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Science Briefs

Read in detail about specific Los Alamos science achievements, and the honors our scientists are accruing.

Narrowing the search for new materials
Researchers have now combined data analytics and materials knowledge in the form of theory to guide experiments in the design of novel lead-free piezoelectrics. - 2/7/17
Livescu named AIAA Associate Fellow
Daniel Livescu is a new Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). - 1/18/17
Imaging the operation of high explosive detonators
A new capability combines state-of-the-art imaging capabilities with computed tomographic reconstruction in experiments performed at the Argonne National Laboratory’s Advanced Photon Source. - 1/17/17
In the quest for the origin of the elements, it helps to know where to look
How did the elements on the periodic table get produced? - 1/5/17
You think the reference in that online article links to what the author referenced? Think again!
This new paper is the first to scientifically quantify Content Drift for references to web pages made in scientific articles. - 1/5/17
Solar cell material is self-healing
Scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory have been exploring a different material for constructing solar cells. - 1/4/17
Self-assembly approach to engineer nanoscale metamaterials discovered
A research team has developed a novel self-assembly approach to fabricate nanoscale metamaterials made of metallic nanopillars in oxide matrices. - 1/4/17
Lab team performs some of the largest direct numerical simulations of shocked turbulence
The Fluid Dynamics team has performed some of the largest direct numerical simulations of fluid turbulence in the world. - 12/19/16
Scientists develop software to simulate material deformation and failure
The software tool is called HOSS, Hybrid Optimization Software Suite. - 11/21/16
Lab-developed hydrogen sensors tested at SoCal refueling stations
Government agencies are turning to Los Alamos National Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore National Lab to help detect leaks that could potentially lead to fire. - 11/8/16
Nuclear detonation detection payload successfully launched
The second Space and Atmospheric Burst Reporting System (SABRS-2) payload developed and built by Los Alamos was successfully launched last fiscal year in support of the Lab’s ongoing Global Security mission. - 10/28/16
Warm Dense Matter – getting a grip at a hot topic
An international team of scientists has achieved a major breakthrough in the description of warm dense matter. - 10/18/16
Gleason honored with Alvin Van Valkenburg Award
Gleason was honored for her substantial contributions as an early career scientist to high-pressure physics in both static and dynamic compression. - 10/5/16
Deep moonquakes reveal thickness of the lunar crust
The researchers were the first to use body-wave seismic interferometry to study deep moonquakes. - 9/26/16
Kelly named Fellow of the American Statistical Association
The American Statistical Association (ASA) has honored Elizabeth Kelly with the title of Fellow. - 8/2/16
Aikin and Cerreta named as ASM Fellows
ASM International named Beverly Aikin and Ellen Cerreta to the 2016 class of Fellows. - 8/1/16
Role of amyloids in type II diabetes
A collaboration between Los Alamos, Yale University, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute published research that sheds light on pathological properties of amyloids identified in type II diabetes. - 7/6/16
Janoschek awarded Hans Fischer Fellowship
Marc Janoschek has been chosen for a Hans Fischer Fellowship at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) Institute for Advanced Study in Germany. - 6/9/16
Teaching a cell new tricks
At Los Alamos National Laboratory, one group has been investigating the cellular mechanism that controls fatty acid synthesis. - 5/20/16
Scientists study glaciers in McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica
A research team has modeled the spatial variability in ice loss and assessed climate sensitivity of the glaciers. - 5/20/16
Los Alamos staff help improve U.S. capability to detect underground nuclear explosions
Los Alamos staff were instrumental in the fifth conventional explosion experiment as part of the NNSA’s Source Physics Experiment (SPE) series. - 5/17/16
Panel discussion to explore transitions in women’s careers on May 16
The event is titled “If I Only Knew Then What I Know Now." - 5/10/16
Majewski named Fellow of the Neutron Scattering Society of America
