News Releases

AI-Powered National Lab collaboration launches to secure U.S. critical minerals supply

A powerful new initiative—Critical Minerals and Materials to Unlock Supply (CM2US)—is harnessing artificial intelligence to transform how the U.S. discovers, develops, and delivers the critical minerals essential to modern technologies

Ames Lab researchers awarded funding for new approach to critical mineral extraction

A team of researchers at Ames National Laboratory recently received funding to develop new biological approaches to capture these critical materials from low-concentration sources. The team will combine synthetic biology, machine learning, automated laboratory systems, and molecular modeling to create an advanced platform for capturing valuable minerals from sources such as mine tailings and wastewater.

CMI technology for rare earth processing licensed to Principal Mineral

Researchers have developed a new technology for processing rare earth metals that has now been licensed to Principal Mineral.

New quantum echo discovered in superconductors

Scientists at the U. S. Department of Energy Ames National Laboratory and Iowa State University have discovered an unexpected "quantum echo" in a superconducting material. This discovery provides insight into quantum behaviors that could be used for next-generation quantum sensing and computing technologies.

Axion quasiparticles detected in a collaboration including Ames National Laboratory and Harvard University

Researchers have observed magnetic excitations that mimic the properties of an axion particle in a collaborative effort including the U.S. Department of Energy Ames National Laboratory and led by Harvard University. The axion is a particle that has been theorized to explain the dark matter that exists throughout the universe. A discovery like this one has the potential to solve several mysteries in quantum field theory and may even be used to detect real axions in the universe.

Mueller named director of U.S. Department of Energy's Ames National Laboratory

Karl Mueller has been named the new director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames National Laboratory, operated by Iowa State University. His tenure begins June 1.

Congratulations to the Iowa Regional High School Science Bowl winners!

Congratulations to the Pleasant Valley High School team for winning the Iowa Regional Science Bowl, hosted by Ames National Laboratory and Iowa State University.

Pleasant Valley High School Science Bowl Team.

Iowa Regional High School Science Bowl to be held this weekend

Ames National Laboratory and Iowa State University will host the 35th annual Iowa Regional High School Science Bowl on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. The event will take place on the Iowa State campus.

Students at 2024 High School Science Bowl

Congratulations to the Iowa Regional Middle School Science Bowl winners!

Congratulations to the Ames Middle School team for winning the Iowa Regional Middle School Science Bowl, hosted by Ames National Laboratory and Iowa State University. The competition took place on the Iowa State University campus on Saturday, Feb. 8.

Iowa Regional Middle School Science Bowl to be held in February

Ames National Laboratory and Iowa State University will host the 22nd annual Iowa Regional Middle School Science Bowl. The event will take place Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, on the Iowa State campus

Photo of students from 2024 Iowa Middle School Science Bowl.