Articles tagged with National Laboratories
Kelly Chipps, a nuclear astrophysicist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has been appointed to the Nuclear Science Advisory Committee. The committee provides official advice to DOE and NSF on issues relating to basic nuclear science research. Chipps brings extensive expertise in nuclear physics and leadership experience to this role.
Researchers have discovered a new phase of liquid magnetism in layered helical magnets, where magnetic dipoles behave like 'flattened puddles' with varying alignment between layers. This phenomenon, predicted by a computational model, may explain the unusual electronic behavior observed in these materials.
Researchers have engineered bacteria to combine natural enzymatic reactions with the carbene transfer reaction, producing new-to-nature carbon products that can be used in biochemicals and advanced biofuels. This breakthrough could reduce industrial emissions by providing sustainable alternatives to chemical manufacturing processes.
Researchers capture elusive missing step in photosynthesis using SLAC's X-ray laser, revealing an intermediate reaction step that sheds light on how nature optimizes photosynthesis. The data provide a blueprint for optimizing clean energy sources and avoiding side products.
A new metric called a correlation ratio has been developed to correlate microscopic-level processes with macroscopic-level behavior in soft materials. This breakthrough allows for the design of new soft materials by tweaking microscale parameters to achieve desired macroscale properties.
James Fast leads Jefferson Lab's EIC project team, focusing on the collider's design and performance baselines. The EIC will study atomic nuclei and unlock secrets of nature's strongest force.
A team of researchers at Binghamton University partnered with Brookhaven National Laboratory to investigate copper oxide peroxides and their effects on oxidation reactions. They used two spectroscopy methods to observe changes in the surface of copper oxide and found that peroxides enhance H2 oxidation but inhibit CO oxidation.
Scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory used x-rays to study the electrons in nickel-based superconducting materials, revealing substantial similarities with cuprate superconductors. The research could help scientists zero in on key features essential for these materials' remarkable ability to carry electrical current.
A two-day workshop hosted by PPPL discussed the risks and benefits of fusion energy, including concerns about nuclear proliferation and energy justice. Experts emphasized the need for open discussion and regulation to ensure safe and equitable deployment of fusion power.
Researchers find that changes in wind patterns caused by warmer tropical waters are steering storms closer to the US East and Gulf coasts, increasing risk for residents. The study reveals that this phenomenon is linked to stronger hurricane frequency due to climate change.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory and University of Chicago developed a hybrid simulation process using IBM quantum computers to solve electronic structure problems. The new method uses classical processing to mitigate noise generated by the quantum computer, paving the way for future improvements.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have discovered ultrasmall swirling magnetic vortices, known as merons and skyrmions, in an iron-containing material. These tiny magnetic structures show promise for future computer memory storage and high-efficiency microelectronics due to their stability and adaptability to binary code.
Scientists at US national laboratories are developing new chemical recycling methods to make sustainable, high-quality plastic materials. They aim to transform plastic waste into valuable chemicals and reduce plastic pollution, paving the way for a circular economy.
A team of scientists has designed a molecule that targets the PLpro enzyme in SARS-CoV-2, limiting its replication and hampering the host's immune response. The covalent inhibitor shows promise as a new treatment for COVID-19 and other viral diseases.
An international team has discovered how electrons can move rapidly on a quantum surface driven by external forces, visualizing the motion of electrons on liquid helium for the first time. The research revealed unusual oscillations with varying frequencies and a combination of quantum and classical dynamics.
The Center for Bioenergy Innovation has been renewed with $590 million in funding over five years to develop sustainable jet fuel from nonfood biomass crops and specialty processes. The center aims to reach Tier 1 validation of its jet biofuel, reducing carbon dioxide emissions from commercial aircraft.
Physicists at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider detect sequential dissociation of three distinct upsilon variations in a hot quark-gluon plasma, offering evidence for 'deconfinement.' The findings help scientists better understand the properties of the QGP and its temperature.
Physicists at Rice University have found that magnetism subtly modifies the landscape of electron energy states in iron-germanium crystals, promoting and preparing for the formation of a charge density wave. This is one of the few known examples of a kagome material where magnetism forms first, leading to charges lining up.
Researchers developed a new AI-driven method to detect and predict defects in 3D printed metals, enabling rapid improvements in additive manufacturing. The method uses X-ray imaging and machine learning to identify pore generation in real-time with near-perfect accuracy.
Researchers at Columbia University have developed a new 'camera' that can see atomic structures in real-time, revealing the dynamic disorder of materials. This breakthrough enables better understanding of thermoelectric devices and waste heat conversion, leading to more efficient sustainable energy applications.
