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Risk Characterization Research for Artemis II: Human Factors and Behavioral Performance

BACKGROUND Artemis II will be the first time NASA astronauts go beyond low-Earth orbit (LEO) since the Apollo era, and the first astronauts heading into space in the Orion vehicle. As such, it provides a critical opportunity to refine our understanding of the likelihood and consequences associated with the Behavioral Medicine (BMed), Team, Human System Integration Architecture (HSIA), and Sleep Risks, and prepare for future Moon and Mars missions. However, Artemis II research efforts are uniquely shaped by in-mission data collection constraints. There is currently no in-mission crew time available to complete measures. In-mission data will need to be collected unobtrusively from available data streams (e.g., audiovisual, existing records such as schedules, and actigraphy). Accordingly, the overarching goal of our research is to utilize Artemis II data to further define the likelihood and consequences of these risks, and to create an unobtrusive research infrastructure that can be expanded to include future Artemis missions. This goal spans four aims across three research phases: (1) identify and operationally define key performances metrics and constructs across the four aforementioned risks, (2) develop an unobtrusive methodology and coding scheme for in-mission data collection, (3) characterize performance decrements due to Bmed, Team, HSIA, and Sleep Risks, and (4) develop a data infrastructure for future Artemis missions. The following details results of Phase I efforts in which we address Aims 1 and 2 to develop an unobtrusive measurement plan and coding scheme to capture key constructs, contributing factors, and performance decrements across each risk area. METHOD As part of Phase I, we conducted an interdisciplinary literature review and consulted with SMEs to identify unobtrusive methodologies that leverage text, audio, and/or video data as well as conceptualize key performance metrics, contributing factors, and BMed, Team, HSIA, and Sleep risk constructs related to performance decrements. The Phase I effort resulted in a finalized pre- and post-mission protocol for Artemis II, along with a measurement and coding scheme for in-mission Artemis II data. Phase II will involve data collection from the upcoming Artemis II mission. Phase III will include data processing, coding, depiction, analysis, and report writing of the Artemis II data. RESULTS & DISCUSSION To date, we have completed Phase I efforts. Specifically, we identified BMed, Team, HSIA, and Sleep risk constructs related to performance metrics, summarized how these constructs can be measured using audiovisual data collected during the mission, and worked with NASA’s HFBP Element to finalize a data collection protocol that leverages audiovisual input from the Orion spacecraft system. Our protocol includes novel unobtrusive methodologies that adhere to in-mission data streams and subsequent constraints (e.g., limited storage space on GoPro cameras, ambient noise impeding audio files) to best capture in-mission phenomena across each risk area. We will present our results from Phase I efforts, namely best practices for unobtrusive measurement as identified through literature reviews and SME consultation as well as codebook excerpts for use in Artemis II. We will include a description of planned work as we prepare for Phase II and Phase III of this research plan and the Artemis II mission itself. SUMMARY We describe progress on our Human Factors and Behavioral Performance Research for Artemis II study.

behavioral health↗

NASA NTRS2015

Weaving Together Space Biology and the Human Research Program: Selecting Crops and Manipulating Plant Physiology to Produce High Quality Food for ISS Astronauts

Researchers from the Human Research Program (HRP) have teamed up with plant biologists at KSC to explore the potential for plant growth and food production on the international space station (ISS) and future exploration missions. KSC Space Biology (SB) brings a history of plant and plant-microbial interaction research for station and for future bioregenerative life support systems. JSC HRP brings expertise in Advanced Food Technology (AFT), Advanced Environmental Health (AEH), and Behavioral Health and Performance (BHP). The Veggie plant growth hardware on the ISS is the platform that first drove these interactions. As we prepared for the VEG-01 validation test of Veggie, we engaged with BHP to explore questions that could be asked of the crew that would contribute both to plant and to behavioral health research. AFT, AEH and BHP stakeholders were engaged immediately after the return of the Veggie flight samples of space-grown lettuce, and this team worked with the JSC human medical offices to gain approvals for crew consumption of the lettuce on ISS. As we progressed with Veggie testing we began performing crop selection studies for Veggie that were initiated through AFT. These studies consisted of testing and down selecting leafy greens, dwarf tomatoes, and dwarf pepper crops based on characteristics of plant growth and nutritional levels evaluated at KSC, and organoleptic quality evaluated at JSCs Sensory Analysis lab. This work has led to a successful collaborative proposal to the International Life Sciences Research Announcement for a jointly funded HRP-SB investigation of the impacts of light quality and fertilizer on salad crop productivity, nutrition, and flavor in Veggie on the ISS. With this work, and potentially with other pending joint projects, we will continue the synergistic research that will advance the space biology knowledge base, help close gaps in the human research roadmap, and enable humans to venture out to Mars and beyond.

