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Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis and ORNL are using neutrons to study what happens when cyanobacteria cell samples (pictured) are starved for nitrogen. They are especially interested in how this process affects phycobilisomes, large antenna protein complexes in the cells that harvest light for photosynthesis. A better understanding of this natural phenomenon could lead to improvements in artificial resources like solar panels. (Image credit: ORNL/Genevieve Martin)

Cyanobacterial Studies Examine Cellular Structure During Nitrogen Starvation

November 15, 2017

Chlorite dismutase is a unique oxygen-generating enzyme that degrades chlorite, an industrial pollutant found globally in groundwater, drinking water and soils. Research conducted at ORNL contributes to a comprehensive structural and biochemical analysis of the enzyme, paving the way for future environmental applications. Journal cover art reprinted with permission from ACS Catalysis, vol. 7, issue 11, November 3, 2017. Further permissions related to the material excerpted should be directed to the American

Neutrons probe oxygen-generating enzyme for a greener approach to clean water

November 13, 2017

Bacteria containing enzymes called beta-lactamases, illustrated by the light blue cluster, break down antibiotics and allow bacterial infections to develop and spread through human cells (orange). A team from ORNL’s Neutron Sciences Directorate is using neutrons to study how resistant bacteria, represented by the light blue rod shapes, are evolving to negate the effects of the beta-lactam class of antibiotics. (Image credit: SCIstyle/Thomas Splettstoesser)

Resisting the resistance: Neutrons search for clues to combat bacterial threats

November 6, 2017

Ada Sedova, a postdoctoral research associate at the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility (OLCF), develops computational calculations for supercomputing codes. In front of the OLCF’s Titan supercomputer, Sedova displays a spectrum from her experimental work, measuring the vibrational frequency of nucleobases (bases of DNA and RNA) at the Spallation Neutron Source, and complementary computational calculations.

OLCF Postdoc Fuses the Gap Between Experiment and Computation

November 1, 2017

Professors Zhenzhen Yu (left) and Michael Joachim Andreassen use neutrons at HFIR’s NRSF2 to investigate residual stresses expected to occur in the welds of offshore underwater wind turbine foundations. (Credit: ORNL/Genevieve Martin)

Neutrons Improve Weld Integrity of Underwater Wind Turbine Foundations

October 25, 2017

Neutrons observe vitamin B6-dependent enzyme activity useful for drug development

October 20, 2017

$Paige Kelley uses the Four-Circle Diffractometer at HFIR to study ruthenium trichloride, obtaining its ordered moment size with the instrument’s unique capabilities. Kelley’s research could help lead to the realization of the qubit. Where bits represent either a 1 or 0 in conventional computing, qubits can achieve a mixed state called a superposition in which they are both 1 and 0 at the same time. This ability is critical to powering quantum computing. (Image credit: Genevieve Martin)$

Neutrons reveal suppression of magnetic order in pursuit of a quantum spin liquid

October 19, 2017

Researchers from the DOE Manufacturing Demonstration Facility located at ORNL used neutrons to test residual stress in 3D-printed steel parts. By studying complex geometries like the figure 6 shown here, researchers can design and build more complex structures with large-scale 3D metal printing. Pictured from left, Jeffrey Bunn, Andrzej Nycz, Mark Noakes, and Niyanth Sridharan. (Credit: ORNL/Genevieve Martin)

At ORNL, neutron scattering impacts daily life

October 17, 2017

Neutrons and quantum spin liquids: Exploring the next materials revolution

September 18, 2017

Hundreds of researchers from the nanoscience and neutron scattering communities coalesced at ORNL for a weeklong event to discuss new avenues for collaboration and science discovery. (Credit: ORNL/Genevieve Martin)

Joint user meeting brings bright future for ORNL neutrons and nanosciences

September 12, 2017

$With the help of other researchers from ORNL and Colorado State University, Daniel Olds and Katharine Page developed a U-tube gas flow cell to study catalysts and better understand how they facilitate chemical reactions. With this cell integrated into a new sample environment, they can combine neutron diffraction and isotope analysis techniques to view catalytic behavior under realistic operating conditions. (Image credit: ORNL/Genevieve Martin)$