California site celebrates Family Day
More than 2,000 people spread out across Sandia’s California campus for Family Day on Sept. 14, getting a glimpse of the exceptional work done in the national interest by Sandia researchers and professionals from all over the world.
Containing a nuclear accident with ground-up materials
Sandia researchers are developing a promising new way to contain the hot molten mass that develops within a nuclear reactor during a catastrophic accident and prevent the spread of radioactive contamination.
‘Switching on’ iron in clay minerals
Sandia researchers have discovered a mechanism to “switch on” iron residing in clay mineral structures, leading to an understanding of how to make iron reactive under oxygen-free conditions. This research will help scientists understand and predict how contaminants move through the environment and enter waterways.
Younger: A Sputnik moment is coming
Laboratories Director Steve Younger and Chief Research Officer Susan Seestrom took the stage at the Steve Schiff Auditorium Aug. 26 to discuss “discovery science” and what it means for Sandia. The talk was the latest installment of the New Research Ideas Forum.
PSEL wraps up nonreflective solar panel testing
Sandia’s Photovoltaic Systems Evaluation Laboratory is in the final phase of a collaborative research project with Nishati, a veteran-run manufacturer of light-weight, portable photovoltaic panels. The collaboration will shift to the PV proving grounds project at the end of the fiscal year.
HOT SHOT findings could save defense technology developers time and money
An early milestone for developing missile technologies is to show they can work in computer simulations or large-scale field tests that shake and spin components without falling to pieces. Now, HOT SHOT sounding rocket data analysis has revealed a way to improve these tests, providing an earlier, more accurate indicator of whether an experimental technology will ultimately succeed in flight.
Strategic Priority No. 5
Sandia's Strategic Priority No. 5 is seeking new pathfinder systems to address threats. The goal of this strategic priority is to think beyond Sandia’s traditional boundaries, taking advantage of the Labs' technical depth and breadth across multiple disciplines. Inventing and demonstrating these systems are important steps toward creating the future at Sandia.
Patio posters show promise of interns’ future
Posters lined the shaded areas of the GAA Event Pad on July 24 as interns showed off 36 different projects they have worked on this summer, giving oral presentations explaining their work to those who stopped by.
California campus changes ahead
The Sandia/California campus is in a state of evolution. An unprecedented spate of hiring to achieve mission goals means the space at the Livermore campus must be reevaluated with an eye to the future.
Getting to the nuts and bolts of nuts and bolts
After more than five years, a mathematical breakthrough devised by a structural engineer and a computational scientist may save Sandia time and resources to test complex systems. The method is now being used in production in Sandia's Sierra code, and the designers say its potential is limited only by researchers' imagination.