Each year, scientists with the Office of Science, at our national laboratories, and supported by the Office of Science at the nation’s colleges and universities, publish thousands of research findings in the scientific literature. About 200 of these are selected annually by their respective program areas in the Office of Science as publication highlights of special note.

For the archive of past publication highlights, click here.

March 4, 2024

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The “Nested Doll” Nucleus Nitrogen-9 Stretches the Definition of a Nucleus to the Limit

Nitrogen-9 has only two neutrons to its seven protons and decays to an alpha particle by emitting five of its protons in stages.

March 1, 2024

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Filling in the Cracks: Scientists Improve Predictions for the Dissolution of Minerals in Rock Fractures

A new correction factor for predicting dissolution rates uses measurable geological properties in fractured media.

February 28, 2024

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Artificial Atoms Power a Novel Quantum Processor Architecture

Fluxonium qubits can build cutting-edge quantum devices that will harness the potential of quantum computing.

February 26, 2024

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Novel Theory-Based Evaluation Gives a Clearer Picture of Fusion in the Sun

Theoretical calculations and experimental data combine to reduce uncertainty in a key reaction rate in modelling high-energy solar neutrinos.

February 22, 2024

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Physicists Remotely Sense Radioactive Decay to Probe Fundamental Forces and Particles

The Project 8 and He6-CRES collaborations use a new technique to set an upper limit on neutrino mass and prepare to test the nature of the weak force.

February 20, 2024

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Surprising Strategies: Scientists Quantify the Activity of Algal-Associated Bacteria at the Microscale

High resolution isotope analysis of the algal microbiome identifies ecological strategies not predicted by genome content.

February 16, 2024

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Fair Play for Data: Researchers Develop Practical FAIR Principles for Data Sets

FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable) principles facilitate the use of large data sets by human and machine researchers.

February 14, 2024

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Scientists Locate the Missing Mass Inside the Proton

Nuclear physicists have found the location of matter inside the proton that comes from the strong force - a fundamental force that holds protons together.

February 12, 2024

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Researchers Directly Detect Interactions Between Viruses and their Bacterial Hosts in Soils

The first application of High-Throughput Chromosome Conformation Capture (Hi-C) Metagenome Sequencing to soil captures phage-host interactions at the time of sampling.

February 9, 2024

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How the Quantum World Can Help Scientists Engineer Biology

Improving genome engineering with quantum biology and artificial intelligence.