LLNL at the Science-Engineering Expo

On Oct. 23-24, LLNL joined hundreds of other research institutions, universities, high-tech industries, professional societies, museums and science centers in a two-day expo on the National Mall in Washington, DC, held as part of the first-ever USA Science and Engineering Festival.

The Lab featured an energy-related theme with two major components.

1) A 3D virtual ride on a beam of light as it races through the National Ignition Facility -- the world's largest laser system -- and smashes into a BB-sized target filled with fusion fuel, all as a quest to develop fusion as a future energy source.

2) An energy-climate challenge. Visitors tried out a brand-new "sim" developed by LLNL scientists as a learning tool about energy and climate change. Players faced the challenge of meeting the world's 21st century energy demands on a fixed budget while keeping carbon emissions at a minimum.