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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 199 records · Page 11
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2018

Design and Characteristics of Hydroxyapatites: Effect of Radiation

Hydroxyapatites single crystals have been investigated their applications as the laser host material. Czochralksi and flux growth methods have been utilized to achieve single crystals. Because of their bioactivities with tissues these have attracted interest for bone applications. For low temperature processing we have used several techniques. We utilized some organic melt and oriented the grains by the directional solidification method. This organic treated material has different characteristics than coarsened oxide materials. Our approach involved low temperature processing using nano-engineered powders of the material system MgO-Na2O-K2O-CaO-SrO-SiO2 and also borates were processed by sintering and grain growth. Our results indicate that substitution of calcium and strontium with some other elements such as gallium and magnesium have great potential to improve the mechanical properties of bones.

Bhavsar, Jayati↗
DOE OSTI2025

Comparing four heat-inducible promoters in stably transformed sugarcane regarding spatial and temporal control of transgene expression reveals candidates to drive stem-preferred transgene expression

Small heat shock protein (sHSP) promoters contain cis-regulatory elements that facilitate transcription in response to heat stress, making them valuable tools for functional studies through controlled gene expression and the precise regulation of gene-editing tools or morphogenic regulators. To evaluate their utility, GUS reporter gene expression driven by four plant-sourced HSP promoters (p GmHSP17.5 , p HvHSP17 , p ZmHSP17.7 , and p ZmHSP26 ) was compared across various tissues of stably transformed sugarcane before and after heat treatment. At 22°C, all promoters showed minimal activity in leaves and roots, although p ZmHSP17.7 and p HvHSP17 displayed moderate expression in stems. Following heat treatment, all promoters exhibited their highest activity in stems, followed by leaves and roots. In stem tissues, p GmHSP17.5 displayed heat-induced uidA expression comparable to the constitutive p ZmUbi promoter. Notably, heat-induced reporter gene activity in stem middle sections of single-copy transgenic lines containing p ZmHSP17.7 , p HvHSP17 , or p ZmHSP26 exceeded p ZmUbi -derived uidA activity by 9.7-fold, 3.8-fold, and 3.0-fold, respectively, with 346- to 3,672-fold induction compared to control conditions. Most promoters showed peak expression in the middle sections of the stem, while p HvHSP17 was the most active in the stem apices. Histochemical analysis revealed that p ZmHSP17.7 and p HvHSP17 were active in both parenchyma cells and vascular bundles within sugarcane stems. Among leaf tissues, mature leaves exhibited greater expression than senescing or immature leaves, while root activity remained consistently minimal across all promoters. Temperature-course experiments identified distinct activation thresholds: 34°C–36°C for p ZmHSP17.7 , 36°C for p ZmHSP26 , 36°C–38°C for p HvHSP17 , and 40°C–42°C for p GmHSP17.5 . Drought stress also induced reporter gene transcription in stems under HSP promoters, although with lower fold induction than heat treatment. These findings provide valuable tools for gene function studies and biotechnology applications, including heat stress tolerance research, controlled transgene expression in metabolic engineering, precision gene editing, and developmental biology studies.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2011

In-Suit Light Exercise (ISLE) Prebreathe Protocol Peer Review Assessment

The performance of extravehicular activity (EVA) by National Aeronautics and Space Administration astronauts involves the risk of decompression sickness. This risk has been mitigated by the use of oxygen "prebreathe" to effectively wash out tissue nitrogen prior to each EVA. Now that the Space Shuttle Program (SSP) is being retired, high-pressure oxygen will become a limited resource. The In-Suit Light Exercise (ISLE) Prebreathe Protocol offers several potential benefits including its potential to save 6 pounds of oxygen per EVA. At the request of the NASA Engineering and Safety Center, the peer review convened on October 14, 2010. The major recommendation of the Review Committee was that the ISLE protocol was acceptable for operational use as a prebreathe option prior to EVA. The results from the peer review are contained in this document.

