Welcome to the Fundamental & Computational Sciences website. I hope you take the opportunity to explore it and learn about the outstanding people, capabilities and scientific research at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The research we perform is critically important to the mission of the Department of Energy. We also perform research essential to other government agencies and private entities.
We strive to make progress on some of the most important scientific challenges facing the world—challenges such as efficiently interconverting electrical energy and chemical energy. » Read More. Additionally we focus on understanding the role of aerosols and clouds on climate system dynamics, developing principles and models of material synthesis, and understanding how the environment influences the behavior of microbial communities. Together with our partners we are also making great strides in chemical imaging, the science of computing, weak interaction physics and the predictive understanding of biological systems. Research at PNNL is commonly performed by interdisciplinary teams developing and using cutting-edge instrumentation.
We strive to make progress on some of the most important scientific challenges facing the world.
~ Doug Ray
Recent Highlights
Mass Spec Makes the Clinical Grade
Protein assays matching sensitivity and accuracy of antibody-based clinical tests might speed drug discovery, basic biology research
Combining two well-established analytic techniques and adding a twist identifies proteins from blood with as much accuracy and sensitivity as the antibody-based tests used clinically, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory researchers report this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Early Edition online. The technique should be able to speed up development of diagnostic tests and treatments based on proteins specific to certain diseases. Contact: Wei-Jun Qian
Fresh Water Feeds Hurricanes' Fury
Hurricanes and tropical cyclones become up to 50 percent more intense when passing over oceans inundated with fresh water
When hurricanes blow over ocean regions swamped with fresh water, the rate at which the storm intensifies increases by 50 percent on average. This study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, provides new insight into the conditions that make these storms, which affect millions of lives around the world, more intense and destructive. Contact: Karthik Balaguru, Ph.D.
Listening to Life
New chemical imaging method probes the communications of live microbial colonies
Once impossible, scientists can now eavesdrop on microbes, thanks to a new technique from scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and three universities. The information gained from this technique will help those working on biofuels, bioremediation, health and defense interpret and potentially manipulate microbial communities. Contact: Julia Laskin, Ph.D.
Pollution Weakens Monsoon's Might
Local, global emissions suppress South Asian summer rainfall
PNNL researchers found that pollution spewed from local and remote sources such as motorbikes and coal-fired power plants reduce summer monsoon rainfall in South Asia. Increasing industrialization and population growth in South Asia means more human-caused pollution, the major source of emissions in this study. A reduction in monsoon rainfall directly impacts 1.5 billion people, and will have world-wide effects on the global climate circulation. Contact: Dilip Ganguly, Ph.D.
Ionic Liquid Improves Speed and Efficiency of Hydrogen-Producing Catalyst
Ongoing saga of building a better fuel cell catalyst goes holistic
Scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory took a holistic approach to producing hydrogen for fuel cells. The team created a catalyst and environment, involving acidic ions, that generates hydrogen quickly and efficiently. This all happens without the need for platinum or other rare metals. Contact: John Roberts, Ph.D.
Bacteria to the Rescue
High-performance computing adds speed, clarity to uranium bioremediation research
Researchers at PNNL are part of a multi-institution team investigating bioremediation as a method for treating subsurface uranium plumes and removing contaminants. Their research has shown that indigenous bacteria can be stimulated to immobilize the uranium, reducing groundwater concentrations below EPA requirements. Contact: TP Stratsma, Ph.D.
» Learn more: eXtreme Scale Computing Initiative— Subsurface Simulation.
