Feature Articles

Small hydropower systems could generate 22.6 megawatts of electricity in a remote part of western North Carolina, enough to power 5,000 homes in an area where the rugged, heavily forested terrain limits reliable access to energy, according to a recent study by Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

DALLAS — The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation and the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) celebrated the launch of the Accelerator for Supply Chain, Economy and National Development (ASCEND) initiative at an event hosted by Momentum Technologies at their state-of-the-art recycling facility. ASCEND is a collaborative initiative focused on strengthening U.S. capabilities to recover, process and recycle critical materials from end-of-life electronics like phones, laptops and hard drives.

Rekha Rao thrives on solving complex scientific problems.

She’s been doing it to help Sandia meet the nation’s needs for 35 years.

This year, her work earned her dual recognitions as she was elected a fellow of two professional societies: the Society of Rheology and the International Association for Computational Mechanics.

ORNL researchers are developing intelligent automation systems that help manufacturers operate efficiently with smaller workforces. Work at the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility integrates robotics, sensing and advanced controls to increase flexibility and reduce production time. These technologies are strengthening U.S. manufacturing competitiveness by supporting faster deployment and securing domestic supply chains.

With support from U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratories, including Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Texas-based company Element3 has launched the first domestic lithium mining project in 50 years. This achievement is likely to have a big impact, turning the United States from a net importer of lithium to a country well on the path to greater energy independence, national security, and economic strength.

How do you power a spacecraft traveling 880 million miles from Earth?