Articles tagged with National Laboratories
David Cullen and Kate Page, researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, have received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. They were recognized for their exceptional research accomplishments in fuel cell materials and nanoparticle properties, respectively.
The U.S. Department of Energy has approved the next phase of the $815M upgrade of the Advanced Photon Source, a premier national research facility that will enable scientists to see things at a scale they have never seen before with storage-ring X-rays. The upgrade positions the APS to be a global leader among the new generation of sto...
Scientists at UMass Amherst and Beijing University have developed a way to transform paramagnetic ferrofluids into ferromagnetic liquid droplets, opening up new research areas such as liquid actuators and active-matter delivery. The resulting ultra-soft droplets can be controlled using an external magnetic field.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have developed a novel method to overcome limitations of high-energy X-rays, enabling sharper imaging of complex materials. This breakthrough allows scientists to gain better information about material interfaces and control the behavior of new materials.
Researchers developed a graphene device that can switch between superconducting and insulating states, allowing for the study of exotic quantum physics. The device, made of three atomically thin layers of graphene, exhibits unique properties such as high-temperature superconductivity and Mott insulator behavior.
The US Department of Energy has awarded $4.6 million to Argonne National Laboratory to support collaborations with private industry and deploy promising energy technologies to the market. This funding is made possible through the Technology Commercialization Fund, which aims to maximize the impact of research investment for the nation.
Hybrid algorithms employ classical and quantum capabilities to address limitations of near-term quantum hardware. The approach can tackle optimization problems like graph partitioning and clustering, enabling researchers to use existing quantum hardware for practical applications.
A new optical sensor developed at Berkeley Lab can provide reliable information on building damage immediately after an earthquake. The Discrete Diode Position Sensor (DDPS) measures interstory drift and will speed up efforts to safely assess, repair, and reoccupy buildings post-quake.
A new machine learning approach enables researchers to encode quantum mechanical laws into neural nets, simulating molecular motion billions of times faster than conventional methods. This breakthrough advances research in fields like drug development, protein simulations, and reactive chemistry.
ORNL scientists create porous carbon structures from waste soft drinks to capture CO2 emissions. They also discover a practical way to share secret messages among three parties using laser light for improved cybersecurity. Additionally, researchers develop high-performance polymers for next-generation lithium-ion batteries
The Argonne team applied Bayesian methods to quantify uncertainties in the thermodynamic properties of hafnium, a key component in computer electronics. They found that traditional models often lacked error bars or uncertainties, leading to inaccurate predictions.
A team of scientists from the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory developed a new technique called BONCAT to isolate active microbes in soil samples. This breakthrough could enable researchers to better understand terrestrial ecosystems, improve drought-resistance in crops, and sustainably produce fuels.
Researchers created helical crystals made of stacked layers of germanium sulfide, which may yield unexpected properties. The twisted structure arises from a competition between stored energy and the energy cost of slipping two material layers relative to one another.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed an online tool to evaluate the moisture durability of a building's envelope, enabling better-informed decisions for energy efficiency. Additionally, the lab has pioneered a new technique using pressure to manipulate magnetism in thin film materials used in electronic devices.
The US Department of Energy is investing $32 million to accelerate material design through supercomputers. Seven projects will develop open-source software for designing functional materials with various applications.
Data scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory studied three years of discussions on Reddit from January 2015 to January 2018, analyzing the speed and scale of discussion spread related to Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Monero. The findings reveal that Bitcoin discussions grow the fastest, followed by Ethereum and then Monero.
Scientists at Sandia National Laboratories discovered a triple junction formed by cementite and ferrite grains as the root cause of unpredictable corrosion in steel pipes. This finding could lead to new methods for forging pipe with reduced nanostructures, minimizing corrosion vulnerability.
The Innovation Network for Fusion Energy (INFUSE) program aims to accelerate fusion energy development through research collaborations between industry and DOE's national laboratory complex. ORNL will manage the program, leveraging its expertise in plasma experimentation, materials development, and computer modeling of fusion systems.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory developed MiniFuel to test nuclear fuels, detecting performance data faster than conventional methods. The lab also created an auto-surveillance tool to detect healthcare data errors in the Department of Veterans Affairs' system.
Researchers have developed a new method to create thin films that emit single photons at precise locations, enabling the scalability of quantum materials. This breakthrough paves the way for beyond-lab-scale quantum information technologies, including all-optical quantum computing and quantum key distribution.
