#oak ridge national laboratory

[benthejrporter]

Alien Material Analyzed

New HPANWO Voice article: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2024/07/alien-material-analyzed.html

[jcmarchi]

Transforming Wood Waste for Sustainable Manufacturing - Technology Org

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/transforming-wood-waste-for-sustainable-manufacturing-technology-org/

Transforming Wood Waste for Sustainable Manufacturing - Technology Org

Lignin, a complex organic polymer, is one of the main components of wood, providing structural support and rigidity to make trees strong enough to withstand the elements. When transforming wood into paper, lignin is a key ingredient that must be removed and often becomes waste.

Marcus Foston (left) and collaborators are exploring how to use lignin, a common waste product of paper pulping, as a source of renewable alteratives to petroleum-derived chemicals. Image credit: Jerry Naunheim Jr./Washington University

Marcus Foston, an associate professor of energy, environmental and chemical engineering in the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, is exploring how to add value to lignin by breaking it down into small molecules that are structurally similar to oxygenated hydrocarbons. These renewable chemicals are key components in many industrial processes and products, but they are traditionally sourced from nonrenewable petroleum.

Foston’s study of lignin disassembly, done in collaboration with Sai Venkatesh Pingali, a neutron scattering scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ONRL), was published Jan. 17 in the journal Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering.

“Lignin’s structure actually looks a lot like what we get from petroleum,” said Foston, who is also director of WashU’s Synthetic Biology Manufacturing of Advanced Materials Research Center (SMARC). “In current manufacturing processes, we spend time making petroleum look like the elements of lignin. Instead, I’m using a catalyst to break lignin down more easily and in such a way that it produces specific chemicals. Once we can produce chemical from lignin in a form we want, then we can make more efficient use of lignin, which is an abundant byproduct of pulping wood into paper.”

With collaborators at ORNL, Foston used neutron scattering to study how lignin interacts with solvents and catalysts during its disassembly under reaction conditions, including high temperature and pressure. ORNL’s advanced facilities allowed researchers to observe the reaction process in real time to improve their catalyst and further streamline reaction systems for lignin depolymerization. This direct, molecular-level view is critical, Foston said, to figure out how the catalyst and lignin behave in solution and to ensure the lignin doesn’t recondense into a polymer with bonds scientists can’t easily break.

“In this study, we’re specifically thinking about how we can take the large amount of lignin that gets produced during biofuel or paper production and use it to make renewable chemicals that replace some of the chemicals we currently get from petroleum,” Foston said. “More broadly, the same depolymerization principles we’re exploring with lignin could be used in other applications. For example, the same lessons from this study apply to plastic waste scenarios, where one approach is to deconstruct plastic waste into small molecules that could be used to make plastic or other useful products.”

“Ultimately, we want to take a bunch of chemicals that are coming from petroleum and figure out how we can make those renewably,” Foston added. “Everything we’re learning about lignin will apply to other spaces as well.”

Source: Washington University in St. Louis

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[nerdwelt]

Neutronen beweisen, dass der „Bond-Bösewicht“ nicht den Zusammenbruch des Arecibo-Teleskops verursacht hat

Das Arecibo-Observatorium in Puerto Rico war über 50 Jahre lang mit einer kugelförmigen Reflektorschüssel das größte Radioteleskop der Welt. Die Schüssel wurde 1963 in einem Erdloch gebaut und die Speiseantenne des Teleskops hing 500 Fuß über der Schüssel an einer Stahlplattform. Die Plattform wurde von Betontürmen und Stahlseilen gestützt. Das Teleskop wurde in den Bereichen Radioastronomie,…

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Proving a hypothesis can be exciting, but witnessing something that has never been seen before elevates that discovery into an unforgettable experience. A team of scientists led by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) was recently able to share this rare feeling as they observed how the even rarer element promethium forms chemical bonds when placed in an aqueous solution. The team used the Beamline for Materials Measurement(BMM), a beamline funded and operated by National Institute of Standards and Technology, at the National Synchrotron Light Source II, a DOE Office of Science user facility at DOE's Brookhaven National Laboratory. Despite its rarity, promethium has a few interesting applications, including manufacturing specialized glow-in-the-dark paint, radiation therapy, and long-lasting atomic batteries for pacemakers, spacecraft, and more. Because of its high instability, there is still a lot about this radioactive metal that remains unknown. Understanding its complex chemistry could pave the way for even more unique uses and fascinating follow-up studies.

