Research Highlights Archive
Research is our business. With an unwavering focus on our missions, scientists and engineers at PNNL deliver science and technology. We conduct basic research that advances the frontiers of science. We translate discoveries into tools and technologies in science, energy, the environment and national security.
For more than four decades, our experts have teamed with government, industry and academia to tackle some of the toughest problems facing our nation. The result: We’re delivering the science, technology and leadership our customers need to succeed.
To view previously featured research and scientist’s achievements, click on a month.
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January
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24/7 atmospheric aerosol data
A team of PNNL-led researchers solved a software and hardware problem that had perplexed scientists studying atmospheric aerosols. Not only did they fix the problem, but the LIDAR instrument now performs better than it did when it was new. [ Full Story ]
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Simulation, calculations show hydroxide ions orientation in water
Knowing how hydroxide ions are arranged in water could aid in fine-tuning industrial processes, such as manufacturing biodiesel, and assist in future industrial processes like turning poplar trees and other vegetation into automotive fuel. [ Full Story ]
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Nothing but green fields ahead
Cost-effective mercury treatment wins environmental award. Like little molecular sponges, SAMMS® particles can absorb more than half their weight in mercury, and can be chemically tailored to go after other heavy metals. Little wonder why SAMMS has been named Grand Award winner for Green Technologies in Popular Science’s prestigious Best of What’s New (BOWN) awards for 2009. [ Full Story ]
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Unique uranium source in natrually bioreduced sediment
A study of a natrually bioreduced sediment sample reveals insights into the long-term persistence of uranium in groundwater. This new understanding will help in developing strategies for keeping the contaminant out of aquifers and away from humans, animals and crops. [ Full Story ]
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Growing up next to a volcano
Evidence shows iron and manganese help seafloor biofilms thrive in extreme environments. [ Full Story ]
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February
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Scrubbing Out Acid Rain
A unique reusable organic liquid developed at PNNL can remove and store harmful gases from power plant emissions, including sulfur dioxide, a primary cause of acid rain. [ Full Story ]
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Shedding light on the organizational structure of bacterial genome
Understanding how DNA-encoded information is organized to give rise to protein-mediated processes will unlock biotechnology breakthroughs in energy production, environmental protection, and medical science. [ Full Story ]
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The Package Really Does Matter
When it comes to squeezing hydrogen out of ammonia borane, the packaging matters. Remote outposts, such as telecommunications towers, or emergency back-up power in isolated locations could benefit from reliable long-lasting power supplies. Ammonia borane releases hydrogen with heating by a multi-step reaction, but the nominal heating required to release that hydrogen requires additional energy, decreasing the overall effciency. [ Full Story ]
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Computer-simulated Thunderstorms Reveal Insights for Next-generation Computer Models
Computer simulations of thunderstorms using data from a field campaign in Australia confirm that the "ice-phase" cloud processes in climate models contribute most to the wide discrepancy between model results and actual cloud measurements. [ Full Story ]
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How to Catch a Terrorist Before the Terror
PNNL's Millimeter Wave Holographic Body Scanner creates 240-degree, high-resolution, 3D scan of a body in less than 10 seconds — detecting weapons, explosives, plastics and other objects hidden under clothing. [ Full Story ]
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March
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First Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Signal of a Copper Site in Azurin Obtained
Metalloproteins, such as the copper-containing azurin, play a major role in catalyzing electron transfer in cellular reactions. Understanding how their structure relates to function can give rise to advances in biotechnology and medicine. [ Full Story ]
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Measuring the Speed of Noble "Bubbles"
Using a layer of noble gas "bubbles," scientists at PNNL devised a straightforward way to measure how fast molecules diffuse in supercooled liquids, such as methanol. From energy usage and storage in batteries to pharmaceutical shelf life, understanding the structure and stability of supercooled liquids and the amorphous solids they freeze into could address many open questions in the energy and medical fields. [ Full Story ]
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Growing Iron, Slowing Pollution
Understanding how iron and minerals interact deep underground at former nuclear weapons sites could play a major role in environmental cleanup of contaminants. Working at EMSL, scientists from PNNL, the University of Iowa, and Yale University studied the transfer of electrons between iron in the groundwater and iron in the soil. This transfer of electrons results in an increase in a form of iron, known as hematite, in the soil, a process capable of entrapment and decreasing the mobility of radioactive pollutants from plutonium production and other nuclear activities. [ Full Story ]
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Power Grid with Higher IQ Equals Lower Emissions
