All Stories

LANL computer model boosts engine efficiency

The KIVA model has been instrumental in helping researchers and manufacturers understand combustion processes, accelerate engine development and improve engine design and efficiency. - 9/25/12

Unions, LANL sign labor agreements

The New Mexico Building and Construction Trades Council and Los Alamos National Security LLC, announced the signing of a series of labor agreements that affect nearly 750 construction and maintenance workers. - 9/21/12

LANS Board of Governors extends Community Commitment Plan

$3 million of the company’s management fee invested each year in education, economic development and community giving - 9/18/12

Wallace to bring earthquakes to life for Café Scientifique New Mexico series

The fun, free conversation series provides a way for teens to explore the latest ideas in science and technology. - 9/13/12

LANL responds to radiological incident

Multiple tests indicate no health risks to public or employees - 8/27/12

Grape Growers Association enlivens agriculture

Growers association unites small parcels of land, enlivens production, protects water rights for Northern New Mexico agriculturists. - 8/6/12

Bees replacing dogs as detectors of volatile organic compounds

Researchers at LANL began working with domestic honeybees in 2006 to detect explosive materials and narcotics. - 8/6/12

Nuclear energy field fascinates David Parkinson, chemical engineer

Chemical engineer undergraduate designs and tests a separator used in processing plutonium. - 8/3/12

Hazmat work opens up career options for Adam Sayre, agricultural economist

Agricultural economics undergraduate works behind the scenes to ensure quality work on gloveboxes used for hazardous materials. - 8/3/12

Ideal balance of work, play makes outdoor enthusiast's James Miller life enviable

Nuclear engineer graduate research assistant gets valueable experience while taking advantage of local outdoor recreational activities. - 8/2/12

Inspiration from world-class scientists leads Patricia Langan to nanoscience

Graduate research assistant discovered her passion while interning as an undergraduate student in the Bioscience Division. - 8/1/12

Science theory and practical applications both avenues at LANL for Daniela Moody, Postdoc

"I love working with like-minded people, and the eclectic combination of educational and cultural backgrounds of everyone on my team truly fosters scientific growth." - 7/31/12

Mars rover depends on three LANL technologies

Curiosity zaps Mars for vital signs: Designed by Lab team, ChemCam looks for crucial elements such as carbon, nitrogen and oxygen - 7/30/12

Working to keep us safe: Sara Brambilla, Postdoc creates threat reduction tools

Chemical engineer postdoc experiences a foreign culture while working on resources that respond to weapons of mass destruction and natural threats. - 7/18/12

Hands-on environmental stewardship deepens Erica Garcia, civil engineer, experience

Civil engineer undergraduate spends time in the field sampling water quality for the Lab. - 7/17/12

Products, services procured by LANL in FY11

LANL purchased $918M in goods and services. - 7/16/12

Removing nuclear waste, one shipment at a time

The Lab's 1,000th shipment of transuranic waste recently left Los Alamos, on its way to a permanent repository near Carlsbad, NM. - 6/26/12

Going green earns Laboratory gold

The Laboratory's newest facility is its first to achieve both the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design status and Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. - 6/18/12

Weapons assessment efficiencies through use of nondestructive laser gas sampling

Nondestructive laser welding process far less expensive, no underground testing. - 6/8/12

SimTable key tool for preparing, responding to wildfire

Camera tracks movement and objects and project them onto a sand table. - 5/30/12

Nuclear magnetic resonance offers new insights into Pu 239

Fingerprint of element found by LANL/Japanese team. - 5/29/12

After the Big Bang: Theory suggests first planets formed after first generations of stars

The researchers' calculations predict properties of first planet and timeline for life. - 5/3/12

Mastering the art of plutonium pit production to ensure national security

For 19 years, the U.S. was the only nuclear superpower unable to build a pit and put it in a stockpile. That ended in 2007. - 4/24/12

Pollution prevention efforts recognized

Pollution prevention awards recognize individuals or teams whose efforts minimize waste, conserve resources and apply sustainable practices. - 4/17/12

DREAM tool increases space weather predictions

Model addresses radiation hazards of the space environment on space systems. - 4/13/12

Cancer-fighting treatment gets boost from Isotope Production Facility

New capability expands existing program, creates treatment product in quantity. - 4/13/12

102-year-old LANL volunteer continues to make a difference

Virginia Stovall, will be honored for volunteering 1,470 hours last year - she will also be celebrating her 103rd birthday in September. - 4/3/12

Plasma technology for textile finishing applications gets a boost from LANL

APJeT received a $100,000 Venture Acceleration Fund award from LANS helping to complete design and engineering of a commercial-scale production unit. - 4/3/12

Wireless technology collects real-time information from oil and gas wells

The patented system delivers continuous electromagnetic data on the reservoir conditions, enabling economical and effective monitoring and analysis. - 4/3/12