Brady, Timothy K.↗
NASA NTRS2011

In-Suit Light Exercise (ISLE) Prebreathe Protocol Peer Review Assessment: Appendices - Part 2

The performance of extravehicular activity (EVA) by National Aeronautics and Space Administration astronauts involves the risk of decompression sickness. This risk has been mitigated by the use of oxygen "prebreathe" to effectively wash out tissue nitrogen prior to each EVA. Now that the Space Shuttle Program (SSP) is being retired, high-pressure oxygen will become a limited resource. The In-Suit Light Exercise (ISLE) Prebreathe Protocol offers several potential benefits including its potential to save 6 pounds of oxygen per EVA. At the request of the NASA Engineering and Safety Center, the peer review convened on October 14, 2010. The major recommendation of the Review Committee was that the ISLE protocol was acceptable for operational use as a prebreathe option prior to EVA. The appendices to Volume I of the report are contained in this document.

Brady, Timothy K.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Lung and liver editing by lipid nanoparticle delivery of a stable CRISPR–Cas9 ribonucleoprotein

Lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) could enable high-efficiency, low-toxicity and scalable in vivo genome editing if efficacious RNP–LNP complexes can be reliably produced. Here we engineer a thermostable Cas9 from Geobacillus stearothermophilus (GeoCas9) to generate iGeoCas9 variants capable of >100× more genome editing of cells and organs compared with the native GeoCas9 enzyme. Furthermore, iGeoCas9 RNP–LNP complexes edit a variety of cell types and induce homology-directed repair in cells receiving codelivered single-stranded DNA templates. Using tissue-selective LNP formulations, we observe genome-editing levels of 16-37% in the liver and lungs of reporter mice that receive single intravenous injections of iGeoCas9 RNP–LNPs. In addition, iGeoCas9 RNPs complexed to biodegradable LNPs edit the disease-causing SFTPC gene in lung tissue with 19% average efficiency, representing a major improvement over genome-editing levels observed previously using viral or nonviral delivery strategies. These results show that thermostable Cas9 RNP–LNP complexes can expand the therapeutic potential of genome editing.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

A tissue‐resolved, network‐based transcriptomic framework for abiotic stress responses in sorghum

Developing climate‐resilient crops requires a detailed understanding of stress‐induced gene expression dynamics, as maladaptive responses can compromise their productivity and survival. Sorghum, a globally important cereal with exceptional tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses, provides a powerful system for investigating these dynamics. However, how stress type, tissue specificity, and temporal progression jointly shape transcriptomic responses in crops remains poorly understood. Here, we present a comparative, time‐resolved transcriptomic atlas of sorghum responses to drought, heat, and salinity stress across shoot and root tissues. Integrative analyses revealed that tissue specificity is the dominant determinant of abiotic stress‐induced gene reprogramming across all three stresses. Building on these global comparisons, we focused on heat stress, as it elicited the most coherent and pronounced transcriptional and regulatory responses, enabling deeper network‐level interrogation. Co‐expression network analysis identified tissue‐specific modules enriched for phytohormone‐responsive genes, while gene regulatory network (GRN) mapping and cistrome analyses uncovered transcription factors (TFs) controlling key hub genes within these modules. Together, this study provides a foundational transcriptomic and network‐based resource for dissecting the regulatory architecture of abiotic stress responses in sorghum and offers prioritized candidates for future functional validation and engineering of climate‐resilient crops.

abiotic stress↗
DOE OSTI2025

Bacterial fitness for plant colonization is influenced by plant growth substrate

Despite advances in our understanding of bacterial plant colonization, the extent to which growth substrate influences the molecular mechanisms enabling bacteria to efficiently colonize plants remains poorly understood. To address this, we used randomly barcoded transposon mutagenesis sequencing (RB-TnSeq) in Paraburkholderia graminis OAS925, an efficient rhizosphere colonizer, and Brachypodium distachyon grown in six different substrates. Of the 382 rhizosphere colonization genes that we identified in OAS925, 348 genes (91.1%) are dependent on the growth substrate evaluated, and 34 genes (8.9%) are shared across all the substrates. Both the core and substrate-dependent colonization genes are from multiple functional categories, demonstrating the multifaceted and major impact that plant growth substrate has on bacterial colonization. The identified colonization genes and their varied importance across plant growth substrates could not be readily explained by differences in root exudate profiles, suggesting that the substrate environment itself plays an outsized role in the ability of a bacterium to colonize the rhizosphere. Our data confirm that bacterial fitness for plant colonization is strongly influenced by plant growth substrate type and highlights the importance of taking this parameter into consideration when engineering bacterial strains for improved host colonization.

