobility, crucial for flexible displays and electronic devices. By studying single crystal structures, scientists can now assess intrinsic electronic properties without external factors affecting results.
Scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory have developed a novel method for detecting fingerprints based on the chemical elements present in fingerprint residue. The technique, known as micro-X-ray fluorescence, detects sodium, potassium, and chlorine elements that are often present in human fingerprints.
Theoretical chemists aim to develop models for understanding electron donor/acceptor interactions in molecular systems. They study how the surrounding environment affects electrons' flow, with potential applications in improving photosynthesis and designing efficient solar cells.
Researchers have discovered a 62 million year fossil diversity cycle, with the history of life on Earth being shaped by this cycle. The cycle is also evident in extinctions and originations, with longer-lived genera resisting the cycle better than shorter-lived ones.
A new technique using micro-X-ray fluorescence (MXRF) rapidly reveals elemental composition of fingerprints, allowing for detection of chemical markers and revealing environmental clues. This non-destructive method could provide a valuable complement to traditional fingerprinting, particularly in tracking down missing children.
Researchers have made significant progress in understanding the causes of recent climate change, attributing warming to human influences. By analyzing climate models and observational records, scientists have identified key drivers of temperature changes, including greenhouse gases and solar irradiance.
The ARM Mobile Facility is a moveable, atmospheric-measuring suite designed to withstand temperatures from minus-40 to plus-120 degrees Fahrenheit. The station measures physical properties of air and heat radiating from clouds and the ground, providing critical information missing in climate models.
Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have successfully petrified wood in days, replicating the natural process that occurs over millions of years. The team used a novel method involving acid and silica to create a silicon carbide ceramic that retains the wood's architecture.
Researchers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have detected a unique 2175 Å wavelength feature in interstellar grains within interplanetary dust particles. The feature is carried by carbon and amorphous silicate grains, abundant in IDPs, which may help explain how some IDPs formed from interstellar materials.
Researchers discovered a large class of airborne particles that react with nitric acid to form calcium nitrate, altering sunlight reflection and cloud-altering properties. The newly formed particles can absorb water, scattering and absorbing sunlight, posing a new challenge for climate modelers.
Research on the Columbia River and estuary focuses on dredge entrainment, toxic compounds, and ecological impacts from Hanford nuclear materials production. Studies reveal loss estimates for Dungeness crab, elevated levels of toxic compounds in sediments, and effects on fall Chinook salmon survival and development.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have made significant advances in studying sandwich clusters, which display unique magnetic behaviors. The clusters' potential as molecular magnets for magnetic storage and spintronics is being explored.
Researchers developed a synthetic peptide, B2A2, that unlocks synergy with BMP-2, increasing its effectiveness in bone formation. The peptide is part of a series of growth factors being developed by Brookhaven/BioSET collaboration.
The climatic effect of increased CO2 is uncertain due to unknown aerosol influence, which can mask greenhouse gas effects. This limits refinement of climate sensitivity estimates and decision-making on carbon emissions.
Scientists discovered a rigid, ordered arrangement of holes in a copper oxide compound called SCO. The hole crystal is believed to be linked to another charge arrangement, known as stripes, which may contribute to superconductivity. Researchers plan to study the relationship between the two arrangements further.
Researchers deleted 2.3 million letters of DNA code from the mouse genome, but found no detectable changes in the resulting mice. The study suggests that the mammalian genome may not be densely encoded, challenging previous assumptions about the importance of non-coding DNA.
The Department of Energy has partnered with the University of Southern California, national labs, and a private company to develop an artificial retina. The project aims to restore sight to millions of individuals worldwide who are blind or severely visually impaired due to diseases like age-related macular degeneration.
The artificial retina project aims to restore vision in blind individuals by capturing visual signals and transmitting them to the brain. The device is a miniature disc with an electrode array that stimulates optical nerves, enabling users to see large letters and differentiate between objects.
The new UCI Environmental Molecular Science Institute will investigate how chemical reactions occur at the boundary between air and liquid droplets, affecting atmospheric pollution and climate change. Researchers will use theory, experiments, and computer modeling to gain new insights into smog formation and acid rain.
