The realm of national security comprises a number of priorities, including thwarting terrorism here and abroad, bolstering the infrastructure of our country’s power grid and ensuring the safety and reliability of our country’s nuclear deterrent. Some of the research projects supporting our nation’s security concerns may sound like the stuff of science fiction, but they are not. For example, leadingedge millimeter-wave scanners may not only make negotiating airport security a breeze, but could also provide a more thorough per-person search by making three-dimensional images so detailed as to reveal any concealed objects. Elsewhere, scientists have built an X-ray generator called the Z Machine, which works to study the details of nuclear explosions and their effects without conducting underground nuclear tests. Such advances not only make us a more informed country; they also make our country more secure.

	Replicating Tiny Nuclear Explosions Using the World’s Largest Laser—The goal of the National Ignition Facility is to create a miniature star on earth to ensure the safety of the nation’s nuclear stockpile.
	Antineutrinos Reveal the Inner Workings of Nuclear Reactors—Antineutrino detectors can potentially achieve the important goal of tracking fissile materials, such as plutonium, to ensure they are not being diverted into weapons.
	Fine Sculpting the Details on Classic Synthetic Aperture Radars—By combining small SAR systems with a unmanned aerial vehicle platform, Sandia is providing radar imaging capabilities for a variety of applications.
	Protecting Our Soldiers—Improved steel armor and cutting-edge solar cell technology will soon provide soldiers with better protection and lighter loads when they venture into harm’s way.
	Roadrunner Keeps an Eye on the Nation’s Nuclear Arsenal—The Roadrunner supercomputer provides a best-in-the-world tool for enhancing our scientific understanding of nuclear weapons and ensuring the reliability and safety of the U.S. nuclear stockpile.
	Modeling Urban Disease Outbreaks—Los Alamos National Laboratory supercomputer models indicate that targeted vaccinations and early detection may provide the best way to contain the spread of a deadly virus.
	Millimeter Wave Technology Scans for More Than Just Security—This new technology makes going through airport security a breeze.
	Nuclear Testing Without the Nuclear Explosion—The versatile Z machine helps safeguard America’s nuclear arsenal while giving scientists new insights into fusion technology.