Paraburkholderia↗
NASA NTRS2005

NASA Tech Briefs, March 2005

Topics covered include: Scheme for Entering Binary Data Into a Quantum Computer; Encryption for Remote Control via Internet or Intranet; Coupled Receiver/Decoders for Low-Rate Turbo Codes; Processing GPS Occultation Data To Characterize Atmosphere; Displacing Unpredictable Nulls in Antenna Radiation Patterns; Integrated Pointing and Signal Detector for Optical Receiver; Adaptive Thresholding and Parameter Estimation for PPM; Data-Driven Software Framework for Web-Based ISS Telescience; Software for Secondary-School Learning About Robotics; Fuzzy Logic Engine; Telephone-Directory Program; Simulating a Direction-Finder Search for an ELT; Formulating Precursors for Coating Metals and Ceramics; Making Macroscopic Assemblies of Aligned Carbon Nanotubes; Ball Bearings Equipped for In Situ Lubrication on Demand; Synthetic Bursae for Robots; Robot Forearm and Dexterous Hand; Making a Metal-Lined Composite-Overwrapped Pressure Vessel; Ex Vivo Growth of Bioengineered Ligaments and Other Tissues; Stroboscopic Goggles for Reduction of Motion Sickness; Articulating Support for Horizontal Resistive Exercise; Modified Penning-Malmberg Trap for Storing Antiprotons; Tumbleweed Rovers; Two-Photon Fluorescence Microscope for Microgravity Research; Biased Randomized Algorithm for Fast Model-Based Diagnosis; Fast Algorithms for Model-Based Diagnosis; Simulations of Evaporating Multicomponent Fuel Drops; Formation Flying of Tethered and Nontethered Spacecraft; and Two Methods for Efficient Solution of the Hitting- Set Problem.

Source record↗
DOE OSTI2025

Shifting the MLCT of d 6 metal complexes to the red and NIR

Light-active d 6 -coordination compounds hold great promise for light energy conversion, sensors and therapeutic applications. However, the activity in the red-to-NIR spectral region is highly desirable to convert solar light more efficiently, use low-cost red-light sources and activate these chromophores in biological tissue environment. Due to their versatility, tunability and broad intense absorption, d 6 -coordination compounds with metalto-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transitions are especially interesting. This review article offers a comprehensive collection of strategies to tune MLCT excited states in d 6 metal complexes and gives insights on group 6 to group 9 transition metals and their respective state-of-the-art MLCT engineering towards red-shifted absorption and emission properties with long-lived excited states. Strategies comprise lowering the π* level of the ligands, destabilizing and mixing of the metal-based HOMO, switching within a group of transition metals, matrix effects and insights into dealing with excited state deactivation in the context of the energy gap law.

