All News Highlights
News of related EMSL research and announcements of events are listed in the links provided below.
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2013
Long distance
Biofilms move electrons long distances across two distinct layers, even under starving conditions
Released: May 23, 2013
Bacteria can move electrons at least half a millimeter across a scaffolding made by themselves, of themselves, even under starving conditions—this new finding by EMSL staff and users challenges conventional wisdom.
Microfluidic devices move from application to fundamental science
Frequently used in sensors, these small devices are helping scientists obtain chemical images of delicate liquids
Released: May 21, 2013
A review by PNNL scientists using EMSL capabilities explores how microfluidic devices are being used in scientific instruments to answer fundamental questions.
NWChem 6.3 available
EMSL releases the newest version of its open-source computational chemistry software suite
Released: May 20, 2013
EMSL released version 6.3 of NWChem, its premier open-source computational chemistry software, with an extensive suite of new capabilities.
How to overcome the oxide barrier
New insight into how to make electrical contact with an oxide semiconductor
Released: May 16, 2013
EMSL capabilities helped scientists identify the characteristics of a low-resistance electrical contact to an oxide semiconductor. The findings have implications for the electronics industry.
Go with the flow
EMSL’s Chinook provides a new angle for validating pore-scale flow simulations
Released: May 16, 2013
Scientifically, simply “going with the flow” can have great implications. In natural porous media, such as soils, subsoil vadose zones, and aquifer systems, accurately simulating detailed flow velocity fields can elucidate a multitude of macroscopic phenomena.
The May issue of NUFO News
National User Facility Organization newsletter
Released: May 15, 2013
In this issue, announcement of the 2013 NUFO annual meeting, a user science exhibition organized for Congress and NUFO calendar.
Integrated omics uncovers roles of fungi and bacteria in lignocellulose degradation
Leaf-cutter ant "gardens" could provide clues for generating cellulosic biofuels
Released: May 14, 2013
Scientists used metaproteomic measurements from EMSL to better understand the symbiotic relationship between leaf-cutter ants, fungi and bacteria. The findings could help in the development of biofuels.
The Linux audit framework
Released: May 10, 2013
Gary Smith, EMSL information system security officer, explains Linux audit and how it can be part of an overall defense-in-depth strategy.
> Watch the Video
SELinux for dummies
Released: May 10, 2013
Gary Smith, EMSL information system security officer, explains SELinux, why it's a great addition to the security arsenal, and how to maintain and troubleshoot it.
> Watch the Video
Fair-weather clouds hold dirty secret
New study reveals particles that seed small-scale clouds over Oklahoma
Released: May 06, 2013
Scientists modify a popular meteorological-chemistry model to examine fair-weather cumulus clouds over Oklahoma. Their results reveal new information about the climate impact of these small-scale clouds.
iDirector interview with Nancy Hess
Released: May 02, 2013
EMSL director Allison Campbell, talks to Nancy Hess about the new capabilities in the new Radiochemistry Annex.
> Watch the Video
Controlling proton source speeds catalyst in turning electricity to fuel
Nickel-based catalyst three times faster with adjustments to key acid
Released: April 30, 2013
Research using EMSL’s supercomputer showed that when the proton affinity matches between the catalyst and the surrounding acid, the reaction speed increases. The findings have implications for the design of faster, more efficient catalysts.
The April issue of The Molecular Bond
EMSL’s bi-monthly newsletter: The Molecular Bond
Released: April 26, 2013
In this issue, a profile of Tamas Varga and how he used X-ray computed tomography to image root structures, the recipients of the 2013 William R. Wiley Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowships, EMSL’s new Radiochemistry Annex opens, a virtual tour of the user facility and science highlights. Read these stories and more in the April issue of The Molecular Bond.
Radiochemistry Annex now open
Released: April 24, 2013
EMSL’s new Radiochemistry Annex will allow scientists to study the chemistry of radionuclides in environmental samples, such as soils and sediments or their encapsulation in potential waste forms. The annex is now fully open to the local and global user community.
