Lab experiments support COVID-19 bradykinin storm theory

A new paper published in Nature Communications adds further evidence to the bradykinin storm theory of COVID-19’s viral pathogenesis — a theory that was posited two years ago by a team of researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory.


UT-Battelle recognized with Defense Secretary’s Freedom Award

The Department of Defense has recognized UT-Battelle with a 2022 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the highest recognition given by the United States government to employers for their support of staff members who serve as reserve members of the U.S. Armed Forces, known collectively as the Reserve component.


Using fusion technology, scientists probe the depths of the earth

Researchers in the geothermal energy industry are joining forces with fusion experts at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory to repurpose gyrotron technology, a tool used in fusion. Gyrotrons produce high-powered microwaves to heat up fusion plasmas.


Fernanda Santos: Digging into charred landscapes for clues to carbon storage

With wildfires increasing in scope and intensity around the world, Fernanda Santos’ research into how such calamities affect soil carbon storage has taken on new urgency.

The Oak Ridge National Laboratory soil biogeochemist has been digging into charred landscapes to better understand what happens to belowground biodiversity after such disturbances and how that affects the soil carbon cycle.


Cancer-fighting chemistry

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory explored radium’s chemistry to advance cancer treatments using ionizing radiation.

Radium-223 is a radioisotope used to treat cancer that has spread to bones. Chemically, radium behaves like calcium inside the body and is readily adsorbed by bones, where it destroys cancer cells and lessens pain for patients. Radium therapy has the potential to treat other forms of cancer, but insights on radium’s chemistry are needed.