Doe Science news source

Welcome // The DOE Science News Source is a Newswise initiative to promote research news from the Office of Science of the DOE to the public and news media.

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Emergent Device Boosts Neuromorphic Computing

How 'Clean' Does a Quantum Computing Test Facility Need to Be? PNNL Scientists Show the Way

How to keep stray radiation from "shorting" superconducting qubits; a pair of studies shows where ionizing radiation is lurking and how to banish it.

Tuning the Catalytic Behavior of Metal Oxides

The behavior of catalysts that promote chemical reactions is not always straightforward. Using a combination of experiments and computer simulations, scientists now understand how oxygen affects the way the catalyst copper oxide reacts with hydrogen versus carbon monoxide gases and how to control and enhance related chemical reactions.

Probing Neutron Star Crusts with Artificial Neural Networks

The inner crust of a neutron star is characterized by the presence of a neutron superfluid. To accurately predict the properties of neutron matter in this state, researchers make theoretical calculations that typically assume that neutrons form "Cooper pairs." This study used artificial neural networks to make accurate predictions without relying on this assumption.

Designing Battery Success From Failure

Oak Ridge National Laboratory scientists are developing a formula for success - by studying how a new type of battery fails. The team's goal is the design for long-term storage of wind and solar energy, which are produced intermittently, enabling their broader use as reliable energy sources for the electric grid.

Scientists Capture Images of Electron Molecular Crystals

Researchers have taken direct images of the Wigner molecular crystal, a new quantum phase of an electron solid. The breakthrough may advance future technologies for quantum simulations.

"Seeing" More Sharply into Self-Assembled Nanomaterials

To build nanostructures, researchers need to probe these structures' internal architecture at various states of assembly in three dimensions. This project used several methods to produce X-ray computed tomography (CT) scans that provided record-setting, 7-nanometer resolution and information on the elements in the materials. The researchers then constructed 3-D frameworks to reveal the nanostructures' imperfections and interfaces.

Scientists Calculate Predictions for Meson Measurements

Nuclear physics theorists have demonstrated that complex calculations run on supercomputers can accurately predict the distribution of electric charges in mesons, particles made of a quark and an antiquark. The calculations also help validate a method that will be used to make predictions for and analyze data from high-energy experiments at the future Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Argonne Team Breaks New Ground in AI-Driven Protein Design

An Argonne-led team developed an AI-driven multimodal framework that incorporates experimental data and text-based narratives to accelerate the design of new proteins. A finalist for the Gordon Bell Prize, the effort used five top supercomputers, including Argonne's Aurora exascale system.

Imaging Nuclear Shapes by Smashing Them to Smithereens

Scientists have demonstrated a new way to use high-energy particle smashups at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) to reveal subtle details about the shapes of atomic nuclei. The method is complementary to lower energy techniques for determining nuclear structure. It will add depth to scientists' understanding of the nuclei that make up the bulk of visible matter.

For Layered 2D Materials, Robotics Produces Cleaner Interfaces Between Stacked Sheets

Layered assembly of 2D materials such as graphene have potential roles in the development of new electronic devices. Manufacturing these materials at a large scale while making them atomically clean is a major challenge. In this study, researchers used a special robotic system to assemble graphene heterostructures into large sheets with atomically clean interfaces.

Belle II Detector Produces World's Most Precise Measurements of Subatomic Particle Lifetimes

The new Belle II experiment recently made a world-leading measurement of the lifetime of a particular charmed baryon, a particle that is produced and decays very quickly under very high energy levels similar to the universe shortly after the Big Bang. This demonstrates the experiment's ability to make the extremely precise measurements of the sort needed to discover physics beyond the Standard Model of Particle Physics.

Researchers Develop High-Tech Methods to Stem the Flow of Fentanyl

Scientists are developing ways to detect and identify not only new, previously unseen forms of fentanyl but also newer and more dangerous synthetic opioids known as nitazenes.

Novel Technique Uses Magnetic Fields to Probe Long-Term Aging in Batteries

Argonne researchers developed and demonstrated an innovative set of methods to evaluate long-term aging in real-world battery cells.

Novel Hardware Approach Produces a New Quantum Computing Paradigm

To run on a quantum computer, algorithms must be decomposed into a sequence of quantum gates, a difficult process. In this study, researchers developed a novel "hybrid" approach to quantum hardware design that replaces part of the quantum circuit with a physical evolution that relies on natural interactions within the system. This approach significantly reduces the complexity of executing quantum algorithms.

Collaboration Speeds Complex Chemical Modeling

A recent collaboration among researchers from HUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for Physics in Hungary and the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, along with industry collaborators SandboxAQ and NVIDIA, has achieved unprecedented speed and performance in efforts to model complex metal-containing molecules.

Argonne Builds on Past Success with Cathode Design for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Argonne develops a breakthrough material for the cathode in lithium-ion batteries. It enables an across-the-board improvement in battery performance, supporting widespread adoption of electric vehicles and grid batteries.

Illuminating the Journey of a 4-Billion-Year-Old Asteroid

Researchers at the Advanced Photon Source joined an international effort to study tiny fragments of a nearby asteroid. The specks of asteroid dust were collected from asteroid 162173 Ryugu by a Japanese space mission. The team discovered that Ryugu began its life in the outer solar system as part of a larger asteroid more than 4 billion years ago. Since breaking off from its larger parent, Ryugu slowly made its way to its current orbit within 60,000 miles of Earth.

