Modeling terrorist behavior with Sandia social-cultural assessments
A team of Sandia social-behavioral scientists and computational modelers recently completed a two-year effort, dubbed “Mustang,” to assess interactions and behaviors of two extremist groups. The purpose of their study was to inform U.S. and U.K. decision-makers about the groups' possible reactions to specific communications.
Sandia staff engages in cyber wargames with college students
More than 60 colleges and universities competed to defend fictional energy systems from pretended hackers at DOE’s annual CyberForce Competition last month. Sandia served as a host for the first time, and organized in Albuquerque one of seven simultaneous, regional competitions across the country.
Sandia microneedles technique may mean quicker diagnoses of major illnesses
A new technique using microneedles that are able to draw relatively large amounts of interstitial fluid — a liquid that lurks just under the skin and carries more immune cells than blood — could be effective in rapidly measuring exposure to chemical and biological warfare agents, as well as diagnosing cancer and other diseases.
‘Friendly’ EMP improves survival for electronics
An EMP emitted by a nuclear weapon exploded high above the U.S. could disable the electronic circuits of many devices vital to military defense and modern living. Fortunately, military equipment is designed to be immune to various levels of EMP, and the validity of those designs has been tested and improved by a “friendly” EMP generator at Sandia.
CRADA boom spurs innovation, collaboration with Sandia Labs
Sandia signed 42 CRADAs in fiscal year 2018, more Cooperative Research and Development Agreements than in any previous year this century, sparking dozens of new collaborations and potential technological innovations. A CRADA is an agreement between a government agency and a nonfederal entity to work together on research and development.
CRADA enables resilient microgrid research between Sandia, Emera Technologies
Sandia and Emera Technologies have signed an 18-month Cooperative Research and Development Agreement to work on microgrids, small-scale versions of interconnected electric grids that locally manage energy storage and resources such as solar, wind and thermal systems, and which may connect to a larger host grid.
Responders provide technical expertise in case of nuclear weapons accidents
The Accident Response Group provides technical expertise in assessing and safely resolving nuclear weapons accidents or "broken arrows." ARG brings together diverse experts from Sandia and other national labs, each with its own area of expertise. As the nuclear engineering lab, Sandia's focus is on the whole weapon.
In case of emergency: Urban Shield 2018
The emergency response exercise is part training and part competition among 35 local, state, national and international SWAT teams. This year’s exercise included groups from Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Las Vegas and the California Highway Patrol, along with 31 Bay Area SWAT teams.
Sandia interns sprint to the challenge
Four intern teams competed for eight weeks this summer in Sandia’s fourth annual Nuclear Weapons Summer Product Realization Institute. During the NW SPRINT, nontraditional teams develop innovative concepts using new technologies, and identify and address gaps in those technologies. It also serves to create a recruiting pipeline.
Sandia hosts Albuquerque’s first CyberPatriot Advanced CyberCamp
About 20 middle and high school students came to Sandia for Albuquerque’s first CyberPatriot Advanced CyberCamp, a weeklong cybersecurity workshop supporting the Air Force Association’s CyberPatriot program. The workshop taught students advanced security concepts and prepared them for an upcoming competition season this fall.