Louisiana looks to Idaho National Laboratory for a nuclear strategy
Louisiana leaders are working with Idaho National Laboratory’s (INL) Frontiers Initiative to help the state — known for its hydrocarbon and chemical industries — become a national leader in advanced nuclear energy. INL experts will help the state develop a strategic plan to use nuclear energy to power its manufacturing sector and support growing grid-scale […]
Humble hero: The story of INL’s Medal of Honor recipient
There’s no way of knowing for sure, but there was probably no more reluctant a war hero than Sgt. David Bleak. A Medal of Honor recipient for heroism in the Korean War – his story of courage under fire is an incredible one – Bleak was much happier talking about farming, Western novels or his […]
INL’s Joshua Miller honored with prestigious Colonel Sydnor Memorial Award
The Department of Energy has a long tradition of recognizing outstanding contributions to the field of nuclear security, and this year is no exception. The Office of Enterprise Assessments announced that Joshua Miller of Idaho National Laboratory’s Safeguards and Security training department is the esteemed recipient of the 2023 Colonel Sydnor Memorial Award. The award […]
A smooth ride to the future of nuclear
If you’ve ever driven to a remote area, you may have noticed that the drive time is much longer on dirt roads. But once those roads are paved, you can get where you need to go much more quickly. The path to deploying advanced nuclear reactors isn’t a straight line, but a new supercomputer named […]
A catalyst for success: A molten salt researcher’s journey at INL
Among the impressive nuclear energy scientists at Idaho National Laboratory, Bill Phillips stands out as a particularly gifted molten salt researcher. His journey from intern to staff scientist was marked by unique research findings and growing influence on the scientific community, and clearly illustrates how INL can facilitate a researcher’s development and success. Phillips’ graduate […]
Landmark event initiates a cohesive approach to fundamental molten salt research
On a crisp spring morning, professionals from across the country gathered at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Meeting Center for a novel event. The topics discussed over this two-day meeting aimed to open the door to a new generation of widely applicable technologies. The key? Molten salt. John Carter, INL advanced technology of molten salts […]
Advancing nuclear science: The contributions of INL’s Russell L. Heath Distinguished Postdoctoral Associates
Lisa Scott, an INL postdoc administrative assistant, grew up next to Russell L. Heath. “Our backyards touched,” Scott said. “As a young girl, I never knew the extent of Russ’ education and contributions to the INL research. He was always a kind, genuine neighbor and family friend. He had a talent for restoring old Model […]
Driving into the future: Four decades and counting of battery research
Known as the nation’s nuclear laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory is not as widely recognized for its leadership in battery research. Yet, INL experts have conducted energy storage systems research for four decades of the lab’s 75-year history, almost as long as the nation has invested in electric vehicle technologies. In 1976, Congress passed the Electric […]
The old, the new and the industry: Worlds collide through chemical separation
In July 2022, amidst a mechanical hum and complicated array of equipment filled with technicolor liquids, newly hired chemical engineering intern Rachel Umpleby learned, hands-on, about solvent extraction at one of Idaho National Laboratory’s (INL) many pilot programs. What’s more, she was learning from experienced aqueous separations and radiochemistry scientists, whose industry connections put them […]
Idaho’s Wireless Test Bed provides 20 years of service to the nation
In early 2006, James Hanneman was 18 months into his first job at Idaho National Laboratory’s Wireless Test Bed when his program manager asked him to attend a trade show. With two hours’ notice, he hopped on a plane to San Jose, California, to learn about wireless “backhaul technologies” for cellular communications. INL’s test bed […]