A smart electrical power grid could decrease electric energy use and carbon emissions in the utility sector up to 12 percent by 2030 — saving enough energy to power 70 million homes, according to a recent report published by PNNL. [ Full Story ]
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April
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Researchers Charged about Large-Scale Battery Design
A team of researchers at PNNL and EaglePitcher Technologies, LLC, is developing a next-generation battery that could enable the widespread use of renewable energy sources. By providing grid-scale energy storage, the new battery could address the intermittent nature of renewable energy resources — and help reduce U.S. carbon dioxide emissions by 150 million tons per year. [ Full Story ]
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Dirt Blows Off Steam
Twenty years of field study reveal that as the Earth has gotten warmer, plants and microbes in the soil have given off more carbon dioxide. So-called soil respiration has increased about one-tenth of 1 percent per year since 1989, according to an analysis conducted by PNNL of past studies published in Nature. [ Full Story ]
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Tips for Nanomapping
Surface science and imaging capabilities at EMSL allow nanoscale studies of bacterial proteins that affect environmental quality. [ Full Story ]
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PNNL Engineer Receives Highest Award in Engineering Profession
Scientific pioneer Gerald Posakony was honored with the John Fritz Medal by the American Association of Engineering Societies for the more than five decades worth of contributions he's made to the fields of medical diagnostic ultrasound and nondestructive evaluation technologies. [ Full Story ]
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Promoting Proteomics on a Global Scale
PNNL's Karin Rodland joins a global advisory council that includes leading experts in the field of proteomics from the academic, government, and commercial sectors. Selected for the U.S. Human Proteome Organisation Board of Directors, Karin will plan strategic and scientific meetings. HUPO is an international scientific society representing and promoting proteomics through international cooperation and collaborations. [ Full Story ]
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May
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Tiny Biosensor Could Help to Diagnose Disease
Scientists discover that a graphene-DNA nanostructure could help diagnose disease, facilitate gene therapy and more. [ Full Story ]
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Caging Carbon Could Clean Natural Gas
A new robust material could selectively trap energy-diluting impurities in natural gas, making fuel more effective while reducing cost and waste. A tough, hard-working particle known as ZIF-8 that can selectively remove carbon dioxide from a complex mixture of gases was designed by scientists at PNNL. [ Full Story ]
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Are Artificial Diamonds more Valuable than the Real Thing?
What’s more precious, cubic zirconium or a diamond? A newly designed membrane from an artificial diamond might allow petroleum-free fuel cells to operate at lower temperatures at less expense. Affordable fuel cells could reduce U.S. dependence on imported oil. [ Full Story ]
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How Salmonella Proteins Hijack Healthy Cells
Using the NMR suite at EMSL, researchers have unraveled the mystery of how virulence proteins found in Salmonella attack healthy cell’s signaling pathways and then use those pathways to enhance infection and evade defenses. The discovery may lead to new methods for treating bacterial infections. [ Full Story ]
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Boston Login International Airport Pilots New Security Surveillance Technology
PNNL researchers are managing a pilot project launched by DHS at Boston Logan International Airport to test a new video surveillance security technology. The imaging system can do what no other surveillance camera can: blend feeds from multiple cameras into one undistorted image to provide a high-resolution panoramic view, while retaining the ability to zoom in on any spot without losing the 360-degree view. [ Full Story ]
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June
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Carbon Capture - A Teaspoonful of Material with Surface area of a Football Field
A new material that is highly selective in capturing carbon dioxide and that has a surface area the size of a football field in just one teaspoonful has been designed by researchers at PNNL. This material could separate carbon dioxide emissions from other flue gases at power plants, capturing the CO2 as a relatively pure gas for permanent storage. [ Full Story ]
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Opposites Attract and Power Longer-Life Fuel Cell Batteries
Tiny gold particles surround themselves with smaller platinum bits creating a complex structure that could potentially turn a common preservative into electricity in a fuel cell battery to power cars, laptop computers and other portable devices. Scientists from PNNL and China's Harbin Institute of Technology say the improved fuel cells could last up to 10 times as long as today's batteries. [ Full Story ]
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Silica Cages Help Drugs Kill Cancer Tumors in Mice
Honeycombed particles filled with cancer-fighting drugs act like time-release capsules at the tumor site that prevent further growth and prolong the lives of mice. Packaging anti-cancer drugs into particles of chemically modified silica improve the drug’s ability to fight skin cancer according to promising research conducted by PNNL and the University of Washington. [ Full Story ]
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Visual Analytics tool IN-SPIRE-ing to Goverment Analysts
IN-SPIRE™ version 5.0, a powerful visual text analysis application developed by researchers at PNNL, was released for use at government organizations. IN-SPIRE is an advanced 3-D tool that helps users look for trends in massive amounts of information. [ Full Story ]
