Researchers have developed the first coastal transport model for microplastics to understand how particles move in waterways and coastal currents.

PNNL has created and licensed a system that sniffs out trace levels of fentanyl, other drugs and explosives through the air.

A new study led by PNNL researcher TC Chakraborty provides some answers about how irrigated agricultural land near cities affects urban heat stress.

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.

New datasets delineating global urban land support scientific research, application, and policy, but they can produce different results when applied to the same problem making it difficult for researchers to decide which to use.

Knowing future snow levels is key for managing the recovery of endangered bighorn sheep. PNNL scientists help to forecast how the sheep could fare.

A new study reveals just how costly Earth's tipping points can be.

The demand for energy is growing—and so is the technology supporting it. However, future development of power generation technologies could be affected by a key factor: material supply.

How to keep stray radiation from “shorting” superconducting qubits; a pair of studies shows where ionizing radiation is lurking and how to banish it.

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

Mengqi Zhao and Chris Vernon were selected to serve in editorial roles at JOSS for Earth science and data science, respectively.

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.

The Delaware River Basin is projected to experience a regional increase in flood severity under future climate scenarios.

New findings document fewer ship tracks, reduced cloud cover, and boosted warming after ship emissions regulations took effect in 2020.

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

Aerosol particles imbue climate models with uncertainty. New work by PNNL researchers reveals where in the world and under what conditions new particles are born.

Accessing groundwater may become more difficult—and more expensive—as groundwater supplies become increasingly scarce and underground aquifer levels fall.

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.