A team of scientists from top universities and Google is investigating cold fusion, a type of benign nuclear reaction that could offer an attractive option for decarbonizing the global energy system. The research collaboration has produced promising new insights into metal-hydrogen interactions and has not yet found evidence of the phe...
Researchers used AI to evolve superconductors by optimizing defect structures, reducing losses and increasing efficiency. By mimicking natural selection, they created materials that can transmit electric current without resistance.
New research using tree ring records reveals a 80-year decline in Asian summer monsoon rainfall, resulting in regional droughts and hardships. The study attributes the decline to man-made atmospheric pollutants, specifically sulfate aerosols, which coincide with industrial development and emissions in China.
Experiments using Hellman's Real Mayonnaise and accelerated conditions confirm the instability of elastic-plastic material is a function of initial conditions. The study provides new insights into the dynamics of materials in extreme environments, relevant to inertial confinement fusion.
Researchers developed an online multi-player game called SIGNAL to explore deterrence and decision-making in escalating conflicts. The game allows for large-N data analysis, collecting insights from thousands of games, which can inform policies, strategies, and tactics.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory developed a stretchy plant-derived material with superior adhesion properties, while also advancing additive manufacturing techniques for metal parts. Additionally, they utilized the Summit supercomputer to simulate small modular nuclear reactor designs with improved efficiency.
The Versatile Test Reactor will allow scientists to test various fuels, coolants and reactor components to evaluate new technologies for future generations of advanced nuclear reactors. The reactor's experimental configurations will provide key information to scientists as they work to develop innovative reactor designs.
A comprehensive new earthquake catalog has identified 1.81 million quakes in southern California, 10 times more than previously detected, providing a more precise picture of stress evolution in fault systems. The catalog will help researchers detect and locate quakes more precisely, identifying key physical and geographic details to pr...
Researchers have developed a new quantum material that can automatically detect hydrogen levels in the brain, offering potential early detection of neurological diseases like Parkinson's. The material uses ionic currents to identify molecules, such as glucose and dopamine, which serve as indicators of brain health.
A new space weather model accurately predicts 'killer' electrons in the Earth's outer radiation belt, providing a one-day warning before space storms. The model connects satellite measurements to electron population data, enabling reliable forecasts and protecting vital infrastructure.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory developed a new molecular model of water using machine learning, achieving high accuracy and reducing computational cost. The coarse-grained model replicates the behavior of water at the atomic scale, with applications in fields like materials science and climate modeling.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are exploring the potential of artificial intelligence to analyze data from published medical studies associated with bullying. They also developed a low-cost sensor to monitor electrical loads from household appliances, which could support grid operations and improve power grid efficiency. ...
Argonne National Laboratory collaborated with AT&T on a climate resiliency project to develop a Climate Change Analysis Tool, providing high-resolution forecasting insights for anticipating climate change impacts. The tool helps AT&T anticipate potential risks in its network infrastructure and business operations 30 years into the future.
Researchers developed a new technique combining optical tweezers with high-powered X-rays to position and manipulate crystals in solution. This allowed them to observe reactions as they occurred, revealing sub-nanometer scale defects and grain boundaries within the ZnO microcrystal.
The Argonne National Laboratory's Aurora supercomputer will revolutionize scientific research and discovery with its exaFLOP performance and ability to handle both HPC and AI. The system is expected to have a significant impact on various fields, including cancer research, climate modeling, and veterans' health treatments.
Researchers at Penn State and Argonne National Laboratory created a stable supercrystal using a burst of blue laser light. The supercrystal has a unit cell one million times larger than ordinary crystals, with properties that don't exist in equilibrium nature.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a new measurement technique that confidently shows the efficiency of quantum dots can compete with single crystals. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new technologies and materials requiring high semiconductor efficiency.
An international team of scientists successfully reversed the flow of time on IBM's quantum computer, simulating a particle's scattering and returning it to its initial state. The breakthrough could lead to more efficient quantum computer operation and improved error correction methods.
Physicists have solved a 50-year-old mystery in beta decay, a process that drives stellar explosions and synthesizes elements. Using advanced computing power, researchers found that the beta decay rate for an atomic nucleus is more complicated than initially thought.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are developing techniques to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria using neutron scattering, while also studying the impact of higher CO2 levels on tree growth in temperate forests. These findings could lead to improved antibiotics and better climate modeling.
