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Exploding stars, a glowing light

Scientists have determined that a rare element found in some of the oldest solids in the solar system, such as meteorites, and previously thought to have been forged in supernova explosions, actually predate such cosmic events, challenging long-held theories about its origin.

Angelique Adams, front left, introduces Kusum Rathore, front center, executive director and vice president of the multi-campus office at the University of Tennessee Research Foundation, and Jim Biggs, executive director of the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, during the final presentation event for ORNL’s Safari coaching program.

Five researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory recently completed an eight-week pilot commercialization coaching program as part of Safari, a program funded by DOE’s Office of Technology Transitions, or OTT, Practices to Accelerate the Commercialization of Technologies, or PACT. 

The image depicts a molecule made up of 6 white balls, two smaller red balls and two larger grey balls. This molecule is against a pink, blue and purple background.

A research team led by the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory demonstrated an effective and reliable new way to identify and quantify polyethylene glycols in various samples. 

Image is of a woman with grey hair in an updo with black rimmed glasses and a black shirt with white circles and a pink neckline.

In a Q&A, Paula Cable-Dunlap, a leading nuclear nonproliferation expert, discussed being named as an ORNL Corporate Fellow and the impact it will have over her position. With over 30 years of experience, including 18 at Savannah River National Laboratory, she is recognized for her significant contributions and dedication to mentoring.

Green and blue background of a graphic image that says Honors and Awards

Two additive manufacturing researchers from ORNL received prestigious awards from national organizations. Amy Elliott and Nadim Hmeidat, who both work in the Manufacturing Science Division, were recognized recently for their early career accomplishments.

Image with a grey and black backdrop - in front is a diamond with two circles coming out from it, showing the insides.

The world’s fastest supercomputer helped researchers simulate synthesizing a material harder and tougher than a diamond — or any other substance on Earth. The study used Frontier to predict the likeliest strategy to synthesize such a material, thought to exist so far only within the interiors of giant exoplanets, or planets beyond our solar system.

Three graphs and one map with grey, long shapes showing the single block group.

Joe Tuccillo, a human geography research scientist, leads the UrbanPop project that uses census data to create synthetic populations. Using a Python software suite called Likeness on ORNL’s high-performance computers, Tuccillo’s team generates a population with individual ‘agents’ designed to represent people that interact with other agents, facilities and services in a simulated neighborhood. 

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The National Security Sciences Directorate within the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory has signed a memoranda of understanding with Jackson State University and with Tennessee Tech University. The MOUs detail ORNL’s intention to work with each university to enhance research and educational opportunities in nuclear science and engineering.

Ariel view of the Salt Waste Processing Facility, which is big, white and square.

A team of federal contractor and national laboratory engineers and scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management has been nationally distinguished as “Heroes of Chemistry” for making the world better through their effort, ingenuity, creativity and perseverance.

Dmytro Bykov, left, and Hector Corzo participate in a value proposition development exercise as part Energy I-Corps

Two ORNL teams recently completed Cohort 18 of Energy I-Corps, an immersive two-month training program where the scientists define their technology’s value propositions, conduct stakeholder discovery interviews and develop viable market pathways.