Steven K. Ashby

2 months ago | yahoo.com | Steven K. Ashby

It is well known that genes are the instruction book for life. They determine whether we are born with blue eyes, brown hair or a predisposition to certain diseasesHowever, our genetic makeup is only part of the equation. The environment is the other. For example, brown hair could get bleached by the summer sun, or a healthy lifestyle may deter an illness from manifesting.

Feb 24, 2025 | pnnl.gov | Steven K. Ashby

Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory realized that sometimes developing new materials can be akin to creative baking—where substituting ingredients and making simple adjustments can lead to surprising benefits. In this case, they are studying the “recipe” for producing a durable alloy for nuclear reactors and other energy applications. Their work centered on replacing cobalt with manganese in an alloy known as Iconel 617, or IN617 for short.

Feb 22, 2025 | tri-cityherald.com | Steven K. Ashby

PNNL researchers Ankit Roy (left), Subhashish Meher and their teammates modeled different combinations of the elements in an alloy used in nuclear reactors to narrow in on a composition that might offer the same benefits while reducing dependence on the critical material cobalt. The researchers then produced the modified alloy and used experimental validation to test its performance.

Feb 22, 2025 | ca.news.yahoo.com | Steven K. Ashby

Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory realized that sometimes developing new materials can be akin to creative baking — where substituting ingredients and making simple adjustments can lead to surprising benefits. In this case, they are studying the “recipe” for producing a durable alloy for nuclear reactors and other energy applications. Their work centered on replacing cobalt with manganese in an alloy known as Iconel 617, or IN617 for short.

Feb 10, 2025 | pnnl.gov | Steven K. Ashby

When fulfilled holiday wish lists include a new smartphone, upgraded laptop or the latest game console, their retired predecessors might be in cluttered junk drawers or landfills by January. Thanks to a new method developed by scientists at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, it may be possible to recover the critical minerals in these discarded electronics.