Read more.

[climatecalling]

Shortly after the New Year, I was fired from Oak Ridge National Laboratory after urging fellow scientists to take action on climate change. At the American Geophysical Union meeting in December, my fellow climate scientist Peter Kalmus and I unfurled a banner that read, “Out of the lab & into the streets.” In the few seconds before the banner was ripped from our hands, we implored our colleagues to use their leverage as scientists to wake the public up to the dying planet. ... Then, on Jan. 3, Oak Ridge, the laboratory outside Knoxville where I had worked as an associate scientist for one year, terminated my employment. I am the first earth scientist I know of to be fired for climate activism. I fear I will not be the last. ... Established scientific institutions will not even support scientists interrupting a meeting for the climate. I’m all for decorum, but not when it will cost us the earth. ... Since I locked that first chain around my waist, I have been arrested three times in nonviolent actions. ... But I was motivated to continue because these scientist-led political campaigns have attracted positive media attention and contributed to major policy wins. ... Within a month of our actions, the Podemos party of Spain submitted a request to the European Commission to take measures to reduce the use of private planes. When scientists take action, people listen. ... Great experiments push at the boundaries of knowledge and propriety. They are risky, volatile, blasphemous. But when they work, the world changes. Scientific institutions should support activism and advocacy, especially by experts.

No paywall: https://web.archive.org/web/20230215091951/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/10/opinion/scientist-fired-climate-change-activism.html

[giltandgreen]

Loki Vs. the TVA

So, @timless-anarchy's post has gotten me thinking about how the Marvel TVA has such a similar vibe to a lot of the WWII TVA stuff I've seen as someone with deep, deep roots in East TN.

Just look at some of these fun Depression Era, WWII, and 1950s government propaganda posters created for the TVA as well as the TVA logos and seals designed during this period.

Tell me the High Voltage twins up there aren't Miss Minutes' cousins.

Also, TVA powered (and still powers) the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, so obligatory post of my fave warning to those who worked at Oak Ridge about blabbing about their job.

[coochiequeens]

When Jessica Wade was invited to Buckingham Palace to receive the prestigious British Empire Medal, she stood out for being a young woman honored for her contributions to science.

Ironically, she was being honored for trying to change that.

The 33-year-old London-based physicist has become something of a phenomenon herself — both an irresistible force and immoveable object — in her very personal campaign to bring more girls to study and work in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

Wade has written more than 1,600 Wikipedia entries for long-ignored women scientists, and she has firm beliefs on ideas on how to support girls interested in the field.

Wade gained notice when, still in her 20s, she began writing the Wikipedia biographies about women and minority scientists who never got their due — from employers, from other scientists, from the public.

As her Wikipedia entries climbed into the dozens, and then into the hundreds, she spoke and wrote more on gender equality in science. She won awards and medals and was cited by Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia.

However, not all of Wiki-world was happy with her. Several of her entries were deleted by other Wikimedians, as the most influential contributors and editors are called. She told TODAY.com that they said a handful of the women she wrote up were not all that well-known.

Wade said that’s right, that’s the problem: they should be better known.

One example was Clarice Phelps. Wade heard about the young African-American nuclear chemist, and wrote a Wikipedia bio describing her work on a team that discovered a new periodic-table element at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The Phelps entry bounced on and off Wikipedia as critics deleted it and Wade defended it. In the end, Wade won, and Phelps’ entry is back on Wikipedia for good.

Meanwhile, Wade’s own Wikipedia entry — written by others, not her — has grown to 10 printed pages. 

As Wade pursues her effort to make sure women scientists are known, she also has beliefs on how to make sure the next generation gets the support they need. 

