Podcast
Big Ideas Lab
Hosted by Mission.org · EN
Your 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.
57episodes
Episodes
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Machinists
Apr 1, 202500:13:24Summary readyBefore a laser fires or a rocket launches, machinists make the mission possible. This episode explores the world of machining at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory—where skilled craftspeople transform raw materials into components for fusion research, national security, and space exploration. From time-tested manual tools to advanced digital manufacturing, machinists at the Lab combine traditional craftsmanship with modern technology to solve some of the most complex engineering challenges on Earth.-- Big Ideas Lab is a Mission.org original series. Executive Produced by Levi Hanusch and Lacey Peace.Sound Design, Music Edit and Mix by Daniel Brunelle. Story Editing by Daniel Brunelle. Audio Engineering and Editing by Matthew Powell. Narrated by Matthew Powell. Video Production by Levi Hanusch. Guests featured in this episode (in order of appearance): Drew Hash - Apprentice Machinist, LLNLDawn Hill - Senior Machinist, LLNLBrought to you in partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
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Space Security
Mar 25, 202500:17:40Summary readyIn the vast silence of space, security is anything but quiet. At Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, cutting-edge science and strategic defense converge to protect the satellites we rely on—guarding them from cyber threats, kinetic attacks, and space debris. As the risks above grow more complex, we’ll uncover the evolving dangers and the invisible shield being built to defend against them.-- Big Ideas Lab is a Mission.org original series. Executive Produced by Lacey Peace and Levi Hanusch.Sound Design, Music Edit and Mix by Daniel Brunelle. Story Editing by Daniel Brunelle. Audio Engineering and Editing by Matthew Powell. Narrated by Matthew Powell. Video Production by Levi Hanusch. Guests featured in this episode (in order of appearance): Ben Bahney - Program Leader for Space, LLNLWillem DeVries - Associate Program Leader for Mission Support, Space Science and Security Program, LLNLBrought to you in partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
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Tech Transfer
Mar 18, 202500:17:45Summary readyToday 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-power laser peening, 3D metal printing, and more spotlight LLNL’s Innovation and Partnerships Office - and how this vital connection between groundbreaking research and industry creates far-reaching impact through technology transfer and entrepreneurship.
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Inertial Fusion Energy
Mar 11, 202500:18:20Summary readyWhat 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.In this episode, we explore how fusion works, why it’s fundamentally different from today’s nuclear energy, and how the groundbreaking achievement of ignition at the National Ignition Facility is paving the way for future fusion power plants. Join us as we discuss the challenges, breakthroughs, and the global race to bring fusion energy to the grid.-- Big Ideas Lab is a Mission.org original series. Executive Produced by Lacey Peace and Levi Hanusch.Sound Design, Music Edit and Mix by Daniel Brunelle. Story Editing by Daniel Brunelle. Audio Engineering and Editing by Matthew Powell. Narrated by Matthew Powell. Video Production by Levi Hanusch. Guests featured in this episode (in order of appearance): Tammy Ma, Lead, Inertial Fusion Energy Institutional Initiative, LLNLIssa Tamer, Laser Scientist, LLNLBrought to you in partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
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Community Giving
Mar 4, 202500:11:59Summary readyLawrence 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 episode, we’ll explore how the same passion that drives scientific discovery fuels the Lab’s commitment to making a difference beyond its walls.-- Big Ideas Lab is a Mission.org original series. Executive Produced by Lacey Peace and Levi Hanusch.Sound Design, Music Edit and Mix by Daniel Brunelle. Story Editing by Daniel Brunelle. Audio Engineering and Editing by Matthew Powell. Narrated by Matthew Powell. Video Production by Levi Hanusch. Guests featured in this episode (in order of appearance): Trey Johnston, Director, Lawrence Livermore National Security Corporate OfficeKellie Glaser, Program Manager, HOME, LLNLBrought to you in partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
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Drug Discovery
Feb 25, 202500:28:54Summary readyFor 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 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, scientists are using supercomputing, machine learning, and AI to revolutionize how new medicines are found, tested, and developed.In this episode, we dive into the cutting-edge technology behind faster drug discovery, how researchers are using high-performance computing to target diseases more precisely, and the potential to bring new treatments—from cancer drugs to viral countermeasures—to patients in record time.-- Big Ideas Lab is a Mission.org original series. Executive Produced by Lacey Peace and Levi Hanusch.Sound Design, Music Edit and Mix by Daniel Brunelle. Story Editing by Daniel Brunelle. Audio Engineering and Editing by Matthew Powell. Narrated by Matthew Powell. Video Production by Levi Hanusch. Guests featured in this episode (in order of appearance): Jim Brase, Deputy Associate Director for Computing, Lead of the Bio Resilience Initiative, LLNLFelice Lightstone, Leader, Biochemical and Biophysical Systems Group, LLNLJonathan Allen, Informatics Scientist, LLNLBrought to you in partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
