News

August 6, 2026

6 MIN READ

New platform speeds bacterial gene mapping for better biotech design

Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers developed a high-throughput microbial QTL mapping platform that combines synthetic biology, AI, automation and gene editing to identify the genetic basis of complex bacterial traits up to 10 times faster than previous methods. The platform enables more precise engineering of microbes for applications including specialty chemicals manufacturing, bioenergy and critical minerals recovery, and is available for licensing.

February 26, 2026

3 MIN READ

Researchers harness synthetic biology to power the biofactories of the future

September 15, 2025

4 MIN READ

AI, molecular simulations get to the root of better plants

By combining AI with molecular dynamics simulations, researchers at ORNL have developed a new tool to more accurately predict how plants and helpful microbes communicate and form partnerships at the most fundamental level. The new AI-powered workflow helps scientists identify which plant genes control the best microbial partnerships.

April 15, 2025

3 MIN READ

From AI to isotopes: Symposium brings together ORNL, Vanderbilt scientists

Scientists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory recently welcomed Vanderbilt University colleagues for a symposium on basic science research, with a focus on potential collaborations in the biomedical and biotechnology spaces.

April 4, 2025

3 MIN READ

Jacobson elected Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering

Daniel Jacobson, distinguished research scientist in the Biosciences Division at ORNL, has been elected a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, or AIMBE, for his achievements in computational biology.

April 8, 2024

8 MIN READ

First-of-its-kind integrated dataset enables genes-to-ecosystems research

A first-ever dataset bridging molecular information about the poplar tree microbiome to ecosystem-level processes has been released by a team of DOE scientists led by ORNL. The project aims to inform research regarding how natural systems function, their vulnerability to a changing climate and ultimately how plants might be engineered for better performance as sources of bioenergy and natural carbon storage.

January 17, 2024

7 MIN READ

Fungal ‘bouncers’ patrol plant-microbe relationship

New computational framework speeds discovery of fungal metabolites, key to plant health and used in drug therapies and for other uses.

November 7, 2023

6 MIN READ

Scientists use quantum biology, AI to sharpen genome editing tool

Scientists at ORNL used their expertise in quantum biology, artificial intelligence and bioengineering to improve how CRISPR Cas9 genome editing tools work on organisms like microbes that can be modified to produce renewable fuels and chemicals.

June 28, 2023

5 MIN READ

Exascale blastoff: Early users helped launch Frontier to success

With the world’s first exascale supercomputer now fully open for scientific business, researchers can thank the early users who helped get the machine up to speed.

May 23, 2023

6 MIN READ

Transforming plants into allies in the fight against climate change

Nature-based solutions are an effective tool to combat climate change triggered by rising carbon emissions, whether it’s by clearing the skies with bio-based aviation fuels or boosting natural carbon sinks.

March 20, 2023

1 MIN READ

Plant, microbe matchmaking for better bioenergy crops

ORNL researchers have identified specific proteins and amino acids that could control bioenergy plants’ ability to identify beneficial microbes that can enhance plant growth and storage of carbon in soils.

January 30, 2023

5 MIN READ

Computational study finds genetic links, therapy targets for varicose veins

As part of a multi-institutional research project, scientists at ORNL leveraged their computational systems biology expertise and the largest, most diverse set of health data to date to explore the genetic basis of varicose veins.