University Research | U.S. DOE Office of Science (SC)

Doping Powers New Thermoelectric Material

Northwestern University researchers report that adding sodium produces material that is most efficient at converting heat to electricity.

New Catalyst Paves Way for Bio-Based Plastics and Chemicals

Washington State University researchers have developed a catalyst that easily converts bio-based ethanol to a widely used industrial chemical, paving the way for more environmentally friendly, bio-based plastics and products.

'Hydricity' Concept Uses Solar Energy to Produce Power Round-the-Clock

Researchers at Purdue University are proposing a new "hydricity" concept aimed at creating a sustainable economy by not only generating electricity with solar energy but also producing and storing hydrogen from superheated water for round-the-clock power production.

UGA Research Links Inorganic Mercury Exposure to Damaged Cell Processes

University of Georgia research has found that inorganic mercury, which was previously thought to be a less harmful form of the toxic metal, is very damaging to key cell processes.

World’s Most Sensitive Dark Matter Detector Gets Even Better

The world’s most sensitive experimental search for dark matter has gotten 20 times more sensitive thanks to new techniques that reduce the background interfering with efforts to catch these mysterious particles that comprise 85 percent of all matter in the universe.

Pinpointing Natural Cancer Drug's True Origins Brings Sustainable Production a Step Closer

Researchers at the University of Michigan discover that the anti-cancer medicine trabectedin is made by microbes living within sea squirts.

Population Could Outpace Water by Mid-Century

Population growth could cause global demand for water to outpace supply by mid-century if current levels of consumption continue. But it wouldn't be the first time this has happened, a Duke University study finds.

Putting a New Spin on Computing Memory

A team of researchers at Drexel University is searching for a deeper understanding of a new class of materials whose magnetism can essentially be controlled by the flick of a switch.

From the Depths of A Microscopic World, Spontaneous Cooperation

A clever combination of two different types of computer simulations enabled a group of Illinois researchers to uncover an unexpectedly cooperative group dynamic: the spontaneous emergence of resource sharing among individuals in a community.

Beyond the Lithium Ion – A Significant Step Toward a Better Performing Battery

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago have taken a significant step toward the development of a battery that could outperform the lithium-ion technology used in electric cars such as the Chevy Volt.

Linking Superconductivity and Structure

New research from a team including Carnegie’s Elissaios Stavrou, Xiao-Jia Chen, and Alexander Goncharov hones in on the structural changes underlying superconductivity in iron arsenide compounds—those containing iron and arsenic.

OU Professor Named Recipient of Prestigious Department of Energy Lawrence Award

University of Oklahoma Professor Jizhong Zhou will receive the U.S Department of Energy’s highest scientific award from U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz in a ceremony in Washington, D.C., later this year.