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14-Sep-2020 3:45 PM EDT
Supercooled Water Is a Stable Liquid, Scientists Show for the First Time
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

First-ever measurements provide evidence that supercooled liquid water exists in two distinct structures that co-exist and vary in proportion dependent on temperature

Released: 14-Sep-2020 4:45 PM EDT
VOLTTRON™ Goes to School
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

The PNNL-developed VOLTTRON™ software platform’s advancement has benefited from a community-driven approach. The technology has been used in buildings nationwide, including most recently on a university campus.

Released: 14-Sep-2020 1:35 PM EDT
Tracking a Pandemic -- through Words
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Data-mining software developed at PNNL is helping analysts keep tabs on developments related to COVID-19. The technology automates the process of combing through tens of thousands of articles each day to provide relevant information about active and emerging biothreats, including the current pandemic.

Released: 11-Sep-2020 5:00 PM EDT
High-Performance Computing Helps Grid Operators Manage Increasing Complexity
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

PNNL, in partnership with industry, has developed a computational tool called HIPPO, which accelerates the increasingly complex calculations grid operators must make in scheduling energy resources to meet the next day’s forecasted electricity demand.

Released: 10-Sep-2020 6:05 PM EDT
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Brings Science, Technology Solutions to Homeland Security
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Post-9/11, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory plays a critical role in nearly every layer of the country’s national security.

Released: 10-Sep-2020 1:30 PM EDT
When Nano Meets Bio
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

PNNL is one of 12 institutions in nine states taking part in a five-year, $20 million NSF-funded molecular-level research effort exploring the transformation, interactions, and impact of various nanomaterials released into the environment.

Released: 9-Sep-2020 12:00 AM EDT
PNNL Team Taps Twitter to Explore Perspectives on COVID-19 Response
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Scientists at PNNL have developed a tool called WatchOwl to collect more than 4 million tweets per day related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The scientists use natural language processing and deep learning to analyze tweets and reactions related to interventions like social distancing and movement restrictions.

Released: 4-Sep-2020 12:55 PM EDT
Exploring Oxidative Pathways in Nuclear Fuel
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

An international team used PNNL microscopy to answer questions about how uranium dioxide—used in nuclear power plants—might behave in long-term storage.

Released: 4-Sep-2020 12:10 PM EDT
Taking Stock of Salmon Survival, Dams and Science
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

PNNL biologists have developed a more efficient way to estimate salmon survival through dams that uses solid science but saves over 42 percent of the cost.

24-Aug-2020 1:25 PM EDT
Natural Radiation Can Interfere with Quantum Computers
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Radiation from natural sources in the environment can limit the performance of superconducting quantum bits, known as qubits. The discovery, reported in the journal Nature, has implications for the construction and operation of quantum computers.

Released: 25-Aug-2020 6:05 PM EDT
Extreme Chemistry of Nuclear Wastes
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

The PNNL-led IDREAM Energy Frontier Research Center is exploring complex chemical phenomena to enable innovations in radioactive waste processing.

Released: 13-Aug-2020 7:35 PM EDT
A Shining Example of Nature Leading the Way
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

From oil refining to automobile pollution-control devices to the bulk of pharmaceuticals, platinum-group metals are the go-to choice for facilitating chemical reactions. It’s been that way for decades. But a new review article in the August 14 issue of the journal Science, led by first author Morris Bullock of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, provides a road map toward greater use of Earth-abundant metals, which would reduce cost and environmental impact.

Released: 12-Aug-2020 2:35 PM EDT
Bright Lights + Big City = Millions of Dollars in Savings
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

The city of Chicago has replaced 210,000 street lights with state-of-the-art LEDs through its energy-efficient street lighting initiative. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory lent its technical expertise to the team - led by the Chicago Department of Transportation - to help identify the best lighting technology and field validation approaches to Chicago’s outdoor lighting modernization effort.

Released: 31-Jul-2020 9:00 AM EDT
Fat-Based Molecules are Key to Zika Virus Infection
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Researchers from PNNL have helped colleagues at OHSU identify lipid molecules required for Zika infection in human cells. The specific lipids involved could also be a clue to why the virus primarily infects brain tissue.