International Space Station↗

DOE OSTI2023

Comparative verification of hydro-mechanical fracture behavior: Task G of international research project DECOVALEX–2023

Numerical simulations become a necessity when experimental approaches cannot cover the required physical and time scale of interest. One of such area is a simulation of long-term host rock behaviors for nuclear waste disposal and simulation tools involved in the assessment must go through rigorous validation tests. The DECOVALEX project (Development of COupled models and their VAlidation against EXperiments) is dedicated to this purpose by international participants. This work is part of the ongoing phase DECOVALEX–2023 (D–2023, Task G) particularly aiming to simulate fracture behaviors under various conditions. Here, in this study, we cross-verified a variety of numerical methods including continuous and discontinuous approaches against four benchmark exercises with emphasis on numerical accuracy and parameterization of the various numerical approaches. The systematic inter-comparisons of test cases highlight advantages and disadvantages of the different numerical models. Numerical details on discretization effects (e.g. mesh density and orientation) and domain size were investigated in detail for practical applications. It became evident that meticulous attention to mesh resolution and domain size is imperative for achieving accurate numerical simulations, even for static cracks. Moreover, when comparing numerical methods to closed-form solutions for static cracks, all models successfully reproduced the maximum crack opening but encountered challenges near the crack tips. Finally, the paper discusses how to convert between and therefore compare parameters of various numerical approaches. Our benchmark studies reveal that each model necessitates a distinct number of parameters, even in simple scenarios like static crack aperture benchmarks. It is generally more practical to employ fewer parameters to mitigate model over-parameterization and enhance experimental feasibility.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

NASA NTRS2000

A national survey of policies on disclosure of conflicts of interest in biomedical research

BACKGROUND: Conflicts of interest pose a threat to the integrity of scientific research. The current regulations of the U.S. Public Health Service and the National Science Foundation require that medical schools and other research institutions report the existence of conflicts of interest to the funding agency but allow the institutions to manage conflicts internally. The regulations do not specify how to do so. METHODS: We surveyed all medical schools (127) and other research institutions (170) that received more than $5 million in total grants annually from the National Institutes of Health or the National Science Foundation; 48 journals in basic science and clinical medicine; and 17 federal agencies in order to analyze their policies on conflicts of interest. RESULTS: Of the 297 institutions, 250 (84 percent) responded by March 2000, as did 47 of the 48 journals and 16 of the 17 federal agencies. Fifteen of the 250 institutions (6 percent)--5 medical schools and 10 other research institutions--reported that they had no policy on conflicts of interest. Among the institutions that had policies, there was marked variation in the definition and management of conflicts. Ninety-one percent had policies that adhered to the federal threshold for disclosure ($10,000 in annual income or equity in a relevant company or 5 percent ownership), and 9 percent had policies that exceeded the federal guidelines. Only 8 percent had policies requiring disclosure to funding agencies, only 7 percent had such policies regarding journals, and only 1 percent had policies requiring the disclosure of information to the relevant institutional review boards or to research subjects. Twenty journals (43 percent) reported that they had policies requiring disclosure of conflicts of interest. Only four federal agencies had policies that explicitly addressed conflicts of interest in extramural research, and all but one of the agencies relied primarily on institutional discretion. CONCLUSIONS: There is substantial variation among policies on conflicts of interest at medical schools and other research institutions. This variation, combined with the fact that many scientific journals and funding agencies do not require disclosure of conflicts of interest, suggests that the current standards may not be adequate to maintain a high level of scientific integrity.