The ORNL engineer was honored for his breakthrough research in diesel engine emissions control and inter-laboratory teaming. He also received awards for developing a process to improve combustion stability, being an outstanding alumnus of the National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science.
The US Department of Energy has announced seven winners of the prestigious E.O. Lawrence Award, honoring researchers who have made significant contributions to various fields of science and energy. The award recipients include Nathaniel Fisch for his work on fusion tokamaks, Bette Korber for her HIV research, Claire Max for her astroph...
Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory have successfully grown a single-wall carbon nanotube, reaching a world-record length. This breakthrough has the potential to enable new types of nanoscale electro-mechanical systems, including micro-electric motors and nanoconducting cables.
Margaret Torn, a biogeochemist, is honored for her pioneering work on climate change and the terrestrial carbon cycle. Her research has improved regional and global computer climate models with data from the Southern Great Plains site in Oklahoma.
Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory have developed a method to exploit spin noise in magnetic atoms to perform detailed magnetic resonance imaging. By using laser-based Faraday rotation, the scientists measured the spectrum of spin noise in rubidium and potassium atoms, revealing their complete magnetic structure.
A new theory explains how drizzle forms within typical cloud lifetimes, providing insights into local weather and global climate. The research suggests that a statistical barrier speeds up drizzle formation, allowing fewer large drops to dominate the process.
Researchers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory are presenting their work on using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) to detect carcinogens, study biomarkers for atherosclerosis, and develop novel drug delivery devices. AMS applications in biological research and soot production chemistry modeling will also be highlighted.
The National Science Foundation has awarded Virginia Tech a $600,000 grant to support the development of efficient inexpensive fuel cell materials. The university will work with Battelle, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and several companies to bridge gaps in materials, processes, and test methodologies.
Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory have successfully formed pure zirconium metal into glass at temperatures one-third of its melting point and pressures over 50,000 times atmospheric pressure. This breakthrough could lead to the development of stronger materials for various applications.
The US ITER Project Office will be managed by the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory in partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory. This collaboration aims to secure technical assistance, procure hardware contributions, and coordinate US fusion community activities for the international ITER project.
The NorthEast Aerosol eXperiment (NEAX) aims to evaluate the effects of aerosol pollutants on Earth's radiation balance and climate forcing. The researchers will conduct regional air-sampling flights from Latrobe Airport to study aerosol formation, growth, and distribution.
The Space Simulator, a $500,000 Beowulf cluster, has achieved remarkable performance in astrophysics simulations, calculating the evolution of the Universe and studying massive star explosions. Its low cost and scalability make it an ideal tool for specific research applications.
Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory have developed a new method for transferring non-contact energy to nanocrystals from a quantum well. This enables the efficient production of light with controlled color, opening up possibilities for hybrid quantum-well/nanocrystal devices and applications in solar cells.
Researchers discovered that ferroelectric materials can maintain stability even at incredibly small thicknesses, opening doors to the creation of smaller devices. This breakthrough is significant for applications such as sensors and memory systems.
The US Department of Energy has funded two Fusion Science Centers, one at the University of Maryland/UCLA and the other at the University of Rochester. The centers will focus on fundamental issues in fusion plasma science and provide education and training for researchers and students.
The new center aims to develop scientific principles for nanoscale materials and integrate them into larger systems. It will provide researchers with state-of-the-art capabilities to explore, fabricate, and study nanoscale materials.
Small earthquakes with magnitudes zero to three are recorded in South African gold mines, providing a unique dataset for scientists. The researchers are using this data to investigate the properties of small earthquakes and bridge the gap between laboratory experiments and real-world seismic activity.
The National Visual Analytics Center aims to improve terrorist threat detection and analysis of vast information streams using visual analytics techniques, protecting individual privacy in the process. The center will develop tools for evaluating new technologies and support information sharing in a secure environment.
The US Department of Energy is developing a new supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to enhance the nation's computing capability for complex simulations. The system will be open to researchers worldwide and enable breakthroughs in various science disciplines.
