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One of the Pandora Observatory’s test images, captured by the near-infrared detector assembly (NIRDA) on January 19, 2026, demonstrates progress toward beginning its groundbreaking mission to study exoplanet atmospheres. The NIRDA disperses the light from the telescope in vertical lines — shown by the yellow streaking in the image — which are then correlated as specific intensities and wavelengths of light.
// S&T Highlights

Pandora mission images help prepare for exoplanet atmosphere observations

The CODA telescope, developed by a team of scientists and engineers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), in partnership with Corning Incorporated, captured an abstract portrait of the cosmos as it opened its eyes to deep space for the very first time.
The AVLIS program began at LLNL in 1973 and was suspended in 1999. Now, the technology is being revived to create a domestic process for enriching lithium and fuel an energy-resilient nation.
// S&T Highlights

Revitalized laser technology captures commercialization grant

LLNL researchers are partnering with Hexium, Inc. to address this national need for lithium isotopes.
Ground motion simulation of a magnitude 7 earthquake on the Hayward fault using the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory-Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Earthquake Simulation platform.
// S&T Highlights

Simulations predict ground motion for earthquakes on Bay Area’s Hayward fault

In a recent study, published in Seismological Research Letters, scientists at LLNL and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) simulated earthquake scenarios on the Hayward fault and analyzed how the rupture and underground structure affect ground-motion intensity along the fault.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory leaders and researchers accept the 2026 Manufacturer of the Year award in the large manufacturer category from the Association of Manufacturers Bay Area (AMBayArea) on April 21, recognizing the Lab’s leadership in advanced manufacturing, engineering and national security innovation. Pictured (l-r) are LLNL Materials Engineering Division Leader Chris Spadaccini, robotics engineer Mason Sage, Government & Industry Relations Senior Advisor Yuvaraj Sivalingam and Director
// Recognition

LLNL named 2026 Manufacturer of the Year by AMBayArea

LLNL has been named the 2026 Manufacturer of the Year in the large manufacturer category by the Association of Manufacturers Bay Area (AMBayArea), recognizing the Lab’s leadership in advanced manufacturing, engineering and national security innovation.
LLNL researchers invented a high-throughput platform that screens proteins for their rare earth element binding preferences at unprecedented scale.
// S&T Highlights

New protein-screening platform accelerates rare-earth separation for U.S. suppl…

In a recent study, published in Nature Chemical Biology, a team at LLNL invented a high-throughput platform that screens proteins for their rare-earth element binding preferences at unprecedented scale.
With recently awarded funding, LLNL will develop quantum and machine learning-accelerated software tools and apply them to discovering ultra-strong, lightweight magnets that are crucial for electronic motors, generators and high-performance information technology.
// S&T Highlights

LLNL to harness quantum computing for next-generation magnets

LLNL has been selected to lead a project that will receive $4.1 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) as part of the Quantum Computing for Computational Chemistry (QC3) program.
Adding an optimized void structure (top right) counteracts a shockwave-induced instability, reducing jetting (bottom right) that can interfere with inertial confinement fusion. Without this void, significant jetting occurs (bottom left).
// S&T Highlights

Looking into the void to cancel out material instabilities

Researchers from LLNL, Imperial College London and their collaborators used AI to optimize and 3D printing to create a target that effectively negates the RM instability.
Wren Carr, a new SPIE Fellow, has dedicated his career to optics at the National Ignition Facility. (Photo: Blaise Douros/LLNL)
// Recognition

LLNL optics expert Wren Carr named SPIE Fellow

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s Wren Carr was recently selected as a Fellow of SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics.
illustration of genetically engineered metabolic pathways in yeast to consume sugar and produce oxalic acid
// S&T Highlights

Engineered yeast produce acids needed to refine rare-earth elements

Researchers from LLNL, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of Kentucky established a novel microbial platform that produces oxalic acid and purifies rare-earth elements.
collage of DMTS winners
// Director's Awards

LLNL honors 36 as 2026 Distinguished Members of Technical Staff 

Thirty-six Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) researchers have been named Distinguished Members of Technical Staff (DMTS) in recognition of their extraordinary scientific and technical contributions, as affirmed by their professional peers and the broader scientific community.