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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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NASA NTRS1994

Exploring the Moon: A teacher's guide with activities for Earth and space sciences

This guide contains educational materials designed for use in upper elementary through high schools with the Lunar Sample Disk. A set of thirty-six 35-mm slides complements the activities in this guidebook. The book contains: (1) information on the Lunar Sample Disk; (2) a curriculum content matrix; (3) a teacher's guide; (4) moon ABC's fact sheet; (5) rock ABC's fact sheet; (6) progress in Lunar Science chart; (7) seventeen activities; (8) a resource section for each unit; (9) a glossary; and (10) a list of NASA educational resources.

Taylor, G. Jeffrey↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Firesense: Supporting Operational Partners Through Co-Development

Fire is a natural disturbance and fundamental to many ecosystems, but, across the United States and many areas globally, fires have become more common, larger and more likely to occur at the same time. This has the potential to challenge resource allocation and response and requires coordinated integration of technology and tools at the spatial and temporal scales required by practitioners who make wildland fire management decisions. In the US wildfire is currently managed across state, federal, and tribal agencies who leverage various datasets to guide management decisions. FireSense, a NASA Science Mission Directorate project, aims to develop and deliver trailblazing technology and tools for use before, during, and after wildland fires by working together with land managers and practitioners. FireSense is focused on turning information into solutions by expanding partnerships and collaborations with operational agencies to inform and deliver data and technology to support decisions for wildland fire management. Through implementation across the US and with campaign activities in a variety of landscapes, coordinated research and development work will build upon adaptive and use-inspired approaches that can be put into operation. By leveraging and complementing partner activities through coordinated investment, we support a more comprehensive and cohesive response that can advance fire science to better understand fire behavior and effects through integrated measurement, monitoring and modeling. We present updates from in-progress technology development and field campaigns within the US which include sampling and application across scales with information from multiple sensors collocated with field measurements and highlighting the importance of cross-scale observations during the fire lifecycle. Coordinated investment in new science and technology for the complete fire lifecycle supports a comprehensive and cohesive fire response that help to overcome barriers and anticipate and manage the new reality of extreme fires in a warming world.

Jacquelyn Shuman↗

DOE OSTI2022

An auto-inhibited state of protein kinase G and implications for selective activation

Cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinases (PKGs) are key mediators of the nitric oxide/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signaling pathway that regulates biological functions as diverse as smooth muscle contraction, cardiac function, and axon guidance. Understanding how cGMP differentially triggers mammalian PKG isoforms could lead to new therapeutics that inhibit or activate PKGs, complementing drugs that target nitric oxide synthases and cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases in this signaling axis. Alternate splicing of PRKG1 transcripts confers distinct leucine zippers, linkers, and auto-inhibitory (AI) pseudo-substrate sequences to PKG Iα and Iβ that result in isoform-specific activation properties, but the mechanism of enzyme auto-inhibition and its alleviation by cGMP is not well understood. Here, we present a crystal structure of PKG Iβ in which the AI sequence and the cyclic nucleotide-binding (CNB) domains are bound to the catalytic domain, providing a snapshot of the auto-inhibited state. Specific contacts between the PKG Iβ AI sequence and the enzyme active site help explain isoform-specific activation constants and the effects of phosphorylation in the linker. We also present a crystal structure of a PKG I CNB domain with an activating mutation linked to Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms and Dissections. Similarity of this structure to wildtype cGMP-bound domains and differences with the auto-inhibited enzyme provide a mechanistic basis for constitutive activation. We show that PKG Iβ auto-inhibition is mediated by contacts within each monomer of the native full-length dimeric protein, and using the available structural and biochemical data we develop a model for the regulation and cooperative activation of PKGs.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2024

CARILEC Resilient Energy Community CoP for Cybersecurity Workshop Series: Cybersecurity Assessment Tools [Slides]

