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

Studies of ‘Amorphous Ice’ Reveal Hidden Order in Glass

Researchers at Princeton University and the City University of New York used computer simulations to show that the water molecules in amorphous ice are arranged in a previously undetected order, which the original liquid did not contain.

Researchers Get First Look at Electrons Escaping Atoms

Researchers at Ohio State University have succeeded for the first time in tracking an electron leaving the vicinity of an atom as the atom absorbs light. In a way akin to taking “snapshots” of the process, they were able to follow how each electron’s unique momentum changed over the incredibly short span of time it took to escape its host atom and become a free electron.

UC San Diego Researchers Explain the Mechanism of Asexual Reproduction in Freshwater Flatworms

Freshwater planarians, found around the world and commonly known as “flatworms,” are famous for their regenerative prowess. Through a process called “fission,” planarians can reproduce asexually by simply tearing themselves into two pieces— a head and a tail—which then go on to form two new worms within about a week.

Investing in Cell Wall Growth for Improved Photosynthesis

A new study by researchers at Michigan State University showed how changes in leaf cell wall make-up can dramatically affect how large or thick leaves grow.

New Design Strategy for Longer Lasting Batteries

Christopher Wolverton, professor of materials science and engineering in Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering, has developed a new computational design strategy that can pinpoint optimal materials with which to coat the cathode in lithium-ion batteries, protecting it from degradation and ultimately extending the battery’s — and device’s — life.

Manganese Oxides in Treatment System Could Be Mixed Blessing

Researchers at North Carolina State University found that a fungal catalyst can oxidize manganese, creating oxides which have a large affinity for metals thus creating a passive treatment to remove micro-pollutants out of water.

MSU Scientist Wins $1.2 Million Federal Grant to Improve Camelina Seed Qualities

A Montana State University scientist has received a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science to research ways to improve the usefulness of camelina, an ancient crop that the modern world has come to value as a potential source of alternative fuel.

Scientists Enlist Supercomputers and Machine Learning to Automatically Identify Brain Tumors

A team led by University of Texas at Austin researchers shines in the Multimodal Brain Tumor Segmentation Challenge.

‘Y’ a Protein Unicorn Might Matter in Glaucoma

Researchers at Georgia Tech have discovered a Y-shaped part found in the middle of a mysterious protein studied in glaucoma.

Stony Brook Scientists Solve Fundamental Puzzle in Medical Imaging

Scientists from Stony Brook University have used a novel technique at the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II), a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science User Facility located at Brookhaven National Laboratory, to answer longstanding questions in medical imaging.

Researchers Invent Process to Make Sustainable Rubber and Plastics

Synthetic rubber and plastics – used for manufacturing tires, toys and myriad other products – are produced from butadiene, a molecule traditionally made from petroleum or natural gas. But those manmade materials could get a lot greener soon, thanks to the ingenuity of a team of scientists from three U.S. research universities.

UD Doctoral Student Wins Time with Argonne Lab's Synchrotron

Doctoral student Baxter Abraham has won a Department of Energy award that will allow him to do thesis-related ultrafast research at Argonne National Laboratory in Illinios.