Researchers Eye 'Topological Signatures' of Cyber Threats

PNNL researchers are developing a new approach to explore the higher-dimensional shape of cyber systems to identify signatures of adversarial attacks.

Light Makes Special Materials Move at Ultrafast Speeds

Relaxor ferroelectrics have greatly enhanced electrical and mechanical properties that originate in the materials' domain structure. Knowing how quickly these materials' properties can change is critical to understanding them. However, scientists have not been able to measure how fast these materials can respond. This study measured this reaction speed using ultrafast electron diffraction at the atomic level to obtain snapshots of the evolving domain structure.

For Heating Plasma in Fusion Devices, Researchers Unravel How Electrons Respond to Neutral Beam Injection

Plasmas for fusion research can be heated using neutral beam injection (NBI). With NBI, fast neutral particles from a beam source are injected into the plasma then ionized so that the particles can transfer energy to existing plasma electrons and ions. This transfers the ions' energy and heats the plasma.

Emergent Device Boosts Neuromorphic Computing

Researchers have shown that a novel memristor device consisting of metal, dielectric, and metal layers remembers the history of electrical signals sent through it. The interface between metal and dielectric in the novel device is critical for stable switching and enhanced performance. Simulations indicate that circuits built on this device exhibit improved image recognition.

Soils from Six Continents Add Up to Largest Database of Viruses Beneath Our Feet

Scientists have plumbed the depths of nearly 3,000 soil samples from around the globe to put together the heftiest atlas of soil viruses ever created. But what are all those viruses doing in the soil? More than 97 percent are considered "viral dark matter" that have no known function.

Researchers Succeed in Taking 3D X-ray Images of a Skyrmion

A difficult-to-describe nanoscale object called the magnetic skyrmion might one day yield new microelectronic devices that can do much more--for example, massive data storage--all while consuming much less power. But researchers need a more detailed understanding of skyrmions if they are ever to be used reliably in computational devices, including quantum computers. Berkeley Lab scientists led a project to make 3D X-ray images of skyrmions that can characterize or measure the orientations of spins inside the whole object.

Reaction Conditions Tune Catalytic Selectivity

Chemists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory have developed a new theoretical framework for more accurately predicting the behavior of catalysts. The study reveals how conditions such as temperature and pressure can change a catalyst's structure, efficiency, and even the products it makes -- and can potentially be used to control reaction outcomes.

Plant CO2 Uptake Rises by Nearly One Third in New Global Estimates

Plants the world over are absorbing about 31% more carbon dioxide than previously thought, according to a new assessment developed by scientists.

Cloud Computing Captures Chemistry Code

The speed and agility of cloud computing opens doors to completing advanced computational chemistry workflows in days instead of months.

Engineered Yellow-Seeded Camelina Packs More Oil

In oilseed crops like canola, yellow-seeded varieties generally produce more oil than brown-seeded varieties. Camelina, a bioenergy crop closely related to canola, usually has brown seeds. Scientists have now disrupted genes called TT8 that are responsible for making seeds brown, producing an engineered camelina with light yellow seeds that accumulates more than 20% more oil than ordinary varieties.

Engineers Build Zero-Trust, Real-Time Cybersecurity Tools to Protect Renewables on the Grid

An Iowa State engineer is leading development of cybersecurity tools to guard power grids that carry renewable energy resources such as such as wind or solar farms. The researchers will develop "zero-trust" tools to reduce cyber exposure. The U.S. Department of Energy is supporting the project.

Material Stimulated by Light Pulses Could Be Leap Toward More Energy-Efficient Supercomputing

In an Argonne-led project, researchers used X-ray microscopy to discover a ferroelectric material that tailors its response to controlled ultrafast external stimuli, such as light pulses. The material might be applicable to energy-efficient microelectronics.

In a Fusion Device Plasma, a Steep Ion Temperature Gradient Slows the Growth of Magnetic Islands

Pockets of instability called magnetic islands in the plasma in a fusion device can disrupt plasma confinement. Scientists predict that islands grow because of the temperatures of electrons and ions in a plasma flattening out within the island, but ion temperatures have not been previously measured. In this new research, researchers found that contrary to expectations, the ion temperature profile did not flatten but instead exhibited a steep change across islands.

New Technologies Are Emerging That Can Convert CO2 Into Fuel, but What Impact Will They Have on Water Resources?

Scientists are developing new technologies that can transform CO2 into sustainable aviation fuels, but the technologies use a lot of water. Argonne's new tool can assess and help minimize the impact of these technologies on local freshwater resources.

Making Difficult Quantum Many-Body Calculations Possible

One of the methods scientists use to study quantum many-body systems is the ab initio approach, but some ab initio methods run into severe computational problems when using realistic interactions. This study introduces wavefunction matching and uses it to perform lattice simulations with realistic interactions. This allows scientists to make calculations that were once impossible.

A Quantum Material Could Be the Future of High-Energy X-Ray Imaging and Particle Detection

New research conducted at Argonne National Laboratory shows that colloidal quantum shells could revolutionize the production of X-ray imaging scintillators.

