S2 E4: 17 Labs in 17 Minutes (Direct Current - An Energy.gov Podcast)

Season 2 of Direct Current - An Energy.gov Podcast

24 Jul 201722:43

EducationalLearning

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TLDRThe Department of Energy's 'Direct Current' podcast explores the diverse and groundbreaking work of the 17 National Laboratories across the United States. In just 17 minutes, hosts Matt Dozier and Alison LAN Tarot take listeners on a whirlwind tour, sharing a surprising story from each lab that touches on topics from nuclear security and clean energy to high-tech innovations and scientific mysteries. The episode features interviews with lab experts, highlighting the labs' crucial role in advancing science, technology, and national security, while also showcasing their contributions to solving some of the world's most pressing challenges.

Takeaways

🔬 The Department of Energy (DOE) is involved in a wide range of missions beyond just energy production, including national security and scientific research.
🤖 Sandia National Laboratories focus on detecting, repelling, and mitigating threats to America, utilizing robots in their annual Western National Robot Rodeo for training.
⚙️ The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) works on improving coal mine safety and extracting rare earth elements from coal, which are crucial for modern technology.
🌟 SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory conducts ultra-fast science, measuring in femtoseconds, to understand atomic and molecular interactions at the basis of chemistry and biology.
🌐 Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) studies nuclear fusion, aiming to recreate the process that powers the Sun and stars for efficient energy production on Earth.
🏛️ Los Alamos National Laboratory, born out of the Manhattan Project, continues to focus on national security and also conducts community-impacting research such as wildfire modeling.
🦖 Argonne National Laboratory collaborates globally on multidisciplinary science, including a unique study of a T-Rex skeleton using advanced photon technology.
🎮 Brookhaven National Laboratory, known for its work with particle accelerators, was also the birthplace of one of the first video games, 'Tennis for Two'.
💿 Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) developed optical digital recording, which became the foundation for CD and DVD technology.
🎨 Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) is a leading institution in particle physics but also fosters an artistic environment with an art gallery showcasing the work of its staff.
💥 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory plays a key role in maintaining America's nuclear deterrent and is also involved in planetary defense against hazardous asteroids.
🛠️ Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is known for the Materials Project, aiming to calculate and provide data on all possible materials for scientific and technological advancement.
🌌 Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) investigates the fundamental particles within atoms, seeking to understand the 'universal glue' of visible matter.
🚀 Savannah River National Laboratory focuses on environmental stewardship and the complex task of managing nuclear contamination from Cold War-era production reactors.
🔊 Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is known as the birthplace of nuclear energy and continues to test technology for nuclear submarines and conduct diverse nuclear science experiments.
⚛️ Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which started during the Manhattan Project, now produces plutonium-238, a crucial fuel for NASA's deep-space spacecraft.
📱 Ames Laboratory investigates materials science at the atomic level, with the goal of creating super small components for faster and more efficient electronics.
🌿 National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) advances energy efficiency, sustainable transportation, and renewable power technologies, including an energy-efficient supercomputer that also heats nearby buildings.