   
28-Jul-2020 5:05 PM EDT
Influx of Electric Vehicles Accelerates Need for Grid Planning
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

A new PNNL report says the western U.S. bulk power system can reliably support projected growth of up to 24 million electric vehicles through 2028, but challenges will arise as EV adoption grows beyond that threshold. This study is the most comprehensive of its kind, integrating multiple variables not evaluated before, such as growth in commercial delivery fleets and long-haul trucks, as well as large-scale and long-term EV charging scenarios and strategies.

Released: 28-Jul-2020 6:35 PM EDT
PNNL’s Vapor Detection Technology Named GeekWire’s ‘Innovation of the Year’
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

A PNNL-developed technology that can quickly detect explosive vapors, deadly chemicals and illicit drugs with unparalleled accuracy has been named the 2020 Innovation of the Year by GeekWire, the Seattle-based technology news company.

Released: 22-Jul-2020 1:10 PM EDT
Pioneering Materials Scientist James De Yoreo Receives Distinguished Scientist Fellow Award
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Pioneering materials scientist James De Yoreo receives Distinguished Scientist Fellow award. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science bestows one of its highest honors on PNNL materials scientist.

Released: 11-Jun-2020 1:05 PM EDT
PNNL Waives Fee to Test-Drive Portfolio of Intellectual Property
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

To help spur economic development and assist in the battle against COVID-19, PNNL is making available its entire portfolio of patented technologies on a research trial basis—at no cost—for six months.

Released: 8-Jun-2020 4:05 PM EDT
Marine Energy Devices Likely Pose Minimal Impacts to Marine Life, Report Shows
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

On World Oceans Day, an international team of marine scientists reports that the potential impact of marine renewable energy to marine life is likely small or undetectable, though there is still uncertainty around some issues.

24-May-2020 10:00 PM EDT
Global Environmental Changes Leading to Shorter, Younger Trees
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Ongoing environmental changes are transforming forests worldwide, resulting in shorter and younger trees. Researchers found that a range of factors, including rising temperatures and carbon dioxide levels, have caused a dramatic decrease in the age and stature of forests.

Released: 21-May-2020 1:05 PM EDT
Onboard Separation Technology Set to Improve Fuel Economy
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

A technology developed by researchers at PNNL could pave the way for increased fuel economy and lower greenhouse gas emissions as part of an octane-on-demand fuel-delivery system. The system separates ethanol-blended gasoline into high- and low-octane fuel components, metering out the appropriate fuel mixture to the engine depending on the power required.

Released: 19-May-2020 11:55 AM EDT
New Study Confirms Important Clues to Fight Ovarian Cancer
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

A new study comparing cancerous tissue with normal fallopian tube samples advances important insights about the rogue cellular machinery that drives a majority of ovarian cancers.

Released: 4-May-2020 7:55 AM EDT
Software Flaws Often First Reported on Social Media Networks, PNNL Researchers Find
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Software vulnerabilities are more likely to be discussed on social media before they’re revealed on a government reporting site, a practice that could pose a national security threat, according to computer scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Released: 29-Apr-2020 11:00 AM EDT
Scientists Explore Links Between Genetics, Gut Microbiome and Memory
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Scientists have traced the molecular connections between genetics, the gut microbiome and memory in a mouse model bred to resemble the diversity of the human population. Researchers from two U.S. Department of Energy national laboratories identified lactate, a molecule produced by all species of one gut microbe, as a key memory-boosting molecular messenger.

Released: 28-Apr-2020 8:25 AM EDT
A Leap in Using Silicon for Battery Anodes
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Scientists have come up with a novel way to use silicon as an energy storage ingredient. They’ve developed a nanostructure incorporating carbon nanotubes to strengthen the material and modify the way silicon interacts with lithium, a key component in batteries used in electric cars and other devices.

