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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New Research on Tungsten Unlocks Potential for Improving Fusion Materials
The new research highlights tungsten's potential to significantly improve fusion reactor tech based on new findings about its ability to conduct heat.
Scientists Use Novel Technique to Create New Energy-Efficient Microelectronic Device
Argonne researchers pioneer “redox gating” — a new way to precisely modulate electron flow.
Meet Guimei Wang, NSLS-II Accelerator Coordination Manager & Problem-Solver
Wang leads the group that collaborates with various experts within NSLS-II to ensure that the photons are delivered reliably and smoothly.
It’s Hearty, It’s Meaty, It’s Mold
Researchers are working to unlock the richly diverse genomes of fungi to engineer them into meat alternatives.

University and Stakeholder News

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How a "Spot the Difference" Technique Illuminates the Wiggling of Proteins
The study may have broad applications to understanding how wiggling may affect, & be affected by, drug molecules, mutations, & changes in environments
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Princeton Scientists Discover Exotic Quantum Interference Effect in a Topological Insulator Device
Scientists developed a quantum device — called an α-Bi4Br4 topological insulator — only a few nanometers, to investigate quantum coherence.
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Reimagining Electron Microscopy: Bringing High-End Resolution to Lower-Cost Microscopes
Researchers demonstrated record-breaking resolution using electron ptychography on “conventional” transmission electron microscopes.
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Steering and Accelerating Electrons at the Microchip Scale
A new advance by Stanford engineers could lead to particle accelerators being widely available in science, medicine, and industry.
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Recently Featured Articles

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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