Argonne National Laboratory (Lemont, Illinois)
The Warheads to Ploughshares program relied on Argonne scientists to convert the equivalent of about 20,000 nuclear warheads into fuel that provides electricity in America. The lab researches nuclear energy; nuclear forensics; nonproliferation; highly enriched uranium; energy storage, high-performance computing; national security; engines; alternative fuels; environmental science; physics; chemistry and biological sciences.
Image: Photo courtesy of Argonne National Laboratory.
Idaho National Laboratory (Idaho Falls, Idaho)
The Human System Simulation Laboratory is a complete virtual nuclear control room created to safely test new technologies. The lab researches nuclear science and engineering; nonproliferation; national security research and testing; reactor systems; plant monitoring and safety systems; nuclear waste management options; and environmental sustainability.
Image: Photo courtesy of Idaho National Laboratory.
Jefferson Laboratory (Newport News, Virginia)
At Jefferson Lab, facilities like the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator advance our understanding of the atom’s nucleus. The lab researches experimental nuclear physics; computational and theoretical nuclear physics; accelerator science; cryogenics; superconducting radio frequency technologies; radiation detector; medical imaging devices and free-electron lasers.
Image: Photo courtesy of Jefferson Laboratory.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (Livermore, California)
The National Ignition Facility studies fusion reactions using high-powered lasers. The lab researches nuclear weapons stockpile stewardship, nuclear nonproliferation; nuclear reactor safety; national security; radiation effects; and nuclear fusion; cybersecurity; supercomputing; robotics; climate science; additive manufacturing; lasers and high-energy-density physics; materials science; nanodevices and microsystems; geosciences and bioscience.
Image: Photo courtesy of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Los Alamos National Laboratory (Los Alamos, New Mexico)
The Dual-Axis Radiographic Hydrodynamic Test Facility uses X-rays to simulate the events that trigger a nuclear detonation. The lab researches national security and weapons science; nuclear and particle physics; accelerators and electrodynamics; bioscience, biosecurity and health; chemical science; Earth and space sciences; engineering; high-energy-density plasmas and fluids; information science, computing and applied math; materials science; astrophysics and cosmology; and sensors and information systems.
Image: Photo courtesy of Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Oak Ridge, Tennessee)
The High Flux Isotope Reactor provides an intense neutron source important to materials science, biology, physics and chemistry research. The lab researches nuclear physics and engineering; nuclear energy technologies; fusion science and technology; reactor and nuclear fuel cycle technologies; materials science and engineering, computer and computational science, neutron scattering, neutron science and technology, biological and environmental research; energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Image: Photo courtesy of Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (Plainsboro, New Jersey)
The National Spherical Torus Experiment is a magnetic fusion device whose shape offers higher plasma pressure than similar, donut-shaped instruments. The lab researches nuclear fusion; theoretical and computational physics; astrophysics; plasma physics; medical isotopes and nanomaterials.
Image: Photo courtesy of Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (Richland, Washington)
Instruments like the Ultra-High Vacuum, Low Temperature Scanning Probe Microscope enable scientists to understand the molecular details of chemical reactions. The lab researches applied nuclear science and technology; chemical and molecular sciences; cybersecurity; biological systems science; climate change science; subsurface science; chemical engineering; applied materials science and engineering; and data analytics.
Image: Photo courtesy of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
Sandia National Laboratories (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
The Z machine is the world's most powerful and efficient laboratory radiation source, and is used for high energy density science. The lab researches nuclear weapons; defense; nuclear reactor safety; radiation effects; nuclear fusion; materials science; homeland security; nonproliferation; supercomputing and cybersecurity; robotics; climate and infrastructure security; nanodevices and microsystems; geosciences and bioscience.
Image: Photo courtesy of Sandia National Laboratories.
Savannah River National Laboratory (Aiken, South Carolina)
Savannah River National Lab provides the scientific expertise needed to construct facilities like the Salt Waste Processing Facility, which handles spent nuclear fuel. The lab researches nuclear materials processing and disposition; nuclear detection, characterization and assessments; gas processing, storage and transfer systems; environmental remediation and risk reduction.
Image: Photo courtesy of Savannah River National Laboratory.
Learn More
- Check out all 17 of the National Labs and their diverse research areas.
- Explore the history of the Department of Energy's role in nuclear security with this interactive timeline.
The Energy Department's network of National Laboratories has the smartest nuclear scientists and some of the most advanced facilities in the world. From medical isotopes to nuclear energy to global security, our scientists perform cutting edge research in the public interest across 17 National Laboratories located throughout the country.
It’s no stretch to say the Energy Department’s first name was the Manhattan Project -- meaning that our Department and nuclear science share common roots. Today, the National Labs research numerous scientific disciplines with nuclear science and security remaining core areas. They’re using supercomputers to model nuclear reactions, exploring fusion for energy and using their detailed knowledge of nuclear science to detect and monitor nuclear activities abroad.
For a peek at the ways fundamental research and applied science help ensure global and national security, take a look at the National Labs working on nuclear research in the photo gallery above.