Q & A

What is one of the challenges of working at the Department of Energy?
-One of the challenges is telling the story of what the agency does, as it encompasses more than just energy-related infrastructure like power plants and solar panels; it also includes securing and maintaining the nation's nuclear arsenal and conducting scientific research.
How many National Laboratories does the Department of Energy's Office of Science oversee?
-There are 17 National Laboratories overseen by the Department of Energy's Office of Science.
What is the primary mission of Sandia National Laboratories?
-Sandia National Laboratories' primary mission is to use science to detect, repel, defeat, and mitigate threats to America, including through the use of robots in their annual Western National Robot Rodeo.
What is the focus of the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL)?
-NETL focuses on improving coal mine safety and has expanded its portfolio to include natural gas, oil, and other energy issues, including the extraction of rare earth elements from coal.
What does SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory measure in femtoseconds?
-SLAC measures things in femtoseconds, which is an incredibly short period of time, to study the basis of all chemistry and biology, such as how atoms form or break apart molecules.
What is the main goal of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL)?
-PPPL's main goal is to study nuclear fusion, the process that powers the Sun and stars, with the aim of creating a star on Earth for a highly efficient source of energy.
What is the primary mission of Los Alamos National Laboratory?
-Los Alamos National Laboratory's primary mission is national security, which includes designing and building the first atomic bomb during the Manhattan Project and conducting research with real implications for the lab and its community.
What is unique about the research conducted at Argonne National Laboratory?
-Argonne National Laboratory is known for its multidisciplinary science and collaboration with experts worldwide, including a unique project studying the T-Rex skeleton using the lab's Advanced Photon Source.
What is the significance of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's (PNNL) contribution to technology?
-PNNL contributed significantly to technology by developing optical digital recording, which became the basis for CD and DVD technology.
What is the main focus of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab)?
-Fermilab focuses on particle physics, exploring fundamental questions about the universe such as what we are made of and how the universe began.
What is the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory known for in terms of national security?
-Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is known for securing and maintaining America's nuclear deterrent and for its research into defending the planet from potentially hazardous asteroids.
What is the main goal of the Materials Project at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory?
-The main goal of the Materials Project is to calculate all possible and existing materials in the world and provide that data for free, essentially creating a 'Google' of materials.
What is the focus of research at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab)?
-Jefferson Lab focuses on using powerful electron beams to study the heart of the atom and unlock the mystery of the universal glue that holds together all visible matter.
What is the significance of the work done at Savannah River National Laboratory?
-Savannah River National Laboratory focuses on environmental stewardship, including the cleanup of the site from its Cold War efforts, and using virtual reality to map out and manage nuclear contamination in complex structures.
What is the role of Idaho National Laboratory (INL) in nuclear energy?
-INL is known as the birthplace of nuclear energy and plays a role in testing technology for nuclear submarines and conducting diverse nuclear science experiments in its advanced test reactor.
What is the significance of Oak Ridge National Laboratory's work with plutonium-238?
-Oak Ridge National Laboratory is significant for its production of plutonium-238, a specialized radioactive fuel used by NASA to keep spacecraft warm and functioning in deep space.
What are the research interests at Ames Laboratory?
-Ames Laboratory focuses on material science, studying behaviors of atoms and substances, including two-dimensional materials, with the goal of creating super small components for computers and cell phones.
What is the main focus of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)?
-NREL focuses on advancing energy efficiency, sustainable transportation, and renewable power technologies, including the use of its Peregrine supercomputer for computational science and heat management.

Outlines

00:00

🔬 Science and Security: DOE's Mission

The Department of Energy (DOE) has a multifaceted mission that extends beyond traditional energy sources like power plants and solar panels. It includes securing and maintaining the nation's nuclear arsenal, cleaning up environmental issues from weapon development, and focusing on scientific research. The DOE operates 17 National Laboratories, each tackling different scientific questions and challenges. This video aims to explore all 17 labs in 17 minutes, highlighting one surprising story from each lab. The hosts, Matt Dozier and Alison LAN Tarot, will guide viewers through this scientific journey, with a special message from a guest at the end.

05:01

🤖 Robotics and Rare Earth Elements

Sandia National Laboratories, with its main campus in Albuquerque, New Mexico, focuses on detecting, repelling, and mitigating threats to America using science. One of its unique programs is the annual Western National Robot Rodeo, which tests the skills of civilian and military bomb squad teams with challenging scenarios. Sandhya's Jake Duel, in partnership with Los Alamos National Lab, designs these tests inspired by real-world situations. The National Energy Technology Lab (NETL) began with a focus on coal mine safety in 1910 and has since expanded its research portfolio. A significant part of its research still revolves around coal, including extracting rare earth elements from coal, which are crucial for various technologies like smartphones, electric cars, and satellites.

10:02

🌿 Environmental Research and Fusion Energy

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in Silicon Valley is a leading facility for ultra-fast science, measuring events in femtoseconds. Researchers use the lab's ultra-powerful x-ray laser to study fundamental processes like how plants absorb sunlight. The Princeton Plasma Physics Lab (PPPL) has been researching nuclear fusion since 1961, aiming to recreate the process that powers the Sun and stars on Earth. Fusion offers an incredibly efficient energy source, with the potential fuel for a reactor being much smaller than conventional power plant fuel requirements. Los Alamos National Lab, part of the Manhattan Project since 1943, continues to focus on national security while expanding into other scientific areas, such as wildfire research that could have significant implications for community safety.