For the last several years and in collaboration with CARILEC, USAID and NREL have been working to support cyber resilience at power sector utilities in Latin America and the Caribbean. Direct technical assistance with regional utilities has been a key component of USAID-NREL Partnership activities, and technical assistance has typically included a foundational cybersecurity assessment using NREL's Distributed Energy Resource Cybersecurity Framework (DER-CF) tool. The DER-CF allows organizations to benchmark and evaluate their cybersecurity posture across the areas of Governance, Technical Management, and Physical Security. To complement the activities of the newly created CAREC IT/OT and Cybersecurity Team, this webinar on cybersecurity assessment tools includes an overview of the DER-CF tool and a discussion with regional stakeholders and NREL experts on the DER-CF assessment process and other resources for cybersecurity assessments.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

DOE OSTI2026

NLR CSP Optical Facilities: Illuminating the Path Forward Through Innovation and Impact: Agreement 38490

This initiative is a multi-faceted project at the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) aimed at strengthening its Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) Optical Facilities to advance the development of low-cost, high-performance materials for solar and other applications. The project's strategy is built on three pillars: strategic stakeholder engagement, diligent facility maintenance and utilization, and the development of new research capabilities. The overarching goal is to ensure the facilities remain state-of-the-art resources for industry and academia, thereby accelerating the conversion of concentrated sunlight into energy. A key driver of the project is an international Advisory Board, which provides critical guidance on research priorities and industry needs, leading to new collaborations and secured funding. This external engagement, combined with proactive outreach to industry partners, ensures the lab's work remains aligned with real-world challenges, including materials durability and performance certification. Significant efforts in facility maintenance have addressed challenges with aging infrastructure. Notable achievements include the complete refurbishment of the hail-damaged Ultra-Accelerated Weathering System (UAWS) and the successful replacement of a failing 15-year-old Lambda 1050 spectrophotometer with a new-generation model, substantially upgrading material characterization capabilities. These maintenance activities were complemented by achieving a prestigious ISO 9001:2015 certification for the Advanced Optical Materials Labs, formally recognizing the quality and reliability of NLR's measurement capabilities. Despite these successes, challenges remain, including high demand for the High Flux Solar Furnace (HFSF) and intermittent failures of other key instruments. The project has delivered major advancements in research techniques and capabilities. At the Flatirons campus, a new indoor laboratory, was established to house advanced deflectometry and photogrammetry systems for heliostat characterization. For on-sun testing, a novel, actively cooled turning mirror was developed for the HFSF, enabling more realistic testing of particle receivers and components. A collaboration with Virginia Tech successfully demonstrated the high-temperature durability of a new solar absorber coating through extensive cyclic testing. Concurrently, new modeling took place to better predict material degradation on rough, fractal surfaces. In summary, this project has systematically enhanced NLR's CSP Optical Facilities through strategic upgrades, rigorous maintenance, and stakeholder-guided research. By overcoming equipment failures, budgetary constraints, and logistical hurdles, the project has reinforced NLR's role as a central hub for CSP innovation and materials testing. Future work will focus on securing diverse funding, expanding collaborations, and continuing to provide the critical infrastructure needed to accelerate the development and deployment of next-generation technologies.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2020

Google Health Trends performance reflecting dengue incidence for the Brazilian states

Abstract Background Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne infection transmitted by Aedes aegypti and mainly found in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Since its re-introduction in 1986, Brazil has become a hotspot for dengue and has experienced yearly epidemics. As a notifiable infectious disease, Brazil uses a passive epidemiological surveillance system to collect and report cases; however, dengue burden is underestimated. Thus, Internet data streams may complement surveillance activities by providing real-time information in the face of reporting lags. Methods We analyzed 19 terms related to dengue using Google Health Trends (GHT), a free-Internet data-source, and compared it with weekly dengue incidence between 2011 to 2016. We correlated GHT data with dengue incidence at the national and state-level for Brazil while using the adjusted R squared statistic as primary outcome measure (0/1). We used survey data on Internet access and variables from the official census of 2010 to identify where GHT could be useful in tracking dengue dynamics. Finally, we used a standardized volatility index on dengue incidence and developed models with different variables with the same objective. Results From the 19 terms explored with GHT, only seven were able to consistently track dengue. From the 27 states, only 12 reported an adjusted R squared higher than 0.8; these states were distributed mainly in the Northeast, Southeast, and South of Brazil. The usefulness of GHT was explained by the logarithm of the number of Internet users in the last 3 months, the total population per state, and the standardized volatility index. Conclusions The potential contribution of GHT in complementing traditional established surveillance strategies should be analyzed in the context of geographical resolutions smaller than countries. For Brazil, GHT implementation should be analyzed in a case-by-case basis. State variables including total population, Internet usage in the last 3 months, and the standardized volatility index could serve as indicators determining when GHT could complement dengue state level surveillance in other countries.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2024

