To address PPE shortages during the pandemic, scientists at Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley are developing a rechargeable, reusable, anti-COVID N95 mask and a 3D-printable silicon-cast mask mold. (Credit: UC Berkeley)
To address PPE shortages during the pandemic, scientists at Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley are developing a rechargeable, reusable, anti-COVID N95 mask and a 3D-printable silicon-cast mask mold. (Credit: UC Berkeley) - It was a year dominated by COVID-19 research, along with some beetles, batteries, and a Nobel Prize T he coronavirus pandemic has taught us many valuable lessons this year, and perhaps foremost among them is the importance of science. Researchers at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have always strived to find science-based solutions for society's most pressing issues. This year our scientists, while continuing to focus on the immense challenges of energy, climate change, and understanding the mysteries of the universe, also stepped up to face an unprecedented health crisis, using their expertise in everything from nanoscience to machine learning to contribute new knowledge to COVID-19. In some cases, their pursuit to answer big questions on energy, environment, and health led them to very specific questions, such as why are carp scales so tough yet flexible and how do your genes affect your relationship with coffee. And we found time to celebrate some honors, such as nine new AAAS fellows and our 14th Nobel Prize. Berkeley Lab's 10 most popular news stories of the year are as follows.
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