Varga: Contributing to the research picture
Supporting users, testing capabilities and finding new materials are the best part of the job
Released: April 24, 2013
EMSL Scientist Tamas Varga provides user support in X-ray diffraction and tomography. He demonstrated X-ray computed tomography could scan a live plant and generate 3-D images showing detailed root structure distinct from the soil. His personal research interest is multiferroics, compounds that exhibit properties such as ferromagnetism and ferroelectricity simultaneously.
When pollution gets a whiff of trees
City and tree emissions mix it up causing poor air quality
Released: April 22, 2013
EMSL helped support scientists studying the formation of secondary organic aerosols. These atmospheric particles can have a large impact air quality, visibility, human health and ultimately, the climate.
Motivating carbon dioxide
Scientists show what it takes to get the potential fuel feedstock to a reactive spot on a model catalyst
Released: April 18, 2013
Scientists used EMSL’s scanning tunneling microscope to track carbon dioxide preferences for oxygen vacancies. The findings have implications for energy production.
Rods and rosettes
EMSL tools reveal morphology, growth mechanisms of precipitates from scCO2 storage
Released: April 16, 2013
A study that revealed new details about the geochemistry of scCO2 underground storage, made possible with EMSL’s helium ion microscope, is featured on the April 2013 cover of Microscopy and Microanalysis.
Smashing glass at the molecular level
Scientists show how cracks propagate through thick and thin layers of frozen liquid water
Released: April 12, 2013
Research by scientists working at EMSL could impact our understanding the basic principles behind how water and ices form on other planets and as a model to study the properties of glasses here on Earth.
Two named 2013 Wiley postdocs
EMSL selects Fu and Pomraning as distinguished postdoctoral fellows
Released: April 11, 2013
Li Fu and Kyle Pomraning are recipients of 2013 William R. Wiley Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowships. This is the first time two fellows have been named in the same year to receive this honor.
From clusters to clouds
Theory models, EMSL capabilities illuminate how particles grow in the atmosphere
Released: April 09, 2013
With EMSL’s mass spectrometry capabilities, scientists examined and modeled kinetics and energetics of clusters that may serve as precursors to atmospheric new particle formation. Their discoveries may improve the accuracy of existing atmospheric models.
Gilding technology in prehistoric jewelry from the Silk Road
Released: April 08, 2013
Assistant Professor of Anthropology David Peterson, Idaho State University, discusses his research using EMSL’s high spatial resolution secondary ion mass spectrometer, or NanoSIMS, to study the gold gilding on jewelry found in cemeteries along the prehistoric Silk Road in Samara, Russia.
> Watch the Video
Deadline for EMSL/DOE-JGI joint call approaching
Letters of intent accepted through April 8
Released: April 05, 2013
EMSL and the DOE Joint Genome Institute are accepting letters of intent for pilot projects to address biofuels production and carbon cycling.
Striking while the iron is hot
Chromatography combined with database search strategy identifies hard-to-find heme proteins
Released: April 04, 2013
Conducting much of their work at EMSL, scientists combined mass spectrometry and enhanced database searches to study the heme c protein modification in microbes.
A new method for measuring the viscosity of nanoparticles
First direct determination of the chemical diffusivity and viscosity of secondary organic aerosols
Released: April 01, 2013
Scientists working at EMSL used a new approach to measure the chemical characteristics of atmospheric organic particles. The findings allow a more accurate portrayal of these particles and their impact on climate and human health.
Understanding microbe-mineral electron exchange
Working model of bacterial electron transport machinery featured in PNAS
Released: March 29, 2013
EMSL users created a working model of Shewanella oneidensis electron transport machinery that conducts electrons freely and continuously and at a rate fast enough to support bacterial respiration in nature. Results are featured in PNAS.
