January 2019 – July 2022
Hawaiian volcanic eruptions are relatively calm, featuring flowing lava rivers and fountains. Studies done at the ALS, however, helped reveal that even fluid Hawaiian magma sometimes behaves less like stretchy taffy and more like brittle glass, shattering into fine particles (pyroclasts). https://als.lbl.gov/in-a-hawaiian-lava-fountain-fluid-magma-turns-brittle/
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and UC campuses announce a two-year transformative agreement that makes it easier and more affordable for corresponding authors at UC campuses to publish open access (OA) articles in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). https://osc.universityofcalifornia.edu/uc-publisher-relationships/national-academy-of-sciences-open-access-agreement/
Atmospheric rivers, plumes of vapor that transport huge amounts of water from the tropics to the mid-latitudes, account for nearly 50% of the annual precipitation of the western coastal U.S. A new Lab study shows that the warming climate can make these rivers bigger, wetter, and more dangerous. https://eesa.lbl.gov/as-the-world-warms-the-coastal-western-u-s-is-slated-to-experience-more-dramatic-atmospheric-rivers-and-increased-flood-damages/
Brett Helms’ group has developed new materials and cell components for lithium metal batteries that enable fast charge and can deliver high power on discharge, outperforming conventional lithium batteries by at least a factor of four. The high-power batteries are useful in EVs and electric aircraft. https://ipo.lbl.gov/high-power-and-high-energy-density-batteries-for-electric-vehicles-and-aircraft/
The Berkeley Lab Laser Accelerator (BELLA) Center has developed an innovative optical system to precisely measure and control high-power laser beams’ position and pointing angle with unprecedented accuracy. The new system will help users get the most out of high-power lasers. https://newscenter.lbl.gov/2021/07/27/optical-innovation-calm-high-power-lasers/
The Lab’s Center for Advanced Mathematics for Energy Research Applications (CAMERA) has been at the forefront of a multinational effort to introduce innovative autonomous discovery techniques to enhance data collection and analysis for research being conducted at experimental facilities. https://cs.lbl.gov/news-media/news/2021/berkeley-labs-camera-leads-international-effort-on-autonomous-scientific-discoveries/
X-ray experiments at Berkeley Lab and SLAC reveal new clues to protecting lithium-ion battery performance. This research shows how escaping oxygen atoms change the electrode’s structure and chemistry, gradually reducing how much energy a lithium-ion battery can store. https://newscenter.lbl.gov/2021/07/16/oxygen-saps-lithium-ion-voltage/
Hear from faculty scientist Jie Yao about the challenges and discoveries for Lab and UC Berkeley researchers as they created the first ultrathin magnet. One atom thin and operating at room temperature, the ultrathin magnet opens discovery avenues in electronics and computers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeLxJF-GLUw
A global team of 1,000 scientists, including three from Berkeley Lab, discovered unique microbial communities by swabbing public transit stations around the world. https://newscenter.lbl.gov/2021/07/16/microbial-fingerprints-for-cities/
The Lab is teaming up with the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and other organizations to create the Partnership for Advanced Window Solutions to accelerate the adoption of windows that save consumers money while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. https://newscenter.lbl.gov/2021/07/16/berkeley-lab-pushes-its-energy-saving-windows-into-the-market/