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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 667 records · Page 37
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2005

The Origin and Early Evolution of Membrane Proteins

Membrane proteins mediate functions that are essential to all cells. These functions include transport of ions, nutrients and waste products across cell walls, capture of energy and its transduction into the form usable in chemical reactions, transmission of environmental signals to the interior of the cell, cellular growth and cell volume regulation. In the absence of membrane proteins, ancestors of cell (protocells), would have had only very limited capabilities to communicate with their environment. Thus, it is not surprising that membrane proteins are quite common even in simplest prokaryotic cells. Considering that contemporary membrane channels are large and complex, both structurally and functionally, a question arises how their presumably much simpler ancestors could have emerged, perform functions and diversify in early protobiological evolution. Remarkably, despite their overall complexity, structural motifs in membrane proteins are quite simple, with a-helices being most common. This suggests that these proteins might have evolved from simple building blocks. To explain how these blocks could have organized into functional structures, we performed large-scale, accurate computer simulations of folding peptides at a water-membrane interface, their insertion into the membrane, self-assembly into higher-order structures and function. The results of these simulations, combined with analysis of structural and functional experimental data led to the first integrated view of the origin and early evolution of membrane proteins.

Pohorille, Andrew↗
DOE OSTI2024

Velocity Dependence of Rate‐And‐State Friction in Granular Fault Gouge and Implications for Slow‐Slip Events

Abstract The standard rate‐and‐state friction (RSF) has extensively captured frictional behaviors, but it fails to explain the velocity dependence of frictional stability transition and widespread slow‐slip events (SSEs) in experiments and nature adequately. An alternative microphysical Chen‐Niemeijer‐Spiers (CNS) model can well describe the velocity dependence of frictional behaviors of granular gouges. Using the original CNS model, standard RSF parameters can be quantified microphysically. However, some micro‐parameters are not easy to estimate quantitatively, making it difficult to extrapolate to natural and experimental conditions. Here, we simplify the microphysically‐derived RSF parameters including direct effect a , evolution effect b , and critical slip distance D c , as well as equivalent values ( a eq , b eq , and D eq ). The simplified friction parameters directly illustrate their velocity dependence, namely the essentially constant a , a eq , and D c , negatively velocity‐dependent b and b eq , as well as varying D eq for different laws. They are roughly consistent with experimental results in various fault gouges. A modified CNS model is further derived from the original CNS model, establishing a direct link between the standard RSF and CNS models. The modified CNS model exhibits virtually identical frictional behaviors to the original CNS, but differs from the standard RSF at large velocity perturbations. Moreover, the linearized stability analysis indicates that the critical stiffness for the modified CNS model is velocity‐dependent. Compared with the standard RSF, the modified CNS model not only explains the velocity dependence of frictional stability transition, but also exhibits a more gradual transition for SSEs with a broader range of stiffness ratios.

Geochemistry & Geophysics↗
DOE OSTI2025

HPC for optimizing process parameters to control material evolution in seamless induction hardening of wind turbine main shaft bearings

Work proposed in this project focused on understanding the effect of martensitic transformation in the steel on the potential for cracking during seamless induction hardening (SIH) as a function of process conditions to allow the process to optimally scale up. Large-scale, three-dimensional phase-field simulations of martensitic transformation were performed using MEUMAPPS-SS (Microstructure Evolution Using Massively Parallel Phase-field Simulations – Solid State) code developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The simulations were guided by location-specific thermal history generated by experimental measurements of time-temperature history generated at The Timken Company. The simulations were able to capture the morphological evolution of the martensite variants in an Fe-1.0C-1.5Cr steel based on the Nishiyama-Wasserman (NW) orientation relationship. The simulations were also able to quantify the stress-state at the interface between impinging martensite variants. The simulations indicated that the magnitude of the various stress and strain components were dependent on the sizes of the impinging plates with a reduction in these quantities with reduced plate size in agreement with experimental findings. The results obtained from the simulations will be used to guide the optimization of the alloy thermal conditions to eliminate quench cracking during SIH of bearing steels.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2019