Human↗

NASA NTRS2003

The NEEMO Project: A Report on how NASA Utilizes the "Aquarius" Undersea Habitat as an Analog for Long-Duration Space Flight

NEEMO is the NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations, a cooperative project between NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NEEMO was created and is managed by the Mission Operations Directorate at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. On the NOAA side, the National Undersea Research Center (NURC) in Key Largo, FL, with the help of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, manages and operates the Aquarius Program. NEEMO was developed by astronaut training specialists to utilize an undersea research habitat as a multi-objective mission analog for long-duration space flight. Each mission was designed to expose astronauts to extreme environments for training purposes and to research crew behavior, habitability, and space analog life sciences. All of this was done much in the model of a space mission utilizing specific crew procedures, mission rules and timelines. Objectives of the missions were very diverse and contained many of the typical space mission type activities such as EV As (also known as extra vehicular activities), in-habitat science and research, and educational, public outreach, and media events. Five missions, dubbed NEEMO 1-5, were conducted between October 2001 and July 2003, the longest of which (NEEMO 5) lasted 14 days.

Reagan, Marc↗

DOE OSTI2022

Cited Reference Analysis in a National Laboratory to Assess Journal Usage

Librarians at a large, federally funded, multidisciplinary research organization sought to assess the value provided by the library’s collections. One method for capturing this value includes determining how well their library’s collections meet researcher needs, as expressed by the materials those researchers choose to cite in the production of new scholarly communications. A cited reference analysis was performed on the publications originating from the institution to provide the necessary data for the assessment, as well as to aid in the creation of a core list of journals which will inform future collection development efforts. Overall, this paper fills a gap in the library and information science literature by addressing the citation behaviors of researchers at a large multidisciplinary government research facility, a setting that has not been examined previously.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Caught in headlights: Captive white-tailed deer responses to variations in vehicle lighting during imminent collision scenarios

Vehicle collisions with deer (Odocoileus spp.) cause billions of dollars in damages and injure thousands of drivers every year in the United States, and few mitigation methods have proven effective. However, recent research suggests that vehicle lighting might influence white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus; hereafter, deer) responses to oncoming vehicles. Most new vehicles are manufactured with light emitting diode (LED) headlights which differ in total radiance and wavelength of light emitted compared to the previous industry standard of tungstenhalogen (halogen) headlights. Also, frontal vehicle illumination through rear-facing lighting has shown promise in enhancing deer responses to vehicles, but its effectiveness has not been tested under various headlight conditions (headlight type or intensity). As such, it remains unclear how these aspects of vehicle lighting affect deer responses to an approaching vehicle. We used 23 captive, wild-type deer to investigate how variations in vehicle lighting affect deer responses to an approaching vehicle at night, when most collisions occur. We released deer into a 95 m long, 3 m wide chute and approached them from the opposite end with an electric golf cart outfitted with two versions of stock 2017–2020 Ford Fusion headlights (LED and halogen) and a 51 cm rear-facing lightbar to test how vehicle lighting affected deer avoidance behaviors in an imminent, head-on collision scenario. Each deer received eight lighting treatments consisting of unique combinations of headlight type (LED vs. halogen), light intensity (low vs. high beam), and rear-facing lighting (lightbar off vs. on). We measured deer alert and flight behavior using infrared videography. We found that the halogen, high beam, lightbar off treatment had the greatest probability of evoking an alert response. Furthermore, when the lightbar was off, high beams appeared to increase alert probability for halogen headlights. Also, we found evidence that high beam, halogen headlights tend to increase alert probability over high beam, LED headlights, when the lighbar was off. We found no effect of our lighting treatments on deer alert distance, flight probability, or flight initiation distance. Across all behavioral responses, the random effect deer ID explained 0.86–9.19 × more variation than our lighting treatments, reflecting large differences in responses among deer. Overall, we found that vehicle lighting can impact deer behavior during an imminent, head-on collision scenario, although lighting was ineffective at increasing favorable flight behaviors. Future research should investigate how vehicle lighting treatments affect free-ranging, wild deer in a variety of real-world scenarios and at longer approach distances.