Researchers Find Clues to the Mysterious Heating of the Sun's Atmosphere

PPPL researchers have made a significant advancement in understanding the underlying heating mechanism of the sun's atmosphere, finding that reflected plasma waves could drive the heating of coronal holes.

3D Printing One of the Strongest Stainless Steels

Researchers have developed a way to consistently produce 17-4 PH stainless steel using additive manufacturing, or 3D printing. The rapid change in temperatures that occur in these materials after they are heated by the lasers in 3D printers make it difficult to achieve the toughness needed for 17-4 PH steel. This research used bright X-ray beams to observe those fast changes in real time, then altered the chemical composition to compensate for them.

Scientists Accelerate Uranium Beam with Record Power

Researchers at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams reached a new milestone in isotope studies, accelerating a high-power beam of uranium ions to a record 10.4 kilowatts of continuous beam power to a target. The beam enabled scientists to produce and identify three new isotopes, gallium-88, arsenic-93, and selenium-96.

New Technique Could Unlock Potential of Quantum Materials

A research team led by the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory has devised a unique method to observe changes in materials at the atomic level. The technique opens new avenues for understanding and developing advanced materials for quantum computing and electronics.

Argonne Workshop Highlights Ongoing Experimental Efforts to Unlock the Secrets of the Elusive Neutrino Particle

Argonne recently hosted the 25th International Workshop on Neutrinos from Accelerators (NuFact). The workshop brought together leading experts in neutrino physics to share expertise, review progress of experiments and shape future research directions.

QSA Pioneers Innovations in Quantum Devices and Algorithms for Chemical Science

Amid various efforts to develop algorithms and technologies that close the gap between today's noisy quantum systems and future fault-tolerant quantum computers, QSA researchers from partner institutions have concentrated on using quantum devices and novel techniques for significant applications such as complex molecular simulations in chemistry.

New AI Models of Plasma Heating Lead to Important Corrections in Computer Code Used for Fusion Research

New artificial intelligence models for plasma heating can do more than was previously thought possible, not only increasing the prediction speed 10 million times while preserving accuracy but also correctly predicting plasma heating in cases where the original numerical code failed.

Neutrons Help Improve 3D-Printed Superalloys for Applications in Extreme Environments

Researchers studied stress effects in novel "superalloys" made from two 3D-printed high-strength, high-heat resistant metals. The study found that heat treatments reduce stress created in the materials during manufacturing. It also found that stresses are more likely to be caused by certain manufacturing parameters than they are by the metal's chemical composition.

Bringing FAIR Principles to AI Models

The original FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable) principles defined best practices to maximize the reuse of datasets. Researchers have now adapted these principles for scientific datasets and research software.

'Neutron Nexus' Brings Universities, ORNL Together to Advance Science

Oak Ridge National Laboratory has launched its Neutron Nexus pilot program with Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, or FAMU, and Florida State University, or FSU, through the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. The first program of its kind nationwide, it's aimed at broadening and diversifying the scientific user community with outreach to universities and colleges to increase collaboration and, ultimately, scientific advancement.

International Clean Energy Initiative Launches Global Biomass Resource Assessment

A multi-country, government-led initiative dedicated to advancing the global transition to a sustainable, bio-based economy, unveiled a new Global Biomass Resource Assessment, providing groundbreaking data on current and future sustainable biomass supplies around the world.

Could a Magnetic Sandwich Make Your Electronic Devices Work More Efficiently?

Researchers looking for materials that conduct electrons with near-zero resistance at normal operating temperature have found a promising candidate. The material, a layered "sandwich" of bismuth telluride and manganese bismuth telluride structure, exhibits the quantum anomalous Hall effect. In this effect, electrons with their spins all aligned in the same direction can travel along the edges of a material with almost no resistance.

Argonne Researchers Crack a Key Problem with Sodium-Ion Batteries for Electric Vehicles and Grid Energy Storage

New method for cathode preparation prevents the particle cracking that caused performance decline with cycling of sodium-ion batteries, which offer a cheaper, more abundant alternative to lithium-ion batteries.

Nuclear Physics Experiment Helps Identify Conditions for a New Astrophysical Process

A new stellar process, the intermediate "i" process, has been proposed to explain new astronomical observations on nucleosynthesis. Scientists recently reported on the measurement of a nuclear reaction that affects the production of lanthanum in the i process. The measurement will help to improve scientific understanding of nucleosynthesis.

Simultaneous Detection of Uranium Isotopes, Fluorine Advances Nuclear Nonproliferation Monitoring

Combining two techniques, analytical chemists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory became the first to detect fluorine and different isotopes of uranium in a single particle at the same time.

Manganese Cathodes Could Boost Lithium-ion Batteries

Manganese is earth-abundant and cheap. A new process could help make it a contender to replace nickel and cobalt in batteries.

'Writing' with Atoms Could Transform Materials Fabrication for Quantum Devices

A research team at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory created a novel advanced microscopy tool to "write" with atoms, placing those atoms exactly where they are needed to give a material new properties.

Seiber Elevated to IEEE Senior Member

Larry Seiber, an R&D staff member in the Vehicle Power Electronics group at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has been elevated to senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, or IEEE.

DOE Announces Funding for Climate Resilience Centers

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Climate Resilience Centers (CRCs). These new centers will be dedicated to rapidly developing new science and talent to address the nation's most pressing climate resilience challenges.