Characterization of Creep-Fatigue Crack Growth in Alloy 709 and Prediction of Service Lives in Nuclear Reactor Components (Final Report)

This final report summarizes the activities and results that were obtained by the research team working on the project “Characterization of Creep-Fatigue Crack Growth in Alloy 709 and Prediction of Service Lives in Nuclear Reactor Components”, DOE-NEUP Project 15-8623. This project was mainly concerned with the creep-fatigue crack growth characterization of austenitic stainless-steel Fe-20Cr-25Ni (Alloy 709). For this purpose, an array of experimental and computational activities was performed. The main goal of these activities was to describe and predict the crack growth behavior in Alloy 709 under different conditions of applied loading and temperature. Alloy 709 specimens were tested to describe both the uniaxial creep behavior and creep-fatigue crack growth rates at temperatures between 550°C and 700°C. Microstructure and fracture surface analysis was performed using several experimental techniques, and the defining features of crack growth propagation were identified and described. Thermodynamic and diffusion simulations were performed to understand the microstructure evolution of Alloy 709 at elevated temperatures, and to establish an aging schedule relevant for in-service conditions over extended periods. Experimental testing was performed on both as-received and aged Alloy 709 specimens. Two computational methods were developed to predict crack growth rates and remaining lives in specimens loaded under either fatigue of creep-fatigue. The first computational technique was the finite element method, while the second was strip-yield modeling. Both methods relied on the prediction of crack growth rates using the concept of plasticity-induced crack closure. Crack-tip opening loads were computed and used to perform crack growth rate predictions. The computational predictions matched well with the experimental results. The strip-yield model was shown to be an excellent predictive tool not only for crack growth in austenitic SS Alloy 709, but also in 316 SS, martensitic Cr-Mo steels, Ni-based alloys and Al-based alloys. The main conclusion of this study is that Alloy 709 exhibits excellent creep crack growth resistance at temperatures between 550°C and 700°C. In fact, the crack growth resistance of this alloy appears to be higher than that of 316 SS in similar testing conditions. Moreover, when creep loading with hold (dwell) times of 60s or 600s were intercalated every fatigue cycle, the crack growth rates did not change significantly. The conclusion is that the tests performed revealed that the crack growth is insignificant during the creep portion of a loading cycle, as compared with the crack growth during the fatigue portion of the cycle. In general, Alloy 709 shows excellent resistance to creep deformations and creep crack growth up to 700°C.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Dynamic observation of dual-beam irradiated Fe and Fe-10Cr alloys at 435 °C

The attractive mechanical properties and superior resistance to void-swelling make ferritic/martensitic alloys a promising structural material for advanced nuclear reactors. However, one anomaly that has intrigued researchers for more than 50 years is the proportion of two types of dislocation loops in Fe and Fe-Cr alloys with Burger vectors b=½<111> and b=<100>. Although the possible mechanisms responsible for the presence of <100> loops continue to be the subject of intense modeling studies, there remains incomplete experimental understanding of fundamental irradiation processes in Fe(Cr) alloys. Here, the dose dependence of the irradiation-induced microstructural evolution was examined from 0 to 20 displacement per atom (dpa) in high purity Fe and Fe-10Cr during simultaneous dual-beam (1 MeV Kr + 10 appm He/dpa) irradiation at 435 °C. We experimentally revealed that the mechanism for the formation of <100> loops may not follow the conventional simple dislocation reaction between two 1½<111> loops. Real-time dynamic formation and evolution of defects including black dot loops, loop coarsening, loop decoration, network dislocations, and cavities were demonstrated. Several results indicated that the addition of Cr and He could impede dislocation loop motion. The evolution of the defect size/density and relative fraction of ½<111> vs <100> loops were quantitatively summarized. With increasing dose, ½<111> loops became the dominant type of loop in both materials. Notably, <100> loops were predominantly observed near grain boundaries only for pure Fe, while arrays of nanoscale black dot defects composing the <100> loop strings were observed in plenty in Fe-10Cr.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1982

The dryout region in frictionally heated sliding contacts

Some conditions under which boiling and two-phase flow can occur in or near a wet sliding contact are determined and illustrated. The experimental apparatus consisted of a tool pressed against an instrumented slider plate and motion picture sequences at 4000 frames/sec. The temperature and photographic data demonstrated surface conditions of boiling, drying, trapped gas evolution (solutions), and volatility of fluid mixture components. The theoretical modeling and analysis are in reasonable agreement with experimental data.

