![This photo is of a male scientist sitting at a desk working with materials, wearing protective glasses.](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_square_large/public/2024-07/2023-P08173.jpg?h=c6980913&itok=LnJLvflD)
Filter News
Area of Research
- (-) Biology and Environment (36)
- Advanced Manufacturing (6)
- Biology and Soft Matter (1)
- Clean Energy (99)
- Computational Biology (1)
- Computer Science (3)
- Electricity and Smart Grid (3)
- Fuel Cycle Science and Technology (1)
- Functional Materials for Energy (1)
- Fusion and Fission (32)
- Fusion Energy (12)
- Isotope Development and Production (1)
- Isotopes (26)
- Materials (94)
- Materials for Computing (11)
- National Security (32)
- Neutron Science (104)
- Nuclear Science and Technology (43)
- Nuclear Systems Modeling, Simulation and Validation (2)
- Quantum information Science (4)
- Sensors and Controls (1)
- Supercomputing (42)
- Transportation Systems (1)
News Topics
- (-) Advanced Reactors (1)
- (-) Cybersecurity (1)
- (-) Decarbonization (19)
- (-) Grid (3)
- (-) Isotopes (2)
- (-) Microscopy (10)
- (-) Neutron Science (4)
- (-) Nuclear Energy (1)
- 3-D Printing/Advanced Manufacturing (11)
- Artificial Intelligence (9)
- Big Data (9)
- Bioenergy (45)
- Biology (73)
- Biomedical (16)
- Biotechnology (13)
- Buildings (2)
- Chemical Sciences (11)
- Clean Water (11)
- Climate Change (40)
- Composites (5)
- Computer Science (19)
- Coronavirus (13)
- Critical Materials (1)
- Energy Storage (7)
- Environment (89)
- Exascale Computing (4)
- Frontier (3)
- Fusion (1)
- High-Performance Computing (20)
- Hydropower (8)
- Machine Learning (8)
- Materials (12)
- Materials Science (6)
- Mathematics (3)
- Mercury (7)
- Molten Salt (1)
- Nanotechnology (7)
- National Security (3)
- Net Zero (2)
- Partnerships (5)
- Physics (2)
- Polymers (2)
- Renewable Energy (1)
- Security (2)
- Simulation (14)
- Summit (10)
- Sustainable Energy (30)
- Transformational Challenge Reactor (1)
- Transportation (3)
Media Contacts
![Samarthya Bhagia examines a sample of a thermoplastic composite material additively manufactured using poplar wood and polylactic acid. Credit: Carlos Jones/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy](/sites/default/files/styles/list_page_thumbnail/public/2022-07/2022-P03486.jpg?h=c6980913&itok=sdSfzVet)
Chemical and environmental engineer Samarthya Bhagia is focused on achieving carbon neutrality and a circular economy by designing new plant-based materials for a range of applications from energy storage devices and sensors to environmentally friendly bioplastics.
![Melanie Mayes is an ORNL biogeochemist studying soil carbon cycling across varied ecosystems, including in urban environments. Credit: Genevieve Martin/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy](/sites/default/files/styles/list_page_thumbnail/public/2022-07/2022-P05790.jpg?h=e5831c8d&itok=chW-Ob9B)
Science has taken Melanie Mayes from Tennessee to the tropics, studying some of the most important ecosystems in the world.
![Scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy, a nondestructive technique in which the tip of the probe of a microscope scatters pulses of light to generate a picture of a sample, allowed the team to obtain insights into the composition of plant cell walls. Credit: Ali Passian/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy](/sites/default/files/styles/list_page_thumbnail/public/2022-06/Picture1_0.jpg?h=da2f9885&itok=_QN9qoqF)
To optimize biomaterials for reliable, cost-effective paper production, building construction, and biofuel development, researchers often study the structure of plant cells using techniques such as freezing plant samples or placing them in a vacuum.
![Jennifer Morrell-Falvey leads the Molecular and Cellular Imaging group at ORNL, advancing new insights in several scientific areas, including the interactions between plants and microbes that influence ecosystem health and carbon cycling. Credit: Carlos Jones/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy](/sites/default/files/styles/list_page_thumbnail/public/2022-05/2022-P04224.jpg?h=c6980913&itok=6MlHRB4F)
Jennifer Morrell-Falvey’s interest in visualizing the science behind natural processes was what drew her to ORNL in what she expected to be a short stint some 18 years ago.
![Earth Day](/sites/default/files/styles/list_page_thumbnail/public/2022-04/Earth%20image.png?h=8f74817f&itok=5rQ_su9Z)
Tackling the climate crisis and achieving an equitable clean energy future are among the biggest challenges of our time.
![Scientists from LanzaTech, Northwestern University and Oak Ridge National Laboratory engineered a microbe, shown in light blue, to convert molecules of industrial waste gases, such as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, into acetone. The same microbe can also make isopropanol. Credit: Andy Sproles/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy](/sites/default/files/styles/list_page_thumbnail/public/2022-02/LanzaTech_microbeFactory_lrg_1.jpg?h=049a2be9&itok=QLOV6cQI)
A team of scientists from LanzaTech, Northwestern University and ORNL have developed carbon capture technology that harnesses emissions from industrial processes to produce acetone and isopropanol
![An artist's rendering of the Ultium Cells battery cell production facility to be built in Spring Hill, Tennessee, which will employ 1,300 people. Recognizing the unique expertise of their organizations, ORNL, TVA, and the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development have been working together for several years to bring startups developing battery technologies for EVs and established automotive firms to Tennessee. Credit: Ultium Cells](/sites/default/files/styles/list_page_thumbnail/public/2022-02/UltiumCellsLLC-SpringHill-TN-Rendering_0.jpg?h=f9f6f138&itok=_TJq1Ajl)
ORNL, TVA and TNECD were recognized by the Federal Laboratory Consortium for their impactful partnership that resulted in a record $2.3 billion investment by Ultium Cells, a General Motors and LG Energy Solution joint venture, to build a battery cell manufacturing plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee.
![ORNL’s Brenda Pracheil, left, and Kristine Moody collect water samples at Melton Hill Lake using a sophisticated instrument that collects DNA in the water to determine fish species and number of fish in the water, which could prove useful for monitoring hydropower impacts. Credit: Carlos Jones, ORNL/U.S Dept. of Energy](/sites/default/files/styles/list_page_thumbnail/public/2022-01/2020-P17436_0.jpg?h=c6980913&itok=BXPhSslk)
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are using a novel approach in determining environmental impacts to aquatic species near hydropower facilities, potentially leading to smarter facility designs that can support electrical grid reliability.
![Three ORNL scientists have been elected fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, or AAAS, the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the Science family of journals. Credit: ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy](/sites/default/files/styles/list_page_thumbnail/public/2022-01/AAAS_fellows_resize_0.jpg?h=e91a75a9&itok=y20mbH61)
Three ORNL scientists have been elected fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, or AAAS, the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the Science family of journals.
![Biofuels, such as those derived from the switchgrass being harvested in this field in Vonore, Tennessee, are just one of the technology-based solutions that ORNL summit participants identified recently as key to decarbonizing the agriculture sector. Credit: Erin G. Webb, ORNL/U.S. Dept. of Energy.](/sites/default/files/styles/list_page_thumbnail/public/2022-01/SwitchgrassVonore_ErinWebb_0.jpg?h=0ad68e88&itok=GNhjrsix)
Energy and sustainability experts from ORNL, industry, universities and the federal government recently identified key focus areas to meet the challenge of successfully decarbonizing the agriculture sector