Arizona

The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) sits atop Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) in Arizona, with 5,000 fiber-optic “eyes” monitoring the night sky to build the largest 3D map of our universe to date. New results from DESI hint that dark energy, widely thought to be a “cosmological constant,” might be evolving over time in unexpected ways. More than 900 researchers from around the globe collaborate on DESI, making dozens of visits to Kitt Peak each year for observation and hands-on training. The KPNO visitor center acts as a vital education hub, and has hosted over two million visitors since its establishment.

A new pilot project in Yuma, Arizona explores novel technology to selectively remove specific minerals from brackish water sources prior to reverse osmosis. This prevents membrane fouling and could significantly increase water recovery rates – returning brackish water for productive use more efficiently. The project is a part of the National Alliance for Water Innovation (NAWI), led by Berkeley Lab, in partnership with Jacobs Engineering (project lead), New Mexico State University, DuPont, and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.