Hendricks, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The dryout region in frictionally heated sliding contacts

Some conditions under which boiling and two-phase flow can occur in or near a wet sliding contact are determined and illustrated. The experimental apparatus consisted of a tool pressed against an instrumented slider plate and motion picture sequences at 4000 frames/sec. The temperature and photographic data demonstated surface conditions of boiling, dry, trapped gas evolution (solutions), and volatility of fluid mixture components. The theoretical modeling and analysi are in reasonable agreement with experimental data. Previously announced in STAR as N82-28574

Hendricks, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS2020

Experimental Impacts into Strength-Layered Targets: Crater Morphology and Morphometry

Impact cratering is a fundamental physical process that has dominated the evolution and modification of nearly every planetary surface in the Solar System. Impact craters serve as a means to probe the subsurface structure of a planetary body and provide hints about target surface properties. By examining small craters on the lunar maria and comparing these to experimental impacts in the laboratory, Oberbeck and Quaide first suggested that crater morphology can be used to estimate the thickness of a regolith layer on top of a more competent unit. Lunar craters show a morphological progression from a simple bowl shape to flat-floored and concentric craters as crater diameter increases for a given regolith thickness. This quantitative relationship is commonly used to estimate regolith thicknesses on the lunar surface and has also been explored via numerical and experimental studies. Here we report on a series of experimental impact craters formed in targets com-posed of a thin layer of loose sand on top of a stronger substrate at the Experimental Impact Laboratory at NASA Johnson Space Center.

Anderson, J. L. B.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Order-parameter evolution in the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov phase

Here, we report on the temperature dependence of the spatially modulated spin-polarization amplitude ΔK spin , which is a hallmark of the superconducting Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) state. For that, we use 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy performed on the organic conductor β" -(ET) 2 SF 5 CH 2 CF 2 SO 3 . From a comparison of our experimental results to a comprehensive modeling of the 13 C NMR spectra, we determine the evolution of ΔK spin upon condensation of the FFLO state. Further, the modeling of the spectra in the superconducting phase allows to quantify the decrease of the average spin susceptibility, stemming from the spin-singlet coupling of the superconducting electron pairs in the FFLO state of β" -(ET) 2 SF 5 CH 2 CF 2 SO 3 .

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2026

Unraveling interphase-driven failure pathways in LiMn0.6Fe0.4PO4/graphite pouch cells

LiMnxFe1−xPO4 (LMFP) is a promising high-voltage, thermally stable, and earth-abundant cathode material, yet its practical application is limited by interphase instability and Mn dissolution. In this work, we systematically evaluate LiMn0.6Fe0.4PO4/graphite pouch cells using three electrolyte formulations including control carbonate electrolyte, control + 2 wt% vinylene carbonate (VC), and control + 2 wt% VC + 1 wt% 1,3,2-dioxathiolane 2,2-dioxide (DTD), to establish how electrolyte composition governs interphase chemistry and long-term degradation. Electrochemical testing shows that both additives are preferentially reduced prior to ethylene carbonate (EC) during cell formation, generating robust cathode-electrolyte interphase (CEI) and solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) layers that suppress gas evolution and raise the first-cycle coulombic efficiency to 89.3%. Additionally, the dual-additive electrolyte delivers the most stable performance, retaining over 85% capacity after 600 cycles while minimizing impedance growth under long-term cycling at C/3 and 40 °C. Soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy confirms that VC + DTD effectively suppresses electrolyte oxidation at the cathode surface, and micro-X-ray fluorescence shows substantially reduced Mn dissolution and deposition on the graphite anode. Density functional theory simulations further provided insights into the structural and energetic influences of alkoxide species on the cathode surface, proposing a Mn2+ extraction mechanism. The combined experimental and computational findings establish a mechanistic link between electrolyte composition and interphase evolution, highlighting the effectiveness of electrolyte engineering for extending the operational lifetime of LMFP-based lithium-ion batteries.