Released: 20-Apr-2020 12:00 AM EDT
Identifying the Dark Matter of the Molecular World
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Scientists have deployed artificial intelligence to identify more of the billions of metabolites that are currently unknown. The small molecules underlie and inform every aspect of our lives, including energy production, the fate of the planet, and our health. “Beast Mode” helps explain how they did it.

Released: 2-Apr-2020 12:00 AM EDT
Scientists Take Aim at the Coronavirus Toolkit
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

PNNL scientist Garry Buchko is part of a nationwide network exploring the complex 3D structures of the 27 proteins of the novel coronavirus, each part of the molecular toolkit that the virus uses to infect, replicate and spread. Creating atomic-level pictures of the protein structures is a crucial first step toward mucking up the virus’s inner workings.

12-Feb-2020 8:45 AM EST
New, Detailed Molecular Roadmap Boosts Fight Against Endometrial Cancer
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Scientists have taken an unprecedented look at proteins involved in endometrial cancer, commonly known as uterine cancer. The study offers insights about which patients will need aggressive treatment and which won’t, and offers clues about why a common cancer treatment is not effective with some patients.

Released: 5-Feb-2020 10:00 AM EST
Scientists Learn More about the First Hours of a Lithium-ion Battery’s Life
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

The first hours of a lithium-ion battery’s life largely determine just how well it will perform. In those moments, a set of molecules self-assembles into a structure inside the battery that will affect the battery for years to come. Now scientists have witnessed the formation of the solid-electrolyte interphase at a molecular level.

Released: 17-Jan-2020 12:55 PM EST
Securing Radiological Sources on the Go
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Radioactive materials are a critical tool in a number of industrial applications particularly oil and gas drilling and welding. While these sources are safe and well-regulated for their intended use; if lost or stolen the materials could be used by terrorists to make dirty bombs. The Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory developed and licensed a technology system to keep track of and secure radiological material on the road or at job sites.

8-Jan-2020 7:35 PM EST
An Out-of-the-Box Attack on Diabetes
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

A protein newly identified as important in type 1 diabetes can delay onset of the disease in diabetic mice, providing a new target for prevention and treatment in people, according to research led by scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Indiana University School of Medicine.

Released: 19-Dec-2019 8:00 AM EST
A Very Merry App for Package Delivery at the Final 50 Feet
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Researchers at PNNL are contributing artificial intelligence, machine learning, and app development expertise to a U of W project that will ease challenges with urban freight delivery. The project will provide delivery drivers with a tool to identify open parking spots in congested areas where parking is typically at a premium.

Released: 12-Nov-2019 12:55 PM EST
New AI Model Tries to Synthesize Patient Data Like Doctors Do
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

A new approach developed by PNNL scientists improves the accuracy of patient diagnosis up to 20 percent when compared to other embedding approaches.

Released: 30-Oct-2019 4:05 PM EDT
PNNL Garners R&D 100 Awards
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is the recipient of two R&D 100 awards and one gold medal.

12-Oct-2019 12:05 AM EDT
Scientists Pinpoint Cause of Harmful Dendrites and Whiskers in Lithium Batteries
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Scientists have uncovered a root cause of the growth of needle-like structures—known as dendrites and whiskers—that plague lithium batteries, sometimes causing a short circuit or failure. The defects are a major factor holding back the batteries from broader widespread use and further improvement.

Released: 2-Oct-2019 4:05 PM EDT
PNNL, Sandia, and Georgia Tech Join Forces in AI Effort
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Scientists from DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, DOE’s Sandia National Laboratories, and the Georgia Institute of Technology will collaborate on solutions to some of the most challenging problems in AI today, thanks to $5.5 million in funding from DOE.

