Blog Post

Coffee or tea? One cup or three? Your genes may decide.

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By Jordan Greer

Are you a tea enthusiast or coffee connoisseur? A common debate in labs, offices, and possibly within your own home, people usually prefer one over the other to start their day. In fact, tea and coffee are the most commonly consumed non-alcoholic beverages in the world. But what leads us to choose one pick-me-up over the other, and how much of it we drink? While we may attribute our preferences to how we’re raised, recent research shows our choice of brew may also be linked to our DNA. 

First, let’s consider what makes coffee and tea different. Both contain bitter compounds, although coffee contains a higher amount. However, their most noteworthy component is caffeine; coffee has roughly twice the amount found in black and green teas. Caffeine itself, though, is nearly tasteless – well, to most of us.

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Blog Post

Celebrate the extraordinary life of Nobel laureate and former Fermilab Director Leon Lederman in Chicago on Sept. 25

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Originally published at: https://news.fnal.gov/2019/09/celebrate-the-extraordinary-life-of-nobel-laureate-and-former-fermilab-director-leon-lederman-in-chicago-on-sept-25/

Media contact
  • Andre Salles, Fermilab Office of Communication, media@fnal.gov, 630-840-3351
  • Katie Ahmed, Chicago Council on Science and Technology, kahmed@c2st.org, 312-567-5835

 

Leon Lederman was one of a kind.

Continue reading “Celebrate the extraordinary life of Nobel laureate and former Fermilab Director Leon Lederman in Chicago on Sept. 25”

Blog Post

Argonne discovery offers new way to coat nuclear materials

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By JARED SAGOFF

Originally published at: https://www.anl.gov/article/argonne-discovery-offers-new-way-to-coat-nuclear-materials

Inside an operating nuclear reactor, the environment is extreme, as reactor components are exposed to a combination of intense radiation and heat as well as chemically reactive coolant. That’s why, in order to operate reactors safely, scientists need to design their components with materials that can withstand these conditions.

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory have made a pivotal discovery by taking a technique originally developed for the semiconductor industry and using it as a way to coat nuclear materials. This technique, called atomic layer deposition (ALD), forms the basis of new methods to protect nuclear fuels and materials from direct exposure to the reactor’s hostile environment.

“We are pioneering the use of ALD for nuclear applications,” Argonne nuclear engineer Abdellatif Yacout.

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Blog Post

Argonne Fuels Energy Start-ups

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Argonne National Laboratory is accelerating more than protons these days. Through its Chain Reaction Innovations (CRI) entrepreneurship program, Argonne is accelerating the development of new businesses that are tackling the challenges of producing and conserving energy with new, cost effective and environmentally-sustainable technologies. Argonne is located in Lemont, Illinois, west of Chicago. It is owned by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) and operated by the University of Chicago. It is one of the largest and most scientifically diverse research centers in the world. The CRI program is supported by the Advanced Manufacturing Office within DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

This summer, with the first four startups graduating from the program, CRI innovators have raised about $12.4 million in funding as of Aug. 1, 2019. Out of that total, more than $5 million has come from private equity sources, and the rest has some from various organizations – including DOE – that offer open funding opportunities.

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Event

How to Communicate Facts in the Era of Fake News – SOLD OUT

Scientific literacy remains low among the U.S. adult population, resulting in an ever-growing divide in our society. C2ST wants to change that. This Chicago Ideas Week Lab is all about how to communicate complicated material in digestible chunks that expand understanding and facilitate more productive conversations. Through a series of collaborative exercises and activities, C2ST will demonstrate how good public speaking can elevate the effectiveness of your communication strategies. Bring an engagement initiative unique to your goals and by the end of this Lab you’ll have a fully formed plan for how to articulate your message with success.

Weren’t able to get a ticket before they sold out? Join us online for a live stream of the event here.