She said girls don’t need “whiz-bang” experiments at school assemblies: visiting scientists do their show, pack up, depart and nothing changes. Instead, girls and students of color need to be coached and mentored on what to study, and when.

“People assume girls don’t choose science because they’re not inspired,” Wade, 33, said in a recent interview. “Girls are already interested. It’s more about making students aware of the different careers in science and getting parents and teachers on board.”

Women make up only 28 percent of the U.S. work force in STEM, according to the American Association of University Women, and only one in five current engineering or computer science majors are women. Women in STEM earn $60,000 a year, compared to $85,000 for men, according to the American Association of University Women, a non-profit organization that focuses on equity for women. 

“Ultimately, we don’t only need to increase the number of girls choosing science, we need to increase the proportion of women who stay in science,” said Wade, whose doctorate research at Imperial College in London has been widely cited for advances in digital display technology for TV, computer and phone screens.

One key, she said, is better high school science teachers. “We’re suffering a huge shortage of skills-specialist science teachers across the U.S. and the U.K.,” she said.

Wade said schools should make it easier for girls and students of color to apply for admissions, grants, fellowships and promotions.

“What do you need to do? Who do you need to speak to? When do you need to make that application? Who should be your cheerleader or supporter?”

She believes schools need to be upfront about their policies on bullying and sexual harassment; universities must provide affordable child care on campus; and conference organizers should provide day care and grants for those with caring responsibilities.

Wade, who grew up the daughter of two physicians and had supportive teachers at private schools, realized at a young age that most people were not as lucky.

“I genuinely believe that science is better when it’s done by diverse teams,” she said.

“It’s also important because we’re designing new technologies or new scientific solutions to global problems, we want the teams of people creating them to reflect the societies that they’re serving.”

“Even if you don’t care about any of that, the world desperately needs more scientists and engineers,” Wade added. “Science can help solve the world’s biggest challenges — climate change, antibiotic resistance, emerging pandemic-inducing viruses.”

Looking back on her inclusion in the late Queen Elizabeth’s 2019 Birthday Honours list, Wade hopes young women scientists will become commonplace at future ceremonies.

And she hopes they will enjoy it as much as she did.

“It was pretty wild to be honored by the royal family,” Wade recalled. She didn’t meet the queen, but she did take along her mother, Dr. Charlotte Feinmann, to Buckingham Palace.

Her father, Dr. John Wade, couldn’t attend, but Jess Wade did her best to make it up to him.

“I took a Tupperware,” she confided, “to sneak some royal sandwiches home to my dad.”

[misforgotten2]

Guaranteed to save the average household up to 3½ minutes of arduous labor every year!

Introducing Radiant Control or as the atomic scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratories call it a “Thermostat.”

Good Housekeeping   November 1951

[nuadox]

Scientists have made significant advancements in solid-state cooling technology

- By Nuadox Crew -

Researchers have significantly advanced understanding of atomic-scale heat motion in materials, crucial for developing solid-state cooling technology.

This environmentally friendly technology operates without traditional refrigerants or moving parts and uses materials like nickel-cobalt-manganese-indium magnetic shape-memory alloys to exploit the magnetocaloric effect for efficient cooling.

A team led by the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory recently bridged a crucial knowledge gap in atomic-scale heat motion, promising enhancements for solid-state cooling. Using neutron-scattering instruments, they examined a material considered optimal for this technology.

The material undergoes a phase transition when subjected to a magnetic field, absorbing and releasing heat through the magnetocaloric effect. This behavior is enhanced near disordered states known as ferroic glassy states, which improve the material’s heat storage and release capabilities.

Researchers discovered that localized hybrid magnon-phonon modes in the material significantly impact its thermal properties. Neutron scattering revealed that these modes triple the cooling capacity by storing heat in small, disordered regions.

Header image: Strong coupling between localized atomic vibrations and spin fluctuations enhances the absorption and release of heat in a magnetic shape-memory alloy, increasing its capacity for solid-state cooling. Credit: Phoenix Pleasant/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy.