The Society recognized Majewski for "contributions to our understanding of weakly organized two-dimensional systems, including surfactant molecules found in biological systems.” - 5/9/16
Building international genomics collaborations for global biosecurity
The work enables cooperative biothreat reduction and scientific engagement on a global scale. - 4/6/16
In celebration of Women's History Month, Lab recognizes notable firsts by Los Alamos women
Women scientist and engineers at Los Alamos make notable impacts in their fields and in the Lab's mission. - 3/24/16
$Shown are time lapse images of supercritical CO2 displacing water in a fracture etched into a shale micromodel. The white, blue and gray colors represent supercritical CO2, water and shale, respectively.$
Los Alamos researchers develop platform to study subsurface reservoir conditions
This increasing demand for energy around the globe requires a better understanding of subsurface energy resources and their associated environmental issues. - 3/7/16
Fensin receives Young Leaders Award
Saryu Fensin has been selected to receive the 2015 TMS Young Leaders International Scholar-Japanese Institute of Metals (JIM) Award. - 3/3/16
Mining fatty acids from algae
Scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory and the University of Washington are exploring the use of lipids for energy: as a starting material for creating biofuels. - 2/24/16
Carlsten named IEEE Fellow
Bruce Carlsten is a pioneer in the production and use of high-brightness electron beams. - 2/11/16
Getting something new out of something old
Scientists are pursing one example of such a long-lived/short-lived isotope system for medical applications. - 2/10/16
Researchers examine behavior of amorphous materials under high strain
The findings offer a new way to monitor the onset of plastic deformation and mechanical properties of materials. - 2/10/16
Impact of mammalian megaherbivores on global methane examined
Examining the past consequences of large herbivore loss yields insights into contemporary ecosystem function. - 12/21/15
Tomé to receive Khan International Medal
The International Journal of Plasticity recognized Tomé for his “outstanding life-long contributions in the field of plasticity.” - 11/18/15
Lichens detect past fallout
The team conducted this investigation to define the background concentrations of actinide isotopes present in the environment. - 11/8/15
Los Alamos team wins best paper award at Sustainable Development Conference
Yongchao Yang, Alessandro Cattaneo and David Mascareñas recently received the Best Paper Award at the Third Annual International Conference for Sustainable Development. - 10/22/15
Model predicts space weather and protects satellite hardware
The researchers created a model that can predict the plasma flux environment at geosynchronous orbit in response to rapid changes in geomagnetic and solar activity. - 10/11/15
Scientists teach short course on fuel cells
Los Alamos scientists gave presentations covering Hydrogen and Lab Safety, the Laboratory’s Membrane-and-Electrode Process, Fuel Cell Materials Characterization, Modeling, Durability and Testing. - 10/8/15
Squeezing silica reveals meteorite secrets
Scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory are gaining insights into one of the effects of meteorite collisions with earth. - 9/27/15
Evaluating a new approach to CO2 capture and storage
In a perspective paper published in Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, researchers examined a new approach that could potentially overcome many barriers to deployment and jumpstart this process on a commercial scale. - 9/13/15
Nanotubes open new path toward quantum information technologies
In optical communication, critical information ranging from a credit card number to national security data is transmitted in streams of laser pulses. - 9/3/15
Research project aims to create affordable biofuels by 2019
Los Alamos National Laboratory, in collaboration with the Colorado School of Mine and Reliance Industries, has received nearly $9 million in funding from the DOE for Producing Algae and Co-Products for Energy (PACE). - 8/16/15
Schoenborn wins Bau Neutron Award
The American Crystallographic Association (ACA) has selected retired Laboratory Senior Fellow Benno Schoenborn to receive the 2016 Bau Neutron Diffraction Award. - 8/12/15
Researchers simulate helium bubble behavior in fusion reactors
They performed simulations to understand how tungsten behaves in the presence of implanted helium that forms bubbles in the material. - 8/4/15
Los Alamos among new DOE projects to create new technology pathways for low-cost fusion energy development
