Big Ideas Lab
By Mission.org
Your weekly exploration inside Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Hear untold stories, meet boundary-pushing pioneers and get unparalleled access to groundbreaking science and technology. From national security challenges to computing revolutions, discover the innovations that are shaping tomorrow, today.
Latest episode
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Tech Transfer
Today we’ll explore how technologies developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory make their way from the Lab into industry — impacting lives every day, in ways that might surprise you. We’ll explore how scientific breakthroughs like high-peak… -
Inertial Fusion Energy
What if we could harness the same energy that powers the stars to fuel our world—cleanly, safely, and virtually without limits? Scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory are working towards turning this vision into reality. -
Community Giving
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is celebrated for its groundbreaking science - from Fusion Ignition to safeguarding the nuclear stockpile. But there’s another story - grounded in community, connection, and a deep culture of giving. In this epi… -
Drug Discovery
For centuries, drug discovery was a slow, trial-and-error process—sometimes taking decades to develop life-saving treatments. But what if we could speed up that timeline? At LLNL, scientists are using supercomputing, machine learning, and AI to revol… -
Optics Recycle Loop
Every time the world’s most powerful laser fires, it leaves behind tiny cracks and damage that could bring the entire system to a halt. Instead of replacing costly components, scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have engineered a hig… -
Planetary Defense (Part 2)
Asteroids have reshaped Earth before—and scientists know another impact is inevitable. When traditional deflection methods won’t work, what’s the last resort? At LLNL, experts are exploring nuclear deflection. -
Planetary Defense (Part 1)
In 2013, a house-sized asteroid exploded over Chelyabinsk, Russia, with the force of 30 atomic bombs. A century earlier, an asteroid impact flattened 830 square miles of Siberian forest. In this episode, we uncover how planetary defense has evolved f… -
NIF Sustainment
How do you maintain a facility built to achieve the impossible? In this episode, we explore the National Ignition Facility Sustainment Project—a mission to preserve and enhance one of the most advanced laser systems ever created. Discover how scienti… -
Earthquake Modeling
The ground beneath us is always moving—but what can it reveal about our future? From detecting nuclear tests halfway across the globe to simulating the devastating effects of earthquakes before they strike, this episode explores how LLNL’s work is ma… -
Next Gen Innovators
What happens when you bring a group of fifth graders into one of the world’s most advanced science labs? It’s not just magic—it’s mission-critical.