Unlocking the Parkinson's puzzle
Developing an assay to identify components in protein structures to aid diagnosis, treatment
Released: March 27, 2013
A team of scientists are using EMSL capabilities as part of a project to identify new components of the Lewy bodies that accumulate in the brains of patients with Parkinson’s. Detection of Lewy bodies in living humans would allow more accurate diagnostics of the disease's onset and progression.
Breaking down the bubbly
Micromodels redefine how bubbles characterize CO2 gas flow
Released: March 20, 2013
EMSL's Microfabrication and Subsurface Flow and Transport capabilities helped scientists model how mobile bubbles in reservoir storage conditions create a flow barrier from exsolved carbon dioxide, which shows promise for future geological sequestration.
Seeing the messages microbes send
Novel chemical imaging instrument shows how bacteria support nearby colonies
Released: March 20, 2013
EMSL’s nano-DESI allows scientists to profile bacterial chemical production. Understanding microbial ecology could provide basic answers needed to advance sustainable energy.
Variety is the spice of life
The Scientist: True understanding of the complexity of biological systems demands an assortment of model systems
Released: March 19, 2013
EMSL lead biologist Steven Wiley, in his column in The Scientist, advocates using novel and appropriate model organisms for biological research. The model system being used should be the one most appropriate for the question being asked.
No downtime for communication
New framework allows for asynchronous communication in exascale machines
Released: March 18, 2013
EMSL computing resources help scientists develop more efficient algorithms within the Global Arrays programming model framework.
Observing chemistry of atmospheric particles and droplets with new mass spectrometry techniques
Review article reached the International Reviews in Physical Chemistry most read list
Released: March 18, 2013
An invited review article highlights new mass spectrometry techniques for atmospheric science.
A steel trap
Nanoclusters in steel add strength, stability under irradiated conditions
Released: March 05, 2013
Scientists using various analysis tools at EMSL to examine and quantify complex nanoclusters within oxide dispersion strengthened steels have a new view of how these metal materials display resistance and stability under a range of irradiation conditions.
Ions shed water to slide into the perfect pore
Metal ions refuse to lose for large gaps, but will for a tighter fit
Released: March 05, 2013
Scientists used EMSL’s electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometer to test the nanopore inner-sphere enhancement, or NISE, theory. The findings have real-world implications, such as increasing food crop yields and controlling toxic waste dispersion, and resulted in a journal cover on Clays and Clay Minerals.
The February issue of The Molecular Bond
EMSL’s bi-monthly newsletter: The Molecular Bond
Released: February 28, 2013
In this issue, a scientific collaboration at EMSL leads to ultrafast, high-resolution chemical imaging; a new EMSL system improves our understanding of aerosol organic compounds; a virtual tour of the user facility; links to new EMSL video’s; and science highlights. Read these stories and more in the February issue of The Molecular Bond.
Burst of energy
Theory builds on experiment, points way toward better fuel systems
Released: February 27, 2013
New atomic-level details about how butanol burns, found with the help of EMSL’s supercomputer Chinook, are making combustion chemistry models more accurate and helping design fuel systems that burn more efficiently and cleanly.
Advancements are in the bag
PepsiCo partners with EMSL to achieve major R&D advancement
Released: February 27, 2013
EMSL recently collaborated with PepsiCo on improving the sustainability of chip bags using some of its more advanced analytical capabilities. As a result, PepsiCo honored the collaboration with one of its most prestigious R&D awards.
See the light
Ultrafast chemical imaging lights the way to monolayer and nanometer spatial resolution
Released: February 26, 2013
EMSL user Markus Raschke, University of Colorado at Boulder, partnered with EMSL staff to develop the infrared scattering type scanning near-field microscope, or IR s-SNOM, that delivers imaging capabilities with near single-molecule sensitivity.
It still smells a lot like – Christmas?
New EMSL instrument provides unprecedented insights to aerosol particles
Released: February 26, 2013
A research team used EMSL's new high-resolution sum frequency generation spectrometer to study alpha-pinene, an organic compound emitted by trees. The team wanted to understand more about compound and its impact on air quality and climate to improve global climate models.
