Big Ideas Lab

Entire communities erased by hurricanes. 240,000 square kilometers burned. Floodwaters swallowing towns. Extreme weather isn’t a distant threat—it’s reshaping our world. But here’s the good news: we’re not powerless. Enter the Roads to Removal report, a new strategy for combating climate change.In this episode, we delve into the science, strategy, and stories behind this effort. Join us as we explore how scientists, farmers, and policymakers are uniting to turn the tide on climate change. -- Big Ideas Lab is a Mission.org original series. Executive Produced by 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): Jennifer Pett-Ridge, Lead of the LLNL Carbon InitiativeSimon Pang, Associate Group Leader in the Materials for Energy and Climate Security Group at LLNLKimberley Mayfield, Staff Scientist of Energy Equity & Carbon Management at LLNLBrought to you in partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Once a concept in 1940s science fiction, additive manufacturing—better known as 3D printing—has become a game-changer in modern production. Unlike traditional methods that cut away material, additive manufacturing builds components layer by layer, enabling intricate designs, reduced waste, and faster production.In this episode, we uncover how this technology evolved, why it’s transforming industries like aerospace and healthcare, and what the future holds as researchers push its boundaries.-- Big Ideas Lab is a Mission.org original series. Executive Produced by 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): Hayden Taylor, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, BerkeleyChris Spadaccini, Materials Engineering Division Leader, Engineering Directorate, LLNLCaitlyn Krikorian Cook, Polymer Engineer, LLNLMaxim Shusteff, Group Leader, Materials Engineering Division, LLNLBrought to you in partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

In the mid-1990s, global treaties and a U.S. moratorium on nuclear testing marked a turning point in reducing the nuclear threat. As Cold War tensions eased, U.S. nuclear test and production sites fell silent for the first time since 1945. But, as the years passed, a new threat to U.S. nuclear deterrence emerged—one that no technology has ever escaped: time.To address this, the U.S. government launched the Stockpile Stewardship Program. This groundbreaking initiative shifted the focus from building new weapons to using cutting-edge science and technology to maintain the nation’s nuclear stockpile. By leveraging advanced, science-based methods, the program ensures the safety, security, and reliability of its aging weapons—all without the need for nuclear testing.Today, we’re taking you behind the scenes of a key component of the Stockpile Stewardship Program: modernization. We’ll explore how this effort works, why it’s essential, and what it means for the future of national security.-- Big Ideas Lab is a Mission.org original series. Executive Produced by 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): Derek Wapman, Associate Deputy Director for Stockpile Modernization at LLNLPeter Raboin, Program Manager for the W80-4 Life Extension Program at LLNLJuliana Hsu, Program Manager for the W87-1 Warhead Modification Program at LLNLBrought to you in partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

After the first successful atomic bomb test in 1945, code-named Trinity, a new era in global politics began. Unlocking the power of the atom sparked a race among world governments—not just to build bigger weapons, but smaller, cheaper, and more agile ones. Achieving this would require rapid iteration to stay ahead.In 1955, the Atomic Energy Commission purchased 3,400 acres of farmland near Livermore. This barren stretch, later known as Site 300, became the proving ground for the Lab’s most ambitious innovations. What unfolded there would shape the future of weapons development—and change the course of history.-- Big Ideas Lab is a Mission.org original series. Executive Produced and Written by 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): Valerie Dibley, Site 300 Manager at LLNLBrian Cracchiola, Explosive Operations Manager for the Strategic Deterrence Directorate at LLNL Jeff Florando, Associate Program Director for Hydrodynamic and Subcritical Experiments in the Weapons Physics and Design Program at LLNLBrought to you in partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.