Wendy Panero and The Ohio State University Mineral Physics Research Group study material behavior under the high-pressure, high-temperature conditions of the Earth’s interior. Experimental efforts use the laser-heated diamond anvil cell to create pressures in excess of 1 Mbar and temperatures in excess of 5000 K. Theoretical tools include ab-initio calculations and molecular dynamics from first principles. Key questions the group address are (1) the behavior of highly- and moderately volatile elements in planetary interiors, (2) equations of state and diffusion of metals at high pressure using isotopically marked and controlled geometry samples, and (3) technical development of laser-heated diamond anvil cell methods. The lab includes an array of seven symmetric diamond cells and one hydrothermal cell. The laser-heating system includes a 50W diode-pumped YLF laser and a dual camera system for temperature and temperature-profile measurements. Theoretical computations are performed at the Ohio Supercomputer Center on the IBM cluster.