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Big Ideas Lab

Big Ideas Lab

Written by: Mission.org
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Your exploration inside Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Hear untold stories, meet boundary-pushing pioneers and get unparalleled access to groundbreaking science and technology. From national security challenges to computing revolutions, discover the innovations that are shaping tomorrow, today.2024 Mission.org Physics Political Science Politics & Government Science World
Episodes
  • Neutrinos
    Dec 30 2025

    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

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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.

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    17 mins
  • Offsite Assignments
    Dec 16 2025

    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.


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

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    18 mins
  • Energy Flow Charts
    Dec 2 2025

    LLNL’s Energy Flow Charts have become one of the clearest ways to understand the nation’s energy system. Learn how these diagrams capture everything from pandemic shutdowns and shifting fuels to wasted energy we never see. From classrooms to Capitol Hill, these charts help the country plan for what comes next.

    Guests featured (in order of appearance):

    • Hannah Goldstein, System and Policy Analysis Group Leader, LLNL
    • Kimberly Mayfield, Research Scientist, LLNL

    --

    Big Ideas Lab is a Mission.org original series.

    Executive Produced by Levi Hanusch.

    Script by Lacey Peace.

    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.

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    15 mins
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