Filter News
Area of Research
- (-) Computational Engineering (2)
- (-) Neutron Science (16)
- Advanced Manufacturing (4)
- Biological Systems (1)
- Biology and Environment (26)
- Building Technologies (1)
- Clean Energy (40)
- Climate and Environmental Systems (1)
- Computational Biology (2)
- Computer Science (12)
- Fusion and Fission (6)
- Fusion Energy (7)
- Isotopes (20)
- Materials (28)
- Materials for Computing (6)
- Mathematics (1)
- National Security (20)
- Nuclear Science and Technology (14)
- Nuclear Systems Modeling, Simulation and Validation (1)
- Quantum information Science (4)
- Supercomputing (71)
News Topics
- (-) Artificial Intelligence (6)
- (-) Biomedical (7)
- (-) Computer Science (9)
- (-) Space Exploration (2)
- 3-D Printing/Advanced Manufacturing (3)
- Big Data (2)
- Bioenergy (3)
- Biology (1)
- Chemical Sciences (2)
- Clean Water (3)
- Climate Change (1)
- Coronavirus (3)
- Decarbonization (1)
- Energy Storage (4)
- Environment (5)
- Fossil Energy (1)
- High-Performance Computing (1)
- Machine Learning (4)
- Materials (8)
- Materials Science (10)
- Mathematics (2)
- Microscopy (2)
- Nanotechnology (3)
- National Security (1)
- Neutron Science (56)
- Nuclear Energy (2)
- Physics (2)
- Polymers (1)
- Quantum Computing (1)
- Quantum Science (2)
- Security (1)
- Summit (2)
- Transportation (2)
Media Contacts
![ORNL researchers are leading virtual STEM outreach activities, such as an Internet of Things demonstration in which participants in ORCSGirls control an LED board remotely.](/sites/default/files/styles/list_page_thumbnail/public/2020-06/200411_ogi_0055_0.jpg?h=28121b77&itok=ucPjaIJO)
COVID-19 has upended nearly every aspect of our daily lives and forced us all to rethink how we can continue our work in a more physically isolated world.
![Coronavirus graphic](/sites/default/files/styles/list_page_thumbnail/public/2020-04/covid19_jh_0.png?h=d1cb525d&itok=PyngFUZw)
In the race to identify solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory are joining the fight by applying expertise in computational science, advanced manufacturing, data science and neutron science.
![Scientists created a novel polymer that is as effective as natural proteins in transporting protons through a membrane. Credit: ORNL/Jill Hemman](/sites/default/files/styles/list_page_thumbnail/public/2020-03/19-G01195_nature_feature_0.png?h=e4fbc3eb&itok=K8czXmTr)
Biological membranes, such as the “walls” of most types of living cells, primarily consist of a double layer of lipids, or “lipid bilayer,” that forms the structure, and a variety of embedded and attached proteins with highly specialized functions, including proteins that rapidly and selectively transport ions and molecules in and out of the cell.
![Catherine Schuman during Hour of Code](/sites/default/files/styles/list_page_thumbnail/public/2019-12/IMG_0136_0.jpg?h=71976bb4&itok=56CtnbAH)
ORNL computer scientist Catherine Schuman returned to her alma mater, Harriman High School, to lead Hour of Code activities and talk to students about her job as a researcher.
![Computing—Routing out the bugs](/sites/default/files/styles/list_page_thumbnail/public/2019-11/VA-HealthIT-2019-P04263.jpg?h=784bd909&itok=uwv091uK)
A study led by Oak Ridge National Laboratory explored the interface between the Department of Veterans Affairs’ healthcare data system and the data itself to detect the likelihood of errors and designed an auto-surveillance tool
![The illustrations show how the correlation between lattice distortion and proton binding energy in a material affects proton conduction in different environments. Mitigating this interaction could help researchers improve the ionic conductivity of solid materials.](/sites/default/files/styles/list_page_thumbnail/public/2019-05/Figure_Rosenthal_5-1-19_0.png?h=73c01546&itok=-tjVhDfm)
Ionic conduction involves the movement of ions from one location to another inside a material. The ions travel through point defects, which are irregularities in the otherwise consistent arrangement of atoms known as the crystal lattice. This sometimes sluggish process can limit the performance and efficiency of fuel cells, batteries, and other energy storage technologies.
![Neutron scattering allowed direct observation of how aurein induces lateral segregation in the bacteria membranes, which creates instability in the membrane structure. This instability causes the membranes to fail, making harmful bacteria less effective.](/sites/default/files/styles/list_page_thumbnail/public/2019-03/Neutrons-FightingSuperbugs_0.jpg?h=e4b73f5a&itok=ebOQD-Mr)
As the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria known as superbugs threatens public health, Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Shuo Qian and Veerendra Sharma from the Bhaba Atomic Research Centre in India are using neutron scattering to study how an antibacterial peptide interacts with and fights harmful bacteria.
![2018-P07635 BL-6 user - Univ of Guelph-6004R_sm[2].jpg 2018-P07635 BL-6 user - Univ of Guelph-6004R_sm[2].jpg](/sites/default/files/styles/list_page_thumbnail/public/2018-P07635%20BL-6%20user%20-%20Univ%20of%20Guelph-6004R_sm%5B2%5D.jpg?itok=DUdZNt_q)
A team of scientists, led by University of Guelph professor John Dutcher, are using neutrons at ORNL’s Spallation Neutron Source to unlock the secrets of natural nanoparticles that could be used to improve medicines.