Released: 27-Aug-2019 11:05 AM EDT
Smelling is Believing
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

PNNL vapor detection technology quickly and accurately identifies explosives, deadly chemicals, and illicit drugs

Released: 26-Aug-2019 1:40 PM EDT
PNNL Publishes Distributed Wind Energy Report
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Wind energy costs at all-time lows, as wind turbines grow larger

   
Released: 6-Aug-2019 3:05 PM EDT
Two PNNL Researchers Receive Presidential Early Career Award
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Two Chief Engineers at PNNL given Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers

6-Jul-2019 8:00 AM EDT
Designer proteins form wires and lattices on mineral surface
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

This research is a fundamental discovery of how to engineer proteins onto non-biological surfaces. Artificial proteins engineered from scratch have been assembled into nanorod arrays, designer filaments and honeycomb lattices on the surface of mica, demonstrating control over the way proteins interact with surfaces to form complex structures previously seen only in natural protein systems. The study provides a foundation for understanding how protein-crystal interactions can be systematically programmed and sets the stage for designing novel protein-inorganic hybrid materials.

Released: 8-Jul-2019 2:05 PM EDT
Caltech’s Castañeda Named Director of Human Resources at PNNL
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

April Castañeda, a senior executive with 20 years of experience leading human resources programs at Caltech and NASA’s Jet propulsion Laboratory, has been named director of Human Resources at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Released: 25-Jun-2019 1:05 AM EDT
Scientists show how one cause of weak enamel unfolds on the molecular level
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Scientists have shown how a tiny flaw in a protein results in damaged enamel that is prone to decay in people with a condition known as amelogenesis imperfecta. Such patients don’t develop enamel correctly because of a single amino acid defect in the critical enamel protein called amelogenin.

   
Released: 18-Jun-2019 12:05 PM EDT
A New Manufacturing Process for Aluminum Alloys
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Using a novel Solid Phase Processing approach, a research team at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory eliminated several steps that are required during conventional extrusion processing of aluminum alloy powders, while also achieving a significant increase in product ductility. This is good news for sectors such as the automotive industry, where the high cost of manufacturing has historically limited the use of high-strength aluminum alloys made from powders.

Released: 10-Jun-2019 12:05 PM EDT
How Cryptocurrency Discussions Spread
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

PNNL's Dr. Svitlana Volkova and her the team analyzed three years worth of discussions on Reddit from January 2015 to January 2018 measuring the speed and scale of discussion spread related to Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Monero cryptocurrencies.

   
Released: 26-Apr-2019 6:00 AM EDT
Scientists Catalog How Colon Cancer Unfolds in the Body
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Scientists have taken one of the most in-depth looks ever at the riot of protein activity that underlies colon cancer and have identified potential new molecular targets to try to stop the disease.

Released: 2-Apr-2019 12:05 AM EDT
Researchers Tap Rare Pristine Air to Reveal Pollution’s Impact
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Human-caused pollution spurs the production of climate-changing particles known as secondary organic aerosols much more than previously thought. Researchers made the finding by analyzing air samples that were captured aboard a research aircraft as it zig-zagged between pristine air over the Amazon rainforest and polluted air over the city of Manaus.

Released: 25-Feb-2019 10:00 PM EST
New AI approach bridges the ‘slim-data gap’ that can stymie deep learning approaches
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Scientists have developed a deep neural network that sidesteps a problem that has bedeviled efforts to apply artificial intelligence to tackle complex chemistry – a shortage of precisely labeled chemical data.

6-Feb-2019 5:15 PM EST
Sophisticated Blood Analysis Provides New Clues About Ebola, Treatment Avenues
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

A detailed analysis of blood samples from Ebola patients is providing clues about the progression of the effects of the virus in patients and potential treatment pathways. The findings point to a critical role for a molecular pathway that relies on the common nutrient choline, as well as the importance of cellular bodies known as microvesicles.

4-Feb-2019 3:05 PM EST
Rust never sleeps
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

PNNL researchers have been able to observe in unprecedented detail how rust happens.

Released: 11-Jan-2019 1:05 PM EST
PNNL tech serves as fish body double
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

News Release RICHLAND, Wash. — Hundreds of surrogate "fish" will be put to work at dams around the world through an agreement between ATS - Advanced Telemetry Systems - and the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to improve operations and increase sustainability. PNNL developed the Sensor Fish to understand what happens to fish as they pass through turbulent waters and turbines at hydroelectric facilities.

   


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