Scientists have gained a never-before-seen view of nucleation – capturing how the atoms rearrange at 4D atomic resolution. The findings differ from predictions based on the classical theory of nucleation that has long appeared in textbooks.
Scientists Capture Atomic Motion in 4D for the First Time
Science Snapshots Theresa Duque •
A Frog Worth Kissing: Natural Defense Against Red Tide Toxin Found in Bullfrogs
Science Snapshots Aliyah Kovner •
A team led by Berkeley Lab faculty biochemist Daniel Minor has discovered how a protein produced by bullfrogs binds to and inhibits the action of saxitoxin, the deadly neurotoxin made by cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning.
Scientists Find a Molecular Switch for Better Biofuels
Science Snapshots Aliyah Kovner •
Adapted from an original release published by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Read the full story here Plant cell walls contain a renewable, nearly-limitless supply of sugar that can be used as a carbon source for microbe-based chemical and biofuel production. However, retrieving these sugars isn’t all that easy. Imidazolium ionic liquid (IIL) solvents are some
Groundbreaking Study Maps Out Paths to New Nitride Materials
Science Snapshots Theresa Duque •
A study led by Berkeley Lab features a large, interactive map that makes it easier for researchers to discover new forms of ternary nitrides, substances with unique properties with potential applications from semiconductors to industrial coatings.
Here Comes the Sun: A New Framework for Artificial Photosynthesis
Science Snapshots Theresa Duque •
A study led by Berkeley Lab has uncovered new insight into how to better control the catalyst cobalt oxide for artificial photosynthesis.
You Don’t Have to Be Perfect for TMDCs to Shine Bright
Science Snapshots Theresa Duque •
Scientists from Berkeley Lab have developed a practical method that brightens atomically thin TMDC semiconductors for device applications such as solar cells, LEDs, and lasers without chemically treating the materials for defects.
Lithium Doesn’t Crack Under Pressure, It Transforms
Science Snapshots Aliyah Kovner •
Using cutting-edge theoretical calculations performed at NERSC, researchers at Berkeley Lab’s Molecular Foundry have predicted fascinating new properties of lithium – a light alkali metal that has intrigued scientists for two decades with its remarkable diversity of physical states at high pressures. “Under standard conditions, lithium is a simple metal that forms a textbook crystalline solid. However, scientists
A ‘Silver Bullet’ for the Chemical Conversion of Carbon Dioxide
Science Snapshots By Lori Tamura •
Fossil fuels are the lifeblood of modern societies, but their increased use releases carbon dioxide, a climate-warming greenhouse gas, faster than plants can recycle it via photosynthesis. Now, a powerful combination of experiment and theory has revealed atomic-level details about how silver helps transform carbon dioxide gas into a reusable form. The results, reported in
Understanding Microbiomes for Advanced Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Systems
Science Snapshots Julie Chao •
Wastewater is treated by an activated sludge process in municipal wastewater treatment plants and returned to the environment for use. This treatment process has been used for over a century, and today represents the largest application of biotechnology in the world, yet there has been no effort to map the global activated sludge microbiome. A
New Statistical Technique Finds La Nina Years More Favorable for Mountain Snowpack Than El Nino Years
Science Snapshots Julie Chao •
When there are multiple factors at play in a situation that is itself changing, such as an El Nino winter in a changing climate, how can scientists figure out what is causing what? Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed an advanced statistical method for quantifying and visualizing changes in environmental systems and easily