Fermilab's Tevatron sets luminosity record

Scientists of the CDF and DZero experiment collaborations have achieved their first findings in data from Collider Run II of the Tevatron at DOE's Fermilab. The scientists have identified their first top quark candidates, along with their first Run II results involving measurements of the W and Z particles, carriers of the weak force. Precision measurements of these particles will help scientists track down the Higgs boson, theorized as the source of mass among fundamental particles. The Tevatron also set its all-time luminosity record of 30.2 E 30, a measure of the machine's "brightness," or number of collisions taking place. The higher the luminosity, the greater the chance of physics discoveries.

[Mike Perricone, 630/840-5678,
mikep@fnal.gov]

Gold nanoparticles yield better catalysts

In the search for new catalysts, scientists at Brookhaven Lab may have discovered the mystery behind a new "gold standard"—gold nanoparticles layered on titanium dioxide. At the National Synchrotron Light Source, the Brookhaven team has shown that adding gold, a notoriously unreactive element, to titanium dioxide, a widely used industrial catalyst, changes the electronic properties of both materials to yield a catalyst that is five to ten times more efficient at destroying sulfur dioxide (SO2), a common cause of acid rain. The scientists are now investigating whether this catalyst might also be effective at neutralizing the deadly components of chemical weapons.

[Karen McNulty Walsh, 631/344-8350,
kmcnulty@bnl.gov]

Simple solutions lurk in extreme places

INEEL finds bugs in hot water

Yellowstone's hot spring bacteria could boost the efficiency of many industrial processes, from the bleaching of fabric to the sterilization of fruits and vegetables, say scientists at DOE's Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory. The bugs, called thermophiles for their high temperature affinity, manage with enzymes that top the stability charts. Already, the team has isolated the hydrogen peroxide-busting catalase—a catalyst industry uses to split the leftover chemical into water and oxygen. The heat-loving bacteria's version of the molecule still works after days spent at 75º C, they find, far surpassing commercially available beef liver-derived catalase that fails after just two minutes in that heat.

[Kendall Morgan, 208/526-3176,
morgkk@inel.gov]

Tiny technology leads to big research advance

New gene therapy procedures, DNA-based sensors, and other medical application may be possible using a new method to initiate and control chemical reactions on DNA strands, developed by a team of chemists at DOE's Argonne National Laboratory. The new technology uses specially designed nanometer-sized semiconductors—less than a billionth of an inch in size. The technology is based on the group's discovery of "conductive linkers"—small organic molecules that connect the electronic properties of semiconductors to biological or organic molecules. The researchers found that by using different conductive linkers they can selectively control oxidation.

[Katie Williams, 630/252-7997,
kwilliams@anl.gov]

Enzyme discovery to benefit homeland security, industry

Scientists at DOE's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have successfully immobilized enzymes while simultaneously enhancing their activity and stability, opening up new possibilities for using tailored nanoporous materials. The findings, reported in the Sept. 25 issue of the Journal of the American Chemical Society, could enable development of novel sensor and decontamination systems for homeland security, environmental protection and energy generation as well as new industrial chemicals and separations. In lab tests, PNNL scientists nearly doubled the activity levels of an enzyme called organophosphorus hydrolase, known for its potential for biosensing and decontaminating poisonous agents. Researchers are continuing to test this approach on other enzymes.

[Staci Maloof, 509/372-6313,
staci.maloof@pnl.gov]