News

March 31, 2026

5 MIN READ

Aquatic robot to monitor species, advance hydropower

Researchers at Oak Ridge and Pacific Northwest national laboratories have partnered with Smith-Root Inc. to commercialize “eDNA-bot,” a patented, autonomous aquatic robot that collects and analyzes environmental DNA in real time using artificial intelligence. Developers say the technology could enable continuous, lower-cost biological monitoring for hydropower licensing, invasive species detection and wastewater pathogen monitoring.

June 3, 2025

5 MIN READ

Biological monitoring program marks 40 years of stewarding DOE lands

ORNL’s Biological Monitoring and Abatement Program, or BMAP, is marking 40 years of helping steward the DOE’s 33,476 acres of land on which some of the nation’s most powerful science and technology missions are carried out.

April 5, 2024

5 MIN READ

ORNL Water Power Projects Showcased in New Report

The Water Power Program at ORNL contributed to nine of the 40 projects lauded in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO)'s 2022-2023 Accomplishments Report, which was released in mid-March.

February 9, 2023

2 MIN READ

Female scientists help power America’s clean energy future

October 7, 2022

2 MIN READ

ESD presents 2022 Distinguished Achievement Awards

February 1, 2022

1 MIN READ

Hydropower — DNA in a drop

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are using a novel approach in determining environmental impacts to aquatic species near hydropower facilities, potentially leading to smarter facility designs that can support electrical grid reliability.