Read more at Oak Ridge National Laboratory/SciTechDaily

Scientific paper: “Hybrid magnon-phonon localization enhances function near ferroic glassy states” by Michael E. Manley, Paul J. Stonaha, Nickolaus M. Bruno, Ibrahim Karaman, Raymundo Arroyave, Songxue Chi, Douglas L. Abernathy, Matthew B. Stone, Yuri I. Chumlyakov and Jeffrey W. Lynn, 14 June 2024, Science Advances.

DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adn2840

--

Other recent news

Astronomy: Researchers have discovered strange spike-like structures extending from a protostellar disk, providing new insights into star formation.

Innovation: US scientists have created a recyclable polymer that glows in the dark, showcasing a new direction in sustainable materials.

[mezzopieno-news]

UNA NUOVA TECNOLOGIA PER REFRIGERARE RIDUCE DEL 30% I CONSUMI

Una nuova tecnologia sviluppata dall’Oak Ridge National Laboratory del Tennessee (USA) è riuscita ad ottenere un sistema per la refrigerazione degli alimenti che riduce le emissioni di carbonio del 30%.

Centinaia di milioni di frigoriferi domestici nel mondo consumano fino a 2 kilowatt di elettricità al giorno utilizzando compressori che si accendono e si spengono giorno e notte, pompando refrigeranti attraverso le serpentine dell’evaporatore per mantenere basse temperature, con alti consumi energetici ed emissioni di carbonio. L’innovazione di questa tecnologia si basa su evaporatori avanzati che utilizzano materiali a cambiamento di fase installati in ciascun compartimento per l’accumulo di energia fredda. Questi materiali immagazzinano e rilasciano energia quando il loro stato passa da solido a liquido o viceversa. I ricercatori hanno applicato metalli porosi, una tecnologia di sbrinamento a contatto diretto e un refrigerante con un basso potenziale di riscaldamento globale per migliorare le prestazioni e ridurre al minimo l’impatto ambientale dei frigoriferi tradizionali, realizzando un nuovo modo di effettuare la refrigerazione domestica che esegue un ciclo una volta durante la notte e mantenendo la temperatura e le prestazioni durante tutto il giorno.

“I materiali a cambiamento di fase sono integrati con serpentine dell’evaporatore per mantenere la temperatura costante, richiedendo un ciclo operativo e consentendo ai frigoriferi di funzionare quasi al 100% di notte, quando il consumo di energia è inferiore”, ha spiegato Zhiming Gao dell’ORNL. “Questo permette di ridurre la domanda di elettricità, fa risparmiare sui costi e mantiene l’efficienza.”

___________________

Fonte: Oak Ridge National Laboratoy; foto di 燕京赵大知识分子

VERIFICATO ALLA FONTE | Guarda il protocollo di Fact checking delle notizie di Mezzopieno

BUONE NOTIZIE CAMBIANO IL MONDO | Firma la petizione per avere più informazione positiva in giornali e telegiornali

Se trovi utile il nostro lavoro e credi nel principio del giornalismo costruttivo non-profit | sostieni Mezzopieno

[plasticcyborg]

truly the funniest part of the insistence that ATMOD takes place in 1939 is that oak ridge national laboratory didnt open until 1943. the city of oak ridge didnt even exist until 1942.

[jcmarchi]

Real-World Traffic Demo Reveals Energy Savings - Technology Org

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/real-world-traffic-demo-reveals-energy-savings-technology-org/

Real-World Traffic Demo Reveals Energy Savings - Technology Org

Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers determined that a connected and automated vehicle, or CAV, traveling on a multilane highway with integrated traffic light timing control can maximize energy efficiency and achieve up to 27% savings.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers took a connected and automated vehicle out of the virtual proving ground and onto a public road to determine energy savings when it is operated under predictive control strategies. Credit: ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

In a demonstration, a plug-in hybrid passenger vehicle in electric mode was driven down a busy corridor in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The test vehicle and the timing of traffic lights along the longitudinal route were controlled by ORNL-developed computer algorithms.