Thermodynamic control on the decomposition of organic matter across different electron acceptors

The increasing availability of high-resolution characterization of natural organic matter (OM) data has shifted the paradigm of lumped descriptions of OM components and potential microbial activities. Our recent development of a substrate-explicit thermodynamic model uniquely enables incorporating complex OM pools to formulate biogeochemical reaction models based on their elemental compositions. While this previous work facilitates prediction of aerobic respiration of complex OM, it is equally imperative to consider the role of non-oxygenic electron acceptors in regulating OM turnover and the fate of carbon. In this study, we significantly expand our previous model by flexibly incorporating both detailed OM chemistry and electron acceptors other than oxygen. Here, our modeling analysis has revealed substantial variations in the energy status of OM molecules across different soils, which drive the co-occurrence of different electron-accepting processes. We demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed model using a consistency check with experimental data. Through systematic evaluation of the impact of diverse chemical inputs (both electron donors and acceptors) on OM decomposition, the new model also revealed how key microbial growth parameters such as carbon use efficiency (CUE) and reaction rates vary across different electron-accepting processes. Our model provides a unified framework integrating thermodynamic and kinetic constraints on microbial metabolic activities. It complements traditional kinetic models, which are often designed solely to capture mass fluxes. We conclude that thermodynamic modeling emerges as a powerful tool for describing the mechanisms underlying the interplay between microbial growth and OM chemistry and cycling across different electron acceptors, enhancing our ability to project complex ecosystem behaviors in dynamic environments.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2021

Soil gas probes for monitoring trace gas messengers of microbial activity

Abstract Soil microbes vigorously produce and consume gases that reflect active soil biogeochemical processes. Soil gas measurements are therefore a powerful tool to monitor microbial activity. Yet, the majority of soil gases lack non-disruptive subsurface measurement methods at spatiotemporal scales relevant to microbial processes and soil structure. To address this need, we developed a soil gas sampling system that uses novel diffusive soil probes and sample transfer approaches for high-resolution sampling from discrete subsurface regions. Probe sampling requires transferring soil gas samples to above-ground gas analyzers where concentrations and isotopologues are measured. Obtaining representative soil gas samples has historically required balancing disruption to soil gas composition with measurement frequency and analyzer volume demand. These considerations have limited attempts to quantify trace gas spatial concentration gradients and heterogeneity at scales relevant to the soil microbiome. Here, we describe our new flexible diffusive probe sampling system integrated with a modified, reduced volume trace gas analyzer and demonstrate its application for subsurface monitoring of biogeochemical cycling of nitrous oxide (N 2 O) and its site-specific isotopologues, methane, carbon dioxide, and nitric oxide in controlled soil columns. The sampling system observed reproducible responses of soil gas concentrations to manipulations of soil nutrients and redox state, providing a new window into the microbial response to these key environmental forcings. Using site-specific N 2 O isotopologues as indicators of microbial processes, we constrain the dynamics of in situ microbial activity. Unlocking trace gas messengers of microbial activity will complement -omics approaches, challenge subsurface models, and improve understanding of soil heterogeneity to disentangle interactive processes in the subsurface biome.