Scientists have developed a conductive polymer coating called HOS-PFM that can significantly enhance the performance of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles. The coating ensures battery stability and high charge/discharge rates while extending battery life by up to 15 years.
At the lowest collision energy, QGP production is found to be absent, with a dramatic shift in data characteristics. Higher-order statistical analysis reveals a clear absence of QGP at low energies, providing new insights into nuclear matter phases.
The Spallation Neutron Source has set a world record by reaching an operating power of 1.55 megawatts, providing more neutrons for researchers studying efficient solar panels, longer-lasting batteries, and stronger materials. This achievement enables new discoveries in materials science research.
A Berkeley Lab-led team has designed a new type of solid electrolyte consisting of a mix of various metal elements, resulting in a more conductive and less dependent material. The new design could advance solid-state batteries with high energy density and superior safety, potentially overcoming long-standing challenges.
Researchers have developed a new lithium-air battery that uses a solid electrolyte, boosting energy density four times above lithium-ion batteries. The battery can potentially power cars for over a thousand miles on a single charge and is also suitable for domestic airplanes and long-haul trucks.
Researchers used a high-performance computer simulation to study the impact of soil subsidence on permafrost thawing in the Arctic tundra. They found that uneven land subsidence leads to a drier landscape, which limits the process's acceleration through the end of the century.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed a new technique that captures real-time movies of copper nanoparticles as they convert carbon dioxide into renewable fuels and chemicals. The study reveals that metallic copper nanograins serve as active sites for CO2 reduction, paving the way for advanced solar fuel technology.
The Vertical Test Area at Jefferson Lab achieved a record-breaking 470 superconducting radiofrequency accelerator cavity tests in 2022, driven by improvements made by operations engineer Justin Kent. This milestone demonstrates the facility's versatility and commitment to supporting cutting-edge research.
Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed an affordable technology that removes over 99.9% of acidic gases from natural gas furnaces, producing an ultraclean furnace. This technology can also be applied to other natural gas-driven equipment, reducing emissions and pollution.
A new programming technique in quantum computing could help solve complex optimization problems in global supply chains. The FALQON framework uses feedback to adapt the structure of the algorithm, allowing the quantum computer to efficiently reroute shipping fleets and manage logistics.
Researchers developed an operando reflection interference microscope to study lithium-ion batteries. The microscope provides critical insight into the working mechanism of the solid electrolyte interphase layer, a key component in determining battery performance.
Researchers at North Carolina State University used a new laser technique to improve the performance of lithium-ion batteries. The technique creates tiny defects in graphite material, which can enhance battery performance, increase current capacity by up to 20%, and reduce the risk of fires. However, excessive defects can lead to probl...
A recent study published in The ISME Journal reveals that the majority of bacteria living in wild soil are slow growers, contrary to previous lab-based frameworks that suggested a dichotomy between fast and slow growing microbes. This finding highlights the importance of testing field-based ideas with data from nature.
Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory demonstrate a new color-shifting strategy that relies on interactions between lasers and vibrational energy in ionic liquids. The method offers an efficient and customizable approach to shift laser colors, with applications in science, industry, and medicine.
Researchers use coherent correlation imaging to image the evolution of magnetic domains in time and space without prior knowledge. The study reveals thermal motion and pinning effects on domain boundaries, unlocking new insights into magnetism's microcosm.
Researchers find phi mesons exhibit a clear preference for global spin alignment, contradicting conventional explanations. The results hint at the presence of local fluctuations in the strong force, which could be measured and provide new insights into this fundamental force.
Researchers link extreme thunderstorms to Amazon tree deaths, predicting 43% increase in large windthrow events by the end of the century. The tropics will see a 50% increase in areas susceptible to extreme storms triggering windthrows.
Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory have successfully discovered new materials using artificial intelligence and self-assembly. The AI-driven technique led to the discovery of three new nanostructures, expanding the scope of self-assembly's applications in microelectronics and catalysis.
Plant biochemists have discovered a new level of regulation in the biochemical machinery that plants use to convert organic carbon into aromatic compounds. The research reveals new strategies for controlling plant biochemistry, including genetic tools to precisely control which compounds get produced in different parts of a plant.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed a new method of heating and cooling called ionocaloric cooling, which could provide efficient and safe cooling for homes. The technique uses ions to drive solid-to-liquid phase changes, making it potentially more efficient than current refrigerants.