“The energy efficiency of the transportation system and the CAV itself were optimized by avoiding idling, hard braking and accelerating as much as possible,” ORNL’s Jinghui Yuan said. “With integrated optimization strategies, CAVs can achieve significant energy savings.”

Two control strategies were implemented on the traffic signals and the CAV and integrated into a cyber-physical system. They were first tested in a digital twin-based traffic simulation and ORNL’s virtual proving ground, the Connected and Automated Vehicle Environment Laboratory.

Source: Oak Ridge National Laboratory

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[sukimas]

dashboard simulator for me is really mostly

mutual 1: i'm the world's most normal girl

mutual 2: cordyceps

mutual 3: a long discussion of the lesbian protagonist of The Thing (it's the titular Thing. not any of the scientist dudes)

mutual 4: pictures of oak ridge national laboratory or mathematical formulas

mutual 5: we must dismantle capitalism

mutual 6: slightly ominous pictures of beautiful women from gensokyo

mutual 7: industrial machinery

[mindblowingscience]

Oak Ridge National Laboratory scientists identified a gene "hotspot" in the poplar tree that triggers dramatically increased root growth. The discovery supports the development of better bioenergy crops and other plants that can thrive in difficult conditions while storing more carbon belowground. The team used a vast poplar dataset to identify regulator genes that can trigger hundreds of other gene expressions in the tree. They confirmed the molecular function of one hub gene, PtrXB38, and found that plants with the gene produced prolific and deeper roots. The gene even stimulated the growth of aerial roots on stems and leaves. The work is published in the journal New Phytologist. "With more roots, these plants absorb more nutrients, grow larger, are more tolerant to drought and can draw more carbon underground for longer-term storage," said ORNL's Wellington Muchero. The aerial roots may also make the plant more tolerant to flooding. "This naturally occurring gene has implications for biomass production, food production and climate change mitigation."

Continue Reading

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Neutron scattering instrument represents a new dawn for AI-powered atomic-scale 3D imaging

The Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory added a new neutron scattering instrument to its powerhouse of discovery at the Spallation Neutron Source, charting new territory for neutron imaging through artificial intelligence. In July, DOE's Office of Science approved the final commissioning of the Versatile Neutron Imaging Instrument, or VENUS. "It's a dream come true," said ORNL neutron scattering scientist Hassina Bilheux. "It has been an honor and privilege to work with so many talented people dedicated to seeing VENUS through." Thanks to its cutting-edge features and the world's most intense pulsed neutron beams, VENUS will help transform research in multiple areas of science. These include energy storage for better batteries, materials science for more efficient building materials, plant physiology for drought-resistant plants and more.

Read more.

[rosella35]

Borrowed Courage: Prologue

Hi everyone! I’ve decided to start posting Borrowed Courage (my borrower fanfic featuring main characters Kaleb and Brooke) on Tumblr, seeing as not everyone uses Wattpad or Deviantart. Feel free to read ahead on the sites I mentioned but if this is your first time checking out the story, I hope you enjoy it! This is just my two cents to the G/T community ^_^

[Note that this story is nonsexual, however contains themes of prejudice, dehumanisation, bullying and mentioned/implied deaths]

________________________________________________________

USA TODAY

September 15th, 2011

IT’S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL

Leaked footage of ‘tiny person’ sparks media frenzy: do they really live among us?

Fairy tales and mythology have entertained the existence of miniature, humanoid creatures for centuries, however recent footage has revealed that there may be a level of truth to the myth.

Less than forty-eight hours ago, a video was posted on YouTube by an anonymous user, entitled SUBJECT #215 ‘GREY’ LEAKED FOOTAGE. The clip was recorded at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Tennessee over three months, and depicts a young man who is perceived to stand less than six inches tall undertaking a series of physiological and cognitive tests within laboratory conditions.  

Following its upload, the video surged across various media platforms and climbed to #3 on YouTube’s ‘Trending’ browser before being removed by ORNL officials due to confidentiality infringements. However, the footage has left a global mark, with one viewer describing the clip as ‘Extraordinary but haunting. If this wasn’t filmed from a federal government-watermarked facility, I wouldn’t have believed it at first.’