Three of the projects involve Los Alamos National Laboratory science staff and partners. - 7/20/15
Flynn selected for Achenbach Medal
The medal is awarded annually to a young researcher within 10 years of receipt of a doctorate and who has made an outstanding research contribution in the field of Structural Health Monitoring. - 7/16/15
Hyman wins Fraunhofer Award
Jeffrey De’Haven Hyman has received the 2015 Award for Young Researchers from the International Society for Porous Media (InterPore), on behalf of the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics. - 7/14/15
Using supercritical carbon dioxide as a fracturing fluid
The Laboratory team used a combination of experiments and modeling for the investigation. - 6/25/15
Combined methods reveal how water moves in trees
Water use by trees is a key part of the hydrological process linking soil to climate and local weather - 6/7/15
Girrens and Livescu named ASME Fellows
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers has chosen Steve Girrens and Daniel Livescu as Fellows. - 6/2/15
Williams named ASA Fellow
The American Statistical Association (ASA) has honored Brian Williams with the title of Fellow. - 5/27/15
Researchers explore correlation between climate and wildfires in the Southwest
The authors show that the annual forest fire area is very strongly dictated by drought. - 4/12/15
Los Alamos analyzes meteor fragments nondestructively
Researchers and collaborators used the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center User Facility to perform novel compositional tomography characterizing small samples of the Chelyabinsk meteor. - 4/1/15
Lab researchers develop models to analyze mixing in the ocean
Researchers created models to quantify the horizontal and vertical structure of mixing in the ocean and its dependence upon eddy velocities. - 3/10/15
Ekdahl named IEEE Fellow
The IEEE cited Ekdahl “for contributions to high-power accelerator development and the generation and transport of electron beams for flash-radiography.” - 2/17/15
Borup wins Electrochemical Society Award
Rod Borup has won the 2015 Research Award presented annually by the Energy Technology Division of the Electrochemical Society. - 1/26/15
First trillion particle cosmological simulation completed
A team of astrophysicists and computer scientists has created high-resolution cyber images of our cosmos. - 1/8/15
Call issued for Proton Radiography Facility proposals
The proposal deadline is Feb. 6 for experiments to be carried out during Fiscal Year 2016 (Oct. 1, 2015 to Sept. 30, 2016), with consideration for extensions into FY17. - 1/5/15
Team develops 3-D sensor array for detection of neural responses
Los Alamos researchers and collaborators have demonstrated a prototype neural interface device of a novel 3-D device architecture. - 12/2/14
Janoschek receives Wolfram-Prandl Prize
Janoschek honored for “his pioneering studies of the spin dynamics in chiral helimagnets and the development of a cryogen-free apparatus for spherical neutron polarimetry.” - 11/6/14
Moore named an American Statistical Society Fellow
The ASA inducted Leslie (Lisa) Moore as a Fellow at the 2014 Joint Statistical Meetings. - 10/8/14
Researchers modeling the potential for induced seismicity
Researchers conducted modeling studies to better understand triggers of induced earthquake activity caused by injection of large volumes of liquid CO2. - 10/8/14
Miller wins Early Career Award
Karen Miller recognized for her accomplishments as a young professional in the field of nuclear materials management and for her leadership and contributions to the Institute. - 10/1/14
Havrilla wins Birks Award
This award is given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the X-ray spectrometry field. - 9/23/14
Sinha and team win Richard P. Feynman Innovation Prize
Swept Frequency Acoustic Interferometry was named as the most innovative technology coming out of the Laboratory this year. - 9/23/14
Data triage enables extreme-scale computing
Data selection and triage are important techniques for large-scale data, which can drastically reduce the amount of data written to disk or transmitted over a network. - 8/1/14
First in-situ images of void collapse in explosives
Los Alamos researchers and collaborators demonstrated a crucial diagnostic for studying how voids affect explosives under shock loading. - 7/24/14
Mascarenas selected to attend National Academy of Engineering symposium
David Mascarenas has been chosen by the National Academy of Engineering to attend their 2014 U.S. Frontiers of Engineering Symposium. - 7/15/14
Yoho receives NNSA Fellowship
Michael Yoho was one of four students selected nationwide for the NNIS fellowship. - 7/15/14
