By Mission.org
The podcast currently has 3 episodes available.
In the wake of the Soviet Union's first atomic bomb test, the looming threat of nuclear war sent shockwaves through the United States. Air raid sirens blared, bomb shelters were built, and schoolchildren were drilled in "Duck and Cover" tactics. But the U.S. government knew preparation wasn’t enough—they needed a breakthrough, something far more powerful to shift the balance of power.
Their answer was nuclear deterrence: the idea that the best protection against a nuclear attack is the fear of retaliation. This sparked a race to develop a weapon so powerful that the Soviets wouldn’t dare challenge it.
At the center of this effort was physicist Ernest Lawrence, whose visionary leadership not only pushed the boundaries of nuclear science but also laid the foundation for a lab that would revolutionize both national security and scientific discovery. This is the story of how Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory was born—and how it began to change the world.
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Big Ideas Lab is a Mission.org original series.
Executive Produced and Written by Lacey Peace.
Sound Design, Music Edit and Mix by Daniel Brunelle.
Story Editing by Daniel Brunelle.
Audio Engineering and Editing by Matthew Powell.
Narrated by Matthew Powell.
Video Production by Levi Hanusch.
Guests featured in this episode (in order of appearance):
Brought to you in partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
What if one square mile could change the world?
Welcome to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where groundbreaking scientific discoveries are transforming the way we understand, interact with and shape our reality.
Tucked just beyond the San Francisco Bay, this hub of innovation is home to some of the brightest minds tackling humanity's toughest challenges. In this episode, we pull back the curtain for a rare insider’s tour. You’ll hear stories of breakthrough innovations, the science that powers them, and the people brave enough to push the limits of what's known. Step inside a world where the future is being written—one discovery at a time.
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Big Ideas Lab is a Mission.org original series.
Executive Produced and Written by Lacey Peace.
Sound Design, Music Edit and Mix by Daniel Brunelle.
Story Editing by Daniel Brunelle.
Audio Engineering and Editing by Matthew Powell.
Narrated by Matthew Powell.
Video Production by Levi Hanusch.
Guests featured in this episode (in order of appearance):
Brought to you in partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Welcome to the Big Ideas Lab, a weekly podcast that takes you 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.
New episodes release weekly. Subscribe now.
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Big Ideas Lab is a Mission.org original series.
Executive Produced and Written by Lacey Peace.
Sound Design, Music Edit and Mix by Daniel Brunelle.
Story Editing by Daniel Brunelle.
Audio Engineering and Editing by Matthew Powell.
Narrated by Matthew Powell.
Video Production by Levi Hanusch.
Guests featured in this episode (in order of appearance):
Brought to you in partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
The podcast currently has 3 episodes available.