Underground radio technology saves miners and emergency response personnel

Founded through LANL, Vital Alert Technologies, Inc. (Vital Alert) has launched a wireless, two-way real-time voice communication system that is effective through 1,000+ feet of solid rock. - 4/3/12

Inexpensive handheld tests for diseases are in sight

Los Alamos scientists are developing a prototype of handheld tests capable of diagnose multiple diseases. - 4/3/12

Local procurements exceed planned goals in 5 out of 6 business categories

Major subcontractor's dollars impact the economy locally, regionally and nationally. - 4/3/12

World class recreation complements cutting-edge science

Los Alamos employees enjoy access to a network of 100+ miles of high-quality trails, much of it within walking distance from key Lab facilities or from residents’ front doors. - 4/3/12

Faster plant growth in a safe, economical way

When applied to plants, Take-Off™ speeds crop emergence, increases growth rates and yields, improves stress tolerance and nutrient value, and reduces need for nitrogen fertilizers. - 4/3/12

Why Los Alamos? Quality of life makes town "Best Of"

Real secrets related to Los Alamos have as much to do with quality of life as prosperity and stability. - 4/3/12

Medical treatments, fuel sources from studying elusive enzyme

Enzyme has potential to aid in treatment of peptic ulcers, acid reflux disease, or conversion of woody waste into transportation fuels. - 4/3/12

Improving consumer value through enhanced performance around the world

LANL statistical tools have helped create Reliability Technology (RT), which increases the overall fraction of productive manufacturing time, or “uptime,” for its internal manufacturing lines. - 4/3/12

Increased durability and lifetime of fuel cell products

A revolutionary method of building a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for PEM fuel cells allows LANL to offer significant cost reductions and performance enhancements necessary for mainstream applications. - 4/3/12

Unraveling the mystery of quantum-dot blinking

Research enhances single particle tracking, allows novel light-emitting diodes, and boosts development of new solar cells. - 4/3/12

Supercomputing Challenge: student's algorithm solves real-world problem

Students learn how to use powerful computers to analyze, model, and solve real-world problems. - 4/3/12

SimTable helps firefighters model and predict fire direction

In 2009, SimTable received $100,000 from the LANS Venture Acceleration Fund to improve the user interface and seed firefighting academies with customized set ups. - 4/3/12

Reseachers recommend solutions for sediment trapping in irrigation system

LANL and SNL leveraged technical expertise to determine the sources of sediment and recommend solutions for irrigation sediment buildup management. - 4/3/12

Future scientists advance to DOE national competition

A team from Los Alamos bested 39 other teams from around New Mexico in the 10-hour New Mexico Regional Science Bowl. - 4/3/12

Leyba encourages students: apply for Los Alamos Employees’ Scholarship Fund

Life-changing experience: springboard to a career in exercise, science, and physical therapy. - 4/3/12

Hydrogen fuel-cell cars designed and built in student competition

Middle and elementary school teams from around New Mexico participated in the annual Hydrogen Fuel Cell Challenge in Albuquerque. - 4/3/12

Teen's passion for learning serves others at science museum

Homeschooler and volunteer at the Bradbury Science Museum shares his knowledge of bugs with museum visitors. - 4/3/12

Motion recognition software business receives Venture Acceleration Funds

LANS Venture Acceleration Fund (VAF) award enabled Ideum to develop motion recognition software for international release. - 4/3/12

Fire victim helped by local nonprofit organizations

A perennial helper, didn’t realize that she might someday need help herself. - 4/3/12

Digital content tool analyzes "gist" of text-based documents

LANL’s Digital Knowledge Discovery Team has created a suite of digital-content-analysis tools to gather, reduce, annotate, organize, synthesize, and visualize digital content. - 4/3/12

Reinvention of laboratory apparatus cuts costs

New apparatus that is designed to be inexpensive, reconfigurable, and adaptable to both surface and solution electrochemical experiments. - 4/3/12

Solving the energy overusage problem

Energy use and related thermal management issues are serious business concerns, but with EnergyFit LANL can significantly reduce heat output and maintain consistent electrical cost. - 4/3/12

Hazardous odorless gases detected by LANL's IntelliCLAD

This new class of smart coatings are non-odorous but release an odor in the presence of selected gases of concern, reducing contamination and alerting people when danger arises. - 4/3/12

Programers advance with Kip Ray Tracer

Kip is a high-performance ray tracing library that provides rapid rendering and compact code while using very little memory so large numbers of shapes can be used simultaneously. - 4/3/12

KIVA's modeling code increases engine efficiency and fuel economy

Through an advanced computational modeling code that accurately simulates the in-cylinder processes of engines, LANL scientists have addressed many costly issues. - 4/3/12

