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Scientists discover super sensor for the smallest scales

A team that included researchers at ORNL used a new twist on an old method to detect materials at some of the smallest amounts yet recorded. The results could lead to enhancements in security technology and aid the development of quantum sensors. 

New system combines human, artificial intelligence to improve experimentation

To capitalize on AI and researcher strengths, scientists developed a human-AI collaboration recommender system for improved experimentation performance. 

An Oak Ridge National Laboratory study projects how geothermal heat pumps that derive heating and cooling from the ground would improve grid reliability and reduce costs and carbon emissions when widely deployed. Credit: Chad Malone, ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

A modeling analysis led by ORNL gives the first detailed look at how geothermal energy can relieve the electric power system and reduce carbon emissions if widely implemented across the United States within the next few decades. 

Jason DeGraw, a buildings researcher in thermal energy storage at ORNL, has been named a 2024 ASHRAE Fellow. Credit: ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers, or ASHRAE, selected Jason DeGraw, a researcher with ORNL, as one of 23 members elevated to Fellow during its 2024 winter conference.

: ORNL climate modeling expertise contributed to an AI-backed model that assesses global emissions of ammonia from croplands now and in a warmer future, while identifying mitigation strategies. This map highlights croplands around the world. Credit: U.S. Geological Survey

ORNL climate modeling expertise contributed to a project that assessed global emissions of ammonia from croplands now and in a warmer future, while also identifying solutions tuned to local growing conditions.

An encapsulation system developed by ORNL researchers prevents salt hydrates, which are environmentally friendly thermal energy storage materials, from leaking and advances their use in heating and cooling applications. Credit: Andy Sproles/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

ORNL researchers have developed a novel way to encapsulate salt hydrate phase-change materials within polymer fibers through a coaxial pulling process. The discovery could lead to the widespread use of the low-carbon materials as a source of insulation for a building’s envelope.

NSBP Annual Conference attendees came to ORNL on Nov. 10, 2023. Credit: Carlos Jones/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

ORNL and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, co-hosted the 2023 National Society of Black Physicists Annual Conference with the theme "Frontiers in Physics: From Quantum to Materials to the Cosmos.” As part of the three-day conference held near UT, attendees took a 30-mile trip to the ORNL campus for facility tours, science talks and workshops.

ORNL's Kyle Gluesenkamp received the FLC Outstanding Researcher Award.

Four ORNL teams and one researcher were recognized for excellence in technology transfer and technology transfer innovation. 
 

ORNL Associate Laboratory Director for Computing and Computational Sciences. Credit: Carlos Jones/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

Gina Tourassi, associate laboratory director for computing and computational sciences at the US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has been named a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the world’s largest organization for technical professionals.

Conversion of an atomic structure into a graph, where atoms are treating as nodes and interatomic bonds as edges. Credit: Massimiliano “Max” Lupo Pasini/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories are evolving graph neural networks to scale on the nation’s most powerful computational resources, a necessary step in tackling today’s data-centric