A study by researchers at PNNL assessed the feasibility of using strontium isotope ratios and an existing machine learning–based model to predict and verify a product’s source—in this case, honey.

Seaweed could be a new source of critical minerals for electronics, vehicles, and buildings.

Delivering an integrated quantum-mechanical and experimental perspective on the effects of both intrinsic and externally applied electric fields at atomic-scale interfaces.

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

This research helps predict how coastal forests will respond to future sea level changes which is crucial for protecting these ecosystems.

The Coastal Observations, Mechanisms, and Predictions Across Systems and Scales: Field, Measurements, and Experiments project established a network of observational field sites across Chesapeake Bay and western Lake Erie.

Due to their inherent variability and complexity over space and time, scientists are challenged to understand the complex interactions among soil, vegetation, and water along coastal terrestrial-aquatic interfaces.

This study characterized above- and below-ground properties to explore the spatial heterogeneity of the terrestrial aquatic interface ecosystem within the Chesapeake Bay area and evaluate the major drivers of soil respiration.

Isotopically layered water films and slow heating enable diffusion tracking.

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

A team combined experiments and theory to predict the collective properties of electrolyte solutions.

The first measurement of the proton diffusion constant at cryogenic temperatures provides insights into the mechanism of proton movement in supercooled water.

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.

Chemist Wendy Shaw, a nationally recognized scientific leader, has been chosen to serve as the associate laboratory director for PNNL's Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate.

A potential quantum advantage for fluid dynamics simulations from molecular to atmospheric scales with a new formula for success.

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.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory researchers developed a new theoretical method for studying highly correlated systems.

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

This study evaluated the sensitivity of multiple geophysical methods to measure and evaluate the spatiotemporal variability of select soil properties across terrestrial–aquatic interfaces.

Researchers integrated field measurements, lab experiments, and model simulations to study oxygen consumption dynamics in soils along a coastal gradient.