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

UCF Physicist Selected for $750,000 Early Career Energy Grant

University of Central Florida physics assistant professor Michael Chini is one of 84 scientists selected for the Office of Science Early Career Awards. He will conduct research in the area of atomic, molecular and optical physics, which holds the promise of providing new ways to generate energy.

An Unexpected Gray Area Could Help Bring About Long-lasting Solar Cells

UW-Madison engineers found a way to dramatically extend the lifespan of solar energy-harvesting devices, which use energy from sunlight to generate hydrogen from water.

A Big Spark for Energy Research

The University of Delaware has won a $12.8 million, four-year funding renewal from the U.S. Department of Energy for the continued operation of the Catalysis Center for Energy Innovation (CCEI).

U.S. Department of Energy to fund Energy Frontier Research Center at MIT

A new MIT research center is among the recipients of the most recent round of $100 million in funding for 42 Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs) announced by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The centers are a core component of DOE’s funding for basic energy science research.

Sunsetting of PARC

After nine years of building an international community of talented scientists and investing in the enrichment of science education for St. Louis schools, the Photosynthetic Antenna Research Center (PARC) – a Department of Energy (DOE) funded Energy Frontier Research Center (EFRC) at Washington University – has officially ceased operations.

MIT Fusion Collaboration Receives Renewed Funding

As part of an initiative to support the development of nuclear fusion as a future practical energy source, the U. S. Department of Energy is renewing three-year funding for two Plasma Science and Fusion Center (PSFC) projects on the Wendelstein7-X (W7-X) stellarator at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics in Greifswald, Germany.

Unraveling Titanium Dioxide's Self-Cleaning Ability

An international collaboration between the labs of Melissa Hines, professor of chemistry and chemical biology at Cornell University, and Ulrike Diebold, professor of surface science from the Technical University of Vienna, Austria, has come to the surprising conclusion that these self-cleaning surfaces are covered by one of the oldest known cleaning agents: simple vinegar.

Pushing the Plasma Density Limit

Researchers at MIT performed experiments on the Alcator C-Mod tokamak to demonstrate how microwaves can be used to overcome barriers to steady-state fusion reactor operation.

Quantum Material is Promising 'Ion Conductor' for Research and New Technologies

Researchers at Purdue University have shown how to shuttle lithium ions back and forth into the crystal structure of a quantum material, representing a new avenue for research and potential applications in batteries, “smart windows” and brain-inspired computers containing artificial synapses.

Machine Learning Keeps Particle Physicists from a Lucy-and-Ethel Situation

A review article from a William & Mary post-doc looks at how artificial intelligence is used in the quest to understand the fundamental particles of nature, discussing the various tests necessary to validate the different machine-learning tools and quantify the uncertainties built into the process.

Over 4,000 Tour FRIB and NSCL During Public Open House

The six-hour open house, made possible by 150 volunteers, offered an array of experiences for all ages. Tours were held in the currently operational experimental areas in NSCL that will be used in FRIB experiments, and visitors could tour the FRIB linear accelerator currently under construction.

Physicists Propose New Model to Study Pairing Properties of Nuclei

A team of Ohio University nuclear physicists has proposed a new theoretical model for calculating pairing properties of atomic nuclei including those found in extreme astrophysical environments.