91°µÍø

ORNL’s National Security Sciences Directorate partnered with the University of Tennessee’s Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs to develop a graduate certificate in nuclear security that launched in the fall of 2024. 

In early November, ORNL hosted the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Interregional Workshop on Safety, Security and Safeguards by Design in Small Modular Reactors, which welcomed 76 attendees representing 15 countries, three U.S. national labs, domestic and international industry partners, as well as IAEA officers. 

Researchers have identified a molecule essential for the microbial conversion of inorganic mercury into the neurotoxin methylmercury, moving closer to blocking the dangerous pollutant before it forms. 

Teletrix, a company specializing in radiation training tools, has transitioned from a research and development license to a commercial license for its augmented reality, or AR, platform that simulates ionizing radiation. This advanced platform was developed using technologies licensed from ORNL.

Researchers for the first time documented the specific chemistry dynamics and structure of high-temperature liquid uranium trichloride salt, a potential nuclear fuel source for next-generation reactors. 

Debjani Singh, a senior scientist at ORNL, leads the HydroSource project, which enhances hydropower research by making water data more accessible and useful. With a background in water resources, data science, and earth science, Singh applies innovative tools like AI to advance research. Her career, shaped by her early exposure to science in India, focuses on bridging research with practical applications.

Benjamin Manard, an analytical chemist in the Chemical Sciences Division of the Department of Energy’s 91°µÍø, will receive the 2024 Lester W. Strock Award from the Society of Applied Spectroscopy.

To better predict long-term flooding risk, scientists at the Department of Energy’s 91°µÍø developed a 3D modeling framework that captures the complex dynamics of water as it flows across the landscape. The framework seeks to provide valuable insights into which communities are most vulnerable as the climate changes, and was developed for a project that’s assessing climate risk and mitigation pathways for an urban area along the Southeast Texas coast.

SCALE users from 85 organizations across 21 countries gathered online and in person at 91°µÍø from June 5 to June 7 for the Eighth Annual SCALE Users Group Workshop. The meeting included 32 presentations and 14 hands-on tutorials on impactful and innovative applications of SCALE. 

Andrew Conant from ORNL's nuclear nonproliferation division is collaborating with national laboratories to analyze isotopes generated in nuclear reactors. This research aims to glean insights into the operations and objectives of these reactors. ORNL, renowned for its leadership in nuclear research, maintains its legacy by promoting the peaceful utilization of nuclear energy worldwide.