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS↗

DOE OSTI2021

The FRAM robotic telescope for atmospheric monitoring at the Pierre Auger Observatory

FRAM (F/Photometric Robotic Atmospheric Monitor) is a robotic telescope operated at the Pierre Auger Observatory in Argentina for the purposes of atmospheric monitoring using stellar photometry. As a passive system which does not produce any light that could interfere with the observations of the fluorescence telescopes of the observatory, it complements the active monitoring systems that use lasers. We discuss the applications of stellar photometry for atmospheric monitoring at optical observatories in general and the particular modes of operation employed by the Auger FRAM. We describe in detail the technical aspects of FRAM, the hardware and software requirements for a successful operation of a robotic telescope for such a purpose and their implementation within the FRAM system.

Optics↗

NASA NTRS1985

Solar Ultraviolet Spectral Irradiance Monitor (SUSIM)

The solar ultraviolet spectral irradiance monitor (SUSIM) measures the ultraviolet flux from the entire Sun with high absolute accuracy over the wavelength range 120 to 400 nm with a resolution of 0.1 nm. SUSIM consists of two identical double dispersion scanning spectrometers with 5 photodiodes, 2 photon counters, and a deuterium lamp calibration source, all sealed in a canister pressurized to 1.1 atmosphere of argon. One spectrometer is used almost continuously during sunlight, the other is used once per day as a calibration check. The observations will yield improved absolute measurements of the ultraviolet solar fluxes, provide an accurate reference for studies of variability of the solar fluxes on the time scales of the solar cycle and longer, and measure shorter term changes as well. These measurements complement the active cavity radiometer (ACR) measurements of the total solar irradiance. The data will be used to study the physical behavior of the Sun and the Earth's atmosphere, weather, and climate.

Moore, R. L.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Concurrent remote sensing of Arctic sea ice from submarine and aircraft

In May 1987 a concurrent remote sensing study of Arctic sea ice from above and below was carried out. A submarine equipped with sidescan and upward looking sonar collaborated with two remote sensing aircraft equipped with passive microwave, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), a laser profilometer and an infrared radiometer. By careful registration of the three tracks it has been possible to find relationships between ice type, ice morphology and thickness, SAR backscatter and microwave brightness temperatures. The key to the process has been the sidescan sonar's ability to identify ice type through differences in characteristic topography. Over a heavily ridged area of mainly multiyear ice there is a strong positive correlation between SAR backscatter and ice draft or elevation. It was also found that passive and active microwave complement each other in that SAR has a high contrast between open water and multiyear ice, while passive microwave has a high contrast between open water and first-year ice.

Wadhams, P.↗

NASA NTRS1994

A novel computational method to simulate non-enzymatic self-replication

Non-enzymatic, template-directed synthesis of oligonucleotides has been extensively studied in the laboratory as a model to understand the kind of chemical processes that might have contributed to the origin of life on Earth. Several oligonucleotides have been shown to catalyze the synthesis of their complements from activated mononucleotides; however, a restricted number of them have been found to self-replicate. Recently we developed an efficient modified cellular automata method that supports the study of self-replicating oligonucleotides. With this method the oligonucleotide molecules are represented as active cells imbedded in a two-dimensional array of inactive cells symbolizing the environment. Random movements and probability-governed chemical reactions occurring in a cellular space can effectively simulate the experimental behavior observed in self-directed replication of oligonucleotides.

Navarro-Gonzalez, Rafael↗

NASA NTRS1997

Continuing Studies in Support of Ultraviolet Observations of Planetary Atmospheres