Metal to ligand charge transfer (MLCT)↗
NASA NTRS2018

Portable Electron Microscopy for ISS and Beyond

Advances in space exploration have evolved in lockstep with key technology advances in diverse fields such as materials science, biological science, and engineering risk management. Research in these areas, where structure and physical processes come together, can proceed rapidly in part due to sophisticated ground-based analytical tools that help re-searchers develop technologies and engineering processes that push frontiers of human space exploration. Electron microscopes (EM) are an example of such a workhorse tool, lending a unique blend of strong optical scattering, high native resolution, large depth of focus, and spectroscopy via characteristic X-ray emission, providing exquisite high-magnification structural imaging and chemical analysis. Ground-based EM’s have been essential in NASA research for many years. In particular, in mineralogy and petrology, EM is used to understand the origin and evolution of the solar system, particularly rocky bodies. In microbiology, EM has helped visualize the architecture of tissues and cells. In engineering/materials science, EM has been used to characterize particulate debris in air and water samples, determine pore sizes in ceramics/catalysts, understand the nature of fibers, determine composition and morphology of new and existing materials, and characterize micro-textures of vapor deposited films. EM is highly effective at investigating a wide variety of nanoscale materials/biomaterials at the core of many of NASA’s inquiries. Despite exquisite optical performance and versatility, EM’s are traditionally large, heavy, and have high power consumption. They are also expensive so they tend to be housed at universities and large research institutions, or at major industrial laboratory sites with support staff, supplies, and skilled operators. Since most organizations cannot support their own EM, samples are often sent to these large institutions and service centers to be imaged, at great expense and of-ten with delay of weeks to months for complex analyses. Complexity, high cost, and maintenance associated with collecting EM image data has until now severely limited fields in which EM is used. Making EM accessible outside constrained terrestrial laboratory environments will bring EM’s performance and versatility to a much broader range of scientific and engineering endeavors, including in space.

Own, C. S.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Viral delivery of recombinases activates heritable genetic switches in plants

Viral vectors provide an increasingly versatile platform for transformation-free reagent delivery to plants. RNA viral vectors can be used to induce gene silencing, overexpress proteins, or introduce gene editing reagents; however, they are often constrained by carrying capacity or restricted tropism in germline cells. Site-specific recombinases that catalyze precise genetic rearrangements are powerful tools for genome engineering that vary in size and, potentially, efficacy in plants. In this work, we show that viral vectors based on tobacco rattle virus (TRV) deliver and stably express four recombinases ranging in size from ~0.6kb to ~1.5kb and achieve simultaneous marker removal and reporter activation through targeted excision in transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana lines. TRV vectors with Cre, FLP, CinH, and Integrase13 efficiently mediated recombination in infected somatic tissue and led to heritable modifications at high frequency. Here, an excision-activated Ruby reporter enabled simple and high-resolution tracing of infected cell lineages without the need for molecular genotyping. Together, our experiments broaden the scope of viral recombinase delivery and offer insights into infection dynamics that may be useful in developing future viral vectors.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

Constitutive and inducible oleoresin defenses share genetic architectures and mechanisms in Pinus taeda

The oleoresin defense system of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) protects trees from insects and pathogens and is an important source of renewable biofuels and chemicals, but the genetic basis of oleoresin production is poorly understood. We characterized the genetic architecture of oleoresin flow, resin canal number, stem wood terpene content, and monoterpene composition in two clonal populations of P. taeda. We used quantitative genetic analyses, genome-wide association studies (GWASs), multiplex network learning, and gene expression profiling to elucidate shared gene networks underlying defense traits and to identify high-quality candidates for breeding and engineering loblolly pine. Genetic analyses revealed polygenic inheritance and trait-to-trait correlations provide strong evidence for shared genes regulating constitutive and induced oleoresin flow. We identified 236 single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with oleoresin flow, resin canal number, and terpene composition and highlight candidate genes likely involved in terpene biosynthesis, cambial meristem reprogramming, and pathogen perception and immune signaling. Fourteen GWAS candidates were methyl jasmonate-responsive in tissues where resin canals initiate and terpene production occurs. Integrating quantitative genetics, GWAS, gene expression, and multiplex network analyses enabled the prioritization of high-quality candidate genes. This work advances the development of more resilient loblolly pine optimized for ecological performance, renewable chemical, and biofuel production.

genome-wide association study↗
DOE OSTI2024

Targeted engineering of camelina and pennycress seeds for ultrahigh accumulation of acetyl-TAG

