News Releases

Scientists make a surprising discovery about magnetic defects in topological insulators

Scientists from the Department of Energy’s Ames National Laboratory made an intriguing discovery while conducting experiments to characterize magnetism in a material known as a dilute magnetic topological insulator where magnetic defects are introduced. Despite this material’s ferromagnetism, the team discovered strong antiferromagnetic interactions between some pairs of magnetic defects that play a key role in several families of magnetic topological insulators.

Advanced Materials back cover highlighting this research

Ultralow temperature terahertz microscope capabilities enable better quantum technology

A team of scientists from the Department of Energy’s Ames National Laboratory have developed a way to collect terahertz imaging data on materials under extreme magnetic and cryogenic conditions.

Iowa State University graduate student receives SCGSR award to work at Ames National Laboratory

Gavin Nop, a graduate student at Iowa State University and Ames National Laboratory, received the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) award.

Scientists take an important step towards using quantum computers to advance materials science

A team of scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames National Laboratory demonstrated a way to advance the role of quantum computing in materials research with an adaptive algorithm for simulating materials.

Photo of lighted turquoise spheres on a black background.

Search launches for Ames National Laboratory director

Iowa State University has launched the search for the director of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Ames National Laboratory.

Ames National Laboratory director to step down

The Department of Energy and Iowa State University will lead a national search to identify Schwartz’s successor.

New zirconia-based catalyst can make plastics upcycling more sustainable

A new type of catalyst breaks down polyolefin plastics into new, useful products. This project is part of a new strategy to reduce the amount of plastic waste and its impact on our environment, as well as recover value that is lost when plastics are thrown away. The catalyst was developed by a team from the Institute for Cooperative Upcycling of Plastic (iCOUP), a U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Frontier Research Center.

Cartoon representation of the zirconia catalyst.

Congratulations to the Iowa Regional Middle School Science Bowl winners!

Congratulations to the South Middle School team, from Waukee Community School District, for winning the 20th annual Ames National Laboratory/Iowa State University Regional Middle School Science Bowl! The competition took place on the Iowa State University campus on Saturday February 18th.

South Middle School science bowl team photo.

A newly developed catalyst makes single-use plastics easier to upcycle, recycle, and biodegrade

Researchers created a new catalyst that transforms hydrocarbons into chemicals and materials that are higher value, easier to recycle, and biodegrade in the environment. This catalyst transforms materials such as motor oil, plastics in single-use grocery bags, water or milk bottles, and their caps, and even natural gas.

Ames National Laboratory and partners will advance renewable energy science and diversity in STEM

Ames National Laboratory is partnering with Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, Florida State University, and North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University on a research project. The project has a two-fold purpose: Advancing the science of alternative energy sources and engaging underrepresented students in STEM careers.