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When the Air Turns Brown
Scientists at PNNL and the University of California discover chemical reactions that create brown carbon aerosol. Discovering the fundamental processes that govern brown carbon formation and its evolution is vital to accurate model predications of climate. [ Full Story ]
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July
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Unraveling the code of a common mushroom leads to less expensive biofuels
A recent effort to sequence the genomes of white rot fungi has provided researchers insights into the workings of plant enzymes that could help accelerate the development of more cost-effective industrial enzymes used to break down plant materials for biofuels. [ Full Story ]
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Study examines durability of glass with ties to nuclear waste storage
In a first-of-its-kind study, scientists at PNNL determined how durable four-component glass is when aluminum atoms are replaced by boron atoms and vice versa. The research supports continuing efforts to manufacture a vitrified form of glass that safely encapsulates the waste. [ Full Story ]
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It Takes "Guts" to Explore the Next Proteomics Frontier
Looking at bacterial communities in termite gut helps reconstruct metabolic pathways. In the quest to find new sources of biofuel, researchers are studying one of the most efficient bioreactors on earth: the termite. The same insect that causes distress to homeowners with its wood-consuming abilities also provides scientists with a fascinating area of study: the symbiotic microbial community that enables the termite to digest wood cellulose. [ Full Story ]
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Get the Lead Out
Heavy metal contamination of soils and water is a global concern. Seeking bioremediation solutions, scientists at PNNL and the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology used EMSL resources to determine methods for using sulfate-reducing bacterium for in situ immobilization of lead. [ Full Story ]
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August
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Wax On . . . Wax Off for Lower Cost Batteries
A little wax and soap can help build electrodes for cheaper lithium ion batteries, according to a study by PNNL and collaborators. [ Full Story ]
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Size Matters when it Relates to Dirt Particles and Rain
A critical link between the size of dust particles in clouds and their likelihood to produce rain was discovered by scientists at PNNL and their collaborators. The discovery will help increase the accuracy of climate models. [ Full Story ]
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Cleaner, Safer Drop to Drink
A breakthrough study conducted by PNNL and researchers from the University of Washington and Oregon Health & Science University shows how using a relatively simple method for engineering nanoparticle heavy-metal sorbents may lead to an advanced method for eliminating toxic heavy metals from aquatic systems and drinking water. [ Full Story ]
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Discovery of new proteins may solve neurological disorders
There were 2,630 proteins identified in the clear fluid that protects the brain and spinal cord—nearly triple the number of proteins previously known to exist in spinal fluid. The discovery, lead by PNNL scientists and a team from Sweden, could help determine the root causes of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other neurological conditions. [ Full Story ]
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September
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Charged Over Grid-Friendly Charger for Electronic Vehicles
Charging electric vehicles adversely saps the power grid, but a new technology developed by PNNL allows charging in a way that is beneficial to both the vehicle owner and the power provider. [ Full Story ]
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Getting to the Root of Climate Change
Scientists at PNNL and EMSL will provide proteomics expertise to study soybean root hairs and their response to changing climate conditions to better understand the impacts of climate on plant root physiology. [ Full Story ]
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Vote Proteomics Pioneer Dick Smith as R&D Magazine’s Scientist of the Year
Advanced proteomics tools developed by PNNL’s Dick Smith could help identify the early stages of neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s; Smith is one among seven being nominated as Scientist of the Year by R&D Magazine. [ Full Story ]
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Drawing on Computers to Understand Water
Researchers trying to understand the complex interactions of water for energy, environmental, and national security applications, now can draw on the power of emerging supercomputers, thanks to software developed by PNNL that runs a quadrillion calculations a second. [ Full Story ]
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The Birth of nanoDESI
Created at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, nanoDESI helps provide detailed answers about chemically complex particles using samples 1,000 times smaller than conventional approaches, allowing scientists to run analysis without spending time on sample preparation. [ Full Story ]
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October
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Proteomics Pioneer Dick Smith Selected R&D Magazine's Scientist of the Year
Advanced proteomics tools developed by PNNL's Dick Smith could help identify the early stages of neurological diseases like Alzheimer's; Smith was one of six candidates for R&D Magazine's Scientist of the Year award. [ Full Story ]
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Magnetic attraction for fish, crabs?