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Deer be↗

DOE OSTI2022

Two (or more) for one: Identifying classes of household energy- and water-saving measures to understand the potential for positive spillover

A key component of behavior-based energy conservation programs is the identification of target behaviors. A common approach is to target behaviors with the greatest energy-saving potential. The concept of behavioral spillover introduces further considerations, namely that adoption of one energy-saving behavior may increase (or decrease) the likelihood of other energy-saving behaviors. This research aimed to identify and describe household energy- and water-saving measure classes within which positive spillover is likely to occur (e.g., adoption of energy-efficient appliances may correlate with adoption of water-efficient appliances), and explore demographic and psychographic predictors of each. Nearly 1,000 households in a California city were surveyed and asked to report whether they had adopted 75 different energy- and/or water-saving measures. Principal Component Analysis and Network Analysis based on correlations between adoption of these diverse measures revealed and characterized eight water-energy-saving measure classes: Water Conservation, Energy Conservation, Maintenance and Management, Efficient Appliance, Advanced Efficiency, Efficient Irrigation, Green Gardening, and Green Landscaping. Understanding these measure classes can help guide behavior-based energy program developers in selecting target behaviors and designing interventions.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

DOE OSTI2022

Analyzing the effect of pressure on the properties of point defects in $\gamma\mathrm{U–Mo}$ through atomistic simulations

Uranium–molybdenum (U–Mo) alloys in monolithic fuel foil are the primary candidate for the conversion of high-performance research reactors in the USA. Monolithic fuel is utilized in a plate-type design with a zirconium diffusion barrier and aluminum cladding. These fuel types are unique in that they contain no plenum for the release of fission gases, which, in conjunction with the aluminum cladding, can lead to large stress states within the fuel. The nature of how fundamental processes of radiation damage, including the evolution of point defects, under such stresses occur is unknown. In this work, we present molecular dynamics simulations of the formation energy of point defects under applied stress. We report this work will allow for the implementation of stress-dependent microstructural evolution models of nuclear fuels, including those for both fission gas bubble growth and creep, which are critical to ensure the stable and predictable behavior of research reactor fuels.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

NASA NTRS2009

Behavioral Health and Performance Element: Tools and Technologies

This slide presentation reviews the research into the Behavioral Health and Performance (BHP) of the Human Research Program. The program element goal is to identify, characterize and prevent or reduce behavioral health and performance risks associated with space travel, exploration, and return to terrestrial life. To accomplish this goal the program focuses on applied research that is designed to yield deliverables that reduce risk. There are several different elements that are of particular interest: Behavioral Medicine, Sleep, and team composition, and team work. In order to assure success for NASA missions the Human Research Program develops and validate the standards for each of the areas of interest. There is discussion of the impact on BHP while astronauts are on Long Duration Missions. The effort in this research is to create tools to meet the BHP concerns, these prospective tools are reviewed.