Six hours after it was taken down, the individual responsible for posting the video requested an interview with USA Today, and revealed that they were formerly part of the research team assigned to Subject #215. Employee X, who wishes to remain anonymous, described the case study in unsettling detail, explaining that the subject had underwent constant and often inhumane experimentation since being discovered in inner city Boston, Massachusetts late last year.  

“The subject prefers to be called Grey.” They said. “He appears to have a human-like level of intellect, and aside from a clear difference in proportion, his body structure and physiological features are also near identical.” When asked if Grey understood speech, X was quick to reply.

“Quite well. Since being in captivity, he has revealed little about himself, but it is evident in his dialogue that he may not be the only one of his kind in existence. Based on his choice of attire and mannerisms, we have reason to believe that Grey’s ‘species’ so to speak are well adapted to living within human settlements, albeit undetected. Further, the subject has been shown to have the same dietary needs as us, which suggests that he is accustomed to consuming human food.”

According to X, they partook in the initial course of experiments which studied Grey’s physiology, however abandoned the project due to ethical qualms. “When we were briefed on the study, I imagined we would be working with an exotic species of animal, but after interacting with Grey, and gaining insight into his perception of the situation, I, along with several other members of the team were convinced that he possessed the same advanced intelligence as a human. This was soon confirmed with anatomical evidence, after an EEG conducted on the subject revealed that his brain activity for cognitive tasks was identical to ours.”

“It wasn’t a question of science any longer.” X continued. “It was a question of ethics, and I, like many other ORNL staff, stand firmly against their method of research regarding subject Grey. The reason I posted this video was to both inform and enlighten the general public of the matter, and encourage my fellow scientists to consider their methods of research from an ethical standpoint should more members of Grey’s species be discovered.”

Following the interview, a thorough investigation into the famed laboratory in Tennessee is confirmed to be underway, however the current status and whereabouts of subject Grey remain undisclosed and consequently, we are left with more questions than answers. Is there really a race of ‘tiny people’ living among us and if so, for how long will they continue to exist unbeknownst to humanity?

Published by Pamela Cook

Chief Editor

****

Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee, United States

September 14th, 2011

5:28PM

The sun crept low into the horizon, bordering on dusk, but the couple hundred people camped out around the perimeter of ORNL were hardly fazed. They’d arrived in clusters at a time over the course of forty-eight hours, locals and tourists alike. Most were waiting eagerly with phone cameras in hand, no doubt hoping to catch a glimpse of the mysterious ‘Subject Grey’ who had made his shocking internet debut not three days prior. The biggest mob had settled around a large white van emblazoned with the Channel Eighty-Five studio logo, where a cameraman, a female reporter and her associate made their final preparations for the evening news broadcast.

The reporter, a slim woman adorned in a white button up blouse and pencil skirt, waited impatiently for the signal. Her team had set up their base of operations just outside the main entrance to the Oak Ridge facility; chosen specifically so that during the program, she would address the viewers with a convincing backdrop of ORNL’s impressive chainmail fence and mob of curious onlookers. With less than a minute until they went live, her associate listened into the audio feed of the main news program and nodded to the cameraman. Then, at 5:30PM, the broadcast commenced.  

“This is Vanessa Clarke, reporting to you live from the site where it all began. I’m standing outside the main entrance of Oak Ridge National Laboratory where the controversial video that shocked the world was filmed. Leaked footage of  Subject #215 ‘Grey’, which has since been removed from all media platforms, was recorded by a former employee right here in this facility, where it is now believed that researchers are investigating the existence of a race of ‘tiny people’. The video and its followup article from USA Today have received a global media response, with thousands of related stories surfacing, along with further evidence of what people are claiming to be miniature people caught on film.”

While the news reporter talked, a young man broke land speed records on his old moped scooter as he tore down the highway towards the laboratory. James Peterson, a recent graduate in human ethics and ambassador for the entrepreneurial ‘Speak Up for Change’ foundation, hoped he’d make it in time.  

