Neutrons at ORNL

Discover the pivotal role #neutrons played at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the early development of atomic energy, and catch a glimpse of the enduring legacy neutrons bring to science. #TBT #neutronscattering https://bit.ly/3wRALG7

#TuesdayTours: Did you know we offer free tours from the comfort of your own space? Take ten and check out the Klystron Gallery virtually at Oak Ridge National Laboratory's #SpallationNeutronSource. You'll learn about all the cool science happening, like how the klystrons (vertical red cylinders) power 81 superconducting cavities inside the linear accelerator’s cryomodules. ⚛ #neutrons https://bit.ly/3suVxfH

Who else feels like they should be whipping out their 3D glasses right about now? 🔴🔵🕶️ Who knew SNS looked so cool up close? (well, we did! 🙋♀️) The SNS RF circulators (three round disks in the middle) are positioned throughout the SNS Klystron Gallery and help protect the klystrons from damage caused by any reflected energy.

Get to know the High Flux Isotope Reactor at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the strongest reactor-based neutron source in the United States. The thermal and cold #neutrons produced by HFIR are used to study #physics, #chemistry, #materialsscience, #engineering, and #biology. 👨🔬⚛️ https://bit.ly/3E7PELz Image: an overhead view of HFIR

What would you hunt for if you knew you could search for scientific publications by the instrument at the Spallation Neutron Source and High Flux Isotope Reactor? https://bit.ly/4iInOEn 🤔🧠💭 Image: five science journals lined up side by side

#ICYMI Neutrons are far out. 🪐 A team of scientists from nine institutions in government, academia and industry discovered that many kinds of glass, including ones that could be developed for next-generation optical devices, have similar atomic structure and arrangements and can successfully be made in space. Check out the story! NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration JAXA: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory Argonne National Laboratory Materials Development, Inc ISIS Neutron and Muon Source Alfred University U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science Advanced Photon Source https://lnkd.in/eJb4fQPr

You might know ORNL is home to a research reactor, but did you know the #HighFluxIsotopeReactor produces one of the highest neutron fluxes, or number of neutrons per second, in the world despite its core being roughly 2 feet tall and 15 inches in diameter? Its true! Read more about how scientists use the info they learn from HFIR: https://bit.ly/3lZCRl2

Imagine if cultivated crops were watered as infrequently as forgotten houseplants. 👀 🌱 While many wild plants have adapted to survive drought, most cultivated crops tend to be vulnerable to these natural occurrences. In 2023, the United States experienced significant crop losses, with Texas alone reporting $4.8 billion in damages, of which nearly 80% were attributed to drought, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. To prevent losses of crops to drought and other seasonal hardships, researchers from Budapest, Hungary, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory are studying a plant known for its remarkable ability to endure periods of little to no rain. 🔗Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/41ws17e Image: An animation illustrating how the Never Never plant can survive up to 60 days without being watered and make a full recovery once rehydrated. The animation opens on a healthy Never Never before showing how the leaves begin to curl inward the longer the plant goes without being watered. Text on the animation explains that researchers used neutrons at ORNL's Spallation Neutron Source to study how the plant can withstand drought. The Oak Ridge National Laboratory logo appears at the end of the animation and is followed by the Department of Energy's logo.

It was an honor to welcome U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright to Oak Ridge National Laboratory today, along with U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty and U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, chair of the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee.   This was the secretary's first visit to a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science laboratory. We were excited to share ORNL’s vital contributions to America’s scientific leadership, energy dominance, and #NationalSecurity. At the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility — home of the world’s first exascale system — we talked about the future of #AI, #quantum, and high performance computing. We toured the High Flux Isotope Reactor, a critical supplier of #isotopes for the nation and a powerful tool for breakthrough science. The day ended at the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility, where advanced manufacturing capabilities are increasing competitiveness and accelerating innovations for #nuclear and other U.S. industries.   I greatly appreciate Secretary Wright sharing his compelling vision for DOE and the national laboratories. There are many energy challenges ahead, and our scientists and staff continuously make the world a better place.