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

Visualization of a 3D assembly of DNA-guided nanoparticles and frameworks (top). Multi-element template (teal) framework of tetrahedra (bottom). Zoomed-in portion shows iron (Fe), silica, platinum (Pt), and gold (Au).

“Seeing” More Sharply into Self-Assembled Nanomaterials

Researchers leveraged advanced X-ray imaging for a nondestructive way to peer inside complex 3D nanomaterials with record resolution.

Scientists Gain New Insights into How Mass Is Distributed in Hadrons

Nuclear theorists reveal mass distribution within the pion and the proton from first principle numerical calculations.

Researchers study neutron star crusts by simulating neutron matter then adding “hidden” neutrons to mediate interactions between “real” neutrons. Next, neural networks construct a quantum wave function of neutron matter’s normal and superfluid phases.

Probing Neutron Star Crusts with Artificial Neural Networks

Scientists find evidence of superfluidity in low-density neutron matter by using highly flexible neural-network representations of quantum wave functions.

Artist’s depiction of the aluminum-22 nucleus if it exists in a halo state. This nucleus contains 13 protons (red) and 9 neutrons (blue). Halo nuclei are characterized by having one or more nucleons existing at an extended distance from a compact core.

Researchers Obtain the First High-Precision Mass Measurement of Aluminum-22

The Facility for Rare Isotope Beams enables a high-precision mass measurement at the edge of the nuclear chart.

(Left) Measured and simulated electron temperature curves during an NBI pulse showing the outcome of the competing effects between neutral particle-derived fast ions and cold electrons. (Right) One of DIII-D’s four neutral beams.

For Heating Plasma in Fusion Devices, Researchers Unravel How Electrons Respond to Neutral Beam Injection

Study finds that neutral beam performance can be experimentally deduced from electron temperature evolution during neutral beam injection.

Contour plot of electron temperature (left) and radial profiles of electron temperature (center) and ion temperature (right) across an island, with ion temperature showing a gradient observed experimen-tally (blue) and reproduced in simulations (red).

In a Fusion Device Plasma, a Steep Ion Temperature Gradient Slows the Growth of Magnetic Islands

The first measurement of ion temperature in magnetic islands identified a steep gradient, providing insights for improving plasma confinement in tokamaks.

A gas-phase X-Ray scattering experiment captures cyclopentadiene rapidly transforming into the strained bicyclo[2.1.0]pentene. This structure change is triggered by a pump pulse (blue) and detected through X-ray scattering (yellow).

Carbon Rings Under Stress

Ultrafast X-ray experiments provide direct evidence that interaction of light with a hydrocarbon molecule produces strained molecular rings.

Researchers Use Vitamins to Decode Complex Interactions in the Soil Microbiome

Nutrients related to vitamin B12 influence microbial growth and reshape soil microbiomes.

A metallic line atop a medium biased at the edge of chaos can provide effective negative resistance for time-varying signals, outputting a larger signal compared to its input. The energy for amplification comes from the static bias applied to the medium.

The “Edge of Chaos” Amplifies Signals Without Transistors

Emulating the edge of chaos of axons enables a metal wire to overcome its resistance without cooling, thereby amplifying signals flowing inside of it.

Artist’s representation of camelina seeds with contrasting seed coat colors and oil amounts. Disruption of the TT8 gene in camelina changed the regular brown seed color to light yellow and enhanced oil accumulation.

Engineered Yellow-Seeded Camelina Packs More Oil

Scientists use gene editing to create a yellow-seeded camelina that may boost oil yield.

Researchers have long thought pure niobium superconducting radiofrequency cavities were best for particle accelerators. Researchers are now using a toolkit to learn how to add impurities to the cavities to make them smoother—and more efficient.

Smoother Surfaces Make for Better Particle Accelerators

An enhanced topographic analysis toolkit for forecasting and improving particle accelerator performance is helping scientists build better accelerators.

Smoother Surfaces Make for Better Particle Accelerators

An enhanced topographic analysis toolkit for forecasting and improving particle accelerator performance is helping scientists build better accelerators.