Oak Ridge National Laboratory News - SciTechDaily

Solid-State Cooling: A Future Without Refrigerants

Scott Gibson, Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 17:16:00 +0000

Researchers have made significant advancements in understanding atomic-scale heat motion in materials, crucial for developing solid-state cooling technology. This technology, which operates without traditional refrigerants or moving parts, uses materials like nickel-cobalt-manganese-indium magnetic shape-memory alloys to exploit the magnetocaloric effect for efficient cooling. A crucial knowledge gap in atomic-scale heat motion was recently bridged by [...]

Electric Insights: Introducing the Grid Event Signature Library

Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 22:52:46 +0000

Library of operating data enables analysis of complex electric grids. The Grid Event Signature Library at Oak Ridge National Laboratory offers waveform datasets that help analyze and predict electric grid behaviors. With contributions from various utilities, the library facilitates machine learning models to forecast and mitigate grid malfunctions, enhancing grid reliability and safety. Introduction to [...]

“Super Grids” to the Rescue: Harnessing Sun and Wind Against Caribbean Hurricanes

Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 23:40:10 +0000

Researchers have developed a model for “super grids” to sustain electricity in the Caribbean during hurricanes, exploring interconnected grid systems to offset the impact of reduced solar power. This initiative aims to enhance energy reliability and resilience in the face of frequent storms. When hurricanes threaten tropical shores, “super grids” could come to the rescue. [...]

Promethium Discovery Set to Rewrite Chemistry Textbooks

Lawrence Bernard and Leo Williams, Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Fri, 24 May 2024 02:54:32 +0000

Scientists have made a significant breakthrough in understanding the properties of promethium, a rare earth element with elusive characteristics despite its use in modern technology. Researchers have uncovered the properties of a rare earth element that was first discovered 80 years ago at the very same laboratory. Their discoveries open a new pathway for the [...]

Neutrons Illuminate the Mysteries of Space Glass

Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Thu, 23 May 2024 11:10:49 +0000

Researchers have developed techniques to manufacture different types of glass in space, uncovering potential for advancements in optical technology. Thanks to human ingenuity and zero gravity, we reap important benefits from science in space. Consider smartphones with built-in navigation systems and cameras. Such transformational technologies seem to blend into the rhythm of our everyday lives [...]

Small Changes, Big Impacts: Isotopes Transform 2D Semiconductor Engineering

Scott Gibson, Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Mon, 06 May 2024 11:12:48 +0000

New research has demonstrated that small changes in the isotopic content of thin semiconductor materials can influence their optical and electronic properties, possibly opening the way to new and advanced designs with the semiconductors. The research was led by scientists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Advancements in Semiconductor Research Partly because [...]

Neutron Scattering: Unlocking the Secrets of Safer, More Powerful Lithium Batteries

Sumner Brown Gibbs, Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Sat, 04 May 2024 11:42:47 +0000

A new technique utilizing neutron scattering has revolutionized lithium battery design, promising safer and more efficient batteries. An international team of scientists found a way to improve battery design that could produce safer, more powerful lithium batteries. The team used quasi-elastic neutron scattering at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to set the first benchmark, one-nanosecond, or [...]

Soaring Into the Future: DOE Researchers Develop Game-Changing Batteries for Air Taxis

Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 19:07:17 +0000

Analysis of eVTOL batteries reveals unique operating demands. Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory are advancing clean transportation by developing and testing new battery technologies for electric vehicles capable of vertical takeoff and landing. These aircraft, commonly called eVTOLs, range from delivery drones to urban air taxis. They are designed to [...]

This Lab Turned Their COVID Success Into a Cancer-Fighting Mission – Here’s How

Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 22:22:02 +0000

Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are advancing cancer treatment research by designing drugs that target the metabolic pathways cancer cells rely on for growth. By mapping the structure of a key enzyme with neutrons and X-rays, they aim to develop treatments for aggressive cancers, including lung and breast cancer. After a highly lauded research [...]

Reinventing Glass: A Breakthrough in Atomic Stability

Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 06:41:37 +0000

Glass is increasingly utilized in various high-performance areas, covering consumer and industrial applications, military and aerospace electronics, as well as coatings and optics. Given the stringent accuracy required in products like mobile phones and jet aircraft, it’s crucial that glass substrates remain unaltered in shape throughout the manufacturing process. Corning Incorporated, a manufacturer of innovative [...]

Invisible Armor for Steel: How hBN Coating Is Reinventing Metal Durability

Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Sat, 27 Jan 2024 02:45:35 +0000

Hexagonal boron nitride coatings on metal alloys enhance durability, reduce friction, and protect against harsh conditions, paving the way for improvements in solar panels, semiconductors, and aerospace components. Researchers demonstrated that stainless steel and other metal alloys coated with hexagonal boron nitride, or hBN, exhibit non-stick or low-friction qualities along with improved long-term protection against harsh [...]

Magnesium Oxide: The Key to Efficient Carbon Capture?

Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Sat, 23 Dec 2023 20:11:26 +0000

Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s research on magnesium oxide for carbon capture reveals a slowing absorption rate over time due to surface layer formation, posing challenges for economic viability and guiding future solution-focused studies. Magnesium oxide is a promising material for capturing carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere and injecting it deep underground to limit the [...]

