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Physical and Life Sciences
‘Science on Saturday’ lecture combines biomedical and computational power to decode rabies
On February 11, hundreds filled the Bankhead Theater in downtown Livermore for a presentation titled “Reconstructing a Rabies Epidemic: Byte by Byte.” As part of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s (LLNL’s) educational outreach program Science on Saturday, the interactive lecture featured biomedical scientist Monica Borucki, bioinformatics scientist Jonathan Allen,…
Scientific team develops nano-sized hydrogen storage system to increase efficiency
Lawrence Livermore scientists have collaborated with an interdisciplinary team of researchers, including colleagues from Sandia National Laboratories, to develop an efficient hydrogen storage system that could be a boon for hydrogen-powered vehicles.Hydrogen is an excellent energy carrier, but the development of lightweight solid-state materials for compact, low-pressure…
From the Lab to the marketplace: Lab-Corps provides a boost to cryogenic compression
Hydrogen offers a wide variety of benefits to today's challenges for carbonless transportation (such as zero tail-pipe emissions, rapid refueling and longer driving range), but its widespread commercialization is still limited due to high costs. Cryogenic compression would help make carbonless transportation a practical reality. That’s where Guillaume Petitpas of Lawrence…
Lab-Corps experience inspires application of carbon capture technology to untapped industry
Sometimes a scientific breakthrough can end up in the most unexpected places. Just ask Congwang Ye, a Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) engineer whose work with carbon capture microcapsule technology, intended for filtering CO2 from power plants, could end up solving a big problem for craft beer makers.In December, Ye participated in the Department of Energy’s…
Kepler, don't give up on the hunt for exomoons
The Kepler spacecraft has been prolific in its search for planets outside our solar system, known as exoplanets, discovering thousands since its launch in 2009. But the hunt for moons orbiting these exoplanets, or exomoons, is vastly more challenging. While no exomoons have been found to date, a new study shows that the search is not futile. Researchers have demonstrated…
Next-gen dark matter detector in race to finish
U.S.-based experiment is on a fast track to help solve science mystery._________The race is on to build the most sensitive U.S.-based experiment designed to directly detect dark matter particles. Department of Energy (DOE) officials today formally approved a key construction milestone that will propel the project toward its April 2020 goal for completion.Lawrence Livermore…
Nanotube growth moving in the right direction
For the first time, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory scientists and collaborators have captured a movie of how large populations of carbon nanotubes grow and align themselves.Understanding how carbon nanotubes (CNT) nucleate, grow and self-organize to form macroscale materials is critical for application-oriented design of next-generation supercapacitors, electronic…
Meet Ivy Krystal Jones
Editor's Note: This is one in a series of articles highlighting the diverse group of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory postdocs and graduate scholars.The postdoc program at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory provides opportunities for postdocs to conduct world-class research in an exciting, diverse and often interdisciplinary environment. Postdocs are involved in…
Plate tectonics go to the core
The heat from Earth’s core has a significant effect on tectonic plate movement.The new research challenges the previous school of thought that movement of Earth’s tectonic plates is driven largely by negative buoyancy created as they cool.The team, including Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory scientist Nathan Simmons and university collaborators, combined observations…
Meet Tom Braun
Editor's Note: This is one in a series of articles highlighting the diverse group of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) postdocs and graduate scholars.___________________ Full Name: Tom BraunHometown: Berlin, GermanyEducation: Braun received his master’s degree in physics from Technical University Munich, Germany and his Ph.D. in materials science from Technical…
Lab pulsed-ion beam experiments reveal radiation damage processes in silicon
Materials scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have used a novel pulsed-ion-beam method to identify mechanisms of radiation defect formation in silicon.The research could have implications for improvements in modern electronics performance.Understanding radiation defects in crystals has been a major materials physics challenge for decades. Stable…
Carbon-free energy from solar water splitting
A Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) scientist and collaborators are fine tuning the mechanisms to generate hydrogen from water and sunlight. Hydrogen production offers a promising approach for producing scalable and sustainable carbon-free energy. The key to a successful solar-to-fuel technology is the design of efficient, long-lasting and low-cost…
Meet Madison Martin
Editor's Note: This is one in a series of articles highlighting the diverse group of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory postdocs and graduate scholars._________Full name: Madison MartinHometown: Cooper City, FloridaEducational background: Martin received a bachelor’s degree in math and physics from Florida Atlantic University Honors College, her master’s degree in…
Janus Laser Furthers Planetary Defense Research
Defending Earth against incoming asteroids—uncommon but potentially catastrophic threats—is no easy task. Without convenient, cost-effective ways to experiment directly on asteroids in the solar system, scientists run simulations and conduct high-energy-density experiments on asteroid fragments with lasers. Those who need to study matter under extreme conditions find a…
Recreating conditions inside stars in the laboratory with compact lasers
Using compact lasers, a team including Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) scientists has created pressures more than a billion atmospheres, equivalent to the pressure in the center of a star.These conditions of extreme pressure and energy density have previously been created in the laboratory only with the world's largest lasers, which are the size of stadiums…
Going inside to get a more efficient catalyst
New research shows that the phases that nano-structured materials go through to become an efficient catalyst are as good as gold.Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) material scientist Juergen Biener and collaborators found that by restructuring nanoporous gold alloys they become more efficient catalysts.Nano-structured materials hold promise for improving…
Lab materials scientist accepts joint appointment with Washington State
Staff scientist Mukul Kumar from the Materials Engineering Division will serve a joint position with both Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and Washington State University (WSU). This is only the third joint appointment for LLNL. Joint appointments tie both institutions together in a more formal way and contribute to work that is mutually beneficial.Kumar will…
Astronomers discover cosmic double whammy
Astronomers have discovered a cosmic one-two punch unlike any ever seen before. Two of the most powerful phenomena in the universe, a supermassive black hole and the collision of giant galaxy clusters, have combined to create a stupendous cosmic particle accelerator.By combining data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) in India…
Novel Scintillator Improves X-Ray Imaging
A Livermore team has developed a first-of-its kind transparent ceramic scintillator that significantly improves throughput for CT-based 3D imaging for manufacturing and other applications.
Lord of the Rings – synthesizing a five-membered ring nitrogen compound
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) scientists in collaboration with University of South Florida theorists recently reported the synthesis and equation of state of a long sought-after five-ring nitrogen (N5) compound.The ring-structure compounds, known as pentazolates, are the last all-nitrogen members of the azole series. They have been notoriously elusive for…