Chak, Chanmonirath Michael↗
DOE OSTI2018

Evaluation of Engineered Barrier Systems in the Disposition of Spent Nuclear Fuel

This document is a summary of the R&D activities associated with the Engineered Barrier Systems Work Package. Multiple facets of Engineered Barrier Systems (EBS) research were examined in the course of FY18 activities. This report is focused on delivering an update on the status and progress of modelling tools and experimental methods, both of which are essential to understanding and predicting long-term repository performance as part of the safety case. Specifically, the work described herein aims to improve understanding of EBS component evolution and interactions. Utlimately, the EBS Work Package is working towards producing process models for distinct processes that can either be incorporated into performance assessment (PA), or provide critical information for implementing better constraints on barrier performance The main objective of this work is that the models being developed and refined will either be implemented directly into the Generic Disposal System Analysis platform (GDSA), or can otherwise be indirectly linked to the performance assessment by providing improved bounding conditions. In either the case, the expectation is that validated modelling tools will be developed that provide critical input to the safety case. This report covers a range of topics — modelling topics include: thermal-hydrologic-mechanical-chemical coupling (THMC) in buffer materials, comparisons of modelling approaches to optimize computational efficiency, thermal analysis for EBS/repository design, benchmarking of thermal analysis tools, and a preliminary study of buffer re-saturation processes. Experimental work reported, includes: chemical evolution and sorption behavior of clay-based buffer materials and high-pressure, high temperature studies of EBS material interactions. The work leverages international collaborations to ensure that the DOE program is active and abreast of the latest advances in nuclear waste disposal. This includes participation in the HotBENT Field Test, aimed at understanding near-field effects on EBS materials at temperatures above 100 °C, and the analysis of data and characterization of samples from the FEBEX Field Test. Both the FEBEX and HotBENT Field Tests utilize/utilized the Grimsel Test Site in Switzerland, which is situated in a granite host rock. These tests offer the opportunity to understand near field evolution of bentonite buffer at in situ conditions for either a relatively long timescale (18 years for FEBEX) or temperature above 100 °C (HotBENT). Overall, this report provides in depth descriptions of tools and capabilities to investigate nearfield performance of EBS materials (esp. bentonite buffer), as well as tools for drift-scale thermal and thermal-hydrologic analysis critical to EBS and repository design. For a more detailed description of work contained herein, please see Section 10 ("Conclusions") of this document.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2018

Spatiotemporal evolution of runaway electrons from synchrotron images in Alcator C-Mod

We report in the Alcator C-Mod tokamak, relativistic runaway electron (RE) generation can occur during the flattop current phase of low density, diverted plasma discharges. Due to the high toroidal magnetic field (B 0 = 5.4 T), RE synchrotron radiation is measured by a wide-view camera in the visible wavelength range (λ ≈ 400–900 nm). In this paper, a statistical analysis of over one thousand camera images is performed to investigate the plasma conditions under which synchrotron emission is observed in C-Mod. In addition, the spatiotemporal evolution of REs during one particular discharge is explored in detail via a thorough analysis of the distortion-corrected synchrotron images. To accurately predict RE energies, the kinetic solver CODE is used to evolve the electron momentum-space distribution at six locations throughout the plasma: the magnetic axis and flux surfaces q = 1, 4/3, 3/2, 2, and 3. These results, along with the experimentally-measured magnetic topology and camera geometry, are input into the synthetic diagnostic SOFT to simulate synchrotron emission and detection. Interesting spatial structure near the surface q = 2 is found to coincide with the onset of a locked mode and increased MHD activity. Furthermore, the RE density profile evolution is fit by comparing experimental to synthetic images, providing important insight into RE spatiotemporal dynamics.

synthetic diagnostic↗
DOE OSTI2019

Assessing saturation physics explanations of collectivity in small collision systems with the ip-jazma model