This program was a one-year extension of an earlier Planetary Atmospheres program grant, covering the period 1 August 1996 through 30 September 1997. The grant was for supporting work to complement an active program observing planetary atmospheres with Earth-orbital telescopes, principally the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The recent concentration of this work has been on HST observations of Jupiter's upper atmosphere and aurora, but it has also included observations of Io, serendipitous observations of asteroids, and observations of the velocity structure in the interplanetary medium. The observations of Jupiter have been at vacuum ultraviolet wavelengths, including imaging and spectroscopy of the auroral and airglow emissions. The most recent HST observations have been at the same time as in situ measurements made by the Galileo orbiter instruments, as reflected in the meeting presentations listed below. Concentrated efforts have been applied in this year to the following projects: The analysis of HST WFPC 2 images of Jupiter's aurora, including the Io footprint emissions. We have performed a comparative analysis of the lo footprint locations with two magnetic field models, studied the statistical properties of the apparent dawn auroral storms on Jupiter, and found various other repeated patterns in Jupiter's aurora. Analysis and modeling of airglow and auroral Ly alpha emission line profiles from Jupiter. This has included modeling the aurora] line profiles, including the energy degradation of precipitating charged particles and radiative transfer of the emerging emissions. Jupiter's auroral emission line profile is self-absorbed, since it is produced by an internal source, and the resulting emission with a deep central absorption from the overlying atmosphere permits modeling of the depth of the emissions, plus the motion of the emitting layer with respect to the overlying atmospheric column from the observed Doppler shift of the central absorption. By contrast the airglow emission line, which is dominated by resonant scattering of solar emission, has no central absorption, but displays rapid time variations and broad wings, indicative of a superthermal component (or corona) in Jupiter's upper atmosphere. Modeling of the observed motions of the plumes produced after the impacts of the fragments of Comet S/L-9 with Jupiter in July 1994, from the HST WFPC 2 imaging series.

Clark, John↗

NASA NTRS1995

Template switching between PNA and RNA oligonucleotides

The origin of the RNA world is not easily understood, as effective prebiotic syntheses of the components of RNA, the beta-ribofuranoside-5'-phosphates, are hard to envisage. Recognition of this difficulty has led to the proposal that other genetic systems, the components of which are more easily formed, may have preceded RNA. This raises the question of how transitions between one genetic system and another could occur. Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) resembles RNA in its ability to form double-helical complexes stabilized by Watson-Crick hydrogen bonding between adenine and thymine and between cytosine and guanine, but has a backbone that is held together by amide rather than by phosphodiester bonds. Oligonucleotides bases on RNA are known to act as templates that catalyse the non-enzymatic synthesis of their complements from activated mononucleotides, we now show that RNA oligonucleotides facilitate the synthesis of complementary PNA strands and vice versa. This suggests that a transition between different genetic systems can occur without loss of information.

NASA Discipline Exobiology↗

NASA NTRS2016

TPSAS-NF1676L-23432-DND

The POLSTRACC (POlar STRAtosphere in a Changing Climate) field campaign was conducted in the Arctic during December 2015 - March 2016 to investigate the chemical, microphysical, and dynamical processes of the Arctic lowermost stratosphere and upper troposphere. The primary measurement platform for POLSTRACC was the German HALO (High Altitude LOng range) research aircraft carrying a large suite of in situ and remote sensing instruments to measure key chemical species, tracers, as well as aerosol and cloud particles and meteorological parameters. Two primary science objectives of POLSTRACC are to improve our understanding of polar stratospheric cloud (PSC) particle characteristics and formation processes and investigate the impact of Arctic cirrus clouds on radiative forcing and chlorine activation. To complement the more focused measurements from the POLSTRACC field campaign, we have used spaceborne lidar measurements from CALIPSO to characterize PSC occurrence and composition, as well as the occurrence of Arctic cirrus during the 2015-2016 season on vortex-wide scales. In this paper, we present a general overview of the 2015-2016 winter, examine in detail the evolution of PSCs and cirrus during the season, and explore the unique aspects of this season in attempt to understand the underlying physical mechanisms.

Michael C Pitts↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Models, In situ, and Remote sensing of Aerosols (MIRA): Formation of an International Working Group

