News Releases
National Security / Threat Reduction
National Security / Threat Reduction
Roadrunner supercomputer puts research at a new scale
June 12 — Less than a week after Los Alamos National Laboratory’s Roadrunner supercomputer began operating at world-record petaflop/s data-processing speeds, Los Alamos researchers are already using the computer to mimic extremely complex neurological processes.
Synthetic Fuel Concept to Steal CO2 From Air
February 12 — Los Alamos National Laboratory has developed a low-risk, transformational concept, called Green Freedom™, for large-scale production of carbon-neutral, sulfur-free fuels and organic chemicals from air and water.
ASPECT plane deploys to Southern California wildfires
October 26 — At 6:30 (Mountain Daylight Time) Thursday morning, the ASPECT plane – a one-of-a-kind emergency response tool operated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and supported by Los Alamos National Laboratory – deployed to the wildfires of Southern California.
Plethora of Papers Proves Crashed Mission a Success
October 23 — Despite a resounding crunch into the Utah desert floor in 2004, scientists have mined a treasure trove of data from the Genesis mission.
Understanding Killer Electrons in Space
July 10 — Settling a long-standing scientific debate, Los Alamos scientists have demonstrated conclusively how electromagnetic waves accelerate ordinary electrons in the belts of radiation outside Earth's atmosphere to a state where they become "killer electrons," particles that are hazardous to satellites, spacecraft, and astronauts.
Tracking a deadly bacillus
May 17 — Recently, Los Alamos scientists devised an improved method for distinguishing Bacillus anthracis (the bacterial cause of anthrax) from its close cousins Bacillus cereus.
Los Alamos Recovery Team Sets New Record
May 7 — With the delivery of a batch of radioactive pellets from a company in California, a Los Alamos team has now recovered 15,000 unused or unwanted radioactive sources.
GRaND science instrument moves closer to launch from Cape
April 10 — A mission back in time is nearing the launch pad minute by minute. The Dawn spacecraft, NASA’s mission into the heart of the asteroid belt, arrived at Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Florida, today for final processing and launch operations.
Risky business highlighted in symposium
March 21 — Los Alamos National Laboratory is hosting its second annual symposium on “Risk Analysis in Homeland Security and Defense: Theory and Application,” March 26-28 at the La Fonda Hotel on the Plaza in Santa Fe.
'Software glasses' clarify view of lunar thorium
March 15 — Using a novel approach to data analysis, a sharper pair of “software glasses,” scientists are taking a closer look at spectroscopic Moon images to better understand how that body was formed.
NNSA satellite launched on Atlas-5 rocket
March 9 — A small-but-smart satellite experiment, the Cibola Flight Experiment (CFE) developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory for the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), launched at 10:10 p.m. EST last night aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas-5 rocket and was successfully placed in orbit 350 miles above Earth.
Storms and society: where things go wrong
February 26 — Tying images of a powerful ice storm to scenes of downed power lines and darkened homes does not take a great leap of imagination - but the science of their interrelationships is more complex.
Sealed sources leave the Hill, destined for WIPP
August 17 — In the first shipment since May 2003, fourteen 55-gallon drums of radioactive sealed sources were shipped from storage at Los Alamos National Laboratory to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) on Thursday, July 28.
Airborne Los Alamos instruments test for toxins from fires
April 12 — A unique hazard-detecting plane, supported by scientists from Los Alamos National Laboratory and operated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, was on duty to warn first responders and residents with information about potential chemical hazards during a recent Houston oil refinery disaster.
Los Alamos muon detector could thwart nuclear smugglers
February 19 — Trillions of cosmic rays that constantly bombard Earth could help catch smugglers trying to bring nuclear weapons or materials into the United States.
Beason takes top threat reduction post at Los Alamos
January 27 — Los Alamos National Laboratory Director Peter G. Nanos this week announced the selection of J. Douglas Beason as associate director for Threat Reduction. Beason's appointment was approved by the University of California Board of Regents Jan. 20 and became effective Jan. 24.