Acetyl-TAG (3-acetyl-1,2-diacylglycerol), unique triacylglycerols (TAG) possessing an acetate group at the sn -3 position, exhibit valuable properties, such as reduced viscosity and freezing points. Previous attempts to engineer acetyl-TAG production in oilseed crops did not achieve the high levels found in naturally producing Euonymus seeds. Here, we demonstrate the successful generation of camelina and pennycress transgenic lines accumulating nearly pure acetyl-TAG at 93 mol% and 98 mol%, respectively. These ultrahigh acetyl-TAG synthesizing lines were created using gene-edited FATTY ACID ELONGASE1 ( FAE1 ) mutant lines as an improved genetic background to increase levels of acetyl-CoA available for acetyl-TAG synthesis mediated by the expression of EfDAcT, a high-activity diacylglycerol acetyltransferase isolated from Euonymus fortunei . Combining EfDAcT expression with suppression of the competing TAG-synthesizing enzyme DGAT1 further enhanced acetyl-TAG accumulation. These ultrahigh levels of acetyl-TAG exceed those in earlier engineered oilseeds and are equivalent or greater than those in Euonymus seeds. Imaging of lipid localization in transgenic seeds revealed that the low amounts of residual TAG were mostly confined to the embryonic axis. Similar spatial distributions of specific TAG and acetyl-TAG molecular species, as well as their probable diacylglycerol (DAG) precursors, provide additional evidence that acetyl-TAG and TAG are both synthesized from the same tissue-specific DAG pools. Remarkably, this ultrahigh production of acetyl-TAG in transgenic seeds exhibited minimal negative effects on seed properties, highlighting the potential for production of designer oils required for economical biofuel industries.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2026

A Fluorescence‐Based Transient Expression Assay for the Analysis of Upstream Open Reading Frames in Plants

Upstream open reading frames (uORFs) are regulatory elements present in the 5′ leaders of mRNA that can significantly impact downstream gene expression in eukaryotes. In crop engineering, editing of uORFs can provide an avenue to upregulate expression of native genes without the need to add persistent transgenic copies. Even with genome-wide methods to identify translated uORFs such as ribosome profiling, their functional characterization depends on validation through reporter gene assays and mutagenesis studies. Current screening methods for plants use luciferases or protoplasts to measure differential gene expression between wild-type and mutated transcript leaders, which requires tissue processing and/or substrate addition. Here, we present a time- and cost-efficient alternative to investigate transcript leaders by co-expression of two fluorescent proteins in Nicotiana benthamiana leaf tissue and test our assay on genes involved in photoprotection, editing of which could provide a pathway to increase CO 2 assimilation during sun–shade transitions.

Nicotiana benthamiana↗
NASA NTRS1975

Project BIOCORE /M212/, a biological cosmic ray experiment - Procedures, summary, and conclusions

The primary objective of the experiment was to determine whether a specific portion of the high Z-high energy (HZE) galactic cosmic ray particle spectrum, especially particles with Z no less than 6, can produce microscopically visible injury of brain and eye tissues. Pocket mice (Perognathus longimembris), obtained from the California desert, were selected as the biological target. Five of these mice were flown on Apollo XVII. Not only the brain and eyes but also many other tissues of these animals were studied for evidence of cosmic ray particle damage. The lack of prior experimental evidence as to the character of the potential injury induced by HZE particles required reliance on the physical characteristics of particle radiation in ascertaining the probable nature of the injury. These characteristics and the key aspects of the experiment are summarized in this paper. Subsequent articles in this special supplement give details of the biological, engineering, and dosimetric aspects of BIOCORE together with the results.

Haymaker, W.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Transgenic Mixed‐Linkage‐Glucan Enhancement Affects Root Characteristics and Decomposition in Soils of Contrasting Vegetation History

