Science Headlines | U.S. DOE Office of Science (SC)

Livermore Scientists Find Global Ocean Warming has Doubled in Recent Decades

Lawrence Livermore scientists, working with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and university colleagues, have found that half of the global ocean heat content increase since 1865 has occurred over the past two decades.

Instrument Expands X-Ray Laser’s Capability and Flexibility for Biological Experiments

For the first time in three years, LCLS has added a new instrument to its set of experimental stations. Staff from Stanford and SLAC gathered on Jan. 12 in the X-ray laser’s Far Experimental Hall to celebrate the arrival of the first X-rays in the brand new MFX hutch.

Dark Energy Survey Releases Early Data

Catalogs of galaxies and stars derived from the data collected during that Science Verification season (November 2012 to February 2013) have been released to the public.

Creating an Electrical Conduit Using Two Insulators

Created by scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the University of Minnesota, a specially designed junction between two insulators surprisingly yields a densely packed sheet of electrons.

Supernova Twins: Making Standard Candles More Standard Than Ever

New computational approach run on NERSC’s Edison supercomputer measures cosmological distances with far greater accuracy.

BESC Study Seeks Nature’s Best Biocatalysts for Biofuel Production

Researchers at the Department of Energy’s BioEnergy Science Center are looking beyond the usual suspects in the search for microbes that can efficiently break down inedible plant matter for conversion to biofuels.

The Down and Dirty About North American Snowpack

PNNL research used measurements from a large-area survey of observed soot in snow to understand the simulated amount and sources in snowpack, revealing that even underrepresented in snowpack simulations, soot delivers a significant heating effect on North American snowpack.

Annihilating Nanoscale Defects

Using the supercomputing resources at the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility, University of Chicago and Argonne researchers have found a way miniaturize microchip components using a technique producing zero defects.

Unique Two-Level Cathode Structure Improves Battery Performance

A team of scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory are improving cathode materials with a new method, leading to higher-capacity, faster-charging batteries for electronics, vehicles, and energy-storage applications.

Fighting Fire with FireFOAM

Insurance company FM Global uses the Titan supercomputer to simulate warehouse fires in unparalleled resolution.

Read more about Fighting Fire with FireFOAM

Location Matters: Atmospheric Particle Travels Traced

Scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory traced the atmospheric particle journey using a new modeling approach that calculates how particles are moved to the upper troposphere, and how efficiently they leave the atmosphere inside droplets, rain, or snow.

How Seashells Get Their Strength

A study at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory shows how calcium carbonate forms composites to make strong materials such as in shells and pearls.