Scientists Address Risks to Supply Chain in a Connected World

Protecting critical systems such as the electrical grid and water treatment plants from cyber-based risks to the supply chain is the focus of a new conference at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Applications Now Open for Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced a fellowship open to all U.S. students pursuing doctoral degrees in fields that use high-performance computing to solve complex science and engineering problems.

UAH Graduate Student Wins DOE Office of Science Graduate Student Research Award to Study Magneto-Inertial Fusion at Los Alamos

Ian Wagner, a doctoral candidate of mechanical and aerospace engineering at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), has been selected to receive the United States Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) award. The honor resulted from Wagner's proposed research project to study plasma-jet driven magneto-inertial fusion, to be conducted at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).

Three Argonne Scientists Receive U.S. Department of Energy Awards to Advance Quantum Computing

The U.S. Department of Energy announces $65 million to advance quantum computing at more than 20 institutions across the nation. Three Argonne National Laboratory scientists and their teams are among the recipients.

Argonne Materials Scientist Mercouri Kanatzidis Wins Award From American Chemical Society for Chemistry of Materials

Argonne materials scientist Mercouri Kanatzidis received the award for chemistry in materials from the American Chemical Society, the nation's leading professional society for chemists.

Calling All University Faculty: Accepting Applications for Summer 2025 Visiting Faculty Program

College and university faculty at emerging research institutions are invited to apply to collaborate with national laboratory scientific research staff on research projects of mutual interest, the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science announced today.

Discover Science: Applications Open for Summer 2025 Undergraduate Internships

As the nation continues to build a diverse, clean-energy workforce, the Department of Energy (DOE) today announced that applications are being accepted for the Summer 2025 term of two undergraduate internship programs.

Honoring a Career of Outstanding Achievement

This year, the U.S. Department of Energy's Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility celebrates the 40th anniversary of its founding to probe the secrets of the subatomic universe. And for 39 of those years, esteemed physicist Volker D. Burkert has been an important part of its mission. Now, Burkert is being honored for his contributions to advancements in experimental physics with the prestigious Tom W. Bonner Prize in Nuclear Physics. The citation reads: "For exemplary leadership in the development of high-performance instrumentation for large acceptance spectrometers that have enabled breakthroughs in fundamental nuclear physics through electroproduction measurements of exclusive processes."

Wind Blade Composite Project From ORNL Wins Green Design Innovation Award

Researchers from the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory were recently honored with a prestigious ACE Award for Composites Excellence by the American Composites Manufacturers Association.

Department of Energy Announces $49 Million for Research on Foundational Laboratory Fusion

As the Department of Energy (DOE) continues to accelerate a clean-energy future that includes fusion technology, a total of $49 million in funding for 19 projects was announced today in the Foundational Fusion Materials, Nuclear Science, and Technology programs.

Argonne Receives Funding for Artificial Intelligence in Scientific Research

Argonne National Laboratory receives funding from the U.S. Department of Energy for two AI projects that aim to develop privacy-preserving and energy-efficient AI technologies, pushing the boundaries of scientific research and safeguarding sensitive data.

Registration Now Open for Energy Department's National Science Bowl(r)

Registration is open for the 35th National Science Bowl(r) (NSB), hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science. Thousands of students compete in the contest annually as it has grown into one of the largest academic math and science competitions in the country.

Jefferson Lab Physicists Named APS Fellows

Four Jefferson Lab staff members have been named 2024 American Physical Society Fellows.

Atmospheric Observatory Opens for Operation in Bankhead National Forest

With help from scientists at U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratories, DOE's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility has established a cutting-edge atmospheric observatory in Alabama's William Bankhead National Forest.

Energy Department Awards New Contract to Manage and Operate Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded a new contract to manage and operate Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) located in Batavia, IL. The award was the result of a DOE competition for the management and operating (M&O) contract for the laboratory. The successful offeror is Fermi Forward Discovery Group, LLC (FFDG).

Department of Energy Announces up to $500 Million for Basic Research to Advance the Frontiers of Science

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced up to $500 million in funding for basic research in support of DOE's clean energy, economic, and national security goals.

Kate Petersen Mace Selected as High Performance Data Facility Project Director

The U.S. Department of Energy's Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility announced today that Kate Petersen Mace has been named the project director for the High Performance Data Facility (HPDF) a first-of-its-kind project that will provide resources for data-intensive science.

Outstanding Graduate Students selected for Department of Energy Office of Science Research Program

A total of 62 PhD students from 24 states have been selected for the prestigious Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) program.

New Upgrade Will Supercharge Atomic Vision of the World's Most Powerful X-Ray Laser

The Department of Energy (DOE) has given the green light for construction to begin on a high-energy upgrade that will further boost the performance of the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), the world's most powerful X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) at the DOE's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. When complete, the upgrade will allow scientists to explore atomic-scale processes with unprecedented precision and address fundamental questions in energy storage, catalysis, biology, materials science and quantum physics like never before.

Argonne Physicist Honored with 2024 Science Breakthrough of the Year

The German Falling Walls Foundation is recognizing Argonne physicist Saw Wai Hla for X-ray research that could be widely applied in environmental and medical research and the development of batteries and microelectronic devices.