Catalyst becomes more selective after oxygen atoms' departures
Scientists see how TiO2 surface defects halt photodecomposition
Released: February 19, 2013
EMSL’s microscopy and computing capabilities help scientists study the surface defects of titanium dioxide, which leads to a greater understanding of the material’s ability to do photochemistry.
Deadline approaching for EMSL’s 2013 annual call
Looking for high-impact research proposals
Released: February 18, 2013
EMSL's 2013 call for proposals is open until March 1 for high-impact user research proposals. New EMSL capabilities offer prospective users the possibility of innovative and unique experiments.
Lanthanum chromium oxide's energetic dance with light
Experimental measurements and modeling resolve two decades of debate
Released: February 14, 2013
Scientists used EMSL’s molecular beam epitaxy system to help determine how a particular oxide material interacts with visible and ultraviolet light. Their findings could lead to a safe, secure and environmentally friendly energy source.
Adding natural elements to synthetic catalysts speeds hydrogen production
Scientists show how adding amino acids far from a catalyst's center can rev it up
Released: February 13, 2013
EMSL resources helped scientists study how adding amino acid molecules to a nickel-based catalyst improves its efficiency and could potentially result in catalysts made from abundant, rather than scarce elements.
Laskin named EMSL research fellow
2013 Wiley Research Fellow selected
Released: February 12, 2013
EMSL has appointed Julia Laskin a 2013 Wiley Research Fellow for her significant contributions to the user facility and collaborative research.
Baer organizes AAAS symposium
Seminar explores direct images and diffraction patterns of nanostructures
Released: February 12, 2013
Don Baer, EMSL, and Eric Stach, Brookhaven National Laboratory, co-organize a symposium on the direct imaging of atomic structures for the AAAS 2013 Annual Meeting Feb. 15 in Boston.
Placing protons in the right spot lets catalysts avoid wasting time and energy on profligate reactions
Released: February 11, 2013
EMSL computing resources help scientists gain a better understanding of how efficiently protons move in different configurations of a common catalyst.
EMSL and DOE-JGI announce a joint call for exploratory collaborations
Letters of intent accepted Feb. 11-April 8
Released: February 08, 2013
EMSL and the DOE Joint Genome Institute launch a call for pilot projects to address biofuels production and carbon cycling.
Protein probes
New protein probes find enzymes for biofuel production
Released: February 05, 2013
New protein probes and proteomics tools at EMSL are helping scientists find the best biomass-to-biofuel production enzymes that nature has to offer.
Seeing a common catalyst with new eyes
Chemical imaging microscope shows corrugated gamma-alumina surface
Released: February 05, 2013
Scientists used EMSL’s microscopy capabilities to create ultrahigh-resolution images of the surface of gamma-alumina nanoparticles, which could lead to improved catalysts for reducing refineries' energy demands or vehicle emissions.
License will lead to faster-charging batteries for phones, electric vehicles
Cell phone batteries could be charged in minutes
Released: February 01, 2013
Researchers are developing the next generation of batteries using various materials, including graphene – ultra-thin sheets of carbon atoms. EMSL capabilities allow scientists to study these new materials at the atomic level.
Batteries lose in game of thorns
Scientists see how and where disruptive structures form and cause voltage fading
Released: January 31, 2013
Scientists used EMSL’s scanning/transmission electron microscope to study a specialized lithium battery and discovered why it gradually releases less energy with each charge/discharge cycle.
The great repression
Biochemical studies provide insight into an RNA silencing pathway
Released: January 29, 2013
New studies using Arabidopsis thaliana and mass spectrometry tools at EMSL are offering insight about genetic and biochemical processes that govern gene regulation and development in plants—an understanding relevant to biomass-to-biofuel production.
Attention postdocs – EMSL accepting nominations
EMSL’s M. T. Thomas Award call for applications open
Released: January 29, 2013
Nominations are due March 31 for the M. T. Thomas Award acknowledging outstanding accomplishments by postdoctoral fellows who conduct their research at EMSL.
iDirector interview with Patrick Reardon
Released: January 29, 2013
EMSL director Allison Campbell interviews Wiley postdoc Patrick Reardon, from Duke University. Watch the interview with Patrick from the top of an NMR.