Foley elected ASM International Fellow
James Foley is the 10th ASM Fellow from Los Alamos National Laboratory. - 7/8/14
ChemCam all-women's operations day
The Mars Curiosity Rover celebrated one year on the Red Planet, and to commemorate the event, ChemCam team members had an all-women operations day. - 6/30/14
Zelenay named Electrochemical Society Fellow
Zelenay joined Los Alamos as a technical staff member in 1997, becoming project leader in 2001 and electrocatalysis team leader in 2008. - 6/25/14
Observations and simulations improve space weather models
Researchers used data from the Van Allen Probes to improve a three-dimensional model created by Los Alamos scientists called DREAM3D. - 6/25/14
Fry receives Charles W. Briggs Award
The ASTM International Committee E07 on Nondestructive Testing has honored David Fry with the Charles W. Briggs Award. - 6/2/14
Hamada wins Gerald Hahn Quality and Productivity Achievement Award
Hamada has made extensive contributions to quality and productivity motivated by real-world problems. - 5/28/14
Call issued for Lujan Neutron Scattering Center proposals
The Lujan Neutron Scattering Center invites proposals addressing science of the National Nuclear Security Administration and Los Alamos National Laboratory programmatic interest for the 2014 run cycle. - 5/20/14
High energy neutron Computed Tomography developed
LANSCE now has a high-energy neutron imaging capability that can be deployed on WNR flight paths for unclassified and classified objects. - 5/9/14
Chavez selected for Caltech Distinguished Alumni Award
Caltech is honoring Chavez for his extensive, groundbreaking contributions and leadership in chemistry. - 5/6/14
Probing metal solidification nondestructively
This is the first time that high-energy protons have been used to nondestructively image a large metal sample during melting and solidification. - 4/11/14
Thompson wins Frank H. Spedding Award
Thompson is being recognized “for outstanding contributions to the physics of f-element materials, especially their magnetism and unconventional superconductivity.” - 4/2/14
Fitzsimmons elected NSSA Fellow
Michael Fitzsimmons recognized “for many important contributions to the study of interfacial and thin-film magnetism using polarized neutron reflectometry.” - 3/24/14
Jia named Materials Research Society Fellow
The MRS Fellow program recognizes outstanding members whose sustained and distinguished contributions to the advancement of materials research are internationally recognized. - 3/6/14
A crystallographer keen on showing off the revealing properties of neutrons
Olivier Gourdon shows visiting researchers some of the latest tricks that can be performed using this 100-year old multidisciplinary science. - 2/27/14
First-time measurements will advance turbulence models
An interdisciplinary Los Alamos team took a series of first-time measurements of turbulent mixing, providing new insights for turbulence modelers. - 2/11/14
Conradson and Henson named AAAS Fellows
Steven Conradson and Bryan Henson are new Fellows of the Chemistry Division of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. - 1/30/14
Crooker named Optical Society Fellow
The society recognized Crooker for “the development and application of magneto-optical spectroscopies to colloidal quantum dots and to electron spin transport and noise in semiconductors.” - 1/23/14
Neutrons used to study model vascular systems
The study is the first to provide a direct measure of endothelial monolayer adhesion under physiologic shear stress conditions. - 1/22/14
Optimize carbon dioxide sequestration, enhance oil recovery
The simulation provides an important approach to estimate the potential of storing carbon dioxide in depleted oil fields while simultaneously maximizing oil production. - 1/8/14
Secrets of superconductivity revealed
The superconducting material Cerium-Colbalt-Indium5 reveals new secrets about how superconductivity and magnetism can be related. - 1/3/14
Effect of ocean temperature on southwestern U.S. climate analyzed
Researchers concluded that only part of the recent temperature rise in the Southwest could be attributed to greenhouse gases. - 12/19/13
Relationships between HIV spread and evolution examined
Thomas Leitner of Los Alamos and collaborators are investigating the development of HIV from the point of contraction onwards. - 11/14/13
Alexander and Lienert selected as ASM International Fellows
David Alexander and Thomas Lienert are among ASM International’s 2013 Class of Fellows, who are honored for their distinguished contributions to materials science and engineering. - 11/6/13