Department of Energy Announces $6 Million for Research Toward a More Robust and Reliable Electric Grid

Two Department of Energy (DOE) offices have funded $6 million in research projects for an inaugural partnership to better prepare the nation for multiple disruptive power events and enable rapid response in a crisis for U.S. grid operators.

Emily Carter Wins Prestigious Marsha I. Lester Award From American Chemical Society

Nominees for the award must be members of the ACS's physical chemistry division. The winner receives the award at the meeting, gives a research presentation, and receives an honorarium. Carter is just the second person to receive this newly established award.

PPPL Researcher Lan Gao Wins a DOE $2.75 Million Early Career Award to Develop Innovative Diagnostic Tools for Future Fusion Energy Devices

PPPL research scientist Lan Gao received a $2.75 million Early Career Research Program Award from the U.S. Department of Energy for her research on innovative X-ray diagnostics to develop fusion energy. Gao recently became head of PPPL's High Energy Density Laboratory Plasmas Division of the Discovery Plasma Science Department.

Kowalski, Salonvaara receive ASHRAE Distinguished Service Awards

Building equipment and envelope scientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory were recognized for research excellence during the ASHRAE 2024 summer conference held in Indianapolis.

Elam Named as a Fellow of the Electrochemical Society

The article provides an overview of Elam's career and achievements on the occasion of his having been named as a Fellow of the Electrochemical Society.

Department of Energy Announces $5.65 Million for Research on High Energy Density Plasmas

Funding of $5.65 million for 11 research projects in high energy density laboratory plasmas to better understand extreme environments was announced by the Department of Energy (DOE) today.

Nawaz named ASME Fellow

Kashif Nawaz, distinguished researcher and section head for Building Technologies Research at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has been named a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, or ASME. The Fellow grade recognizes outstanding engineering achievements for members with 10 or more years of active practice.

U2opia Signs License to Commercialize Anomaly-Detection Technology for Cybersecurity

U2opia Technology has licensed Situ and Heartbeat, a package of technologies from the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory that offers a new method for advanced cybersecurity monitoring in real time.

Ornl Kicks Off Technical Collaboration Program for Electric Grid Research

A new technical collaboration program at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory will help businesses develop and launch electric grid innovations. The initiative will provide companies with access to national laboratory resources, enabling them to capture market opportunities. Even startup and small businesses can now easily submit specific proposals for cost-shared research in ORNL's Grid Research Integration and Deployment Center, or GRID-C.

McInnes named DOE Office of Science Distinguished Scientist Fellow

Lois Curfman McInnes, a senior computational scientist at Argonne, has been named a 2024 DOE Distinguished Scientist Fellow for her contributions to software and high performance computing leadership.

Wang, Cook and Uddin Elevated to IEEE Senior Members

Three transportation researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have been elevated to senior member grade of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, or IEEE. Group leader Ross Wang and R&D staff member Adian Cook, both in Applied Research for Mobility Systems, received the honor along with Majbah Uddin, R&D staff member in Transportation Analytics and Decision Sciences.

Four Argonne Scientists Receive 2024 DOE Early Career Research Awards

As winners of the 2024 U.S. Department of Energy's Early Career Research Program, four scientists from Argonne National Laboratory are each receiving an award of $550,000 a year for five years to help them answer complex questions.

Juan Jimenez Named Blavatnik Regional Awards Finalist

The Blavatnik Family Foundation and the New York Academy of Sciences have recognized chemical engineer Juan Jimenez as a Finalist in the 2024 Blavatnik Regional Awards for Young Scientists. Jimenez's catalysis science research at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory opens doors for turning climate change-driving gases into industrially useful materials.

Trailblazers in Plasma Turbulence Computer Simulations Win 2024 James Clerk Maxwell Prize

Greg Hammett and Bill Dorland have been awarded the 2024 James Clerk Maxwell Prize for Plasma Physics for their pioneering work on turbulence in plasma, a key challenge in the quest for fusion energy.

Loyd Earns DOE Early Career Research Award for Neutron Detector Proposal

The Department of Energy's Office of Science has selected Oak Ridge National Laboratory scientist Matthew Loyd for an Early Career Research Program award.Loyd, an R&D staff scientist in the Neutron Technologies Division, was selected by the Basic Energy Sciences program for his proposal, "Development of a Novel High-Count-Rate, High-Resolution Neutron Camera with Advanced Gamma Discrimination Capabilities.

Three PNNL Researchers Receive DOE Early Career Research Awards

The Department of Energy (DOE) selected Gavin Cornwell, Sneha Couvillion, and Bo Peng of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to receive 2024 Early Career Research Program awards. The three researchers work in fields that represent major areas of focus for PNNL: Earth science, biology, and chemistry.

U.S. Department of Energy Awards $138 Million to 91 Early Career Scientists

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the selection of 91 early career scientists from across the country who will receive a combined $138 million in funding for research covering a wide range of topics including artificial intelligence, fusion energy, and quantum.

Argonne entrepreneurship program opens fellowship applications

Argonne's entrepreneurship program embeds early-stage startup founders for two years at the lab. They are mentored by a lab scientist. In addition, the program also provides support at the local, regional and national levels including entrepreneurship training and a networking ecosystem to eliminate the hurdles traditionally faced by early-stage cleantech startups.

