Sandia National Laboratories

From improving wind tunnel technology to helping build a nuclear testing system that captures the final stages of a weapon implosion, Sandia shares its recent accomplishments in the field of advanced science and technology. Read this year’s edition of Labs Accomplishments: https://bit.ly/4hJ3gdV

Breaking binary ?? Quantum computers aren’t locked in a state of 0 or 1 and trial-and-error calculations. Instead, they use qubits to explore all potential solutions simultaneously. Eventually, they will be able to crack encryption and break into the world’s best-kept secrets. “Some of the most sensitive and valuable infrastructure that we have would be open to somebody coming in and pretending to be the rightful owner and issuing some kind of command: to shut down a network, to influence the energy grid, to create financial disruption by shutting down the stock market,” said Deborah Frincke, Sandia Associate Labs Director. Read more about Q-Day in WIRED: https://bit.ly/4j2YYiN

Smashing records ?? Sandia’s Z Machine, the world’s largest pulsed-power device, was used to unlock record-breaking pressures, achieving levels that are equivalent to 10 times the pressure at the center of the Earth. Using First Light Fusion's unique amplifier technology, the experiment shattered the previous record, moving closer to a quicker, cheaper path to commercial fusion. “The Z Fundamental Science Program provides unique opportunities to partner with industry and academic institutions to advance our understanding of matter under extreme conditions. This tremendous achievement is a testament to the capabilities of FLF and a good example of how these collaborations are beneficial to the company, Sandia, our national security program and the scientific community,” said Greg Rochau, director of pulsed power sciences at Sandia. Read more about the breakthrough: https://bit.ly/4kVvo0j

Rise and grind ?? A Sandia technologist welds a portion of a 300-foot blast tube in preparation for proficiency tests. Through tests like this, Sandia’s engineering research advances the fundamental understanding of complex engineered systems, leading to enhancements that bolster our national security. Learn more about engineering at Sandia: https://bit.ly/3ED7ZN9

Half dark, half light ?? Seasons are changing as today marks the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, with nearly equal lengths of day and night as the sun crosses the plane of Earth’s equator. Learn about the science of the vernal equinox from NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration: https://bit.ly/4horDNY

The lifecycle of a nuclear weapon, from start to finish ?? Since 1949, Sandia’s primary mission has been to ensure the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile is safe, secure, reliable and fully supports our nation’s deterrence mission. Sandia partners with the nuclear security enterprise to deliver capabilities that span from research and development to retirement. See the full lifecycle come together ??

Happy #GlobalRecyclingDay ?? Sandia scientists are developing plastics that that can break down on demand — recycling themselves. “We are building plastics that contain the compounds that will eventually break them down. Through our process, we can keep the plastic’s original composition intact by building a barrier between the compound and the plastic itself, until we are ready to activate it,” Sandia organic materials scientist Brad Jones said. Learn more about the research: https://bit.ly/3D8ceTS

Touching history ? Open to the public only once a year, the Trinity Site offers a glimpse into the Manhattan Project and “Ground Zero,” where scientists tested the first atomic bomb in 1945. “Nuclear deterrence started at the Trinity Site,” said Zeke Villarreal, a Sandia engineer and member of the Weapon Intern Program. “It was sobering to think about my day-to-day job and how it matters.” During the visit, participants in Sandia’s Weapon Intern Program walked through a 214-ton steel container originally built as a failsafe for testing. Read about going back to where it started: https://bit.ly/3Raj8ex

To efficiently modernize lab spaces, Sandia has created an in-house design and construction team to complete facility upgrades. The in-house team has the expertise to deliver projects faster and at lower cost while ensuring quality. “We’re Sandians designing for Sandia. We focus on providing a strategically thought-out, constructible solution. We save time and costs because we know how the Labs function. We can walk into a facility, assess the needs, collaborate with project managers, operations and systems engineers and get started right away,” said Jerod Bosey, who manages the team. Learn more about Sandia’s in-house design and construction team: https://bit.ly/3DDOx6g

Think fast??? Four high school and middle school teams from New Mexico and California won first place in their respective U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Regional Science Bowl competitions, a fast-paced Jeopardy-style event sponsored by Sandia. Two teams from Albuquerque Public Schools swept the New Mexico regionals: ?? La Cueva High School ?? Eisenhower Middle School And the reigning champions won again in California: ?? Mission San Jose High School ?? William Hopkins Middle School Congratulations to the teams headed to the National Science Bowl: https://bit.ly/3R8fO3D