News Releases

The reactivity of zirconium on silicon nitride enhances the conversion of propane into propylene, a key commodity chemical needed to make polypropylene. This finding hints at the reactivity researchers might achieve with other nontraditional catalysts.

Building on nearly 15 years of research, physicists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility are exploring magnetrons as the drivers of modern particle accelerators. This could lower the carbon footprint of these energy-hungry machines and help them benefit societyfar beyond the realm of scientific research.

Argonne-led research working toward reducing electronic waste with biodegradable luminescent polymers with high light-emitting efficiencies.

The Department of Energy released a request for proposals today to advance its leadership in high-performance computing, inviting vendors to submit their plans for a successor to Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s exascale (a quintillion or more calculations per second) supercomputer, Frontier.

Researcher Rocio Uria-Martinez is the lead author of an influential study published by the Department of Energy's Water Power Technology Office detailing hydropower industry trends. 

Polyphenols are generally toxic to microorganisms. In peatlands, scientists thought microorganisms avoided this toxicity by degrading polyphenols using an oxygen-dependent enzyme, and thus that low-oxygen conditions inhibit microbes’ carbon cycling. However, a new study found that Arctic peatland microorganisms used alternative enzymes, with and without oxygen, to break down polyphenols. This suggests carbon stored in these ecosystems is more at risk than previously thought.

Researchers at Berkeley Lab have successfully demonstrated an innovative approach to find breakthrough materials for quantum applications. The approach uses rapid computing methods to predict the properties of hundreds of materials, identifying short lists of the most promising ones. Then, precise fabrication methods are used to make the short-list materials and further evaluate their properties.