The joint program aims to expand technical capabilities in systems biology by combining ISB's instrumentation expertise with PNNL's computational powers. Current collaborations include protein structure prediction and whole proteome analysis, with potential applications in disease diagnosis and prevention.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories and the University of New Mexico developed a simple method to form durable nanocrystal arrays using a self-assembly process. The arrays can be used for biological labeling, laser light, catalysts, memory storage, and relief for physicists. The technique also enables the creation of independen...
Researchers have developed a new technique called X-ray standing wave imaging, which enables direct visualization of ion site distributions at mineral-water interfaces. This breakthrough streamlines the tedious process of structure determination, allowing scientists to complete data acquisition and analysis in under 24 hours.
Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory create single-enzyme nanoparticles (SENs) that remain active for up to 143 days, thanks to their protective caging. The nanostructure preserves the enzyme's shape and allows it to interact with substrates, enabling applications in toxic waste cleanup, biosensing, and medicine.
Researchers observed that atoms vibrate and emit phonons, which do not dissipate quickly like usual, leading to potential new applications for a phaser device. The discovery may contribute to the development of a laser-like device that emits sound waves instead of light.
A new method for determining protein structure uses a supercomputer chip to analyze forces between atoms, reducing computation time by a factor of 1000. This technique is particularly useful for studying proteins that are difficult to crystallize, allowing scientists to gain more insights into their functions.
Scientists study quasi-one-dimensional cuprates to understand how electrons respond to x-rays, revealing a unique separation of electric and magnetic fields.
Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory have successfully produced infrared light from carbon nanotubes by applying electrical voltages. The discovery paves the way for potential applications in lighting and flat-panel displays due to the exceptional mechanical strength of carbon nanotubes.
The experiment detected three events consistent with the rare K meson decay, which occurs once in every 7 billion decays. The result suggests a possible departure from the Standard Model, but further analysis is needed to confirm or rule out the discrepancy.
Researchers observed electronlike excitations at temperatures above the transition temperature in cobaltate materials, suggesting a novel mechanism for high-temperature superconductivity. This discovery opens up new avenues for understanding the phenomenon of high-temperature superconductivity.
Researchers have developed heat-actuated lightweight and compact cooling technology capable of sustaining manageable temperatures for several hours. The system can weigh as little as three to four pounds, providing relief from extreme conditions, and is expected to benefit both military and commercial applications.
Los Alamos is leading reactor design for the JIMO mission, which would orbit icy moons to study their makeup and potential for sustaining life. The lab is developing key technologies such as nuclear fuel, beryllium components, and diagnostic instruments for a safe and reliable space reactor.
The Finuda experiment is studying the formation and decay of hypernuclei to explore the weak interaction. By analyzing the localization of lambda particles within nucleus, scientists can gain insights into the strong nuclear force.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory used a specialized instrument to analyze stardust from a meteorite, confirming the theory that stars form atoms through nucleosynthesis. The discovery provides precise confirmation of how atoms are made inside stars.
The lab recognized for FRAMES, a software system for understanding industrial impact on people and environment; a testing chamber that identifies hard-to-measure chemical emissions; and a test bed for developing fish-friendly designs for roadway culverts.
Researchers used advanced imaging and modeling techniques to study near-field behavior in metal nanoparticles. They found that arrays of nanoparticles scatter light at much smaller angles, making them suitable for two-dimensional devices such as optical chips.
The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and NASA's Glenn Research Center have partnered to develop new sealing technologies for solid oxide fuel cells. The goal is to improve the strength and fracture toughness of composite glass and glass-ceramic-based seals, enabling long-term stable operation of SOFCs.
Developed at Argonne National Laboratory, the new catalyst is one of a family of related catalysts that also shows promise for reducing NOx emissions. It converts NOx into nitrogen, making it a safer and more energy-efficient alternative to current standards.
Researchers at Brookhaven Lab help create new form of carbon by studying its bonding under high pressure. They propose a distorted graphite-like structure that challenges current understanding of carbon's intermediate forms.
PNNL scientists create a device that detects sarin and other nerve agents using infrared spectrometry. They also mimic the mineralization process to produce replicas with pores and channels, which could increase industrial yields. Additionally, researchers use midge genomes to identify pollutants in water and develop an integrated mode...