Deep-space communication improved with electromagnetic radiation antenna

New antenna has potential applications in RADAR, secure communications, ultra-long-range communications, oncology and astrophysics. - 4/3/12

Faster than the speed of sight: High-speed camera provides high sensitivity, frame rate

High-speed cameras becomes less effective at high speeds; MOXIE fixes that problem by simultaneously providing both the highest photographic and physical speeds. - 4/3/12

Environmentally safe refrigerators: 30% more efficient

Better than conventional pulse-tube refrigerator the multi-stage refrigerator maximizes efficiency, capacity, and cooling performance. - 4/3/12

Computer software mimics the brain's vision

LANL is studying how the brain sees, attempting to replicate it and use the technology to utilize widespread fast, accurate, robust computer vision systems. - 4/3/12

Detecting radio frequencies with a cost-effective portable system

LANL has developed the NextRF receiver, a cost-effective portable system for collecting, detecting, analyzing, and locating signals in real time. - 4/3/12

Watch out, influenza! LANL has a new antibody therapy

Flu may be less of a problem thanks to LANL's discovery of a highly specific, tightly binding antibody to the M2 influenza protein. - 4/3/12

Pathogen detection made easy with Biological Identification and Quantification (BIOIQ)

Inexpensive, hand-held detector identifies and quantifies any strain or species of microorganism in real-time. - 4/3/12

Explosives detected by laser-based technology

ODD-Ex will be a highly reliable “stand-off” explosives detector that can detect very small quantities of explosive molecules at considerable distances. - 4/3/12

Drug resistant infections beat by natural compound

Researchers have discovered and isolated a naturally occurring compound that is highly effective at eliminating growth of gram positive and gram negative bacteria in vitro. - 4/3/12

Biological threats stopped through QS molecules

Recent work has led to the identification of a sophisticated, bacterial intercellular communication system that relies on the production and release of the quorum sensing (QS) molecules. - 4/3/12

Quantum Enabled Security (QES): valuable information protected

In today’s world, the information passed through optical networks every second is as valuable as currency; however, the security is often inadequate for the threats against them. - 4/3/12

Rabbit fever research may help in producing effective vaccines

Studying the antimicrobial action of a probiotic bacteria against dangerous infection agent in order to consider it for further probiotic inclusion into treatment and prevention. - 4/3/12

Safer, more effective explosives made by LANL scientists

Traditional explosives are hazardous to use, so LANL scientists have created economical and environmentally friendly explosive as an alternative. - 4/3/12

Vacuum electronics are a thing of the past

Today’s high-power, high-frequency vacuum electronics is hampered and industry also demands better beam quality, a longer lifetime, and less maintenance. - 4/3/12

Better than X-Ray: MagViz probes chemicals faster for less

While x-ray methods sample density and nuclear properties, MagViz can directly probe chemical environments, providing complementary information. - 4/3/12

Optical biosensor detects protein toxins, biological pathogens

Detecting viruses, bacterial infections, protein toxins and tumor specific antigens for the early diagnosis of cancer. - 4/3/12

Monitoring, surveillance enhanced with Integrated Knowledge Engine (IKE)

IKE gives analysts and decision makers better comprehension of acquired evidence and increases quality of rapid-response decisions. - 4/3/12

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM): Wireless sensing network saves money

Expensive wire is one source of economic concern, so LANL engineers have developed a wireless sensing network for SHM. - 4/3/12

Upgraded Phase and Radical Motion in Electron Accelerators

PARMELA is a versatile code that transforms the beam through a user-specified linear accelerator and/or transport system. It is a mature, globally-distributed code. - 4/3/12

Security encryption problems solved

Using the laws of physics instead of math, LANL scientists have created the QKarD to share data that is safeguarded from eavesdroppers. - 4/3/12

Technologies awarded as top advances of the year

Uranium reagents, valveless laser processing, and speedy DNA analysis included in top 100 proven technological advances of the year. - 4/3/12

Improved medical implants comes from nanostructuring

Together, LANL and Russia institutes modify metals to better match and integrate, or bond, with human bone tissue. - 4/3/12

Flow cytometry aids basic cell biology research and drug discovery

Life Technologies Corporation and LANL have released the Attune® Acoustic Focusing Cytometer, featuring a reduced footprint, reduced consumables, and an affordable price. - 4/3/12

Engine improvement and efficiency gained by teamwork

Together, Cummins and LANL have reduced costs and increased efficiency in diesel engines. - 4/3/12

Millions in cost reduction and advantageous diaper products result from LANL projects

LANL technology successfully optimized diaper manufacturing and manufacturing design, permitting Laboratory scientists to validate and expand the capabilities of the software. - 4/3/12

Breast cancer detection: accurate, safe, inexpensive, more comfortable

Accurate, non-damaging early detection is a key factor to reducing the number of deaths caused by breast cancer. - 4/3/12

