Extreme Sea Levels to Become Far More Common Worldwide as Earth Warms
Critical coastal events, happening once a century in recent times, to occur every year on average. The news has been packed in recent months with…
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Carbon Capture Gets Cheaper: Making Methane From CO2
Methane made from CO2 and renewable hydrogen offers a new path toward cheaper carbon capture. In their ongoing effort to make carbon capture more affordable,…
How Ant Teeth Cut Like a Scalpel – Atomic-Scale Imaging Reveals Embedded Zinc Atoms
Atomic-scale imaging reveals tiny animals use zinc to sharpen their miniature tools. Ever wonder how tiny creatures can so easily slice, puncture, or sting? New…
Chemistry Breakthrough: Faster and Cheaper Ethanol-to-Jet-Fuel on the Horizon
New catalyst and microchannel reactors improve efficiency and cost. A patented process for converting alcohol sourced from renewable or industrial waste gases into jet or…
Harvesting Light Like Nature Does: Synthesizing a New Class of Bio-Inspired, Light-Capturing Nanomaterials
Inspired by nature, researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), along with collaborators from Washington State University, created a novel material capable of capturing light…
Turning Kitchen Waste Into Biofuels – With Some Help From the “Muffin Monster”
When we eat, our bodies convert food into energy that fuels our lives. But what happens to the energy stored in the 80 billion pounds…
Not Your Average Refinery: Sustainable Energy Production Through Electrochemical Reduction
Small stockpiles of biomass such as sewage, food waste, and wood chips are often overlooked in visions of future sustainable fuel and chemical production. The…
Major Milestone Reached for Sewage and Food Waste Biocrude Conversion Process
Biocrude Passes the 2,000-Hour Catalyst Stability Test A large-scale demonstration converting biocrude to renewable diesel fuel has passed a significant test, operating for more than…
Cheaper Carbon Capture Is on the Way – Marathon Research Effort Drives Down Cost
PNNL-developed solvent breaks barriers, captures carbon for less than industrial counterparts. As part of a marathon research effort to lower the cost of carbon capture,…
H2O Is Deceptively Complicated: First-Ever Measurements Show Supercooled Water Is Really Two Liquids in One
First-ever measurements provide evidence that extremely cold liquid water exists in two distinct structures that co-exist and vary in proportion dependent on temperature. Supercooled water…
Natural Radiation – Including Cosmic Rays From Outer Space – Can Wreak Havoc With Quantum Computers
Study shows the need to shield qubits from natural radiation, like cosmic rays from outer space. A multi-disciplinary research team has shown that radiation from…
Smoothing Out the “Duck Curve” – Influx of Electric Vehicles Accelerates Need for Grid Planning
For grid reliability, PNNL study shows advance planning and smart EV charging strategies could help cities and utilities smooth out the duck curve and…
The Quantum Gate Hack – Applying Ideas From Gaming Hacks to Quantum Computing
PNNL quantum algorithm theorist and developer Nathan Wiebe is applying ideas from data science and gaming hacks to quantum computing. Everyone working on quantum computers…
Trees Are Getting Shorter, Younger – Changing Forest Conditions Started Decades Ago
PNNL-led researchers: Conditions that started decades ago are changing forests and are likely to continue. Ongoing environmental changes are transforming forests worldwide, resulting in shorter…
Unique Nanostructure Enables Leap in Using Silicon for Battery Anodes
Novel nanostructure design lends extraordinary strength to a promising storage ingredient. The same material you’ll find at the tip of a pencil — graphite —…
Better Lithium-Ion Batteries Possible With Nanoscale Molecular View of Self-Assembling Structure
Scientists Learn More about the First Hours of a Lithium-ion Battery’s Life The first hours of a lithium-ion battery’s life largely determine just how well…
Cause of Harmful Dendrites and Whiskers in Lithium Batteries Uncovered [Video]
Team modifies electrolyte chemistry to prevent the piercing structures. Scientists have uncovered a root cause of the growth of needle-like structures—known as dendrites and whiskers—that…
New Research Shows the Rate of Temperature Change is Increasing
A newly published study from the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory reveals that the speed with which temperatures change will continue to increase…