NEWS RELEASES

DOE Funded News

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 21-Jan-2026 21:11 ET (22-Jan-2026 02:11 GMT/UTC)

How neutrinos may hold the keys to why we exist

Michigan State University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A Michigan State University researcher co-led a joint analysis between two major neutrino experiments, bringing scientists closer to understanding the mystery of how the universe evolved.

Journal: Nature
Funder: DOE/US Department of Energy

Designing cost-effective carbon payments to induce cellulosic feedstock production for sustainable aviation fuel

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment

Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) based on crop residues such as corn stover or perennial bioenergy crops such as miscanthus or switchgrass have the potential to mitigate carbon (C) emissions. However, SAF production scale-up is hindered by high establishment costs and yield and price riskiness, making the return profiles less appealing to risk-averse, present-biased, and credit-constrained farmers. A new study found that SAF feedstock choice, adoption levels, and spatial patterns depend on the type of C mitigation payments and farmer risk profiles, shedding light on potential policy decisions that might incentivize increased bioenergy crop cultivation.

Journal: Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy
Funder: DOE/US Department of Energy

Genome-wide analysis of gene expression in sorghum furthers efforts to improve stem biomass

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Sorghum bicolor is a deep-rooted, heat- and drought-tolerant crop that thrives on marginal lands and is increasingly valued for its applications in biofuel, bioenergy, and biopolymer production. Although recent advances in genetic, genomic, and transcriptomic resources have improved understanding of sorghum biology, comprehensive genome-wide analyses of functional dynamics across diverse organ types and developmental stages remain limited. This study, led by the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI), presents a genome-wide analysis of organ-specific gene expression, functions, and regulatory networks in sorghum. The findings offer valuable candidates for further functional characterization and genetic engineering aimed at improving sorghum stem biomass and composition.

Journal: BMC Plant Biology
Funder: DOE/US Department of Energy

From soft to solid: How a coral stiffens its skeleton on demand

University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have uncovered the first natural example of granular jamming, a process where loose particles lock into place under pressure, in the skeleton of a soft coral. The discovery explains a long-observed mystery in biology and could inspire new designs for medical devices, robotics and protective gear.

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Funder: Human Frontier Science Program, DOE/US Department of Energy, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, University of Pennsylvania

A 13-year record indicates differences in the duration and depth of soil carbon accrual among potential bioenergy crops

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment

While annual cropping systems such as maize/soy rotation perpetuate soil organic carbon (SOC) loss, perennial crops have been found to contribute to SOC increases. However, most perennial crop studies have been short-term, resulting in incomplete understanding of their long-term impacts on SOC. A new study found that planting perennial crops on land formerly used for annual maize/soy can slow or reverse soil carbon losses, with the greatest increases in soil organic carbon from species-rich prairie.

Funder: DOE/US Department of Energy

Identifying the best high-biomass sorghum hybrids based on biomass yield potential and feedstock quality affected by nitrogen fertility management under various environments

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment

There is growing interest in high-biomass sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) as a bioenergy feedstock, but more information is needed to determine the most suitable varieties for the U.S. Midwest. A study by researchers at the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) compared the yield performance of 13 high-biomass sorghum hybrids based on dry biomass yield, adaptability, and stability, and documented relationships and tradeoffs between traits that can be harnessed to maximize regional productivity. More work is needed to optimize nitrogen fertilization and assess the ecosystem service benefits of these new hybrids.

Funder: DOE/US Department of Energy

Nanoparticle blueprints reveal path to smarter medicines

University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, Brookhaven National Laboratory, and Waters Corporation have revealed that lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) — the delivery vehicles for RNA therapies — come in a surprising range of shapes and structures. Reported in Nature Biotechnology, the study shows that these structural differences directly influence how well LNPs deliver their therapeutic cargo, offering a blueprint for tailoring nanoparticles to specific diseases. The findings open the door to a new era of precision design for RNA medicines, moving beyond today’s trial-and-error approach.

Journal: Nature Biotechnology
Funder: DOE/US Department of Energy, American Cancer Society, U.S. National Science Foundation, Burroughs Wellcome Fund

Cool battery power

University of California - Riverside

A team of UC Riverside engineering scholars have discovered why a key solid-state battery ceramic material stays remarkably cool during operation — a breakthrough that could help make the next generation of lithium batteries deliver higher energy density while reducing overheating and fire risks.

Journal: PRX Energy
Funder: U.S. National Science Foundation, U.S. National Science Foundation, UCR Opportunity to Advance Sustainability Innovation and Social Inclusion, DOE/US Department of Energy, European Union NextGenerationEU

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