Feature Stories
Quark Matter 2022: New results from RHIC and LHC—Plus plans for the future
DOE/Brookhaven National LaboratoryTheoretical and experimental physicists from around the world gathered last month at Quark Matter 2022 to discuss new developments in high energy heavy ion physics. Highlights included a series of presentations and discussions about the latest findings from heavy ion research facilities—notably the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory and the Large Hadron Collider at the European Center for Nuclear Research (CERN)—as well as future research directions for the field.
- Funder
- DOE/US Department of Energy
Fusion experts tackle cooling strategies for fusion fuel cycle
DOE/Oak Ridge National LaboratoryTo achieve practical energy from fusion, extreme heat from the fusion system “blanket” component must be extracted safely and efficiently. ORNL fusion experts are exploring how tiny 3D-printed obstacles placed inside the narrow pipes of a custom-made cooling system could be a solution for removing heat from the blanket.
Scientists uncover an exotic magnetic phase of matter
DOE/Argonne National LaboratoryAt the quantum mechanics level, the mystery of what happens when electrons transition between metallic and insulator states has intrigued physicists for nearly 60 years. Modern instrumentation has provided a fascinating glimpse at the answer.
- Journal
- Nature Communications
No small potatoes: Understanding risks and impacts to our agricultural supply
DOE/Idaho National LaboratoryThe pandemic inspired an interest in how resilient our nation’s production and distribution systems are, against similar large-scale social disruptions as well as climate-related impacts. An INL research team interested in addressing these challenges identified food and agriculture as one sector to better understand. From there, they searched for an appropriate commodity to serve as their first official case study. For an Idaho-based team, the three most obvious options were milk, wheat and potatoes.
Always adapting: Scientists use Argonne’s Advanced Photon Source to fight SARS-CoV-2 variants
DOE/Argonne National LaboratoryKnowing variants of concern can spike rates of illness and death around the globe, scientists using the APS are concentrating efforts on mutations of the virus that causes COVID-19.
An electric connection: Homes helping the grid
DOE/Pacific Northwest National LaboratoryA new control system shows promise in making millions of homes contributors to improved power grid operations, reaping cost and environmental benefits.
Six ways the Advanced Photon Source is making the world better
DOE/Argonne National LaboratoryPivotal discoveries at Argonne’s Advanced Photon Source make the world better every day. Here are six that help us, inspire us and add to the promise of a brighter tomorrow.
AI for a clean energy future: Researchers use machine learning for advanced fuel development
DOE/Idaho National LaboratoryFor the first time, a team of Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and University of Idaho researchers has successfully applied machine learning to characterizing the microstructure of metallic nuclear fuel, the fine details only visible under powerful magnification.
- Journal
- Materials Characterization
- Funder
- Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy
Taking charge of safety: How the BADGE diagnostics platform will provide reliable electric vehicle battery data
DOE/Idaho National LaboratoryINL researchers are addressing electric vehicle battery safety concerns with the recently deployed Battery Advanced DiaGnostics Evaluation (BADGE) platform.