Experimental measurements in relativistic collisions of small systems from $p + p$ to $p/d/ ^3He + A$ at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) and the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) reveal particle emission patterns that are strikingly similar to those observed in $A + A$ collisions of large nuclei. One explanation of these patterns is the formation of small droplets of quark-gluon plasma (QGP) followed by hydrodynamic evolution. A geometry engineering program was proposed to further investigate these emission patterns, and the experimental data from that program in $p + Au, d + Au, ^3 He + Au$ collisions for elliptic and triangular anisotropy coefficients $v_2$ and $v_3$ follow the pattern predicted by hydrodynamic calculations [C. Aidala et al. (PHENIX Collaboration), Nat. Phys. 15, 214 (2019)]. One alternative approach, referred to as initial-state correlations, suggests that for small systems the patterns observed in the final-state hadrons are encoded at the earliest moments of the collision and therefore require no final-state parton scattering or hydrodynamic evolution. Recently, new calculations using only initial-state correlations, in the dilute-dense approximation of gluon saturation physics, reported striking agreement with the $v_2$ patterns observed in $p/d/ ^3He + Au$ data at RHIC [M. Mace, V. V. Skokov, P. Tribedy, and R. Venugopalan, Phys. Rev. Lett. 121, 052301 (2018)]. The results reported by Mace, Skokov, Tribedy and Venugopalan (MSTV) are counterintuitive and thus we aim here to reproduce some of the basic features of these calculations. In this first investigation, we provide a description of our publicly available model, ip-jazma, and investigate its implications for saturation scales, multiplicity distributions, and eccentricities, reserving for later work the analysis of momentum spectra and azimuthal anisotropies. We find that our implementation of the saturation physics model reproduces the results of the MSTV calculation of the multiplicity distribution in $d + Au$ collisions at RHIC. However, additional aspects of studies, together with existing data, call into question some of the essential elements reported by MSTV. Resolution of these issues will require further developments of ip-jazma, in order to determine if it can replicate the qualitative agreement with the $v_2$ reported by MSTV. Both the work reported here and future studies will establish which features in the experimental data are uniquely attributable to the color glass condensate description.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Effect of surface defects on damage and failure of dynamically driven cylindrical shells

Here, in this work, expanding cylinder experiments are performed using a gas gun on the aluminum 6061 alloy to understand the dynamic deformation and failure behavior of this material in the presence of surface defects in the form of scratches. The experiments are then modeled with the modified Tepla (for tensile plasticity) model, which is equipped with the damage yield function of Gurson [“Continuum theory of ductile rupture by void nucleation and growth: Part I—Yield criteria and flow rules for porous ductile media,” (1977)] and Tvergaard and Needleman [Acta Metall. 32(1), 157–169 (1984)], over-stress viscosity [F. Addessio and J. Johnson, J. Appl. Phys. 74(3), 1640–1648 (1993)], and the underlying viscoplastic model of Preston et al. [J. Appl. Phys. 93(1), 211–220 (2003)] (Preston–Tonks–Wallace model) for the dense material. The Tepla model parameters were calibrated using the Bayesian approach against experimentally measured free-surface velocity data obtained from plate impact experiments on the aluminum 6061 alloy. The evolution of radial expansion and shapes of the deformed cylinder from the simulations on a pristine cylinder wall and a cylinder wall with a longitudinal surface defect shows excellent agreement with the corresponding experimental results. Finally, the role of surface defect size and cylinder wall geometry on the dynamic strength of the cylinder wall was also investigated through a series of simulations.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Determination of crystal growth rates during rapid solidification of polycrystalline aluminum by nano-scale spatio-temporal resolution in situ transmission electron microscopy