“Thanks, Todd, and to those watching, stay tuned. We’ll have more coverage of the facility coming up shortly here on Channel Eighty-Five.” The cameraman cut off the live feed and the Vanessa let out a sigh, stepping out of the frame. She accepted a water bottle handed her way by her associate and took a sip. “Do you really think this crackpot story’s gonna boost our ratings?” She laughed lightly, leaning against the news van with a look of unconcealed scepticism.

Her coworker shrugged. “Hey, it’s all that people are talking about lately. We might as well give them a bone to chew on.” He gestured to the fenced perimeter of the facility behind them where the crowd continued to gather, some holding up handmade posters with demanding messages like ‘FREE SUBJECT GREY’ or ‘WE WANT ANSWERS’. “Besides, if we wait around out here long enough, those big-shot scientists might just give us some answers.”

“Don’t tell me…” Vanessa took another swig of water to mask her surprise. “You actually believe this crap, Charlie.”

Charlie merely smirked. “Trust me Vanessa, I stopped believing in what I heard on the news the second I landed this job.”

The reporter chuckled, opening her mouth for a witty response, when an old moped scooter burst into the clearing. The people standing nearby exclaimed in shock as it’s rider—a gangly man no older than twenty-five and dressed in a coat, wrinkled business shirt and slacks—cried out breathlessly.

“Is the news team still here? I need to speak with the news team!”

As he approached, Vanessa righted herself and stifled a sigh. There was always one crazy local who’d show up wanting their face on TV, but this guy seemed particularly desperate. She supposed she’d give him the time of day.  

“My name is Vanessa Clarke, and I work for Channel Eighty-Five.” She addressed the man, who locked gazes immediately. “Can I help you?”

At her greeting, he practically collapsed with relief, quickly parking his scooter and closing the short distance between them. “Ah, y-yes! Thank god you’re still here.” He adjusted his wrinkled trench coat as he talked.  

Vanessa nodded pleasantly. “Yes, we’re in the middle of a three hour coverage of this facility; you know, after that Youtube video went up on Tuesday.” Her trained eyes flickered over his awkward demeanour and overall nerdy attire; a classic science fanatic if she ever saw one. “I assume you’ve heard of it.”

“R-Right! Yes! That’s actually why I’m here. I was wondering if I could have a minute of your time while you’re taking a break.” He swallowed, no doubt noticing her obvious disinterest. “I promise, it’ll be worth it.”  

Vanessa barely refrained from rolling her eyes. You’ve got to be kidding me. She shot Charlie a questioning look, to which he simply shrugged. It wasn’t like there was much else available to pass time before the next broadcast. With those thoughts in mind, the reporter sighed. “Alright, I’m listening. Just make it short, okay?” She said. “We go live again at six.”

At her choice of words, the man let out a snicker, but quickly smoothed his expression and held out a pasty hand. Vanessa shook it briskly. “Y-Yes, of course. My name is James Peterson, and I’m a representative of the Speak Up for Change foundation. We deal with several public relations issues, namely the portrayal of individuals and ethical misconduct in the media.”

I know where this is going. Vanessa inwardly groaned, ready to silence his critique with a well-rehearsed monologue. “Listen, Mr Peterson, if you’re here to file a complaint about our studio, I would recommend visiting the head office—”

“H-Hold on, I think you misunderstand where I’m getting at.” James held out his hands in a peaceful gesture. “Trust me, I’m not here to file any complaints.”

“Just hear the poor guy out, Vanessa.” Charlie cajoled her from the van, which earned him a withering look from his coworker.

She sighed. “Fine. You have my undivided attention.”

James nodded, clearing his throat. “As I was saying, the role of Speak Up for Change is to bring attention to and raise awareness towards those who have been wrongfully portrayed in the media. In particular, my latest client approached me wishing to voice his side of the story, following the Small World article publication yesterday.”

