Lauren Charles, a chief data scientist at PNNL, showcased the vital research coming out of her program at The National Academies Forum workshop in Washington, D.C., January 15–16, 2025.

PNNL’s year in review includes highlights ranging from advancing soil science to understanding Earth systems, expanding electricity transmission, detecting fentanyl, and applying artificial intelligence to aid scientific discovery.

Scientists are developing ways to detect previously unseen forms of fentanyl as well as other synthetic opioids known as nitazenes.

PNNL biodefense experts seek to identify, understand and mitigate the risks of biological pathogens—whether naturally occurring or intentionally created—so steps can be taken to prepare and respond.

PNNL researchers are exploring the kinds of flicker waveforms that the eye and brain can detect, seeking to understand the different visual and non-visual effects that result.

From enhancing biofuel crops to setting up automated experiments and improving energy storage—interns at PNNL are making an impact.

Early life exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), found in smoke, has been linked to developmental problems. To study the impacts of these pollutants, PAH metabolism in infants and adults were compared.

Scientists have developed a way to detect tiny amounts of hard-to-detect explosives more than eight feet away.

PMedIC, the PNNL and OHSU joint research collaboration, contributes to student success and impact in biomedicine.

Researchers will explore climate, pathogens and energy-efficient microelectronics using 3 million node hours on the nation’s supercomputers.

National laboratory expertise was on display at the 2024 Department of Homeland Security Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Summit.

In the latest issue of the Domestic Preparedness Journal, Ashley Bradley and Kristin Omberg share how new research is shedding light on the scientific and technological challenges with detecting fentanyl.

Research at PNNL and the University of Texas at El Paso are addressing computational challenges of thinking beyond the list and developing bioagent-agnostic signatures to assess threats.

New research sheds light on the biomolecular dangers of night shift work.

Beyond melting ice and higher temperatures: On Earth Day, scientists consider how climate change will affect national security.

GUV can reduce transmission of airborne disease while reducing energy use and carbon emissions. But fulfilling that promise depends on having accurate and verifiable performance data.

Researchers used a combination of sophisticated laboratory incubations and field measurements to determine the role of microbial production and consumption of methane in soils with different exposure to tidal inundation

PNNL is supporting the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate's Chemical Security Analysis Center in improving capabilities to enhance detection and analysis of chemical threats.

Researchers devised a quantitative and predictive understanding of the cloud chemistry of biomass-burning organic gases helping increase the understanding of wildfires.

PNNL scientists have been studying how rivers and streams breathe. Their research focuses on respiration, organic matter, and natural disturbances that affect rivers and streams.