• A 2017 study from ORNL that shows the far-reaching impacts of U.S. cities’ energy consumption on regional ecosystems has received the 2021 Sustainability Science Award from the Ecological Society of America.

    Far-reaching impacts

    ORNL-led team recognized for sustainability research
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  • The mitochondria in human cells depend on manganese superoxide dismutase to keep the amount of harmful reactive oxygen molecules under control. Researchers have now obtained a complete atomic portrait of the enzyme, providing key information about the catalytic mechanism within its active site, situated between the green and blue subunits and the yellow and pink subunits. Credit: Jill Hemman/ORNL

    Elusive inner workings

    Researchers have observed the complete atomic structure of an antioxidant enzyme with therapeutic potential
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  • Kashif Nawaz, researcher and group leader for multifunctional equipment integration in buildings technologies, is developing a platform for the direct air capture of carbon dioxide that can be retrofitted to existing rooftop heating, ventilation and air conditioning units. Credit: ORNL/U.S. Dept. of Energy

    Kashif Nawaz

    Redesigning building equipment for carbon capture and beyond
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  • Data from the ORNL Free Air CO2 Enrichment experiment were combined with observations from more than 100 other FACE sites for this analysis, which revealed new insights about the relationship between plant biomass growth and soil carbon storage. Credit: Jeff Warren/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

    New CO2 insights

    More CO2 in the air increases carbon uptake in plants but decreases its storage in the soil
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  • Neutron scattering experiments show that when telaprevir binds to the protease, the amino acid sites will change their electric charges by altering their protonation states. Credit: Jill Hemman and Michelle Lehman/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

    Surprising COVID-19 behavior

    The SARS-CoV-2 virus behaves unexpectedly when it encounters drugs that block its ability to reproduce

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  • Nesaraja evaluates mass chains assigned to nuclear data program centers like ORNL. She selects best values for archiving in a specialized nuclear structure database and publication. Credit: Carlos Jones/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

    Caroline Nesaraja

    Providing nothing but the best nuclear data
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  • The Perseverance rover

    Mission to Mars

    NASA's Perseverance rover, powered by ORNL technology, touched down on Mars
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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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Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers have taken the guesswork out of manufacturing by leveraging a digital thread to improve how critical components are produced.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers have taken the guesswork out of manufacturing by leveraging a digital thread to improve how critical components are produced.
ORNL researchers combined #3Dprinting with conventional compression molding to produce high-performance thermoplastic composites, demonstrating the potential for the use of large-scale multimaterial preforms to create molded composites.
ORNL researchers combined #3Dprinting with conventional compression molding to produce high-performance thermoplastic composites, demonstrating the potential for the use of large-scale multimaterial preforms to create molded composites.
Explore #SPRUCE: a unique ecosystem-scale experiment located in the peatlands of Minnesota and led by @ORNL for @doescience . Hear experts discuss ongoing research that provides a glimpse of potential futures in a changing climate Evergreen tree
Explore #SPRUCE: a unique ecosystem-scale experiment located in the peatlands of Minnesota and led by @ORNL for @doescience . Hear experts discuss ongoing research that provides a glimpse of potential futures in a changing climate Evergreen tree

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Michelle Buchanan
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649
patents issued since 2005
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3,200
visiting scientists annually
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70
nationalities represented in ORNL's workforce
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146
active licenses