Feature Stories

Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have discovered an extraordinary crystal made from tantalum, tungsten, and selenium that defies expectations with its unique atomic structure. Instead of a random arrangement, the tantalum atoms organize themselves into precise triangular clusters, enhancing the crystal's stability and creating specific magnetic properties when cooled to extremely low temperatures. This unexpected behavior paves the way for advances in spintronics and quantum materials, which could revolutionize computing and data storage by harnessing the dual properties of electron charge and spin.

ORNL researchers are advancing connected and automated vehicle systems to improve merging behavior and traffic flow. By linking real vehicles with immersive traffic simulations, the team is evaluating cooperative driving strategies to support the development of next-generation intelligent transportation systems.

In a dark corner of a mechatronics lab at the Idaho National Laboratory, researcher Ben Baker types commands on a laptop to power up the reactor.

Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory are helping to enable the next generation of abundant, affordable nuclear energy by combining 80 years of know-how with the latest scientific techniques, facilities and equipment. The lab’s longstanding expertise in degradation of materials in the harsh environments of nuclear reactors make it the go-to place for a resurgence of interest in liquid metals and molten salts for both advanced fission and fusion reactors. 

Energy is fundamentally important — researchers have linked a lack of reliable energy to poor physical health, poor mental health and higher mortality rates. But when astronauts push the boundaries of space exploration, energy is a matter of life and death.

In a long-running collaboration with GE Aerospace, researchers at the University of Melbourne in Australia have been steadily working to improve the performance of high-pressure turbine (HPT) engines through computer simulations on leadership-class computing systems. Using ORNL's Frontier supercomputer, the Melbourne team investigated how the surface degradation of turbine blades affects their aerothermal performance with unprecedented simulations of 10 to 20 billion grid points in size,

Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a deep learning algorithm that analyzes drone, camera and sensor data to reveal unusual vehicle patterns that may indicate illicit activity, including the movement of nuclear materials.

The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is addressing one of the nation’s most urgent challenges: securing a reliable domestic supply of critical materials. These materials are essential for technologies such as smartphones, satellites and advanced weapons systems that drive the economy and ensure national security.

From satellites and surveillance systems to precision-guided munitions and fighter jet engines, critical materials are at the foundation of America’s military strength. Yet most critical materials are extracted and processed overseas, leaving the U.S. vulnerable to supply chain disruptions that could jeopardize everyday life, economic stability and national security.

For more than 30 years, Oak Ridge National Laboratory has helped shape the future of high-temperature alloys, translating fundamental materials research into industrial impact. That expertise proved pivotal for Duraloy Technologies, whose long-standing partnership with ORNL transformed the company’s trajectory and set a benchmark for sustained public-private collaboration.