Feature Articles

Idaho National Laboratory

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Updates every hour. Last Updated: 1-Jul-2025 11:10 ET (1-Jul-2025 15:10 GMT/UTC)

Microreactors could replace diesel generators, enable renewables, report says

DOE/Idaho National Laboratory

An up-and-coming type of nuclear reactor could help answer questions related to reducing carbon emissions while providing a foundation for renewable energy, if the fledgling technology can survive some growing pains, according to a new report by researchers at Idaho National Laboratory focusing on microreactors.

Idaho researchers take a close look at uranium to unravel its mysteries

DOE/Idaho National Laboratory

For the first time in decades, researchers at Idaho National Laboratory are studying how the structure of uranium changes when it is rapidly heated or cooled.

Machine learning in charge: Improving battery safety for electric vehicles

DOE/Idaho National Laboratory

Fast charging could recharge an electric vehicle battery in minutes rather than hours, but doing so can rapidly age a battery. The key word, though, is “can.” Batteries react differently to fast charging because of design, material and manufacturing variations. Early detection and classification of battery aging during fast charging would benefit researchers studying how to improve batteries, battery makers, and eventually the public by helping to ensure batteries last and improving battery safety. Now, a new technique developed by Idaho National Laboratory (INL) researchers makes it easier to spot possible battery troubles earlier than ever before.

Journal: Cell Reports Physical Science

Teaching machines to find critical facilities for emergency response

DOE/Idaho National Laboratory

As emergency managers work to prepare communities for natural or human-made disasters, understanding how critical infrastructure interconnects is key for maintaining the availability of vital goods and services. researchers at Idaho National Laboratory are using machine learning to teach computers to recognize critical infrastructure from satellite imagery.

First of a kind national lab project will simulate fast charging station microgrids

DOE/Idaho National Laboratory

Research by Idaho National Laboratory scientists could help the nation accommodate more electric vehicles, while lessening the impact of vehicle charging on the electrical grid system.

Idaho researchers help industry make high performance parts inexpensive and durable

DOE/Idaho National Laboratory

Many high-performance technologies like nuclear reactors or spacecraft require advanced materials. In the past, these materials were typically manufactured from a process called hot pressing, which results in excess waste and contributes to high costs. The costs have limited the widespread use of advanced materials in everyday items such as automobiles. More recently, engineers have developed a cost-saving process called spark plasma sintering (SPS), and now, INL has developed capabilities to help industry design efficient SPS manufacturing processes.

Potato wastewater could feed bacteria used to recycle high tech devices

DOE/Idaho National Laboratory

New research from Idaho National Laboratory suggests that potato wastewater might serve well as a low-cost food source for a special bacterium that could be used to recycle high tech devices, industrial catalysts and other sources of rare earth elements.

How hydropower can help the grid recover from extreme events

DOE/Idaho National Laboratory

Five Idaho National Laboratory researchers and their partners at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) took 'Best Paper' honors at the International Resilience Week conference in mid-October. The researchers examined how hydropower's flexibility can provide stability and resilience in the face of events such as rolling blackouts, hurricanes and earthquakes.

Trash to Treasure: Sustainable recycling of electric vehicle batteries

DOE/Idaho National Laboratory

In light of growing challenges and opportunities, Idaho National Laboratory (INL) aims to make the recycling of lithium-ion batteries easier, more efficient, and potentially greener. Encouraging results of these efforts recently appeared in the journal Resources, Conservation and Recycling.

Machine learning helps scientists interpret crystal patterns

DOE/Idaho National Laboratory

For scientists and engineers, the best way to understand a new or unknown material -- whether it's an alloy, a pharmaceutical or a meteorite -- is to delve into its atoms. But, analyzing data from these methods, especially diffraction patterns, is a time-consuming process. Now, Idaho National Laboratory researchers have helped develop a computer model that can interpret diffraction patterns in hours instead of weeks.

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