Department of Energy Announces $65 Million for Quantum Computing Research

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $65 million in funding in quantum computing for 10 projects, comprising a total of 38 separate awards.

Postdoc Takes Multipronged Approach to Muon Detection

2024 JSA Postdoctoral Prize Winner Debaditya Biswas will combine different particle identification methods with machine learning to detect muons hidden in a sea of pions.

DOE, ORNL Announce Opportunity to Define Future of High-Performance Computing

The Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Science today announced a new research and development opportunity led by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to advance technologies and drive new capabilities for future supercomputers.

Department of Energy Announces $68 Million in Funding for Artificial Intelligence for Scientific Research

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in scientific research is a top priority at the Department of Energy (DOE), which today announced $68 million in funding for 11 multi-institution projects, comprising 43 awards.

DOE, ORNL announce opportunity to define future of High-Performance Computing

The Department of Energy's Office of Science today announced a new research and development opportunity led by Oak Ridge National Laboratory to advance technologies and drive new capabilities for future supercomputers.

Coatings manufacturer and ORNL partner Flexcon licenses self-healing film technology

Flexcon Global has exclusively licensed two patented inventions to manufacture a self-healing barrier film from the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory for research and development purposes. The film can be incorporated into vacuum insulation panels to increase the efficiency of buildings during retrofits.

Argonne nuclear researcher Thanh Hua partnering with industry to advance next generation nuclear reactors

Hua pioneers computer codes that can improve safety and efficiency of molten salt reactors.

SLAC-led Energy Frontier Research Center awarded $14.4 million to advance new manufacturing solutions for microelectronics

Funded by the Department of Energy's Office of Science, the Center for Energy Efficient Magnonics brings together a multidisciplinary group of researchers from SLAC and seven universities to discover how components of microelectronics can be built on spin waves that arise from magnetism.

Department of Energy Announces $118 Million for Energy Frontier Research Centers

Ten Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs) designed to bring together world-class teams of scientists for groundbreaking fundamental research have been funded in nine states by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Leaders of 'EV Ready' Illinois cities recognized in ceremony at Argonne

City leaders were recognized in a ceremony at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory as part of the EV Readiness program.

Autonomous Discovery Defines the Next Era of Science

Argonne National Laboratory is reimagining the lab spaces and scientific careers of the future by harnessing the power of robotics, artificial intelligence and machine learning in the quest for new knowledge.

Halide Perovskite Material Exhibits Liquid-Like Atomic Vibrations

Halide perovskites have applications in solar energy, radiation detection, and potentially in thermal harvesting. Cesium lead bromide is among the simplest of lead halide perovskite materials (LHPs). New research examined structural instabilities and large atomic fluctuations that may affect LHPs' optical and thermal properties. It found that the atomic vibrations (phonons) of bromine octahedrons have large amplitudes but cannot oscillate for long amounts of time. Instead, the vibrations are strongly damped.

DOE Announces $178 Million to Advance Bioenergy Technology

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $178 million for bioenergy research to advance sustainable technology breakthroughs that can improve public, health, help address climate change, improve food and agricultural production, and create more resilient supply chains. This funding will support cutting-edge biotechnology R&D of bioenergy crops, industrial microorganisms, and microbiomes. Alternative clean energy sources like bioenergy are playing a key role in reaching President Biden's goal of a net-zero carbon economy by 2050.

Machine Learning Helps Predict Protein Functions

To engineer proteins for specific functions, scientists change a protein sequence and experimentally test how that change alters its function. Because there are too many possible amino acid sequence changes to test them all in the laboratory, researchers build computational models that predict protein function based on amino acid sequences. Scientists have now combined multiple machine learning approaches for building a simple predictive model that often works better than established, complex methods.

Department of Energy Announces $26 Million for Research on Next-Generation Data Management and Scientific Data Visualization

Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $26 million for research to advance scientific data management and visualization. Foundational research in data management will address challenges stemming from the increasingly massive data sets produced by scientific experiments and supercomputers. Innovative and intuitive data visualization approaches will support scientific discovery, decision-making, and communication based on that data.

Harvesting Energy from Light using Bio-inspired Artificial Cells

Scientists designed and connected two different artificial cells to each other to produce molecules called ATP (adenosine triphosphate).

Engineering Living Scaffolds for Building Materials

Bone and mollusk shells are composite systems that combine living cells and inorganic components. This allows them to regenerate and change structure while also being very strong and durable. Borrowing from this amazing complexity, researchers have been exploring a new class of materials called engineered living materials (ELMs).

Excavating Quantum Information Buried in Noise

Researchers developed two new methods to assess and remove error in how scientists measure quantum systems. By reducing quantum "noise" - uncertainty inherent to quantum processes - these new methods improve accuracy and precision.

How Electrons Move in a Catastrophe

Lanthanum strontium manganite (LSMO) is a widely applicable material, from magnetic tunnel junctions to solid oxide fuel cells. However, when it gets thin, its behavior changes for the worse. The reason why was not known. Now, using two theoretical methods, a team determined what happens.

When Ions and Molecules Cluster

How an ion behaves when isolated within an analytical instrument can differ from how it behaves in the environment. Now, Xue-Bin Wang at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory devised a way to bring ions and molecules together in clusters to better discover their properties and predict their behavior.