15:04

🦖 Dinosaur Research and Nuclear Energy

Argonne National Lab collaborates with experts worldwide on diverse scientific efforts, including an unexpected partnership with the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. They are studying the largest and most complete T-Rex skeleton using the lab's Advanced Photon Source to examine its arms at a microscopic level. Brookhaven National Lab, established in 1947, has contributed to particle accelerator technology and even invented one of the first video games, 'Tennis for Two'. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) has been involved in various fields since 1965, including an invention by scientist Jim Russell in the 1970s that became the basis for CD and DVD technology.

20:07

🚀 Particle Physics and Nuclear Science

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) is a top particle physics lab, exploring fundamental questions about the universe's origins and makeup. It also has an artistic side, with a history of incorporating art into its environment. Lawrence Livermore National Lab is responsible for maintaining America's nuclear deterrent and is involved in cutting-edge research on defending the planet from hazardous asteroids. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab carries on the tradition of scientific excellence with the Materials Project, aiming to calculate and provide data on all possible materials for free. Jefferson Lab focuses on studying the oldest parts of the universe using electron beams to investigate the subatomic world.

🛠️ Nuclear Technology and Environmental Stewardship

Savannah River National Lab has a history of supporting the nation's Cold War efforts and is now involved in environmental stewardship. They are using virtual reality to map out and decommission nuclear reactors. Idaho National Lab (INL) is known as the birthplace of nuclear energy and tests technology for nuclear submarines. Oak Ridge National Lab, which started during the Manhattan Project, now produces plutonium-238 for NASA's deep space missions. Ames Laboratory studies material science at the atomic level, manipulating single atoms to create super small components for future technology. The National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) advances energy efficiency, sustainable transportation, and renewable power technologies, including the Peregrine supercomputer, which serves as a heat source for nearby buildings.

🌟 The Impact and Future of National Labs

Secretary of Energy Rick Perry highlights the importance and achievements of the National Labs, calling them the crown jewels of science in America. He emphasizes the labs' role in tackling scientific challenges, developing advanced technology, and ensuring national security. The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to learn more about the labs and their work, and to share their feedback or questions with the show.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Department of Energy

The Department of Energy (DOE) is a cabinet-level department of the United States government responsible for energy policy and safety in matters of nuclear material management. In the video, it is highlighted for its broad mission that includes not just traditional energy sources like power plants and solar panels, but also securing the nation's nuclear arsenal and conducting scientific research through its National Laboratories.

💡National Laboratories

National Laboratories are a network of 17 research facilities in the United States, each with a unique focus but collectively contributing to scientific advancement. They are overseen by the Department of Energy and are involved in a wide array of scientific disciplines, from nuclear physics to renewable energy technologies, as illustrated by the script's discussion of their various projects and initiatives.

💡Sandia National Laboratories

Sandia National Laboratories, with its main campus in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is known for its focus on national security. The script mentions its role in addressing threats through the use of robotics, specifically highlighting the Western National Robot Rodeo, which is an event designed to test and train bomb squad teams with robots in scenarios inspired by real-world challenges.

💡Rare Earth Elements

Rare Earth Elements are a group of 17 chemically similar elements often used in high-tech applications. The script discusses the work at the National Energy Technology Laboratory, where research is being conducted to extract these elements from coal. This is significant as these elements are vital for many modern technologies, despite their name, they are not actually rare but are challenging to extract due to their dispersed nature.

💡SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, located in Silicon Valley, is renowned for its ultra-fast science capabilities. The script emphasizes the lab's use of femtoseconds, an extremely short unit of time, to study the formation and breakup of molecules which is fundamental to understanding chemistry and biology. This research is conducted using the lab's powerful x-ray laser facility.

💡Nuclear Fusion

Nuclear fusion is a process that powers the sun and stars, and it involves combining light atomic nuclei to form heavier ones, releasing vast amounts of energy. The script mentions the work at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, where they are studying nuclear fusion with the aim of creating a star on Earth, highlighting the potential for an incredibly efficient source of energy.

💡Wildfire Research

Wildfire research is critical for understanding and managing these natural disasters. The script references the work at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where researchers use computer modeling to study how fires interact with the atmosphere and spread, with the goal of improving wildfire management and potentially saving lives.

💡Argonne National Laboratory

Argonne National Laboratory is known for its multidisciplinary approach to science. The script describes a unique collaboration between the lab and the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, where they use advanced photon technology to study the microscopic structure of a T-Rex skeleton, aiming to answer long-standing questions in paleontology.