The biology of plague
Systems approach used to investigate strains of Yersinia
Released: January 28, 2013
Researchers using EMSL capabilities studied two strains of the bacteria genus Yersinia – a highly lethal pathogen and its less-virulent form – to discover how they differ.
New supercomputer coming to EMSL this summer, supplied by Atipa Technologies
Lab expects PNNL-based supercomputer to rank in world's top 20 fastest machines
Released: January 24, 2013
EMSL's new supercomputer expected to rank among the world's fastest machines will be ready to run computationally intense climate and biological simulations along with other scientific programs this summer. Read the PNNL news release.
An unexpected pairing of frustrated molecules
Scientists at PNNL explain how separated molecules get together to split hydrogen
Released: January 23, 2013
Research, done in part at EMSL, on frustrated Lewis pairs showed how combining theoretical and experimental studies can answer fundamental questions necessary to achieve sustainable energy production and storage.
Cotton-ball clouds contained
New modeling method captures clouds' shading effects
Released: January 21, 2013
EMSL computer resources help researchers update a weather computer model that provides improved climate forecasts and better cloud prediction.
The ETEM in EMSL’s Quiet Wing
Released: January 18, 2013
Scientist Libor Kovarik explains the capabilities of the environmental transmission electron microscope in EMSL’s Quiet Wing.
> Watch the Video
Metabolomics key to identifying disease pathway
Research reveals lactic acid's role in lung disease
Released: January 17, 2013
University of Rochester scientists used EMSL capabilities to gain a better understanding of cellular metabolism in the cause and development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
EMSL: A look ahead
Released: January 16, 2013
Dave Koppenaal of EMSL, presents at the EMSL 2012 Integration meeting.
Computational assets for biology
Released: January 16, 2013
Marat Valiev from EMSL presents at the EMSL 2012 Integration meeting.
Using isotopes to understand the physiology of glacial trees
Released: January 16, 2013
Joy Ward, from the University of Kansas, presents at the EMSL Intergration 2012 meeting.
From fjords to open seas: Ecological genomics of expanding oxygen minimum zones
Released: January 15, 2013
Steve Hallam, from the University of British Columbia, presents at the 2012 EMSL User Meeting.
Welcome address: EMSL Intergration 2012
Released: January 15, 2013
Environmental Molecular Science Laborator (EMSL) director, Allison Campbell, gives the welcome address at the 2012 EMSL User Meeting.
The UHV LT SPM in EMSL’s Quiet Wing
Released: January 14, 2013
Scientist Igor Lyubinetsky explains the features of the ultra-high vacuum, low-temperature scanning probe microscope in EMSL’s Quiet Wing.
> Watch the Video
Chemical probe finds fungal organism function
Activity-based protein profiling suggests how fungus becomes pathogenic
Released: January 10, 2013
Scientists working at EMSL are using multiplexed activity-based protein profiling for the chemical probes used to study a common fungus that causes severe lung infections in people with weakened immune systems.
Soft landing and particle coverage key to keeping or losing charge on surfaces
New results may aid rational design of materials for sustainable energy
Released: January 07, 2013
Creating the next generation of catalysts will require precise control over the size, charge state and density of the metal clusters applied to surfaces. Researchers working at EMSL are discovering how to do it.
Visit EMSL – virtually!
Check out the virtual tour for a new perspective of EMSL
Released: January 04, 2013
Can’t visit EMSL? Then take a virtual tour of four of its laboratories housing state-of-the-art instrumentation. The tour includes lab and instrument overviews available through text, images, video and web pages.
iDirector interview with Liz Alexander
Released: January 03, 2013
EMSL director Allison Campbell talks to Liz Alexander about the new laser ablation capability in EMSL.
> Watch the Video