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TRAPping proteins that work together inside living cells

DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers trying to understand how and which proteins work together have developed a new crosslinking tool that is small and unobtrusive enough to use in live cells. Using the new crosslinker, the scientists have discovered new details about a well-studied complex of proteins known as RNA polymerase. The results suggest the method might uncover collaborations between proteins that are too brief for other techniques to pinpoint.

Journal: ChemBioChem
Funder: DOE/US Department of Energy

'Smart' process may boost economics of biofuel production

DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Peer-Reviewed Publication

On Monday, June 8, at the North American Meeting of the Catalysis Society, PNNL scientist David King talks about a new, one-step process to convert cellulose and other biomass into a chemical that can serve as a precursor to make fuels and plastics.

Meeting: 21st Meeting of the North American Catalysis Society

All the carbon counts

DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Cutting down forests for agriculture vents carbon dioxide into the air just as industries and fossil fuel burning does. But policymakers debate whether to include terrestrial carbon in plans to stabilize atmospheric greenhouse gases. A new study in Science suggests that failing to include land use changes could lead to massive deforestation and higher costs for limiting carbon emissions. Also, improvements to agricultural technology could be as important as for energy in a carbon-limited future.

Journal: Science
Funder: DOE/US Department of Energy, Electric Power Research Institute

Plastic that grows on trees, part two

DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Peer-Reviewed Publication

To turn plants into a renewable, nonpolluting replacement for crude oil, scientists have to learn how to convert plant biomass into a building block for plastics and fuels cheaply and efficiently. In new research, chemists have successfully converted cellulose -- the most common plant carbohydrate -- directly into the building block called HMF in one step. This simple process generates a high yield of HMF and allows the use of raw cellulose as feed material.

Funder: DOE/US Department of Energy

Smart Charger Controller simplifies electric vehicle recharging

DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Business Announcement

PNNL's Smart Charger Controller automatically recharges electric vehicles during times of least cost to the consumer and lower demand for power.

Funder: DOE/US Department of Energy

DOE to establish Energy Frontier Research Center at PNNL

DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Grant and Award Announcement

The DOE plans to award $22.5 million over five years for PNNL's new Center for Molecular Electrocatalysis, where scientists will study molecules called catalysts that convert electrical energy into chemical bonds and back again. Of interest are catalysts that pack energy into bonds involving hydrogen, oxygen or nitrogen. These reactions are at the core of technologies such as solar energy and fuel cells.

Funder: DOE/US Department of Energy

Potentially harmful chemicals found in forest fire smoke

DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers have detected common plant toxins that affect human health and ecosystems in smoke from forest fires. The results from the new study also suggest that smoldering fires may produce more toxins than wildfires - a reason to keep human exposures to a minimum during controlled burns. Finding these toxins -- known as alkaloids -- helps researchers understand how they cycle through earth and air.

Journal: Environmental Science & Technology
Funder: DOE/US Department of Energy

Clouds: Lighter than air but laden with lead

DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers have shown for the first time a direct relation between lead in the sky and the formation of ice crystals that foster clouds. The results, published in May's Nature Geoscience, suggest that lead generated by human activities causes clouds to form at warmer temperatures and with less water. Not only could this alter precipitation but, under some conditions, these clouds let more of the Earth's heat waft back into space, cooling the world slightly.

Journal: Nature Geoscience
Funder: German Research Foundation, DOE/US Department of Energy, ETH Zurich, Atmospheric Composition Change the European Network for Excellence

Not all titanium dioxide is equal when it comes to splitting water with visible light

DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Peer-Reviewed Publication

With a splash of UV light, titanium dioxide can break down contaminants for environmental cleanup or split water for hydrogen fuel production. Researchers would like to expand titanium dioxide's repertoire to use visible light. PNNL's Michael Henderson will talk about the importance of the form titanium dioxide takes in accomplishing this.

Funder: DOE/US Department of Energy
Meeting: American Chemical Society 237th National Meeting

Blue light specials

DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Peer-Reviewed Publication

PNNL researchers have designed new host materials for a blue phosphorescent OLED that boost efficiency by at least 25 percent and help solve "weakest link" in development of cost-effective white OLEDs.

Funder: DOE/US Department of Energy
Meeting: American Chemical Society 237th National Meeting

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