Tune in to Tetrahedral Superstructures

Shape affects how the particles fit together and, in turn, the resulting material. For the first time, a team observed the self-assembly of nanoparticles with tetrahedral shapes.

Tracing Interstellar Dust Back to the Solar System's Formation

This study is the first to confirm dust particles pre-dating the formation of our solar system. Further study of these materials will enable a deeper understanding of the processes that formed and have since altered them.

Investigating Materials that Can Go the Distance in Fusion Reactors

Future fusion reactors will require materials that can withstand extreme operating conditions, including being bombarded by high-energy neutrons at high temperatures. Scientists recently irradiated titanium diboride (TiB2) in the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) to better understand the effects of fusion neutrons on performance.

Better 3-D Imaging of Tumors in the Breast with Less Radiation

In breast cancer screening, an imaging technique based on nuclear medicine is currently being used as a successful secondary screening tool alongside mammography to improve the accuracy of the diagnosis. Now, a team is hoping to improve this imaging technique.

Microbes are Metabolic Specialists

Scientists can use genetic information to measure if microbes in the environment can perform specific ecological roles. Researchers recently analyzed the genomes of over 6,000 microbial species.

Even Hard Materials Have Soft Spots

The Achilles Heel of "metallic glasses" is that while they are strong materials--even stronger than conventional steels--they are also very brittle. The initial failures tend to be localized and catastrophic. This is due to their random amorphous (versus ordered crystalline) atomic structure. Computer simulations revealed that the structure is not completely random, however, and that there are some regions in the structure that are relatively weak. Defects nucleate more easily in these regions, which can lead to failure. This understanding of the mechanical properties has led to a strategy for making the material stronger and less brittle.

2-D Atoms Do the Twist

In the study, scientists demonstrated, for the first time, an intrinsically rotating form of motion for the atoms in a crystal. The observations were on collective excitations of a single molecular layer of tungsten diselenide. Whether the rotation is clockwise or counter-clockwise depends on the wave's propagation direction.

Location, Location, Location... How charge placement can control a self-assembled structure

For years, scientists have formed polymers using the interaction of charges on molecular chains to determine the shape, geometry, and other properties. Now, a team achieved precise and predictable control of molecular chains by positioning charges. Their method leads to particles with reproducible sizes.

Cracking in Harsh Environments Needs Stress and Corrosion, But Not at the Same Time

Alloys (metals combining two or more metallic elements) are typically stronger and less susceptible to cracking than pure metals. Yet when alloys are subjected to stress and a harsh chemical environment, the alloy can fail. The reason? Cracks caused by corrosion.

Simultaneous Clean and Repair

Scientists have developed a novel and efficient approach to surface cleaning, materials transport, and repair.

Where Does Salt in the Amazon Air Come From?

Tiny particles of sodium salt float in the air over the pristine Amazon basin. Why? The only explanation before now has been that winds blow marine particles hundreds of miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean. An international team of scientists used chemical imaging and atmospheric models to prove otherwise.

Testing the Toughness of Microbial Cell Walls

Microbial cells contain biological material that can be important for research or industrial use, such as DNA or proteins. Yet, reaching this cellular material can be a challenge.

How Many Copies Does It Take to Change a Trait?

New research shows that the number of copies of genes in a poplar tree affects its traits. Scientists developed a group of poplar trees in which different plants have DNA segments that are repeated or deleted.

Microbial Evolution: Nature Leads, Nurture Supports

Based on an extensive study across environments, from mixed conifer forest to high-desert grassland, the team suggests that microbes aren't so different from larger, more complex forms of life. That is, in determining species traits, nature takes the lead, while nurture plays a supporting role.

Building a Scale to Weigh Superheavy Elements

Scientists made the first direct, definitive measurement of the weight, also known as the mass number, for two superheavy nuclei.

Survey Delivers on Dark Energy with Multiple Probes

The Dark Energy Survey has combined its four primary cosmological probes for the first time in order to constrain the properties of dark energy.

Crossing the Great Divide Between Model Studies and Applied Reactors in Catalysis

A team devised a way to bridge the gap between two extremes. Using their approach, they can predict catalyst performance across a wider range of temperatures and pressures.

Tiny, Sugar-Coated Sheets Selectively Target Pathogens

Researchers developed molecular flypaper that recognizes and traps viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens.

Getting Metal Under Graphite's Skin

Some metals need to be protected from the atmosphere. Exposure leads to damage that ruins their unique properties. Controllably forming metal islands just under the surface of graphite protects the metals. This allows these metals to take on new roles in ultrafast quantum computers. It also means new roles in magnetic, catalytic, or plasmonic materials.

Atomically Packed Boundaries Resist Cracking

Scientists devised specialized X-ray mapping techniques. They determined that boundaries associated with regions where atoms are closely packed together most readily resist cracking. This analysis revealed that when a crack encounters such a boundary, it's deflected to a less direct path and crack growth is slowed.

End-run Spreads Lithium Throughout Battery Electrodes

Scientists used chemically sensitive X-ray microscopy to map lithium transport during battery operation.

Knowledgebase Is Power for Nuclear Reactor Developers

Six new nuclear reactor technologies are planned to commercially deploy between 2030 and 2040. ORNL's Weiju Ren heads a project managing structural materials information. This conversation explores challenges and opportunities in sharing nuclear materials knowledge internationally.

