Big Ideas Lab

At Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s National Ignition Facility, scientists recreate the most extreme conditions in the universe. Through the Discovery Science Program, researchers and students from around the world gain rare access to this machine to run experiments that exist for only a fraction of a second, yet reshape what we know about stars, planets, and matter itself. These experiments don’t just explore the cosmos; they create a shared laboratory for discovery and the training ground for the next generation of scientists who will evaluate the safety, security and effectiveness of our nation’s nuclear deterrence.
Guests featured (in order of appearance):
 Dan Kalantar, Chief Systems Engineer for Experimental Systems at NIF, LLNL
Tilo Doeppner, Experimental Physicist at NIF, LLNL
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Big Ideas Lab is a Mission.org original series. 
Executive Produced by Levi Hanusch.
Script by Caroline Kidd.
Sound Design, Music Edit and Mix by Matthew Powell. 
Story Editing by Levi Hanusch. 
Audio Engineering and Editing by Matthew Powell. 
Narrated by Matthew Powell. 
Video Production by Levi Hanusch.
Brought to you in partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Drones, or autonomous sensing systems, step in where humans can’t. At Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, scientists are developing machines that can see, decide and act in real time. In this episode, we explore how drones expand the frontier of possibility: scanning hidden pipelines underground, navigating dangerous terrain and coordinating swarms across land, air, and water. These aren’t just flying cameras. They’re intelligence-gathering systems, force multipliers and life-saving tools.
Guests featured (in order of appearance):
Brian Wihl, Associate Program Lead for Autonomous Sensors Program, LLNL
James Reimer, Mechanical Engineer for Autonomous Sensors Program, LLNL
--
Big Ideas Lab is a Mission.org original series. 
Executive Produced by Levi Hanusch.
Script by Caroline Kidd.
Sound Design, Music Edit and Mix by Matthew Powell. 
Story Editing by Levi Hanusch. 
Audio Engineering and Editing by Matthew Powell. 
Narrated by Matthew Powell. 
Video Production by Levi Hanusch.
Brought to you in partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dark matter is one of the universe’s greatest mysteries. It’s the invisible force that glues galaxies together and sculpts cosmic structure. In this episode, we trace the journey of discovery from massive objects in the Milky Way to particle-scale experiments designed to reveal what dark matter really is. From gravitational microlensing to cutting-edge detectors at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, scientists are pushing the limits of technology and imagination to uncover the unseen and understand the mass that makes up most of our universe.
Guests featured (in order of appearance):
Greg Sallaberry, Staff Scientist at LLNL 
Gianpaolo Carosi, Staff Scientist at LLNL 
--
Big Ideas Lab is a Mission.org original series. 
Executive Produced by Levi Hanusch.
Script by Caroline Kidd.
Sound Design, Music Edit and Mix by Matthew Powell. 
Story Editing by Levi Hanusch. 
Audio Engineering and Editing by Matthew Powell. 
Narrated by Matthew Powell. 
Video Production by Levi Hanusch.
Brought to you in partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Neutrinos are particles that defy expectations. They slip through matter effortlessly, changing identities and traveling vast cosmic distances. In this episode, we explore the surprising ways they connect the tiniest scales of physics to the grandest structures in the universe. From deep underground detectors to experiments designed to observe the unobservable, scientists at Lawrence Livermore are working to uncover secrets that could reshape our understanding of matter, energy, and the origins of everything around us.
Guests featured (in order of appearance):
Mike Heffner, Staff Scientist, LLNL
Nathaniel Bowden, Physicist, LLNL
--
Big Ideas Lab is a Mission.org original series. 
Executive Produced by Levi Hanusch.
Script by Caroline Kidd.
Sound Design, Music Edit and Mix by Matthew Powell. 
Story Editing by Levi Hanusch. 
Audio Engineering and Editing by Matthew Powell. 
Narrated by Matthew Powell. 
Video Production by Levi Hanusch.
Brought to you in partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Every decision in national security hinges on knowledge, insight, and expertise - some of that expertise starts in a lab in Livermore. The Offsite Fellows Program places Lawrence Livermore scientists inside government agencies, where their work helps shape policy, strategy and the future of national defense.
In this episode, we dive deep into the Offsite Fellows Program (OFP) and how it positions Lab researchers shoulder to shoulder with government leaders who bring critical scientific insight directly into decisions that protect our nation. 
Hear from Offsite Fellows themselves, as we follow their journeys - where they move through the halls of government, informing and strengthening national security.

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