Laboratory Science Highlights | U.S. DOE Office of Science (SC)

Where Does Salt in the Amazon Air Come From?

For the first time, an international team of scientists has discovered the true origin of sodium salt in pristine Amazon air.

Testing the Toughness of Microbial Cell Walls

Some cells stand firm against techniques to extract the biological material inside, while others don’t stand a chance.

Microbial Evolution: Nature Leads, Nurture Supports

Across ecosystems, microbial traits are preserved along lineages, much like in multicellular organisms, and can improve the development of soil models and more.

Excited Atoms Rush Independently to New Positions

Ultrafast X-rays track how associated pairs of atoms find new locations when triggered by light.

Nuclear Physics Detector Tech Used in Cancer Treatment Monitoring System

Built with detector technologies used in nuclear physics experiments, the system monitors radiation treatments in hard-to-reach areas.

Atomically Packed Boundaries Resist Cracking

Penetrating X-ray mapping technique measures atomic character of crack propagation, which could lead to tougher metals.

End-run Spreads Lithium Throughout Battery Electrodes

A new path is identified to keep lithium in its place during battery discharge, benefitting efforts to design better energy storage options.

Survey Delivers on Dark Energy with Multiple Probes

The Dark Energy Survey has delivered dark energy constraints combining information from four of its primary cosmological probes for the first time, an approach that may help design other experiments into cosmic acceleration.

A Change in Structure for a Superheavy Magnesium Isotope

The recently observed “fingerprints” of a neutron-rich isotope suggest an unexpected change in nuclear structure, possibly pointing to physics missing from atomic models.