Our Mission

DOE’s Office of Science has a mission to deliver scientific discoveries and major scientific tools to transform our understanding of nature and advance the energy, economic, and national security of the United States. We are the nation’s largest federal sponsor of basic research in the physical sciences and are a major supporter of research in such key scientific fields as physics, materials science, computing, and chemistry. We are also the lead federal agency supporting fundamental scientific research related to energy.

To keep America in the forefront of discovery and innovation, we sponsor research at hundreds of universities, national laboratories, and other institutions across the country. We also build and maintain a vitally important array of large-scale scientific facilities at the DOE national laboratories, which are used by thousands of researchers every year.

About the Office of Science

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The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Science is the nation’s largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences, the steward of 10 DOE national laboratories, and the lead federal agency supporting fundamental research for energy production and security. Our job is to keep America at the forefront of discovery. This video is an overview of the Office of Science’s mission, people, and resources.
Video courtesy of DOE's Office of Science

Science Headlines

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Accomplished Composer and Pianist Mischa Zupko from Chicago Named 2024 Guest Composer
With Fermi Lab scientists, the Civitas Ensemble, and saxophonist Timothy McAllister, Zupko will create music to interpret particle science in new ways
Argonne Scientists Use AI to Identify New Materials for Carbon Capture
Metal-organic framework (MOF) materials can be used in many different applications, from catalysts to energy converters.
Bridging Science and Technology Gaps to Bring Fusion Power to the Grid
At a town hall, the vision and roadmap for what it will take to create the scientific foundation for a competitive fusion power ecosystem was shared.
EcoFABs Could Lead to Better Bioenergy Crops
Fabricated ecosystems created at Berkeley Lab will expedite microbiome research and help underrepresented students in the classroom.

University and Stakeholder News

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New MSU Research Details How Analyzing Historical Crop Yields Can Reveal Key Soil Health Insights
An MSU-led team used a novel analytical method known as yield stability zones to show the relationship between crop yield and soil health.
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Researchers Discover New Ways to Excite Spin Waves with Extreme Infrared Light
A new ultrafast method for controlling magnetic materials might enable next-generation information processing technologies.
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In an Unexpected Twist, High Levels of Mercury Have Been Traced to Particular Cell Types in Brains of Mammals
Researchers report that cells of choroid plexus (making up blood cerebrospinal fluid barrier) and astrocytes of the subventricular zone contain Hg.
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T2K Experiment Enters a New phase with Significantly Improved Sensitivity for Its World-leading Neutrino Oscillation Research
The KEK/J-PARC center upgraded the main ring accelerator and the neutrino beamline to increase the beam power, along with new neutrino detectors.
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Science Highlights

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Dept. of Energy Office of Science delivers scientific discoveries, tools for the nation via programs in Advanced Scientific Computing Research; Basic Energy Sciences; Biological & Environmental Research; Fusion Energy Sciences; High Energy Physics; Nuclear Physics. Also supports Accelerator Research; Isotope Research; Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer; 5 national quantum centers; 2 energy innovation hubs. Stewards 10 DOE national labs. 100-plus Nobel Prizes, $8.1 billion budget.

The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time.

Image courtesy of the Department of Energy Office of Science