• The fungus Laccaria bicolor, in green, is shown colonizing the root of a natural host Populus trichocarpa. A better understanding of plant-fungi symbioses could lead to engineering plant-fungal associations and improve nitrogen and nutrition uptake along with plants’ resistance to drought and pathogens, according to an Oak Ridge National Laboratory-led research team. Credit: Jessy Labbe/Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy and Kevin Cope/University of Wisconsin, Madison

    Better crops

    Researchers have identified a gene that could enable crops to withstand harsh growing conditions, resist pests, require less fertilizer and produce more per acre.
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  • Kevin (left) and Ryan (right) Gaddis are grandsons of Glen Ellis, who worked as a draftsman at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the 1960s and drew the plans for NASA’s contingency soil sampler, or “moon scoop,” used to collect lunar soil and rock on the Apollo missions. The brothers both work at ORNL. Credit: Carlos Jones/Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy.

    Moon scoop

    Fifty years after Apollo 11, a lunar gadget remains a source of family pride
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  • In this visualization from David Pugmire at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a team led by Jeroen Tromp at Princeton University is imaging the interior of the Earth with adjoint tomography.

    3D seismic imaging

    A data-driven journey to the center of the earth
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  • Alex Johs studies the molecular interactions that drive mercury transformation in the environment. Photographed by Genevieve Martin, ORNL.

    Problem solver

    Sometimes solutions to the biggest problems can be found in the smallest details
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  • An ORNL-developed computing method can scan data for more than one million patients and push system error alerts for the Department of Veterans Affairs to review and address. Credit: Genevieve Martin/Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy

    Improving healthcare data

    An ORNL-developed computing tool can scan data for more than one million Department of Veterans Affairs patients and flag potential errors for review.
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  • ORNL’s Christopher Lam holds two samples of polymer gels, which have useful applications in medicine and consumer products. (Credit: ORNL/Genevieve Martin)

    Unusual attributes

    Scientists are using neutrons to study potential medical uses of polymer gels
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  • Organic chemist Santa Jansone-Popova designs new chemical architectures to support chemical separations that lay the groundwork for clean water and energy advances.

    Chemistry by design

    Laying the groundwork for clean water and energy advances

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  • Candice Halbert: From inspired to inspiring, cultivating a community of young scientists

    Candice Halbert

    Cultivating a community of young scientists
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  • ORNL, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Washington State University turn to fundamental chemistry to advance cleanup strategies for legacy tank waste. Credit: Genevieve Martin/Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy

    Cleanup challenges

    Investigating the unique chemistry of nuclear waste processing
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  • Clarice Phelps

    Clarice Phelps

    "What drew me to nuclear science was the mystery of it"
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About Us

We apply expertise in advanced materials, supercomputing, neutrons, and nuclear science to national priorities in energy, security, and scientific discovery

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Quantum—Widening the net
Sharing secret messages among three parties using #quantum communications just got more practical for better #cybersecurity.
Soda science
Cutting carbon dioxide emissions with soda? 🥤 A new study shows leftover soft drinks can be used for carbon capture.
NASA's Dragonfly mission
ORNL will provide plutonium-238 and iridium fuel containers to help power NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Dragonfly mission to Titan in 2026. 🚀

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Michelle Buchanan
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