Los Alamos radiation detector cited in technology awards
November 17 — A unique, handheld radiation detector developed by Los Alamos National Laboratory has been named a winner in both the "2003 InfoWorld 100" and IDG Computerworld's "Best Practices in Mobile & Wireless" Awards programs. The detector, called the CZT Spectrometer, detects both gamma rays and neutrons — signatures from nuclear materials that are of concern because of their potential for use by terrorists — and uses handhelds from palmOne Inc. for quick computer uploads.
Garage-sized device saves millions on nuclear waste assay
March 6 — A Los Alamos National Laboratory device that measures radioactive wastes will save the U. S. Department of Energy and its subcontractors about $4 million a year when it is installed this month at DOE's Y-12 Plant at Oak Ridge, TN.
Lab cancels planned biodetector tests
July 8 — Planned tests involving the outdoor release of a common bacterium have been cancelled due to ongoing public concerns, Los Alamos National Laboratory officials announced today.
The tests are part of a program to develop better devices for prompt, accurate detection of biological agents that could be used in terrorist or battlefield attacks. Scientists will look for alternate sites to conduct airborne releases of bacteria as part of the detector development.
Helping cities cope with disaster
October 22 — An earthquake rocks a large modern city, injuring hundreds of people, producing major structural damage, knocking out electrical power, breaking gas mains and causing an industrial plant to leak toxic chemicals. Collapsed bridges and buildings prevent emergency vehicles from reaching the injured, attending to dozens of small fires before they become big ones and carrying supplies to hospitals and rescue workers.
How do emergency responders and city officials cope with the situation? How do they deploy resources where they are most needed? How can they prepare in advance for such disasters, and what can they do to recover from them? Los Alamos National Laboratory researchers are working on a project to give city officials, regional planners, police and other agencies a tool to help them plan for and respond to disasters such as earthquakes.
Los Alamos and Surrey Satellite contract for Cibola flight experiment platform
March 10 — Los Alamos National Laboratory and Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) announced today a contract agreement for development of an advanced satellite platform for ionospheric and lightning studies.
Los Alamos speaker at AAAS addresses pathogen detection for biodefense
February 10 — Saying that "in spite of the developments in both DNA technologies and antibody-based detection strategies, the reality today is that infections are not detected until people get sick," according to Los Alamos National Laboratory Bioscience Division Leader Jill Trewhella. Trewhella will speak at a proteomics seminar at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Seattle. The session, "Networking Proteins in Biology and Medicine," is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 14.
Los Alamos, Sandia National Laboratories to host Homeland Security workshop for state, local responders
February 18 — Los Alamos National Laboratory's Center for Homeland Security, in partnership with Sandia National Laboratories, is announcing a homeland security workshop for local, state and regional first responders.
Los Alamos selects new biological threat reduction program manager
October 4 — Gary Resnick has been named manager of the Biological Threat Reduction Program at the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory. Los Alamos'program in Biological Threat Reduction aims to reduce the possible threat of biological agents from terrorist groups or third world countries.
Lab will hold bioscience information session in Santa Fe
April 6 — The Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory will hold a public poster session highlighting its research in biothreat reduction Tuesday at Santa Fe Community College. Scientists will be available to answer questions about their posters and research at the session, scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m.
Los Alamos tracking system helps flag route errors for WIPP trucks
January 11 —
A smart computer system developed at the U.S. Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory can now provide an almost instant alarm signal when nuclear waste transport drivers waver off course. For waste-carrying trucks bound for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, this is a timely addition to their on-board shipment-tracking systems
Los Alamos gains corporate partner for traffic simulation
October 4 — The U.S. Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory is teaming with PricewaterhouseCoopers to take TRANSIMS, a remarkable traffic simulation software package developed at the Lab, and create products that can be deployed to metropolitan planning agencies nationwide.
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