In the first study of its kind, researcher Alan Meier estimated the impact of roof racks and found they are responsible for 0.8 percent of national fuel consumption, or 100 million gallons of gasoline. Given national travel trends, use of roof racks is projected to increase. Meier also analyzed possible mitigation strategies. More>
Wealth of Unsuspected New Microbes Expands Tree of Life
The new tree reinforces once again that the life we see around us - plants, animals, humans and other so-called eukaryotes - represent a tiny percentage of the world's biodiversity. The work was led by Lab earth scientist Jill Banfield. More>
Earth Scientist Helps Women Grow Food in Zimbabwe
The women in Mazvihwa grow their vegetables near the river to irrigate the crops, but they must carry buckets down the steep riverbanks to fill them and then back up 30-foot slopes with the buckets on their heads. The Lab's Naama Raz-Yaseef is helping them develop a more efficient watering system. More>
Lab Partners With ProspectSV to Transform a Whole Foods Market
The California Energy Commission awarded $3 million to the MarketZero Project to convert an existing San Francisco Whole Foods Market to Zero Net Energy. The four-year project will serve as a major case study for stores throughout the state. Lab scientist Philip Haves will provide support for computer modeling to choose the best improvements. More>
JGI Helps Apply Genomics for Improving Cassava Breeding Strategies
Cassava is a staple crop for nearly a billion people around the world. A team including Joint Genome Institute researchers has described cassava's genetic diversity. With the help of genomics, scientists hope to apply advanced breeding strategies that can improve cassava's resistance to diseases and improve crop yields. More>
Lab Projects Could Save State More Than $2 Billion Annually
Plug loads, or devices that plug into the wall, are responsible for at least 25 percent of electricity use in California buildings. Now the Lab has launched three research projects funded by the California Energy Commission to address this challenge and potentially save California as much as 13 terawatt-hours per year. More>
'Thyristors' Propel BART Trains and Particle Accelerators, Too
Power-switching devices known as "thyristors" are key components in BART train propulsion systems, and Berkeley Lab has used them in particle accelerators for decades. Learn more about these crucial components in a Q&A with Will Waldron of the Engineering Division. More>
Scientists Push Valleytronics One Step Closer to Reality
Scientists have taken a big step toward the practical application of "valleytronics," a new type of electronics that could lead to faster and more efficient computer logic systems and data storage chips in next-generation devices. Researchers demonstrated the ability to electrically generate and control valley electrons in a two-dimensional semiconductor. More>