There is a natural partitioning of scientific interest amongst three specialties of aerosol research: modeling, in situ measurements, and remote sensing. The community sees enhanced measurement capabilities when these groups interact, and this strengthens the overall scientific impact on climate and air quality. The Models, In situ, and Remote sensing of Aerosols (MIRA) working group connects members of the different aerosol communities through collaborative projects. What is MIRA? MIRA is forum that fosters international collaborations amongst the aerosol specialties. MIRA is also a collection of interdisciplinary projects with clear goals that are pursued by small working groups. Finally, MIRA projects are generally characterized by requests for additional scientific data (both observational and modeled). Why? The purpose of MIRA is to contextualize both observations and model results through the encouragement of holistic projects and collaborations. How does MIRA differ from other projects? MIRA focuses on interdisciplinarity to improve measurements and their utility, so MIRA complements the activities of other groups. For example, ensemble model runs of AeroCom could be used in a MIRA project with greater robustness than a similar effort that uses single-model analyses. We first present a description of MIRA and how your project can become a part of the MIRA community. This is followed by brief descriptions of some of the current MIRA projects, which include the Mapping of Aerosol lidar ratios for CALIPSO (MAC), the Tables of Aerosol Optics (TAO), and the Harmonization of aerosol Assimilation Models and Retrievals (HAMR). Finally, we discuss the immediate science goals and organization of MIRA.

Gregory Schuster↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Models, In situ, and Remote sensing of Aerosols (MIRA)

The Models, In situ, and Remote sensing of Aerosols (MIRA) working group connects members of the different aerosol communities through collaborative projects. This abstract, additional details, and a list of current projects can be found at https://science.larc.nasa.gov/mira-wg/. Join our email distribution list of 200+ members at https://espo.nasa.gov/lists/listinfo/mira.In this talk, we will describe some current MIRA projects that are relevant to AeroCom (e.g., the Table of Aerosol Optics, or TAO) and the benefits of presenting your multi-disciplinary work at MIRA sessions and meetings. What is MIRA? MIRA is forum that fosters international collaborations amongst the aerosol Modeling, In situ, and Remote sensing specialties. MIRA advances scientific knowledge about aerosol properties and improves our understanding of air quality, weather, and climate through the pursuit of specific goals. MIRA emphasizes areas of study where the aerosol specialties overlap, and MIRA projects seek additional data and insight from others (observational and modeled). Why? The purpose of MIRA is to contextualize both observations and model results through the encouragement of holistic projects and collaborations. Linking aerosol disciplines removes gaps in understanding that hinder our interpretation of observations and model results. Such linkages improve our understanding of air quality, weather, and climate. How does MIRA differ from other working groups? MIRA focuses on interdisciplinarity to improve measurements and their utility, so MIRA complements the activities of other groups. Other interdisciplinary aerosol groups have different primary foci. For instance, AeroCom mainly focuses on improving global aerosol models, AeroSat focuses on strengthening collaboration amongst satellite aerosol retrieval groups, and ICAP focuses on aerosol forecasting. We hope that many MIRA projects engage these groups.

Gregory Schuster↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Models, In situ, and Remote sensing of Aerosols (MIRA)

There is a natural partitioning of scientific interest amongst three specialties of aerosol research: modeling, in situ measurements, and remote sensing. The community sees enhanced measurement capabilities when these groups interact, and this strengthens the overall scientific impact on climate and air quality. The Models, In situ, and Remote sensing of Aerosols (MIRA) working group connects members of the different aerosol communities through collaborative projects. What is MIRA? MIRA is a forum that fosters international collaborations amongst the aerosol specialties. MIRA is also a collection of interdisciplinary projects with clear goals that are pursued by small working groups. Finally, MIRA projects are generally characterized by requests for additional scientific data (both observational and modeled). Why? The purpose of MIRA is to contextualize both observations and model results through the encouragement of holistic projects and collaborations. How does MIRA differ from other projects? MIRA focuses on interdisciplinarity to improve measurements and their utility, so MIRA complements the activities of other groups. For example, ensemble model runs of AeroCom could be used in a MIRA project with greater robustness than a similar effort that uses single-model analyses. We present a description of MIRA and brief descriptions of some of the current MIRA topics, which include Satellite-Assisted Particulate Matter (SAPM), Mapping of Aerosol lidar ratios for CALIPSO (MAC), Tables of Aerosol Optics (TAO), and the Harmonization of aerosol Assimilation Models and Retrievals (HAMR). Finally, we discuss the immediate science goals and organization of MIRA. See https://science.larc.nasa.gov/mira-wg/ for more information.

Travis Toth↗