ABSTRACT Development of transgenic bioenergy sorghum [ Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] with increased contents of mixed‐linkage (1,3;1,4)‐β‐glucan (MLG) is an important step towards enhancing quality of bioenergy feedstocks. Since MLG‐enhancement leads to greater biomass digestibility, our overarching hypothesis is that root residues of MLG‐enhanced plants may be more readily decomposed in the soil, potentially creating new opportunities for optimizing soil carbon (C) sequestration, nutrient cycling, and overall agricultural sustainability. The study examined morphological, chemical, and enzymatic characteristics of fine and coarse roots of four bioenergy sorghum genotypes. Then, we incubated the roots within soils with contrasting vegetation histories while measuring C mineralization, microbial biomass C (MBC), and activity of hydrolytic enzymes and calculating vector length and vector angle enzymatic stoichiometry parameters. The results indicated that MLG‐enhancing transformations increased root total nitrogen (N) contents, decreased C/N ratios, and were associated with higher MLG concentrations in fine than in coarse roots. Incubations with transgenic roots led to 16%–38% higher MBC and 19%–41% lower microbial metabolic quotient (qCO 2 ). While enzyme activity differed markedly among the studied genotypes, it did not directly respond to MLG levels in root tissues. The increase in MBC without concurrent increases in C mineralization or hydrolytic enzyme activities in transgenic genotypes suggests that MLG enhancement promoted microbial anabolic retention of root‐derived C rather than stimulating catabolic decomposition. Enzymatic vector results indicated that these parameters reflect a variety of drivers behind microbial enzyme production, including availability of specific substrates, such as MLG here, and/or deficiency in specific nutrients, such as phosphorus (P). The study confirms the positive impacts from the roots of engineered MLG‐enhanced bioenergy plants on soil microbial activity and highlights the interactive influences on the MLG‐enhancement effects from root size and inherent soil properties.

Mahmoodabadi, Majid [Department of Plant, Soil, an↗
NASA NTRS2003

Effect Of Gravity On Porous Tricalcium Phosphate And Nonstoichiometric Titanium Carbide Produced Via Combustion Synthesis

Novel processing techniques, such as self-propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS), have the capability to rapidly produce advanced porous materials that are difficult to fabricate by other methods. This processing technique is also capable of near net shape synthesis, while variable gravity allows the manipulation of the structure and composition of the material. The creation of porous tricalcium phosphate (TCP) is advantageous in the biomaterials field, since it is both a biocompatible material and an osteoconductive material. Porous tricalcium phosphate produced via SHS is an excellent candidate for bone scaffold material in the bone regeneration process. The porosity allows for great vascularization and ingrowth of tissue. Titanium Carbide is a nonstoichiometric biocompatible material that can be incorporated into a TiC-Ti composite system using combustion synthesis. The TiC-Ti composite exhibits a wide range of mechanical and chemical properties. Both of these material systems (TCP and TiC-Ti) can be used to advantage in designing novel bone replacement materials. Gravity plays an important role in both the pore structure and the chemical uniformity of these composite systems and offers considerable potential in advanced bone engineering.

Castillo, M.↗
NASA NTRS1995

STS-70 Mission Highlights

The highlights of the STS-70 mission are presented in this video. The flight crew consisted of Cmdr. Tom Henricks, Pilot Kevin Kregel, Flight Engineer Nancy Currie, and Mission Specialists Dr. Don Thomas and Dr. Mary Ellen Weber. The mission's primary objective was the deployment of the 7th Tracking Data and Relay Satellite (TDRS), which will provide a communication, tracking, telemetry, data acquisition, and command services space-based network system essential to low Earth orbital spacecraft. Secondary mission objectives included activating and studying the Physiological and Anatomical Rodent Experiment/National Institutes of Health-Rodents (PARE/NIH-R), The Bioreactor Demonstration System (BDS), the Commercial Protein Crystal Growth (CPCG) studies, the Space Tissue Loss/National Institutes of Health-Cells (STL/NIH-C) experiment, the Biological Research in Canisters (BRIC) experiment, Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment-2 (SAREX-2), the Visual Function Tester-4 (VFT-4), the Hand-Held, Earth Oriented, Real-Time, Cooperative, User-Friendly, Location-Targeting and Environmental System (HERCULES), the Microcapsules in Space-B (MIS-B) experiment, the Windows Experiment (WINDEX), the Radiation Monitoring Equipment-3 (RME-3), and the Military Applications of Ship Tracks (MAST) experiment. There was an in-orbit dedication ceremony by the spacecrew and the newly Integrated Mission Control Center to commemorate the Center's integration. The STS-70 mission was the first mission monitored by this new control center. Earth views included the Earth's atmosphere, a sunrise over the Earth's horizon, several views of various land masses, some B/W lightning shots, some cloud cover, and a tropical storm.

Source record↗