PNNL researchers are examining whether a variety of fish and invertebrates change their behavior during and after exposure to an electromagnetic field similar to those produced by marine and hydrokinetic power devices that capture energy from ocean waves, tides, currents and rivers. Answers to these questions will help energy companies make the best decisions for the environment when choosing technologies to harness energy from oceans and rivers. [ Full Story ]
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Life in the “Fast Lane”
EMSL scientists applied theoretical approaches in a supercomputing environment to build new computational tools that can be used to analyze the complex processes of electron transfer—the challenge for scientists is mapping the fast lanes. With a better understanding of charge transfer, technologies can be created and improved to offer greater efficiency and performance at lower costs. [ Full Story ]
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Researchers Draw on Proteomics Expertise to Find Connections to Drug Addiction in Our Blood
Collaborative research between PNNL and the Air Force's 59th Medical Wing could improve tests for illicit drug use and abuse. Proteomics experts are looking for a better indicator of current or past use and the ability to identify people prone to abusing drugs in the first place. [ Full Story ]
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Software Suite, Sweet Place for Collaborating on Carbon Sequestration
A computer-based knowledge management system under development at PNNL will help scientists collaborate more effectively while using their preferred modeling tools to conduct more comprehensive planning for safe, long-term, underground storage of greenhouse gases. [ Full Story ]
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Out of Sight, Out of Mind?
There was a time when disposal of contaminants followed one guiding principal: “Out of sight, out of mind.” PNNL scientists are addressing the growing concern for ecosystem and human health, the environmental and scientific communities to better understand the mechanisms and rates at which subsurface contaminants desorb from hosting media – granular soil, sand and sediments – and diffuse into the environment. [ Full Story ]
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November
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Nighttime plumes from power plants cause pollution
Pollutant gases given off at night by coal-fired power plants remain concentrated in the atmosphere and can react with naturally occurring compounds to form troubling aerosols that contribute to haze and air quality problems, according to a study conducted by PNNL. These ultrafine aerosols are a major component of haze and can contribute to health problems, such as chronic bronchitis. Read on to find out why pollutants released at nighttime are different from those released during the day. [ Full Story ]
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Cellular Interactions of Nanoparticles Hold Key to How Nanoparticles Behave in Cells
A study by scientists at EMSL and PNNL has shown that cellular interactions of nanoparticles at the molecular level may lead to answers about how these particles impact living systems. Nanoparticles show promise in solving diverse problems like pinpointing medical diagnoses, developing alternative forms of energy or creating more durable materials. [ Full Story ]
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Deadly monkeypox virus might cause disease by breaking down lung tissue
A new study by PNNL scientists of an exotic, infectious virus that has caused three recent outbreaks in the United States reveals clues to how the virus might damage lungs during infection. The findings also suggest possible new ways to treat lung diseases in humans. [ Full Story ]
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Upgrading Bio-Oils—the Next Step in Developing Renewable Fuels
PNNL researchers are developing a process that can produce and upgrade bio-oil to produce biofuels at a commercial scale. Developing a biofuel that can be produced, distributed and stored in the same facilities as petroleum fuels will reduce the overall cost of biofuels, and allow them to be more readily accepted into the market as a direct replacement for petroleum. [ Full Story ]
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December
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Can Science Discover How to Put Bacteria to Work for Good?
Bacteria are among the fastest reproducing organisms in the world. Some can sicken and kill us; others can be used to gobble up chemical contaminants. Proteomic research at PNNL is helping validate a bacterial model and is providing insights into the key proteins and metabolic pathways that are essential for encouraging and discouraging bacterial growth in a changing environment. [ Full Story ]
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Flipping Burgers without Guzzling Power
A PNNL report found fast-food eateries could reduce energy use more than 50 percent with ultra-efficient appliances; lights; heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems; as well as other integrated design methods. Savings were calculated by plugging in data on the establishment’s design, construction and appliances into an energy simulation computer program called EnergyPlus. The information will help develop the next series of Advanced Energy Design Guides. [ Full Story ]
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Can Social Programs Mitigate the Impact of Himalayan Glacier Melt in Time?
Though the massive glaziers of the greater Himalayan region are retreating, a report by PNNL researchers indicates that there is still time to prepare the region’s communities for the resulting impact on their lives - if programs begin now that integrate health, education, the environment, and social organizations. [ Full Story ]
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Looking for Answers Around Grains of Soil
Using models of soil particles, scientists at PNNL and University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign found that underground barriers of calcium carbonate don’t form as expected. They thought that a lot of calcium carbonate would form thick barriers. Instead, the more they added, the thinner the barriers. This research provides insights for those sequestering uranium, carbon dioxide, and other materials. [ Full Story ]
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