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Moisture matters for viruses in soil

DOE/US Department of Energy

A teaspoon of soil contains billions of viruses and other microorganisms. In this study, scientists examined viruses in soil from Kansas prairies to sequence genetic material, identify viruses’ proteins, and look at how viruses’ activity varied under different environmental conditions. They found that some viruses were more abundant in wet soils, while others were more active.

Journal: Communications Biology

Predicting explosive energy bursts in compact fusion power plants

DOE/US Department of Energy

Edge localized modes (ELMs) associated with plasma instabilities in tokamak fusion reactors can damage reactor walls, a challenge in the design of future fusion power plants. Scientists have now discovered that internal resistance of the plasma can cause additional instabilities that drive ELMs in the National Spherical Torus Experiment. This will help researchers mitigate and control ELMs in spherical tokamaks.

Journal: Nuclear Fusion

Department of Energy announces Early Career Research Program for FY 2023

DOE/US Department of Energy
Grant and Award Announcement

Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced it is accepting applications for the 2023 DOE Office of Science Early Career Research Program to support the research of outstanding scientists early in their careers. The program will support over 80 early career researchers for five years at U.S. academic institutions, DOE national laboratories, and Office of Science user facilities.

Department of Energy announces $10 million for traineeships in computational high energy physics

DOE/US Department of Energy
Grant and Award Announcement

Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $10 million in funding for three projects providing classroom training and research opportunities in computational high energy physics to train the next generation of computational scientists and engineers needed to deliver scientific discoveries.

James McKinlay : Then and Now / 2012 Early Career Award Winner

DOE/US Department of Energy

James McKinlay is an associate professor of biology at Indiana University. His group used genetics, analytical chemistry, and computational modeling to identify factors that determine hydrogen gas production levels. More broadly, we identified factors that govern cooperative relationships between microbes.

Biden-Harris administration announces $1.5 billion from Inflation Reduction Act to strengthen America’s national laboratories

DOE/US Department of Energy
Grant and Award Announcement

The Biden-Harris Administration, through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), today announced $1.5 billion from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act to build and upgrade America’s national laboratories. The resources will upgrade scientific facilities, modernize infrastructure, and address deferred maintenance projects at DOE’s Office of Science-managed national laboratories, which are regional hubs for innovation, including clean energy technology that supports good-paying jobs and lower energy costs for families. This historic amount of support will help achieve the Biden-Harris Administration’s vision to advance solutions-driven research and innovation conducted by America’s best and brightest scientists to tackle the nation’s greatest challenges and achieve the President’s ambitious climate goals.

Dissecting the ecology of microalgae and bacteria across time and space

DOE/US Department of Energy

Microalgae play an important role in the Earth’s climate, converting carbon dioxide into solid carbon. This research sought new ways to study these microalgae and their associated bacterial communities across time and space. The researchers created a new co-culture method called a “porous microplate” that passes nutrients and molecules associated with metabolism between culture cells while blocking physical contact between algae in adjacent wells.

Journal: The ISME Journal

How do neutrons interact with reactor materials?

DOE/US Department of Energy

Nuclear fission and fusion reactors use carbon and silicon in shielding, structural materials, fuel, and neutron moderators. Neutrons are the drivers of the nuclear energy production processes. This makes understanding how neutrons scatter from all reactor materials critical for nuclear plant design and other applications. In this research, scientists investigated the interaction of neutrons with silicon and carbon.

Journal: Nuclear Physics A

Department of Energy announces two 2022 Office of Science Distinguished Scientist Fellows

DOE/US Department of Energy
Grant and Award Announcement

The Department of Energy (DOE) announced two national laboratory scientists as DOE Office of Science Distinguished Scientist Fellows. This honor, authorized by the America COMPETES Act, is bestowed on national laboratory scientists with outstanding records of achievement. The award provides each Fellow with $1 million over three years to support activities that develop, sustain, and promote scientific and academic excellence in DOE Office of Science research.

Synthetic genetic circuits reprogram plant roots

DOE/US Department of Energy
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Controlling gene activity is important for engineering plants for improved bioenergy crops and other applications. This research developed synthetic genes that use Boolean logic gates to achieve specific patterns of gene expression within a plant. The researchers used these gene circuits to redesign the root architecture by tuning the number of root branches.

Journal: Science

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