A new tungsten-based alloy developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory has shown outstanding radiation resistance, retaining mechanical properties after exposure to high levels of radiation. The material's unique composition and structure have been found to be key factors in its exceptional performance.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have developed a unique, tiny resonator that can produce a spectrum of evenly spaced frequencies in response to a single signal. This innovation could lead to more complex electronic devices and applications in biology and other fields.
A research team created a nanoscale 'playground' on a chip to simulate the formation of exotic magnetic particles called monopoles. The simulation follows 'ice rules,' allowing north or south poles to move freely, mimicking real-world magnetic behavior.
Scientists have discovered a new way to monitor carbon dioxide storage plumes underground using coda waves, which reveal the location of gases in the ground. This method could enable more frequent and cost-effective tracking of these plumes, allowing for better estimation of total gas reserves.
New research from Carnegie Mellon University and Argonne National Laboratory has identified how and when gas pockets form in 3D printing, leading to cracks and failures. The study developed a methodology to predict gas pocket formation, which could improve the consistency of finished products.
Researchers have identified the causes of gas pockets in 3D printing, which can lead to cracks and failures. The study used high-energy X-rays to predict when these pockets will form, enabling better control over the printing process.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a novel crystallization method to capture carbon dioxide directly from the air using neutron scattering. Additionally, geospatial scientists have created a classification model that can quickly collect and store large amounts of data from social media platforms to detect power...
The SPHEREx mission, led by Caltech and managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, will conduct an all-sky spectroscopic mapping of the universe. Argonne researchers will contribute to the mission's cosmological simulations, galaxy identification, and large-scale structure analysis.
Researchers from ORNL and Los Alamos National Laboratories demonstrated the effectiveness of metro-scale quantum key distribution (QKD) as a means of secure communication for the nation's electricity suppliers. QKD harnesses the randomness of quantum mechanics to authenticate and encrypt data.
Warren Davis, Quincy Johnson, and Olivia Underwood were honored for their work in machine learning, production engineering, and promoting diversity in STEM. They received awards at the BEYA STEM Global Competitiveness Conference for their contributions to national security and research.
Researchers have reproduced an exotic form of magnesium, magnesium-40, which has led to unexpected findings about its nuclear structure. The study suggests that Mg-40 may be football-shaped, with the added neutrons forming a halo nucleus, and this discovery challenges current theories.
Researchers at New York University have discovered a new type of magnet that exhibits unique properties, including sudden transitions and strong coupling with electric currents. This discovery has the potential to enhance data storage technologies and improve performance bottlenecks.
The laboratory developed a high-resolution map of Arctic vegetation using machine learning methods and satellite imagery. They also created a model to predict home-to-work commuting patterns in East Tennessee, leveraging machine learning to overcome traditional limitations.
Researchers used X-ray diffraction to track dynamic processes in feldspar minerals during simulated meteorite impacts. The results show that structural changes occur at varying pressures depending on the compression rate, highlighting a need for further investigation to understand impact conditions.
Researchers have created a theory describing the behavior of superinsulators, which shares properties with quarks. The discovery may lead to experiments that provide conclusive evidence for quark confinement and asymptotic freedom, revolutionizing our understanding of fundamental particles.
ORNL's automated plutonium-238 production increased annual output from 50g to 400g, moving closer to NASA's goal of 1.5kg/year by 2025. The lab also developed a novel cryogenic memory cell design that may boost storage while using less energy in future computing applications.
A new technique allows continuous study of cobalt nanoparticles as they grow, producing 'nanometric phase diagrams' showing the conditions that control their structure. This method has potential applications for other materials, including alloys and oxides.
The Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory is collaborating with industry on six new projects focused on advancing commercial nuclear energy technologies. These projects aim to improve current nuclear reactors and move new reactor designs closer to deployment.
Researchers applied machine learning to analyze Cascadia data, discovering a constant tremor that predicts slow slippage and fault failure. The study found a direct parallel between the loudness of the signal and the physical changes, allowing for more accurate predictions of megaquakes.
The U.S. Department of Energy has approved the technical scope, cost estimate and plan of work for an upgrade of the Advanced Photon Source (APS), a major storage-ring X-ray source at Argonne National Laboratory. The resulting facility will allow researchers to view matter at the atomic scale in three dimensions, opening new frontiers ...