Leveton, Lauren B.↗

DOE OSTI2022

Printable Fiber Reinforced Cement Composites – Feasibility Study

Additive manufacturing is enabling the manufacturability of structures with previously unattainable complexity or functionality, and there is growing interest in additive manufacturing of “printed” concrete structures. The focus of this Phase 1 Technical Collaboration (TC) project was to evaluate feasibility of printing hybrid cement composite structures reinforced with textile carbon fibers (tCF). This project leverages other (non-IACMI) projects on cement formulation and printing process development, as well as on the production process for tCF. This project’s primary focus was to explore cement composite mix design with textile carbon fibers to be manufactured by MonteFibre (TC partner) and evaluate suitable fiber-matrix interface or sizing for cement composites working with Michelman (TC Partner). This project supports IACMI’s goal of reducing the cost and embodied energy of carbon fiber composites. Cost is one of the fundamental challenges to carbon fiber reinforced cement composites. Cement is an extremely inexpensive material (approximately $\$$0.05/lb). Adding 1 wt% of conventional carbon fiber to cement quadruples its cost. Therefore, the need to use low-cost carbon fiber and ensure that the additional cost of the carbon fiber has a greater cost benefit to the final product. This was the first preliminary evaluation to integrate tCF reinforcement in cement composites, and such potential tCF utilization should significantly reduce materials cost. Cement composite production is energy and emissions intensive, thus by strengthening it less material will be required. Hence, the embodied energy and production time of the resulting structures will be reduced. Additionally, integrating these new materials into additive processes can enable selective use of the material in high load or stress areas. It is noteworthy that past work in this field of fiber reinforced cement composites did not consider the optimization of fiber-matrix interface using suitable sizing. Carbon fiber reinforcement offers potential added benefits of thermal conductivity (which affects cure rate) and flow behavior that could provide opportunities for site specific utilization of carbon fiber on hybrid cement structures (e.g. use the fiber reinforcement on outer surfaces to enhance strength and modulus and then infiltrating the internal structures with conventional concrete). MonteFibre was the industry lead and planned on supplying the tCF for this project. However, during the short Phase-1 duration of this project, MonteFibre was unable to produce tCF for this project due to manufacturing plant being off-line throughout the course of the project. The project team decided to pursue an alternate option which involved demonstrating printable concrete with steel fibers by the ORNL lead, Dr. Brian Post. The University of Tennessee collaboration team focused on evaluating the suitable chemical sizing for carbon fibers working with Michelman and also developed methods for material characterization of cement-based composites to evaluate the material response for compression, shear, flexure, and tension. The two milestones for University of Tennessee, Knoxville were realized related to identification of one sizing suitable for carbon fiber reinforced cement composite and developing data associated with mechanical behavior of unreinforced (neat) and carbon fiber reinforced cement composites. ORNL could not complete the task of carbon fiber reinforced printed cement composites due to the reasons mentioned earlier, but was able to replace tCF with steel fibers to demonstrate the feasibility of printing with fiber reinforced cement composites. The Project team reviewed possible sizing chemistry available in collaboration with Michelman for use on carbon fiber reinforcement in cement composites and concrete applications. Our initial goal was to identify a sizing most promising for formulation with textile carbon fibers (tCF) to deliver excellent mechanical properties in composite material state. Since tCF was not available for this project as originally envisioned, the team continued this task to identify a suitable sizing for carbon fiber applications by applying such sizing to lower cost carbon fibers currently available commercially from Zoltek called Panex fibers. At a future time this can be optimized for textile carbon fibers from Montefibre. The bulk of previous work on carbon fiber reinforced cement has neglected the importance of fiber-matrix adhesion on mechanical properties of the cement composite and identifying this missing link was an important accomplishment for future research. Tensile behavior of fiber reinforced concrete is important to evaluate in order to realize the dream of concrete products that do not need reinforcing steel. Important sample preparation and testing procedures were addressed in this study and it was concluded that substantial improvements in tensile behavior, without compromising compressive strength, and improved ductility can result from the use of carbon fiber reinforcement.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2023

Relationship between Grain Size and Sample Thickness on the Creep-Rupture Performance of Thin Metallic Sheets of INCONEL Alloy 740H

A study was conducted on INCONEL® alloy 740H® to examine the role of grain size and sheet thickness on the alloy’s creep-rupture behavior. Three different starting sheet thicknesses were utilized and multiple heat-treatment conditions anticipated for compact heat exchanger (CHX) manufacturing were applied to produce a range of grain sizes. Creep-rupture testing was conducted at 750 °C for times up to about 6000 h and the results were compared to wrought databases. The data show that both creep strength and ductility were important factors in the overall creep performance of the sheets. Reductions in performance were observed due either to accelerated creep when grain size was fine or loss of rupture ductility when grain sizes approached the sheet thickness. Some combinations of heat-treatment and thickness were able to produce typical expected wrought creep properties. Historically a ‘rule-of-thumb’ requirement for creep testing suggests 3-5 grains per sample minimum dimension to ensure homogeneous behavior. This research shows that to ensure representative wrought creep performance (i.e. no effect of sample size), the sample minimum cross-section should be 10 times the average ASTM grain size. Statistical analysis of the microstructures suggests the population of larger grains as a controlling feature in creep failure.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2025

Geographic source attribution of honey by strontium isotope analyses: Latvia and India measurements compared to model predictions in a feasibility study

