The Society for Science at User Research Facilities

ORNL's Proton Power Upgrade at the Spallation Neutron Source achieved its final key performance parameter of 1,250 hours at 1.7 MW, enhancing neutron production for advanced research.

Imagine being able to solve scientific problems in a matter of weeks or months instead of years or decades. This is the future of science, and it will be enabled by the powerful combination of the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility's Aurora and the upgraded APS. https://lnkd.in/dHtEEQcj

??The deadline for our next Functional Genomics call is Jan. 30, 2025.?? More at https://lnkd.in/eWyWJ4WN Below, hear from JGI user Tae Seok Moon of the J. Craig Venter Institute on his experiences working with the JGI's DNA Synthesis Program. Proposals for our Functional Genomics call should focus on projects that translate genomic information into biological function, and leverage our DNA synthesis & omics capabilities to enhance understanding of gene and genome function — particularly those not readily achievable without the capabilities and expertise available at the JGI. CC: Berkeley Lab Biosciences Area at Berkeley Lab The Society for Science at User Research Facilities Tanja Woyke Nigel Mouncey Axel Visel

Catch a glimpse of the Advanced Photon Source's upcoming short film, Building Brilliance, available on our YouTube channel this Friday, November 8!

What is the difference between nuclear fission and fusion energy? Many people are posing the question as the two are drawing attention as clean, firm power sources, but they are in fact opposite processes. Let’s break down some key distinctions...?? ?? Fission is the process that powers existing power plants around the world. It’s commonly known as nuclear power. During fission, heavy atoms (such as uranium) split into multiple smaller ones, releasing energy. ? Fusion is what powers the stars. There, light atoms (such as hydrogen) combine to make heavier atoms (such as helium) and release an enormous amount of energy. ?? Fission = splitting atoms ? Fusion = combining atoms The energy sources are opposite. ?? Fission fuel: Uranium, the main fuel, is common, but the uranium isotope U-235 required for power generation is rare and requires mining & enrichment before it can be used as fuel. Processing the raw materials into more concentrated U-235 fuel for power generation requires a regulated facility & specialized handling. ? Fusion fuel: Fusion can be performed with different fuels. Three potential combinations are proton & boron, deuterium & tritium, or deuterium & helium-3. More on the abundance of those fuels and where they come from (water, minerals, & other nuclear processes) at the link. ?? Fission byproducts = special, long-term, high-level waste storage ? Fusion byproducts = short-term, low-level waste storage ?? Fission regulations: require a lengthy and costly licensing and permitting process to ensure that the plant will operate safely. ? Fusion regulations: will be regulated like particle accelerators, thousands of which operate in hospitals and other facilities around the world. There is no risk of meltdowns or runaway chain reactions and no presence of high-level radioactive materials to create & sustain fusion. ?? Read more about the differences between the two and/or download our explainer brochure on our website: https://lnkd.in/e2-7pyTy #NuclearFission #FusionEnergy

It's amazing how far we have come in the last 3.5+ years. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Department of Energy (DOE) is so different than when I first joined. The shift to the later stages of commercialization and deliberate partnership with the private sector has led to incredible clean energy deployment across the US. #energy #technology #commercialization #innovation

Tis the season to make sure your vaccines are up to date. Millions of people will be protecting themselves against RSV this year, and research at the Advanced Photon Source helped make that vaccine possible. https://lnkd.in/gM6FVmDH

There's a great deal of research aimed at developing sustainable polymers and composites for the future circular economy. Join us on Tuesday 10/22 to hear from Bob Allen, from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, give a talk on sustainability and polymer chemistry at NREL. If you're interested in polymer science, sustainability, or just how researchers are working to create materials for a circular economy, you won't want to miss this! ?? When: Tuesday, October 22, 2024 ?? Time: 11 AM PT ?? Location: Zoom & onsite @ the Foundry ?? Details: https://bit.ly/3NurmfI See you there! #Nanoscience #Chemistry #MaterialsScience #Plastics #sustainability #greenchemistry #Research #Seminar

October 29, 1:00 - 2:00pm ET: SSURF Roundtable: Equitable and Effective Peer Review at User Facilities. Free via Zoom, Registration required. User facilities rely on peer review to help prioritize user #research proposals for resource allocation, but the process is resource-intensive and prone to bias. By optimizing their peer-review processes, #userfacilities can improve their efficiency and ensure that researchers receive fair and equitable access. In this session we will hear about efforts at several user facilities to improve their #peerreview processes. The session will include short presentations from panelists from the Advanced Light Source, the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) and the Canadian Light Source Inc. / Centre canadien de rayonnement synchrotron. Presentations will be followed by a roundtable discussion to identify common challenges and share innovations for improving peer review at user facilities. The Roundtable will be led by Alison Hatt, PhD. The goal of SSURF's roundtable series is to convene stakeholders and experts within the user facility ecosystem to share best practices, challenges, aspirations and ideas to leverage and increase the impacts of technologies within the nation’s network of user facilities across various federal agencies. See other Roundtables on SSURF's YouTube channel re: the Universal Proposal System and topics for Industrial Users >>>?https://lnkd.in/gDfXwd33 https://lnkd.in/gwTnuj5g

PIP-II is a project to build a 215-meter-long linear accelerator. The new accelerator will power the world’s most intense high-energy neutrino beam on its journey from Fermilab to the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment! To accelerate the proton beam, it is essential that the accelerating structures are kept extremely cold. At the heart of the cryogenics system is the #PIP2coldbox which will cool helium to below the average temperature of outer space! The coldbox began its long journey to Fermilab this week, starting at Air Liquide’s workshop in Sassenage, France. To learn more and keep up with the journey visit: https://lnkd.in/gKmWFbVg #FutureofFermilab #DUNEscience