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Optics Recycle Loop
Feb 18, 202500:19:53Summary readyInside the National Ignition Facility, 192 laser beams push the limits of science and technology, supporting critical national security and scientific research. But with every shot, the extreme power takes a toll, leaving tiny cracks and damage on the system’s delicate optics.Instead of replacing these costly components, scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have developed a high-tech repair process: the Optics Recycle Loop. Like a Formula 1 pit stop for lasers, this system inspects, restores, and reintegrates damaged optics with precision—keeping NIF firing at peak performance.In this episode, we explore how researchers extend the life of these vital components, the cutting-edge science behind laser damage repair, and why maintaining NIF’s optics is key to its success.-- Big Ideas Lab is a Mission.org original series. Executive Produced by Lacey Peace and Levi Hanusch.Sound Design, Music Edit and Mix by Daniel Brunelle. Story Editing by Daniel Brunelle. Audio Engineering and Editing by Matthew Powell. Narrated by Matthew Powell. Video Production by Levi Hanusch. Guests featured in this episode (in order of appearance): Tayyab Suratwala, Program Director for Optics and Materials Science, LLNLLaura Mascio Kegelmeyer, Former NIF Team Leader for Optics Inspection and Data Management, LLNLWren Carr, Science and Technology Leader for the Optical and Material Science and Technology Group, LLNLBrought to you in partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
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Planetary Defense (Part 2)
Feb 11, 202500:14:04Summary readyAsteroids have reshaped Earth before—and scientists know another impact is inevitable. When traditional deflection methods won’t work, what’s the last resort?At Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, experts are exploring nuclear deflection: using nuclear energy to alter an asteroid’s path or break it apart before impact. But how does it work, what are the risks, and how prepared are we to use it when the time comes?This is the second episode in our Planetary Defense series.-- Big Ideas Lab is a Mission.org original series. Executive Produced by Lacey Peace and Levi Hanusch.Sound Design, Music Edit and Mix by Daniel Brunelle. Story Editing by Daniel Brunelle. Audio Engineering and Editing by Matthew Powell. Narrated by Matthew Powell. Video Production by Levi Hanusch. Guests featured in this episode (in order of appearance): Cody Raskin, Design Physicist, LLNL Mary Burkey, Staff Scientist, LLNLMike Owen, Computational Physicist, LLNLBrought to you in partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
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Planetary Defense (Part 1)
Feb 4, 202500:23:35Summary readyIn 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. And while Hollywood loves to dramatize asteroid threats, the real work of planetary defense isn’t happening in action movies—it’s happening in research labs.At Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, a team of scientists is racing against time to track, deflect, and prepare for the next asteroid threat. They’re using cutting-edge simulations, kinetic impact tests, and global collaborations to ensure Earth is ready before disaster strikes. In this episode, we uncover how planetary defense has evolved from theory to reality—why asteroid threats are more real than most people think—and what it will take to stop a civilization-ending impact.Because the next asteroid isn’t a question of if—but when.-- Big Ideas Lab is a Mission.org original series. Executive Produced by Lacey Peace and Levi Hanusch.Sound Design, Music Edit and Mix by Daniel Brunelle. Story Editing by Daniel Brunelle. Audio Engineering and Editing by Matthew Powell. Narrated by Matthew Powell. Video Production by Levi Hanusch. Guests featured in this episode (in order of appearance): Jason Pearl, Physicist at the Planetary Defense Group, LLNLMegan Bruck Syal, Former Leader of the Planetary Defense Program, LLNLKatie Kumamoto, Leader of the Planetary Defense Program, LLNLBrought to you in partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
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NIF Sustainment
Jan 28, 202500:22:12Summary readyHow 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 scientists at the National Ignition Facility keep this technological marvel running, overcoming challenges of aging systems to ensure it remains a cornerstone of innovation and a vital asset to the nation’s security.-- Big Ideas Lab is a Mission.org original series. Executive Produced by Lacey Peace and Levi Hanusch.Sound Design, Music Edit and Mix by Daniel Brunelle. Story Editing by Daniel Brunelle. Audio Engineering and Editing by Matthew Powell. Narrated by Matthew Powell. Video Production by Levi Hanusch. Guests featured in this episode (in order of appearance): Jean Michel Di Nicola, Co-Program Director for Laser Science and Systems Engineering at NIF, LLNLGordon Brunton, National Ignition Facility Director, LLNLJeff Horner, Project Manager for the NIF Sustainment Project, LLNLLarry Pelz, Deputy Group Leader for Laser Science Systems Engineering, LLNLBrought to you in partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
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