3-D Earth model more accurately pinpoints explosions
The purpose of this model is to assist the U.S. Air Force and the international Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization with more accurately locating all types of explosions. - 10/25/13
Los Alamos physicists discuss electrical grid in journal article
Scott Backhaus and Michael Chertkov are authors of an article for Physics Today that outlines the physics of several phenomena associated with power grid behavior. - 10/17/13
Gaining creative control over semiconductor nanowires
Using a microfluidic reactor, Los Alamos researchers transformed the SLS process into a flow-based technique. - 9/26/13
Artificial films mimic myelin sheath in new research
This platform provides a model for robust implementation of phospholipid multilayers and a means toward future applications of functional phospholipid supramolecular assemblies in device integration. - 9/11/13
Boyer wins Meritorious Service Award from INMM
This lifetime achievement award is a significant recognition of Boyer’s contributions to the INMM and the nuclear material management professional community. - 9/5/13
Hobart named American Chemical Society Fellow
The ACS Fellows program began in 2008 to recognize and honor members for outstanding achievements in and contributions to science, the profession, and ACS. - 8/21/13
Gandolfi wins Early Career Prize
Stefano Gandolfi received the prestigious International Union of Pure and Applied Physics Early Career prize in nuclear physics. - 8/20/13
Terwilliger honored with ACA Award
Tom Terwilliger is the recipient of the Trueblood Award from the American Crystallographic Association (ACA). - 8/6/13
The supernova that destroyed a galaxy
The research may solve the long-standing puzzle of how supermassive black holes were formed in the centers of some galaxies less then a billion years after the Big Bang. - 8/5/13
Role of inorganic chemistry on nuclear energy examined
Inorganic chemistry can provide insight and improve technical issues surrounding nuclear power production and waste disposition. - 7/31/13
Turbulence may be key to “fast magnetic reconnection” mystery
The new research could lead to better understanding of solar flares and ejections of material from the Sun’s corona. - 7/11/13
Gable named Geological Society of America Fellow
GSA members are elected to fellowship in recognition of their distinguished contributions to the geosciences. - 7/10/13
Hoagland selected as a new Materials Research Society Fellow
Hoagland has made notable contributions in both experimental and computational materials research. - 7/9/13
Lab team makes unique contributions to the first bionic eye
The Argus II will help people blinded by the rare hereditary disease retinitis pigmentosa or seniors suffering from severe macular degeneration. - 6/27/13
Porterfield named ASTM Fellow
The award recognizes Porterfield for his extensive knowledge and commitment to excellence in standards development. - 6/18/13
Counting small RNA in disease-causing organisms
Los Alamos researchers demonstrated improved technical methods capable of directly counting small RNA molecules in pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria. - 6/17/13
Moore honored with American Statistical Association award
Lisa Moore is the recipient of the 2013 Don Owen Award presented by the American Statistical Association, San Antonio Chapter. - 5/24/13
Networks, smart grids: new model for synchronization
Researchers developed a surprisingly simple mathematical model that accurately predicts synchronization as a function of the parameters and the topology of the underlying network. - 5/21/13
Klimov receives Alexander von Humboldt award
The German government grants the award in recognition of a researcher whose discoveries, theories or insights have had a significant impact on his or her own discipline and who is expected to continue producing cutting-edge achievements in the future. - 5/16/13
HAWC Observatory captures first image
The facility is designed to detect cosmic rays and the highest energy gamma rays ever observed from astrophysical sources. - 4/30/13
Lightning strokes can probe the ionosphere
Researchers have made measurements during thunderstorms to study the affect of lightning on the lower ionosphere and radiofrequency signals. - 4/11/13
Scientists examine proton radiography of brain mockup
The use of such a high-energy proton beam is ideal for imaging small tumors within patients for targeted proton therapy. - 3/25/13
“Tuning” microalgae for high photosynthesis efficiency