💡Particle Accelerators

Particle accelerators are devices that use electromagnetic fields to propel charged particles to high speeds for various research purposes. The script mentions Brookhaven National Laboratory's history with particle accelerators and their role in unraveling the mysteries of the universe. An interesting side note from the script is the invention of one of the first video games, 'Tennis for Two,' which debuted at Brookhaven in 1958.

💡Optical Digital Recording

Optical Digital Recording is a technology for storing information as a series of tiny dots, which became the foundation for CD and DVD technology. The script credits Jim Russell, a scientist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, for developing this method in the 1970s, which has since become ubiquitous in the storage of digital information.

💡Nuclear Deterrent

A nuclear deterrent refers to the ability to dissuade adversaries from taking hostile actions through the threat of a nuclear retaliation. The script discusses Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's role in securing and maintaining America's nuclear deterrent, including research on defending against potential asteroid threats through nuclear technology.

💡Materials Science

Materials science is an interdisciplinary field that studies the properties of matter and its applications to various areas of science and engineering. The script highlights the Materials Project at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, which aims to calculate and provide data on all possible materials to the world for free, potentially leading to advancements in battery technology, solar panels, and composite materials.

💡Electron Beams

Electron beams are used in various scientific applications, including imaging and analysis at the atomic level. The script describes how Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility uses powerful electron beams to study the subatomic world, specifically aiming to understand the 'universal glue' that holds together all visible matter.

💡Environmental Stewardship

Environmental stewardship involves taking responsibility for the environment through actions that protect and preserve it. The script discusses Savannah River National Laboratory's role in environmental cleanup, particularly in dealing with the nuclear contamination from Cold War-era production reactors, and their innovative use of virtual reality to plan decommissioning work.

💡Plutonium-238

Plutonium-238 is a radioactive isotope used as a power source for spacecraft in deep space. The script mentions Oak Ridge National Laboratory's role in the production of plutonium-238, which is critical for NASA's space exploration missions, as it provides the heat and energy needed for spacecraft to function in the harsh conditions of deep space.

💡Two-Dimensional Materials

Two-dimensional materials are materials that are only one atom thick, representing a new frontier in materials science. The script discusses research at Ames Laboratory, where scientists are studying and manipulating single atoms and two-dimensional materials like graphene, with the potential to create super small and fast components for electronics.

💡Supercomputer

A supercomputer is a computer that is at the前沿 of processing power and speed. The script talks about the Peregrine supercomputer at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which is not only energy efficient but also serves as a heat source for nearby buildings, demonstrating innovative collaboration and design in the field of computational science.

Highlights

Sandia National Laboratories uses robots to address threats, including an annual Western National Robot Rodeo for bomb squad training.

The National Energy Technology Laboratory focuses on rare earth elements extraction from coal, which are crucial for modern technology.

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory conducts ultra-fast science, measuring in femtoseconds, to understand molecular processes fundamental to chemistry and biology.

Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory works on nuclear fusion, aiming to create a star on Earth for efficient energy production.

Los Alamos National Laboratory contributes to wildfire research, using computer modeling to understand fire spread and its atmospheric impact.

Argonne National Laboratory collaborates with the Field Museum of Natural History to study the T-Rex skeleton using advanced photon technology.

Brookhaven National Laboratory, known for its contributions to particle accelerators and x-ray light sources, also created one of the first video games, Tennis for Two.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory developed optical digital recording, the basis for CD and DVD technology.

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory explores fundamental questions about the universe and has an art program enhancing the lab's environment.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory works on defending the planet from hazardous asteroids, including the use of nuclear explosives for redirection.

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's Materials Project aims to calculate and provide data on all possible materials in the world for free.

Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility investigates the subatomic world, specifically the mystery of the universal glue binding visible matter.

Savannah River National Laboratory focuses on environmental stewardship, including the cleanup of Cold War-era nuclear contamination.

Idaho National Laboratory tests technology for nuclear submarines and accommodates diverse nuclear science experiments.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory, known for plutonium production during the Manhattan Project, now produces plutonium-238 for NASA's deep space missions.

Ames Laboratory studies two-dimensional materials, manipulating single atoms to pave the way for smaller, faster computer and phone components.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory advances energy efficiency, sustainable transportation, and renewable power technologies, including a supercomputer that heats nearby buildings.

Transcripts

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