Year in Review: ORNL in 2023

In 2023, ORNL welcomed a new lab director, opened the world's fastest supercomputer to researchers, reached peak performance at the Spallation Neutron Source,?engaged with more than 9,000 students with its K-12 STEM outreach programs and celebrated the lab's 80th anniversary.? Check out these highlights and others from the year.

An eye-catching image, a cancer cure goal

The photo of “Three-Dimensional Breast Cancer Spheroids” submitted by ORNL radiotherapeutics researcher Debjani Pal?was captivating enough to win the Director’s Choice Award in the lab’s Art of Science photo competition. But Pal?has her eye on something even more beautiful: an eventual cure for cancer. Take a look at all of the finalists.

New report outlines options to remove CO2 at gigaton scale

Today's technologies could help the United States achieve a net-zero greenhouse gas economy by 2050. Learn how.

Tackling scientific AI's next great milestone

ORNL has joined a global consortium focused on building safe, secure and trustworthy AI. Read more .

Engineering students are?taking their education to space

Military academy students are joining an effort to send a nuclear thermal rocket to space by 2027. Learn more

Rigoberto Advincula elected National Academy of Inventors fellow

Four scientists receive Battelle Distinguished Inventor recognition

Cable-Dunlap, Chi, Smith and Thornton named ORNL Corporate Fellows

Cloud simulations on Frontier awarded Gordon Bell Special Prize

Frontier search for lightweight, flexible alloys wins Gordon Bell Prize

Drawing from his experience during the pandemic, Domenick F. Leto recognizes the need for the United States to have inexpensive, reliable capabilities to combat any type of disruption to national security, including nationwide medical emergencies. Leto and colleagues received a patent for a simple, inexpensive way to sterilize masks, plastic and medical equipment from the COVID-19 virus.?Read more

Eric Nafziger is the unassuming engine expert tasked with making sure the complex, diverse systems operate seamlessly. Within DOE’s National Transportation Research Center at ORNL’s Hardin Valley Campus, he's part of the teams that investigate engines designed to help the U.S. pivot to a clean mobility future. Read more .

It would be a challenge for any scientist to match Alexey Serov ’s rate of inventions related to green hydrogen fuel. Serov has 84 patents with at least 35 more under review, so his electrifying pace is unlikely to slow down any time soon. Read more .