Strontium isotope ratios ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) can be used to determine the geographic origin of agricultural products. Here, in this study, we measured the 87 Sr/ 86 Sr of honey samples from Richland, WA, USA, Latvia, and India, and compared the results to published 87 Sr/ 86 Sr from surrounding areas and values predicted based upon a random forest isoscape model (Bataille et al., 2020). While the 87 Sr/ 86 Sr of the honey samples compared well with previously published data, the model did not accurately predict the 87 Sr/ 86 Sr of the honey samples, demonstrating that further refinement of the model would be beneficial. Because Sr cycling in terrestrial ecosystems is complex, the 87 Sr/ 86 Sr of honey is likely to reflect several sources (e.g., nectar, surface water, dust) and may change over time. In order to accurately predict the 87 Sr/ 86 Sr of honey, models must consider local geology, ecology, and bee behavior. Additional research examining how Sr is incorporated into honey is needed to inform models.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2026

Guest-Induced Large and Tunable Negative Thermal Expansion in Soft Microporous Carbon

Materials that exhibit negative thermal expansion (NTE) are of fundamental interest due to their rarity and counterintuitive behavior. While research in this area has been directed toward the discovery of materials that display NTE and explaining its origin, there has been less attention to describing the complexities of a secondary phase or other guests that could influence the magnitude and mechanism of NTE. We report herein that zeolite-templated carbon (ZTC), a soft carbonaceous framework solid with ordered microporosity, exhibits a large and widely tunable thermal expansion in the presence of adsorbed guests. For ZTC in the presence of CO 2 at 1 bar, the largest coefficient of isotropic NTE ever observed (−8.4 × 10 –4 K –1 ) is measured between 200 and 220 K. These results comprise a tunable mechanism of thermal expansion based on the interaction between two independent, positively expanding phases that together give rise to an anomalous guest-induced NTE under certain conditions.

03 NATURAL GAS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Development of an ERT‐Based Framework for Bentonite Buffers Monitoring From Laboratory Tests: 1. Characterizing Thermal–Hydrological–Mechanical Processes

Abstract Bentonite clay is widely used in engineered barrier systems for the permanent disposal of high‐level radioactive waste due to its low permeability, high swelling capacity, and thermal stability. However, the complex thermal‐hydrological‐mechanical (THM) processes induced by heating from decaying radioactive waste and hydration from surrounding rock can lead to heterogeneous changes that are difficult to measure and predict. This study develops an Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT)‐based framework for monitoring THM processes, progressing from sample‐scale to bench‐scale tests, to inform field‐scale applications. Sample‐scale tests analyzed small bentonite samples under controlled variations in water content, temperature, and porosity to establish fundamental resistivity relationships. Bench‐scale tests involved larger bentonite columns subjected to heating (up to 200°C) and hydration under controlled pressure, simulating repository conditions. ERT measurements, complemented by X‐ray CT imaging, temperature monitoring, and tracing sensors, revealed coupled THM processes, such as hydration‐induced compression, swelling, and thermal gradients, leading to complex resistivity patterns. The results demonstrate the potential of ERT for capturing THM‐induced resistivity changes, though challenges remain in upscaling and quantitative analysis. This study evaluates laboratory test capabilities and proposes future improvements for understanding THM‐induced resistivity responses. A conceptual framework for ERT implementation in field‐scale monitoring is presented, synthesizing findings from both scales and exploring how ERT data can inform long‐term modeling and reduce prediction uncertainties. Overall, this ERT‐based framework offers a robust method for monitoring bentonite buffers, aiding in early issue detection and supporting the safe long‐term disposal of radioactive waste in geological repositories, while highlighting the need for future development. Plain Language Summary Bentonite clay is crucial in engineered barrier systems (EBS) for containing high‐level radioactive waste due to its ability to absorb water, swell, seal and remain stable under high temperatures. When bentonite absorbs water and heats up from radioactive decay, it experiences complex changes in its physical and mechanical properties. Understanding these changes is important for ensuring the long‐term safety and effectiveness of EBS. This study used Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT), a non‐invasive method that measures electrical conductivity to monitor these changes during laboratory experiments. The ERT data revealed significant variations in resistivity corresponding to changes in water content, temperature, and density, providing detailed spatial and temporal insights into the behavior of bentonite. These findings enhance our ability to predict the long‐term performance of bentonite barriers, ensuring the safe containment of radioactive waste. By improving our understanding of bentonite's behavior, this research supports the development of more reliable and effective barrier systems for radioactive waste disposal, protecting the environment and public health. Key Points ERT monitoring was employed to capture resistivity changes in bentonite during controlled heating and hydration experiments, providing insights into THM processes ERT data reveal significant resistivity changes correlated with water content, temperature, and mechanical effects, enhancing the understanding of THM dynamics in bentonite This study explores the potential of the framework for application in field‐scale EBS monitoring, emphasizing the need for integrating additional geophysical methods for comprehensive subsurface imaging