Researchers have developed a new method for recycling high-density polyethylene (HDPE) into fully recyclable and biodegradable material. The approach uses catalysts to cleave polymer chains, reducing carbon emissions and pollution associated with HDPE.
The UTSA-led Consortium on Nuclear Security Technologies (CONNECT) has received a five-year, $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration. The program aims to educate and train the next generation of scientists and engineers in nuclear security, with a focus on underrepresented students.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have developed a way to rotate a single molecule, europium complex, clockwise or counterclockwise on demand. This technology could lead to breakthroughs in microelectronics, quantum computing and more.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory develop a new method to create crystalline materials with two or more elements, yielding previously unknown compounds with exotic properties. The discovery has potential applications in superconductors, energy transmission, high-speed transportation, and energy-efficient microelectronics.
Scientists are rethinking electrolyte design for future battery generations, considering factors like interphases and solid-state electrolytes. They're using AI and automated laboratories to identify optimal electrolyte characteristics and reduce human error.
Scientists study flow patterns from heavy-ion collisions to understand fluctuations in particle behavior, aiming to calculate the properties of quark-gluon plasma. The results point to initial state influences as the primary trigger for these fluctuations, with collision energy and nucleus size also playing a role.
Theoretical calculations and experimental data from the ATLAS detector suggest that photons can create a fluid of strongly interacting particles in collisions with heavy ions. This is supported by observations of particle flow patterns similar to those seen in lead-lead and proton-lead collisions.
Scientists at Brookhaven Lab will develop a comprehensive theoretical framework for describing the interaction of heavy-flavor particles with quark-gluon plasma. The Heavy-Flavor Theory Collaboration aims to provide insights into the properties of quark-gluon plasma and its precursors in nuclear matter.
The SURGE Topical Theory Collaboration aims to develop calculations and a theoretical framework for discovering the saturated state of gluons. Scientists hope to gain deeper insight into the strong force and gluons' role in generating hadron properties.
Scientists discovered that an artificial cell membrane can exhibit long-term potentiation, a hallmark of biological learning and memory, persisting for many hours. This finding has the potential to revolutionize next-generation computing materials and architectures by merging functions of processing and memory in neuromorphic computers.
The US Department of Energy has awarded $35 million in grants to three joint projects between Nuclear Physics and Advanced Scientific Computing Research programs. These projects aim to optimize software tools for calculations of quantum chromodynamics, which describes the structure of protons and neutrons, using powerful supercomputers...
The NSF is funding projects that utilize the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory to advance tissue engineering and mechanobiology research. This solicitation aims to further drug discovery and therapeutic development through space-based research, with potential impacts on regenerative medicine and disease diagnosis.
Researchers studied the strong nuclear force using nickel-64 nuclei, discovering that they change shapes under high-energy conditions. The team used advanced detectors to analyze gamma rays and particle direction, revealing two possible shapes for the nucleus: oblate and prolate.
An international research team proposes using engineered nanoparticles to fertilize ocean plankton, encouraging growth and carbon dioxide uptake. The approach has been shown to be safe and effective in enhancing plankton growth through controlled release of nutrients.
Researchers use pulse radiolysis experiments to measure how unpaired electrons can drive chemical reactivity on a molecule's opposite side, enabling the creation of novel synthetic methodologies. The study demonstrates the potential for free radicals to influence reactivity beyond their site of origin.
Researchers warn of impending 35-60 year droughts in western US unless greenhouse gas emissions are curbed to limit warming to 2.5 degrees Celsius. Mountain snowpack is shrinking due to global warming, threatening agriculture, ecosystem support, and urban water supplies.
Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory have discovered tiny magnetic vortices called skyrmions that could store data in computers, promising 100-1000 times better energy efficiency than current memory. The team used AI and a high-power electron microscope to visualize and study the behavior of these micro-scale magnetic structures.
Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory create a new way to guide the self-assembly of novel nanoscale structures using simple polymers as starting materials. The team describes their approach in a paper published in Nature Communications, which shows that different shapes have dramatically different electrical conductivity.
Researchers measured the half-lives of five exotic isotopes at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), a DOE Office of Science user facility. The study provides fundamental information about nuclei near their limits of existence, testing models of the atomic world and advancing research in astrophysics and nuclear physics.
New research suggests that the world will probably warm beyond the 1.5-degree limit set by the 2015 Paris Agreement, but peak warming can be minimized by adopting more ambitious climate pledges and decarbonizing faster. The study models scenarios to explore what degree of warming would likely follow different courses of action, highlig...