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Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory and Purdue University combine satellite data with model calculations to study whether atmospheric aerosols increase the brightness of clouds enough to have a potential impact on climate. Higher reflectivity of brighter clouds may result in global cooling, partially offsetting the greenhouse effect. The Brookhaven-Purdue study was reported in the February 19, 2002 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

A new brain-imaging study at Brookhaven Lab offers insight into why individual patients respond differently to standard doses of Ritalin, a drug used to treat millions of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) each year.

Atmospheric scientists have long suspected that microscopic aerosol particles from industrial processes increase the brightness of clouds, resulting in greater reflection of sunlight and cooling of Earth's climate. Now, scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory and Purdue University have combined satellite measurements of cloud brightness, water content, and other variables with model calculations of atmospheric aerosols to demonstrate this brightening effect, which should be accounted for in assessing the magnitude of global climate change.

After careful study of six trillion subatomic particle decays at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory, an international collaboration of physicists announced that they have spotted one of the rarest occurrences in the subatomic world — for a second time. The observation will be reported in the January 11, 2002, Physical Review Letters.

Scientists have identified the biochemical and signaling properties of two cancer-related proteins using a process called X-ray crystallography. The technique yielded the first-ever detailed pictures of the proteins interacting with each other, indicating which areas are most essential for the development of cancer.

The newest and largest particle accelerator at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory is taking a break from recreating the conditions of the early universe to investigate another fundamental question that has puzzled physicists: Where do protons get their spin? To begin to answer the question, the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) has accelerated beams of polarized protons to the highest energy ever, and will begin colliding the beams this week.

Most materials get compacted or fall apart under pressure, but scientists working in an international collaboration between the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory and the School of Chemical Sciences at England’s University of Birmingham have discovered some that expand. These unusual materials may have applications as "molecular sponges" for soaking up chemical pollutants or even radioactive waste.

Pushing the concept of "survival of the fittest" to the extreme, scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory have developed strains of bacteria able to live in harsh environments while chowing down on carbon-rich materials such as coal. The bacteria's digestive action removes potentially harmful pollutants, and could be used to yield more-efficient, cleaner-burning coal.

An electron-beam welding technique developed at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory is one of 13 energy-saving projects nationwide that won a grant from DOE’s National Industrial Competitiveness through Energy, Environment and Economics program, known as NICE3. The $525,000 DOE grant will help Acceleron Electron Beam, LLC, of East Granby, Connecticut, to work with Brookhaven to further develop and commercialize the new welding technology.

Three new enzyme studies at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory have yielded a new strategy for blocking infection by human adenovirus. The findings, reported in the October, November, and December issues of the journal Biochemistry, have already been used to design novel antiviral drugs.