Chen, Hang↗

DOE OSTI2023

Persistent dynamic magnetic state in artificial honeycomb spin ice

Abstract Topological magnetic charges, arising due to the non-vanishing magnetic flux on spin ice vertices, serve as the origin of magnetic monopoles that traverse the underlying lattice effortlessly. Unlike spin ice materials of atomic origin, the dynamic state in artificial honeycomb spin ice is conventionally described in terms of finite size domain wall kinetics that require magnetic field or current application. Contrary to this common understanding, here we show that a thermally tunable artificial permalloy honeycomb lattice exhibits a perpetual dynamic state due to self-propelled magnetic charge defect relaxation in the absence of any external tuning agent. Quantitative investigation of magnetic charge defect dynamics using neutron spin echo spectroscopy reveals sub-ns relaxation times that are comparable to the relaxation of monopoles in bulk spin ices. Most importantly, the kinetic process remains unabated at low temperature where thermal fluctuation is negligible. This suggests that dynamic phenomena in honeycomb spin ice are mediated by quasi-particle type entities, also confirmed by dynamic Monte-Carlo simulations that replicate the kinetic behavior. Our research unveils a macroscopic magnetic particle that shares many known traits of quantum particles, namely magnetic monopole and magnon.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2024

In-situ and ex-situ characterization of irradiated AM materials

This study investigates the irradiation performance of laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) 316L and 316H stainless steels (SS), and their wrought counterparts. While LPBF 316L has been more studied, LPBF 316H is relatively new, with little prior data on its irradiation behavior. The research involved fabricating, preparing, irradiating, and characterizing six materials: LPBF 316L (two variants), LPBF 316H (two variants), and wrought 316L and 316H. LPBF materials were subjected to various heat treatments, including solution annealing and stress relief, and were irradiated using in-situ and ex-situ ion techniques at temperatures of 300°C and 600°C, with doses ranging from 0.2 dpa to 25 dpa. Under ex-situ irradiation with 4 MeV Ni 2+ ions at 600°C, the dislocation cell structures in LPBF316L-1 and LPBF316H-1 gradually evolved into a uniform dislocation network. At a low irradiation dose (0.2 dpa), the cell structures were still partially visible. At 2 dpa, a uniform dislocation network formed, though remnants of the original cell structure were still discernible as contrast domains. At 5 dpa and 10 dpa, even the contrast domains vanished. For irradiation at 300°C, the cell structure was still clearly visible at 0.2 dpa for LPBF316L-1. For LPBF316H-1, the dislocation cell structure was less apparent at the same dose but was still recognizable. With further increase in dose at 300°C, the dislocation cell walls were completely replaced by irradiation-induced defects and no longer visible. Void formation was observed for irradiation at 600°C. At 2 dpa, no evident voids were observed in either LPBF316L-1 or LPBF316H-1.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2025

Report to the President: Harnessing Social and Behavioral Science Insights to Enhance Policymaking and Improve the Lives of the American People

The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) is the sole body of advisors from outside the federal government charged with making science, technology, and innovation policy recommendations to the President and the White House. Established by Executive Order, it is an independent Federal Advisory Committee comprised of distinguished individuals from industry, academia, and non-profit organizations with a range of perspectives and expertise. On January 15, 2025, PCAST sent a report to the President with recommendations to harness the insights of social and behavioral science research to benefit the American public.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