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Software Helps Firms Map Mountains Of Information

DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Overwhelmed by the information age? Mired in document dumps from your favorite Internet search engine? Searching for meaning in the morass of e-mail messages? The United States intelligence community found itself in much the same situation several years ago and turned to the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for help. The solution was software and visualization tools that graphically show clusters of similar themes within thousands of documents.

Technology Combats Engine Failures In Tanks

DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory researchers are developing a technology that could boost the U.S. Army's battle against budget crunching as well as aid battlefield readiness by diagnosing engine problems in tanks before costly repairs are needed. The technology uses diagnostic engineering, artificial neural networks and model-based decision algorithms to predict failures and abnormal operations in the M1 Abrams main battle tank's turbine engine.

Funder: Department of Defense

Chemical process provides new source for alternative fuels

DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A catalytic process developed at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will create a compound used in a new type of alternative fuel while broadening the applications of a chemical used in commercial processes.

Automation Energizes Navy

DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are helping the U.S. Navy provide more reliable power at its utility plants without increasing costs. Already, at some San Diego-area naval bases, Pacific Northwest engineers have improved cost efficiency drastically by automating monitoring systems and updating equipment. The center attributes nearly $800,000 in annual savings to improvements and changes made by Pacific Northwest engineers.

Funder: U.S. Department of Defense

Gritty Research Leads Scientists To Metal-Loving Discovery

DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Tiny grains of ceramic material inhabited by hungry molecules are looking like enormously effective options for cleaning up contaminated waterways and recovering precious metals.

Funder: U.S. Department of Energy

System Offers Breath Of Relief To Workers

DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Peer-Reviewed Publication

When workers believe they have been exposed to dangerous chemicals on the job, they often must provide a sample of blood or urine and wait three weeks or more to learn their fate. A breath-analyzing device developed at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory eases the uncertainty by providing immediate results of chemical exposure using a non-invasive technique.

Funder: Department of Energy

Breakthrough Systems To Detect Nuclear Explosions Worldwide

DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Scientists at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Washington, have developed two breakthrough devices that can detect nuclear detonations by analyzing the atmosphere for traces of radioactive material. These systems, once activated, will be located around the globe and used to monitor the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) by detecting nuclear explosions.

Funder: Department of Energy

Groundwater Injection Process Filters Out Contaminants

DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new technique may be able to remove deadly contaminants from groundwater more easily and less expensively. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory researchers have created In- Situ Redox Manipulation to remediate contaminated groundwater at up to 60 percent savings over 10 years when compared to current remediation methods. Potential application sites include military bases, petroleum and chemical plants and weapon production facilities.

Funder: Department of Energy

Pacific Northwest Computerizes Crime Fighting

DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Computer scientists at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are updating Washington state crime databases to help police share information on unsolved cases and track criminals on parole. Through these databases, officers can retrieve shared information on offenders previously inaccessible and do so within minutes rather than days or weeks.

Funder: State of Washington

Spinach Enzymes Neutralize Explosives

DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers have discovered that nitroreductase enzymes found in spinach and other natural compounds can eat, digest and transform explosives such as TNT. This process reduces dangerous explosives to low toxicity byproducts that can be used by industry or reduced further to harmless products such as carbon dioxide and water.