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

Crystal structure of the parent compound of a calcium-strontium-based cuprate superconductor [(Ca/Sr)2CuO3]

Predicting Magnetic Behavior in Copper Oxide Superconductors

New theoretical techniques predict experimental observations in superconducting materials.

The schematic shows the molecular structure of a protein.

Deciphering Distinct Atomic Motions in Proteins with Dynamic Neutron Scattering

Combining computer simulations with laboratory measurements provides insights on molecular-level flexibility.

Schematic image indicating the inferred intertwining of the superconducting wave function (green) with the envelope function (blue) for the atomic magnetism.

Intertwining of Superconductivity and Magnetism

Coexistence of two states of matter that normally avoid one another is revealed by inelastic neutron scattering experiments.

Electron density distribution (indicated by both the blue and red, as areas of deficiency and excess of electrons, respectively) in barium iron arsenide for undoped/nonsuperconducting and doped/superconducting alloys.

New Path to Loss-Free Electricity

Atomic-scale details of electron distribution reveal a novel mechanism for current to flow without energy loss.

How to Achieve Unconventional Superconductivity in a Heavy-Electron Metal

Microscopic understanding offers fresh directions for discovering new materials to transmit energy without loss.

An anti-Brownian single-molecule microfluidic trap is used to observe individual light-harvesting antenna complexes in solution.

Shining Light on the Fleeting Interactions of Single Molecules

New technique allows scientists to observe the dynamic structural changes of single biomolecules in solution.

A series of x-ray scattering images are taken at ultrafast time intervals with an x-ray laser after excitation with an infra-red source that energizes the vibrational modes of a Germanium crystal.

X-ray Laser Used to Produce Movies of Atomic-scale Motion

Stroboscopic x-ray pulses scatter from a vibrating crystal and reveal how energy moves.

Arrays of nanoribbons of lead zirconate titanate (gold, bottom) on a sheet of flexible polymer (brown) produce current pulses during each heartbeat.

Power from the Heart

Advances in materials processing enable harvesting of energy from heartbeats.

Nanobionic Leaf: DNA-coated carbon nanotubes (top) incorporated inside chloroplasts in the leaves of living plants (middle) boost plant photosynthesis.

Nanobionics Supercharge Photosynthesis

Carbon nanotubes and inorganic nanoparticles enhance photosynthetic activity and stability.

Breaking Down the Mechanisms of Biomass Deconstruction

Study reveals insights into plant structural changes during bioenergy pretreatments.

Scanning electron microscope image of 2D arrays of channels created in a silicon sheet taking advantage of novel interface interactions with the soft substrate.

Chemistry and Strain Allow New Microfabrication

Discovery of a new bonding mechanism has enabled the facile fabrication of arrays of semiconductor microstructures.

The one-armed antibody, onartuzumab (pink) binds to the receptor tyrosine kinase, MET (green and blue) found on the surface of cells preventing the binding of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) (red) disrupting the development and growth of tumors.

Biomolecular Structure Studies Advance an Antibody Approach to Cancer Therapy

Crystal structures obtained at the Advanced Light Source helped inform Genentech about the binding mechanism of a unique antibody that targets multiple cancer types.