Leaders in quantum science reflect, plan for future innovation
Researchers have long thought that formation of insoluble fibrous “strings” of self-assembling proteins might be involved in the progression of a number of diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. However, recent evidence suggests that aggregates that develop at an earlier stage than fibril formation, and accumulate in human organs, may be the primary toxic agents.
Through a network that consists of hundreds of low-cost monitors that plug into standard 110-volt outlets, GridEye can play a role in ensuring the reliability of the nation's power grids. The system, developed by researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, provides real-time information about dyna...
The generation of bioethanol from lignocellulosic biomass holds great promise for renewable and clean energy production. However, this type of biomass is a complex, composite biological material that shows significant recalcitrance to enzymatic breakdown into sugars that can be used for fermentation, currently making it cost-ineffective as an ethanol source. The present research provides insight into the consequences of dilute acid pretreatment of biomass through direct observation by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) of structural features in cellulose extracted from switchgrass over length scales from 10 to 6000 Å.