Excited Atoms Rush Independently to New Positions

How atoms react to a sudden burst of light shows scientists how the larger material might act in sensors, data storage devices, and more.

Chaos Ensues When Lasers and Plasma Meet

Warp+PXR dramatically improves the accuracy of the simulations compared to those typically used in plasma research. Now, researchers can simulate lasers' interactions with plasma with much higher precision.

This Superconductor Does Not Take Light Lightly

Superconductors are materials that show no resistance to electrical current when cooled. Recently, scientists discovered a new superconducting material. Now, scientists have found that when exposed to low-energy ultraviolet light, the material acts as a superconductor at higher temperatures.

Nuclear Physics Detector Tech Used in Cancer Treatment Monitoring System

The OARtrac(r) system includes technologies that are based on a novel application of scintillating material in fiber form. Doctors can insert these scintillating fibers into the human body via a catheter to monitor the radiation that cancer patients receive in a range of hard-to-reach areas.

Machine Learning Helps Create Detailed, Efficient Models of Water

A team devised a way to better model water's properties. They developed a machine-learning workflow that offers accurate and computationally efficient models.

Cultivating the Assembly Landscape

For the first time, a team determined and predictably manipulated the energy landscape of a material assembled from proteins. Designing materials that easily and reliably morph on command could benefit water filtration, sensing applications, and adaptive devices.

A Change in Structure for a Superheavy Magnesium Isotope

A recent measurement exploring the structure of magnesium-40 has shown a surprising change in the structure relative to expectations. This unanticipated change could be pointing to physics missing from our theories, such as the effects of weak binding between particles.

A Search for New Superheavy Isotopes

If you chart the stability of atomic cores (nuclei), the trend is that adding more protons and neutrons makes the atom less stable. However, there's an island of stability that bucks this trend. If scientists can provide an easier way of producing elements predicted to be on that island of stability, they can fine-tune today's nuclear models. Such elements were difficult to produce, until a team built an apparatus that efficiently produces superheavy elements by transferring multiple nucleons (either protons or neutrons).

Improved Fuel Cell Catalysts with Less Platinum

Scientists have identified highly active yet stable catalysts for use in fuel cells that contain only a quarter of the platinum as compared to existing devices. Platinum is essential for promoting reactions in these fuel cells. However, the precious metal is rare and expensive. Interactions between platinum-cobalt particles and a precious metal-free support contribute to the improved performance.

New Insights into a Long-Standing Debate About Materials that Turn Motion into Electricity

For decades, scientists have been intrigued by a class of electronic materials called relaxor ferroelectrics. These lead-based materials can convert mechanical energy to electrical energy and vice versa. The underlying mechanism for this behavior has been elusive. The challenge was getting a detailed view of the atomic structure, critical to resolve the debate concerning the role of local order. Now, novel neutron-based tools and methods have resolved this debate--revealing the relationship of local order motifs and how they affect the underlying properties.

Super-stretchy, Self-healing, Tunable Polymers

Discovery of novel polymers with extreme stretching, vibration suppression, and self-healing.

Beyond the "Sound Barrier" to Get the Heat Out

To create materials that handle heat well, scientists are exploring how vibrations within the atomic structure carry heat. Atomic vibrations used to remove heat usually are limited by the speed of sound. A new observation may have shattered that limit. A team of scientists observed particles, called phasons, moving faster than the speed of sound that carry heat. The phasons use a pattern of motion in which atoms rearrange themselves, allowing heat to move faster.

Novel Electrodes Enhance Battery Capacity

New self-supporting composite metal material doubles the volumetric energy and achieves fast charging rates in batteries.

Bursts of Light Shape Walls Between Waves of Charge

To better store data, scientists need ways to change a material's properties suddenly. For example, they want a material that can go from insulator to conductor and back again. Now, they devised a surprisingly simple way of flipping a material from one state into another, and back again, with flashes of light. A single light pulse turns thin sheets of tantalum disulfide from its original (alpha) state into a mixture of alpha and beta states. Domain walls separate the two states. A second pulse of light dissolves the walls, and the material returns to its original state.

Microbes Retain Toxicity Tolerance After They Escape Toxic Elements

Ground water microbes living outside a contaminated area contain mobile genetic elements that provide them resistance to heavy metals.

Trees Consider the Climate When Choosing Their Partners

ees can establish several types of symbiotic relationships with fungi and bacteria. Researchers constructed a global map of the types of tree symbioses across the world. With the map, they determined that the type of fungal symbiosis found in trees depends on how quickly the organic matter in the soil decomposes. The team also found that bacteria that convert nitrogen gas from the atmosphere into plant-usable products form tree symbioses in arid environments.

New Geometric Model Improves Predictions of Fluid Flow in Rock

Supercomputer validates mathematical approach for describing geological features.

Feeding Sugars to Algae Makes Them Fat

Some microscopic green algae stop photosynthesizing and start accumulating fats and/or other valuable molecules when certain changes happen. However, scientists don't know the details of those swift metabolic changes. A team examined a green microalga to better understand this process. After a few days of feeding this microbe sugar, it completely dismantles its photosynthetic apparatus while accumulating fat. In contrast, after the team stopped feeding it sugar, the microbe returned to its normal metabolism.

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