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

Help Astronomers Find Elusive Muons Disguised as Gamma Rays

A new citizen science project, led by astronomers at the University of Minnesota, is asking for help from the public to identify and categorize hundreds of thousands of ring patterns within images produced by VERITAS gamma-ray observatory cameras.

New Materials Could Turn Water into the Fuel of the Future

Researchers at Caltech and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have—in just two years—nearly doubled the number of materials known to have potential for use in solar fuels.

Concurrent Heat Waves, Air Pollution Exacerbate Negative Health Effects of Each

The combination of prolonged hot spells with poor air quality greatly compounds the negative effects of each and can pose a major risk to human health, according to new research from the University of California, Irvine.

Most Complex Nanoparticle Crystal Ever Made By Design

The most complex crystal designed and built from nanoparticles has been reported by researchers at Northwestern University and the University of Michigan.

The Search for Dark Matter Continues

University of Texas at Arlington physics professor Kaushik De has been working with scientists all over the world to find dark matter with the world’s largest scientific instrument, the Large Hadron Collider.

Lead Dressed Like Gold: Laser-Altered Molecules Cast Alchemy in a Different Light

Using advanced computational theory, a Princeton research team has developed a method called "spectral dynamic mimicry" that allowed them to calculate the laser pulse shape to produce any desired spectral output to make non-permanent changes to a substance’s molecules, mimicking the reflective properties of another substances’ s molecules.

Next-Generation Dark Matter Detector in a Race to Finish Line

The race is on to build the most sensitive U.S.-based experiment designed to directly detect particles of dark matter. Department of Energy (DOE) officials formally approved a key construction milestone that will propel the project named LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) toward its goal for completion by April 2020.

Researchers Find New Clues for Nuclear Waste Cleanup

A Washington State University study of the chemistry of technetium-99 has improved understanding of the challenging nuclear waste and could lead to better cleanup methods.

How Protein Misfolding May Kickstart Chemical Evolution

Researchers at Emory University and Georgia Tech are looking into the abnormal folding of proteins related to neurodegenerative conditions, providing insights into how life may emerge from a chemical system.

Triboelectric Nanogenerators Boost Mass Spectrometry Performance

Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have shown that replacing conventional power supplies with TENG devices for charging the molecules being analyzed can boost the sensitivity of mass spectrometers to unprecedented levels.

Experiments Call Origin of Earth’s Iron into Question

New research from The University of Texas at Austin reveals that the Earth’s unique iron composition isn’t linked to the formation of the planet’s core, calling into question a prevailing theory about the events that shaped our planet during its earliest years.

Light-Driven Reaction Converts Carbon Dioxide Into Fuel

Duke University researchers have developed tiny nanoparticles that help convert carbon dioxide into methane using only ultraviolet light as an energy source.