Revolutionizing Climate Research: Custom Software Accelerates High-Profile Ocean Model

Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 01:31:57 +0000

A new solver algorithm for the MPAS-Ocean model significantly enhances climate research by reducing computational time and improving accuracy. This breakthrough, integrating Fortran and C++ programming, is a step forward in efficient and reliable climate modeling. On the beach, ocean waves provide soothing white noise. But in scientific laboratories, they play a key role in [...]

Battery Breakthrough: Scientists Reveal the Mechanics of Solid-State Energy

Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 12:16:47 +0000

When electricity flows through a battery, the materials inside it gradually wear down. The physical forces of stress and strain also play a role in this process, but their exact effects on the battery’s performance and lifespan are not completely known. A team led by researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory [...]

NASA’s New Power Play: Plutonium-238 for Distant Space Journeys

NASA — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 18:18:49 +0000

The DOE’s shipment of 0.5 kilograms of plutonium-238 to Los Alamos National Laboratory marks a milestone in producing fuel for NASA’s radioisotope power systems, crucial for deep space exploration. This progress, part of a goal to produce 1.5 kilograms annually by 2026, supports missions like Mars 2020, demonstrating the ongoing, vital partnership between NASA and [...]

Triangular Triumph: Unraveling the Mystery of Quantum Spin Liquids After 50 Years

Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Sun, 19 Nov 2023 23:29:58 +0000

A collaborative research team has confirmed quantum spin liquid behavior in the material KYbSe2, validating a decades-old hypothesis. This breakthrough, significant for quantum computing and superconductor development, was achieved using advanced neutron scattering techniques and computational analysis. In 1973, physicist Phil Anderson hypothesized that the quantum spin liquid, or QSL, state existed on some triangular [...]

Revolutionizing CRISPR: Quantum Biology and AI Merge to Enhance Genome Editing

Stephanie Seay, Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Sat, 11 Nov 2023 12:57:29 +0000

Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s research in quantum biology and AI has significantly improved the efficiency of CRISPR Cas9 genome editing in microbes, aiding in renewable energy development. Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) used their expertise in quantum biology, artificial intelligence, and bioengineering to improve how CRISPR Cas9 genome editing tools work on organisms [...]

The Future of Nuclear Reactors: Deciphering Electron Behavior in Molten Salts

Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Sat, 21 Oct 2023 22:17:27 +0000

Scientists reveal three unique electron states in molten salts, a crucial discovery for future salt-fueled nuclear reactors’ radiation impacts. In a finding that helps elucidate how molten salts in advanced nuclear reactors might behave, scientists have shown how electrons interacting with the ions of the molten salt can form three states with different properties. Understanding [...]

New Technology Transforms Traditionally Unrecyclable Plastics Into Useful Chemicals

Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 02:13:41 +0000

Mixed plastics can be transformed into useful chemicals. Nearly 80% of plastic waste ultimately finds its way to landfills or lingers in the environment. Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have pioneered a method that transforms traditionally unrecyclable mixtures of plastic waste into useful chemicals, offering a new approach in the fight against worldwide plastic [...]

Hafnium Oxide: Unraveling the Secrets of Next-Gen Semiconductors

Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 23:19:51 +0000

Scientists at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory studied hafnia’s potential in semiconductor applications, revealing its behavior can be influenced by the surrounding atmosphere. Their findings offer promising implications for future memory technologies. A team of scientists from the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory has investigated the behavior of hafnium oxide, or hafnia, because [...]

Life in Boiling Waters: A Global Microbial Connection

Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Sat, 16 Sep 2023 21:48:23 +0000

Scientists find evolutionary clues while examining microbes in far-flung hot springs. Scientists found similar microbial adaptations in hot springs across the US, Iceland, and Japan, offering insights into life’s evolution and potential biotechnological applications. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) scientists studied hot springs on different continents and found similarities in how some microbes adapted despite [...]

Pushing the Boundaries of Fast Charging: New Lithium-Ion Battery Material Can Recharge 80% in 10 Minutes

Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Fri, 15 Sep 2023 04:22:46 +0000

Electric vehicles (EVs) have revolutionized the automotive industry, promising a sustainable future with reduced carbon emissions. As they surge in popularity, one of the primary challenges has been their charging speeds and battery longevity, which are vital for consumer acceptance and broad adoption Now, researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are pushing the boundaries of [...]

Quantum Breakthrough: Scientists Develop New Way To Manipulate Exotic Materials

Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 05:12:03 +0000

The findings could revolutionize electronics and quantum computing. A breakthrough in a topological insulator material, which possesses insulating properties internally but conductive properties on the surface, has the potential to transform the realms of advanced electronics and quantum computing, say researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Discovered in the 1980s, a topological material is a [...]

Quantum Curveball: Established Theory Challenged by Surprising Atomic Nucleus Shape Change

Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Sun, 20 Aug 2023 16:29:42 +0000

New Oak Ridge National Laboratory study reveals an unforeseen atomic nucleus shape change, using data from FRIB to explore the long-lasting excited state of sodium-32, challenging nuclear shape and energy correlations. New research may have revealed an unexpected change in the shape of an atomic nucleus. The surprise finding could affect our understanding of what [...]