- Number 319 |
- August 30, 2010
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Clouds + mineral dust = rain
Large dust particles increase the likelihood of rain, according to a 14-year examination of 9 field studies around the world. Scientists from DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Colorado State University, North Carolina State University, Oregon State University, University of Colorado, and National Center for Atmospheric Research found the number of dust particles larger than 0.5 micrometers in diameter closely correlates with the number of ice nuclei.
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Large CO2 release speeds up ice age melting
Radiocarbon dating is used to determine the age of everything from ancient artifacts to prehistoric corals on the ocean bottom.
But in a recent study appearing in the Aug. 26 edition of the journal, Nature, a scientist from DOE's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and his colleagues used the method to trace the pathway of carbon dioxide released from the deep ocean to the atmosphere at the end of the last ice age.
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Simulations pick apart graphene mystery
Nanoscale simulations and theoretical research performed at DOE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory are bringing scientists closer to realizing graphene's potential in electronic applications.
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New measurement explores fine details of proton structure
A new, high-precision measurement of the proton's hidden inner structure carried out at DOE's Jefferson Lab has yielded a surprising result.
A collaboration of scientists measured the proton's form factors, quantities that describe the shape and size of the space over which the electric charge and electric current is spread.