ORNL Story TipsStory ideas from the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory.Preparedness - Battling terrorists- August 15, 2008 People living in small towns and big cities alike will be a lot safer from the risk of improvised explosive devices because of an ongoing effort being coordinated by Oak Ridge National Laboratory for the Department of Homeland Security.http://www.ornl.gov/info/press_releases/rss_story_tip.cfm?ID=92&Article=3 Energy - Spent fuel pellets- August 15, 2008 Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers have made the first mixed-oxide pellets from recycled spent nuclear fuel in a process that doesn't produce a separate plutonium stream.http://www.ornl.gov/info/press_releases/rss_story_tip.cfm?ID=92&Article=1 Electricity - Grid watchdog- August 15, 2008 Utilities have a new tool that provides them with a clearer picture of the wide-area electricity transmission system and enables decision-makers to respond swiftly to major power disruptions.http://www.ornl.gov/info/press_releases/rss_story_tip.cfm?ID=93&Article=2 Bioenergy - Natural selection- August 15, 2008 By examining natural variation among cottonwood trees in nature, scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory hope to develop a strategy to maximize production of ethanol from cellulosic biomass.http://www.ornl.gov/info/press_releases/rss_story_tip.cfm?ID=93&Article=1 Environment - A better assessment- August 15, 2008 Ecological risk assessments are vital for ensuring product safety, managing contaminated sites, protecting natural resources and other applications.http://www.ornl.gov/info/press_releases/rss_story_tip.cfm?ID=93&Article=3 Materials - Simplifying complexity- August 15, 2008 Tiny changes at the nanometer scale can have a colossal effect on the properties of a material, and for the first time researchers may have a method to see and even predict those changes.http://www.ornl.gov/info/press_releases/rss_story_tip.cfm?ID=92&Article=2 Energy - Solar City USA- August 15, 2008 Oak Ridge National Laboratory is providing technical expertise and assistance in the installation of solar energy systems and related educational materials in nearby Knoxville, Tenn., which has been selected as one of 12 Solar America Cities designated by DOE.http://www.ornl.gov/info/press_releases/rss_story_tip.cfm?ID=93&Article=4 Materials - Under the microscope- August 15, 2008 A new generation electron microscope at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is helping scientists examine materials for fuel- efficient cars, superconductors, solar cells and other applications.http://www.ornl.gov/info/press_releases/rss_story_tip.cfm?ID=92&Article=4 |