In situ investigations of rapid solidification in polycrystalline Al thin films were conducted using nano-scale spatio-temporal resolution dynamic transmission electron microscopy. Differences in crystal growth rates and asymmetries in melt pool development were observed as the heat extraction geometry was varied by controlling the proximity of the laser-pulse irradiation and the associated induced melt pools to the edge of the transmission electron microscopy support grid, which acts as a large heat sink. Experimental parameters have been established to maximize the reproducibility of the material response to the laser-pulse-related heating and to ensure that observations of the dynamical behavior of the metal are free from artifacts, leading to accurate interpretations and quantifiable measurements with improved precision. Interface migration rate measurements revealed solidification velocities that increased consistently from ∼1.3 m s{sup −1} to ∼2.5 m s{sup −1} during the rapid solidification process of the Al thin films. Under the influence of an additional large heat sink, increased crystal growth rates as high as 3.3 m s{sup −1} have been measured. The in situ experiments also provided evidence for development of a partially melted, two-phase region prior to the onset of rapid solidification facilitated crystal growth. Using the experimental observations and associated measurements as benchmarks, finite-element modeling based calculations of the melt pool evolution after pulsed laser irradiation have been performed to obtain estimates of the temperature evolution in the thin films.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
NASA NTRS1994

Heavy-ion induced genetic changes and evolution processes

On Moon and Mars, there will be more galactic cosmic rays and higher radiation doses than on Earth. Our experimental studies showed that heavy ion radiation can effectively cause mutation and chromosome aberrations and that high Linear Energy Transfer (LET) heavy-ion induced mutants can be irreversible. Chromosome translocations and deletions are common in cells irradiated by heavy particles, and ionizing radiations are effective in causing hyperploidy. The importance of the genetic changes in the evolution of life is an interesting question. Through evolution, there is an increase of DNA content in cells from lower forms of life to higher organisms. The DNA content, however, reached a plateau in vertebrates. By increasing DNA content, there can be an increase of information in the cell. For a given DNA content, the quality of information can be changed by rearranging the DNA. Because radiation can cause hyperploidy, an increase of DNA content in cells, and can induce DNA rearrangement, it is likely that the evolution of life on Mars will be effected by its radiation environment. A simple analysis shows that the radiation level on Mars may cause a mutation frequency comparable to that of the spontaneous mutation rate on Earth. To the extent that mutation plays a role in adaptation, radiation alone on Mars may thus provide sufficient mutation for the evolution of life.

Yang, C. H.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Progress in demonstrating the performance of Engineered Barriers for the disposal of HLW and SNF: lab studies and demonstration experiments - 20293

Disposal of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) and spent nuclear fuels (SNF) in a geological disposal facility requires a fundamental understanding of the degradation processes of materials used in its engineered barrier system (EBS) over very long timescales. Beyond the wasteform itself (i.e. the borosilicate glass for HLW or the fuel matrix and cladding for SNF), materials often employed in a disposal concept include metallic containers (typically copper and/or carbon steel) and clay-based buffer materials (typically bentonite). In this paper we explore key developments on the long-term evolution of materials employed for the immobilisation, isolation and containment of HLW and SNF in a geological disposal facility, including nuclear glasses, candidate container materials and clay buffers. Our discussion is based on the latest findings from both experimental studies and in-situ demonstration experiments. We present relevant findings from the long-term evolution of HLW glasses (UK composition), metallic materials for the containment system (envisaged in Switzerland, Sweden, Canada and other countries), and bentonite clays (envisaged in many national disposal programmes). (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2026

Advancing specialized biofoundries via automated adaptive laboratory evolution

Adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) is a powerful strategy for improving microbial phenotypes by harnessing natural selection under defined environmental conditions. Through applying selection regimes, beneficial mutations accumulate, enabling the generation of strains with enhanced properties. However, conventional ALE is labor-intensive and difficult to scale, limiting reproducibility and broader discovery of evolutionary principles. Recent advances in robotics, automation, and computational infrastructure are transforming ALE into a scalable, data-rich experimental paradigm. Automated platforms enable standardized and complex protocols, real-time monitoring, and highly parallel evolution campaigns, improving consistency while generating longitudinal datasets that reveal convergent adaptive mechanisms. Here, we discuss the role of specialized biofoundries in advancing automated ALE and enabling large-scale evolutionary engineering. We review major automated ALE formats and outline key design principles for effective ALE biofoundries, highlighting how automated ALE can support autonomous experimentation and AI-guided strain engineering.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