Los Alamos scientist Richard Sayre and his team of researchers have recently developed more efficient microalgae. - 3/25/13
No increase in background, manmade radioactivity for Los Alamos area
Two aerial flyovers found that radioisotopes and their associated exposure rates are consistent with those expected from normal background radiation. - 3/19/13
Simple computer models unravel genetic stress reactions in cells
Integrated biological and computational methods provide insight into why genes are activated. - 2/8/13
Lab resumes work on NMSSUP security project
The project adds fences, cameras, sensors, utility and access buildings, and other systems to the existing security infrastructure around the Lab’s principal plutonium processing facility. - 2/6/13
Xu named Mineralogical Society of America Fellow
The Society recognized Xu as a crystallographer who is equally talented in neutron diffraction, conventional and synchrotron X-ray studies. - 1/31/13
Live pathogens: rapid detection technique developed
The technique relies on bacteria being critically dependent upon the key nutrient iron. - 1/24/13
Terwilliger named American Crystallographic Association Fellow
ACA Fellows serve as scientific ambassadors to the broader scientific community and the general public to advance science education, research, knowledge, interaction and collaboration. - 1/4/13
AAAS elects four LANL scientists as Fellows
The American Association for the Advancement of Science has selected Jennifer Martinez, Mary Neu, Basil Swanson and William Woodruff to be AAAS Fellows. - 12/19/12
Zelenay wins Electrochemical Society’s Research Award
The award includes a monetary prize and membership in the Electrochemical Society’s Energy Technology Division. - 12/11/12
Weapons Program Associate Directors named
Bob Webster has been named Associate Director for Weapon Physics and John Benner has been named Associate Director for Weapon Engineering and Experiments. - 12/4/12
Lienert named American Welding Society Fellow
Lienert was inducted into the American Welding Society's 2012 Class of Fellows during the recent FABTECH meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada. - 11/29/12
Charles “Chuck” Farrar to receive DeMichele Award
The award is presented for demonstrated “exemplary service and support of promoting the science and educational aspects of modal analysis technology.” - 11/21/12
George T. “Rusty” Gray named TMS Fellow
TMS cited Gray for “innovative science and engineering, impact and leadership in the field of dynamic behavior of materials.” - 11/19/12
Advances in understanding solar energy collection materials
A Los Alamos team and collaborators have made advances in the understanding of how carbon nanotubes move charges created by light. - 11/9/12
Anderson-Cook wins William G. Hunter Award
The award is named and presented annually in honor of the Statistics Division’s founding chair, William G. Hunter. - 11/6/12
Tomé wins Distinguished Scientist, Engineer Award
The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society recognized Tomé for his “long lasting contribution to the fundamental understanding of microstructure, properties and performance of structural materials for industrial applications.” - 10/29/12
Radiography used to image thermal explosions
Researchers have gained an understanding of the mechanism of thermal explosions and have created a model capturing the stages of the explosion. - 10/9/12
Thermostabilized enzyme created for biofuels production
These enzymes might serve as biocatalysts for carbon sequestration and biofuel production if they could function under harsh industrial conditions. - 10/5/12
Lab computer model boosts engine efficiency
The KIVA model has been instrumental in helping researchers and manufacturers understand combustion processes, accelerate engine development and improve engine design and efficiency. - 9/25/12
Unions, Lab sign labor agreements
The New Mexico Building and Construction Trades Council and Los Alamos National Security LLC, announced the signing of a series of labor agreements that affect nearly 750 construction and maintenance workers. - 9/21/12
LANS Board of Governors extends Community Commitment Plan
$3 million of the company’s management fee invested each year in education, economic development and community giving. - 9/18/12
Wallace to bring earthquakes to life for Café Scientifique New Mexico series
The fun, free conversation series provides a way for teens to explore the latest ideas in science and technology. - 9/13/12
Los Alamos responds to radiological incident
Multiple tests indicate no health risks to public or employees. - 8/27/12

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