Emulating human eyes in computer framework

The goal of RADIUS is to bring analysis capability in line with sensing capability and provide broad area search support. - 4/3/12

Hydraulic fractures traced by monitoring microseismic events

LANL scientists have figured out how to discriminate between microseismic events occurring during fractures, increasing efficiency during repairs. - 4/3/12

Fast, effective snap ring application

Installation and removal of internal snap rings is often a difficult, time-consuming process. In response, LANL mechanical technicians have developed the Ratcheting Interior Snap Ring Tool designed specifically for internal snap ring applications. - 4/3/12

Genetic studies help save valuable species

LANL's proposed work will help research and preserve the cultured animal species. - 4/3/12

Detection breakthrough of fatal neuro-degenerative diseases

A sensitive immunoassay, termed SOFIA, can detect PrPSc from the brains of clinical scrapie-infected sheep. With PMCA, it can detect PrPSc in blood. - 4/3/12

Neutron radiation detector, safe new alternative

Gamma/neutron discrimination discerns between radiation emitted by nuclear materials and naturally occurring gamma radiation emitted by benign cargos. - 4/3/12

Test-systems for Avian Influenza detection on the Republic of Kazakhstan

Greater surveillance and monitoring of avian influenza with worldwide application in identifying virulent strains. - 4/3/12

Small business subcontractors complete recovery act-funded demolition under budget

Demolition completed $16 million under budget and six months ahead of schedule. - 4/3/12

Two small businesses selected for work valued at $80 million

Two small businesses compete for up to $80 million in well drilling and monitoring work. - 4/3/12

Seven small businesses recognized at ceremony

LANL held a recognition ceremony for seven businesses that were most successful in the 2011 fiscal year. - 4/3/12

Awards go to disadvantaged, veteran-owned and small businesses

Three business serving LANL are recognized by DOE. - 4/3/12

Small businesses selected for nuclear waste clean-up services

Northern New Mexico businesses compete for up to $200 million in services related to Cold War-era waste disposal. - 4/3/12

Environmental waste disposal contracts awarded locally

Three small businesses with offices in Northern New Mexico awarded nuclear waste clean-up contracts. - 4/3/12

Vanadium catalysts break down biomass into useful components

Breaking down biomass could help in converting biomass to fuels. - 3/26/12

Strongest non-destructive magnetic field: world record set at 100-tesla level

National High Magnetic Field Laboratory magnet achieved a whopping 100.75 tesla—the 100-tesla level is roughly equivalent to 2 million times Earth's magnetic field. - 3/22/12

Hydrogen fuel closer to reality because of storage advances

Advances made in rechargeable solid hydrogen fuel storage tanks. - 3/21/12

Transparency: it’s not just for windows

Los Alamos National Laboratory’s database of environmental monitoring data is now directly viewable by the public. - 3/20/12

Taking the long view on environmental stewardship

A newly articulated mission for environmental stewardship at the Laboratory can be summed up in a simple phrase: clean up the past, control current operations, and create a sustainable future. - 3/20/12

Questions about how plants die leads to climate change answers

Understanding mechanisms of mortality will provide important input to future climate forecasts. - 3/12/12

Discovery of oxygen in atmosphere could mean life for Saturn’s moon Dione

Discovery could mean ingredients for life are abundant on icy space bodies. - 3/5/12

Southwest U.S. undergoes megadroughts lasting hundreds of years

Sediment core 260-feet long peers back in climatological time. - 2/28/12

Light-emitting nanocrystal diodes go ultraviolet

Biomedical devices with active components could be made from nanostructured systems. - 2/24/12

Antimicrobial protein protects grapevines from pathogen

Engineered grapevines produce a hybrid antimicrobial protein to block infection. - 2/21/12

New insight into viral factors that facilitate HIV transmission

Understanding viral factors that facilitate transmission of HIV infection is critical to developing vaccines. - 2/14/12

Smartphone data safety with quantum cryptography

Laws of quantum physics and information theory ensure that smartphones with QKarD could never be compromised. - 1/20/12

Socioeconomic procurement goals and achievements

LANL ensures that a percentage of procurements are placed with small and other socioeconomic businesses. - 12/1/11

Administration Building demolition completed under budget

Project activities started in April 2009 and was completed five months ahead of the original schedule and significantly under budget. - 10/31/11

LANL completes excavation of 1940s waste disposal site

The excavation removed about 43,000 cubic yards of contaminated debris and soil from the six-acre site. - 9/30/11

Global health response more accurate with automated influenza surveillance

Public health officials will be able to determine whether an outbreak of an infectious disease comes from a pandemic strain or one less virulent. - 1/31/11

Small firm selected for design support of new waste staging facility

Weidlinger-Navarro will support the preliminary and final design of the 5-acre complex, where waste containers will be staged. - 1/31/11

- 9/26/12