Archived News Releases for 2013

For more information on ORNL and its research and development activities, please refer to the resources listed below or to one of our Media Contacts. If you have a general media-related question or comment, you can send it to news@ornl.gov.

 
Two ORNL researchers, two joint faculty receive DOE early career awards
OAK RIDGE, Tenn., May 10, 2013 — Materials science and physics research led by early career Oak Ridge National Laboratory scientists received a boost this week from the Department of Energy's Office of Science Early Career Research Program.

Zero-energy classroom built at Clinton High with UT-Battelle help
OAK RIDGE, Tenn., May 10, 2013 — A new 1,500-square-foot zero-energy structure has been built on the Clinton High School campus with the help of a $15,000 corporate gift from UT-Battelle.

Hardin Valley Academy's Meredith Graves wins UT-Battelle Scholarship
OAK RIDGE, Tenn., April 29, 2013 — Meredith Graves, a senior at Hardin Valley Academy, is the recipient of the 2013 UT-Battelle Scholarship to the University of Tennessee.

Zhang, Specht elected fellows of American Physical Society
OAK RIDGE, Tenn., April 15, 2013 — Two researchers from the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have been elected to fellowship in the American Physical Society (APS). Xiaoguang Zhang and Eliot Specht were named APS fellows in recognition of their outstanding contributions to physics.

ORNL leading study focused on afterlife of electric vehicle batteries
OAK RIDGE, Tenn., April 15, 2013 — Once they've finished powering electric vehicles for hundreds of thousands of miles, it may not be the end of the road for automotive batteries, which researchers believe can provide continued benefits for consumers, automakers and the environment.

ORNL's Richard Haire receives American Chemical Society's Seaborg Award
OAK RIDGE, Tenn., April 12, 2013 — Retired Oak Ridge National Laboratory researcher and UT-Battelle Corporate Fellow Richard Haire has received the 2013 Glenn T. Seaborg Award by the American Chemical Society. The Seaborg Award is one of the top recognitions in the field of nuclear chemistry.

ORNL BioEnergy Science Center funding renewed
OAK RIDGE, Tenn., April 12, 2013 — The Department of Energy has announced renewed funding at Oak Ridge National Laboratory's BioEnergy Science Center (BESC).

Four East Tennessee teams headed for world robotics event
OAK RIDGE, Tenn., April 10, 2013 — Oak Ridge, Hardin Valley, Halls and Roane County high schools will be among more than 300 teams competing in the FIRST Robotics World Competition April 24-27 at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.

ORNL's awake imaging device moves diagnostics field forward
OAK RIDGE, Tenn., April 4, 2013 — A technology being developed at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory promises to provide clear images of the brains of children, the elderly and people with Parkinson's and other diseases without the use of uncomfortable or intrusive restraints.

ORNL microscopy uncovers "dancing" silicon atoms in graphene
OAK RIDGE, Tenn., April 3, 2013 — Jumping silicon atoms are the stars of an atomic scale ballet featured in a new Nature Communications study from the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

ORNL carbon fiber facility dedicated
OAK RIDGE, Tenn., March 26, 2013 — Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam says Oak Ridge National Laboratory's new carbon fiber manufacturing is an example of how the Volunteer State can compete in a global economy.

ORNL recognizes small business subcontractors and supporters
OAK RIDGE, Tenn., March 25, 2013 — Oak Ridge National Laboratory honored seven outstanding small businesses and their supporters at its annual small business awards ceremony on March 22. The winning firms were nominated by ORNL staff in recognition of the companies' exceptional service during the 2012 fiscal year.

Manufacturing tech, forest monitoring system win tech transfer awards
OAK RIDGE, Tenn., March 21, 2013 — Technologies from the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory are among winners of 2013 national and regional Federal Laboratory Consortium Awards. ORNL's awards, which recognize outstanding work in transferring a federal laboratory-developed technology to the commercial marketplace, were in the Excellence in Technology Transfer and Interagency Partnerships categories.

Human microbe study provides insight into health, disease
OAK RIDGE, Tenn., March 18, 2013 — Microbes from the human mouth are telling Oak Ridge National Laboratory scientists something about periodontitis and more after they cracked the genetic code of bacteria linked to the condition.

Steven Zinkle named fellow of Materials Research Society
OAK RIDGE, Tenn., March 11, 2013 — Senior materials researcher and Corporate Fellow Steven Zinkle of the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory has been named a 2013 Fellow of the Materials Research Society (MRS).

Rotary International president speaks at Oak Ridge peace forum
OAK RIDGE, Tenn., March 8, 2013 — Rotary International President Sakuji Tanaka of Japan is visiting Oak Ridge March 8-9 as the featured speaker during a Peace Through Science and Technology Conference.

ORNL begins implementation of new californium-252 production contract
OAK RIDGE, Tenn., Feb. 28, 2013 — The Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory - home of one of only two reactor facilities in the world capable of producing californium-252 (Cf-252) - has begun implementing a new six-year contract between the DOE Isotope Program and industry to make this unique and versatile radioisotope.

ORNL scientists solve mercury mystery, Science reports
OAK RIDGE, Tenn., Feb. 7, 2013 — By identifying two genes required for transforming inorganic into organic mercury, which is far more toxic, scientists today have taken a significant step toward protecting human health.

'Bridging the Gap' conference invites business community to ORNL
OAK RIDGE, Tenn., Feb. 5, 2013 — Several of Oak Ridge National Laboratory's most promising applied R&D capabilities will be in the spotlight March 5-6 as dozens of entrepreneurs, investors and scientists gather at the lab's third annual "Bridging the Gap" conference.

'Zoomable' map of poplar proteins offers new view of bioenergy crop
OAK RIDGE, Tenn., Jan. 29, 2013 — Researchers seeking to improve production of ethanol from woody crops have a new resource in the form of an extensive molecular map of poplar tree proteins, published by a team from the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

ORNL research paves way for larger, safer lithium ion batteries
OAK RIDGE, Tenn., Jan. 23, 2013 — Looking toward improved batteries for charging electric cars and storing energy from renewable but intermittent solar and wind, scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed the first high-performance, nanostructured solid electrolyte for more energy-dense lithium ion batteries.