Feature Articles

A battery material that dissolves in water will reduce the cost, complexity, and environmental impact of recycling lithium-ion batteries, so we can reuse the valuable and increasingly rare metals within.

The Quantum Systems Accelerator, a U.S. Department of Energy National QIS Research Center, dedicates special efforts to quantum education, especially at the high school level, which traditionally has not been regarded as an entry point to QIS. The outreach should help fill the increasing number of job vacancies in this fast-growing and developing field.

By 2033, more than 1 billion laptops, cellphones, and other electronic devices could be entering the U.S. waste stream each year. However, with better end-of-life management, new Berkeley Lab research shows electronic waste could also represent a source of valuable metals, namely gold, that could benefit the future economy by offsetting increasing demand for virgin mining.

Berkeley Lab scientists have developed new machine learning algorithms to accelerate the analysis of data collected decades ago by HERA, the world’s most powerful electron-proton collider that ran at the DESY national research center in Germany from 1992 to 2007. Their work could help accelerate technological advancements based on proton spin, and help scientists gain new insight into the strong force, a fundamental property that gives all protons and therefore atoms mass.

Since 2018, Berkeley Lab’s Advanced Quantum Testbed (AQT) has led several scientific breakthroughs in quantum computing across various areas. AQT also operates an open-access experimental testbed designed for deep collaboration with external users from academia, national Laboratories, and industry.

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage - Latin American Heritage Month, 5 QSA-affiliated scientists described how they pivoted to quantum information science (QIS) and technology, and why they're excited about the opportunities for scientific discovery. Featuring Ana Maria Rey, Pablo Poggi, Sergio Cantu, Elmer Guardado Sanchez, and Diego Barberena. QSA (Quantum Systems Accelerator) is a National QIS Research Center funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Berkeley Lab leads QSA with Sandia National Laboratories as the lead partner. QSA is composed of 15 member institutions in the United States and Canada.

A new experimental facility that replicates realistic earthquakes in the laboratory, paired with the world’s fastest supercomputers, will help scientists and engineers design and retrofit shake-resilient buildings and infrastructure across the U.S.

Berkeley Lab researchers have completed a major expansion of one of the world’s most powerful laser systems, creating new opportunities in accelerator research. The expansion created a second beamline for the petawatt laser at the Berkeley Lab Laser Accelerator (BELLA) Center, enabling the development of next-generation particle accelerators for applications in science, medicine, security, and industry.

A new solar material developed by Berkeley Lab scientists offers a simpler and more sustainable approach to solar cell manufacturing. The material’s lead-free formulation could also benefit the commercialization of perovskites, a promising solar material that requires much less energy to manufacture than silicon.

Scientists have developed a fully recyclable and biodegradable printed circuit. The advance could divert wearable devices and other flexible electronics from landfill, and mitigate the health and environmental hazards posed by heavy metal waste.