“I see…” Vanessa wasn’t sure where he was going with this. “Would you like to schedule an interview with our studio?”

James almost looked bemused. “That won’t be necessary. I’ve brought my client along with me, and we were hoping to meet with you in time for the six o’clock news broadcast.”

Vanessa frowned, his words becoming less and less clear by the second. “I’m not following.”

“With all due respect, Ms Clarke, I feel like it’ll be much easier to just show you.” He fumbled with the button of his coat breast pocket for a moment, and the reporter was about to turn away with a bored scowl when a flicker of movement caught her eye.

The entire news team watched in stunned silence as what could only be a tiny person pushed the flap of the pocket out of the way to reveal himself. He looked to be middle aged, most likely in his mid-thirties, with disheveled ash blonde hair, pale skin and haunting grey eyes. Everything about him seemed so human-like, aside from the fact that he couldn’t have stood more than six inches tall.

“Jesus Christ.” Charlie breathed.

“Actually, my name is Flint. Flint Oakland.” The impossibly small man corrected him in a soft, but clear voice. “Pardon my intrusion, Ms Clarke, but I was hoping to get a word in on your next broadcast. You’ll no doubt find what I have to say… enlightening.”

For almost half a minute, his words hung in the air as they were met with the collective shock of the news team. Vanessa made a valiant effort to control her emotions, but couldn’t stop her mouth from hanging open at the sudden turn of events. Honestly, what was the world coming to? It took her several more seconds of bewildered thought processing before she exchanged a glance with Charlie, who checked his wristwatch. Two minutes until they went live. Beside them, the cameraman could barely keep up with what the news hosts were saying past his lingering awe.

“You heard the man, get the cameras rolling.” Vanessa announced, before reaching for her mobile. “I’ll get the head exec on the line.”

If this didn’t get their ratings up, she wasn’t sure what would.

Not one minute later, James Peterson and his ‘client’ got their interview, and Flint Oakland—all five-and-a-half inches of him— made history on prime time TV.

“Thank you Todd. We’re reporting back to you live from outside the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where hundreds of people have gathered in the wake of the controversial video that shocked the world. Just two days ago, footage taken right here in this facility sparked a global media frenzy and left us with one pressing question that Oak Ridge representatives have ignored thus far: Is Subject Grey real?” She cleared her throat dramatically. “Well, to everyone watching at home, and to all of the people gathered here with me tonight, the man I’m about to introduce will finally give us some answers.”  

Falling into character, the cameraman panned across to the tiny figure, now standing in James Peterson’s upturned palm with a microphone larger than he was raised to his chest. As the unblinking lens of the camera zoomed in, he met its gaze with determined steely grey eyes. Despite herself, Vanessa felt her heart skip a beat.  

“My name is Flint Oakland, and I have a message for the people of America.” He began, and at that jaw-dropping moment, the entire world paused to listen.

“To everyone watching, congratulations. Yesterday’s news article has forced our hand, and after conversing with my fellow representatives, my people have agreed that, to ensure a successful future for our race and prevent any needless suffering, this is our only viable course of action.”

A crowd had gathered around the local news team to watch. Phone cameras flashed, and people openly stared. In the distance, several jet black vehicles could be seen exiting the research facility beyond its chainmail fence. Chaos was unfolding in the human world that Flint hadn’t been a part of until recently, but with a deep, shuddering breath, he continued. It was now or never.

“And so, I offer you my final confession.” The broadcast, which had started on a local program in the quiet city of Oak Ridge was now streaming across every news channel across the world. “My kind have lived among you since the beginning, existing in the darkness and silenced by fear and oppression.” Flint Oakland said. “Do not misunderstand; we may be smaller than humans, but like you, we have families and children, our own customs and art and culture. We are people, who, for centuries have kept ourselves hidden from you humans out of fear of an outcome such as the one you’ve witnessed over the last forty-eight hours. But, it is time for that to change, and we hope that in time, our races will come to understand one another as equals.”

The entire world held its breath as Flint Oakland uttered his final, monumental sentence.

“We are borrowers, and we will not hide any longer.”