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Interesting facts about Idaho National Laboratory

Nuclear Programs

• The Department of Energy recognized INL for work that demonstrates DOE's commitment to save taxpayers' money and improve quality of life for consumers.
• INL was named the DOE lead laboratory for nuclear reactor technology.
• INL is coordinating the Generation IV Nuclear Systems Initiative - an international effort to develop the next generation of nuclear power reactors.
• The INL is leading the effort to develop nuclear power reactors that produce electricity cheaper and safer while creating less waste and resisting proliferation of nuclear weapons materials.
• Physicists at INL are contributing to the development of boron neutron capture therapy techniques for tumor treatment.
• INL was selected as home for the Safety and Tritium Applications Research Facility, a move that will expand the lab's scope of fusion research and develop, attract top scientists and promote INL missions.
• INL's Advanced Test Reactor produces isotopes that are used in treating cancer, sterilizing medical equipment, inspecting aircraft materials and treating pain in bone cancer sufferers.
• The new Space and Security Power Systems Facility at INL assembled the radioisotope thermoelectric generator for NASA's New Horizons mission to Pluto and will build additional RTGs to power future space missions.
• INL's high-temperature electrolysis work produces unrivaled amounts of hydrogen, a breakthrough that will mold the future of the fuel industry.
• The INL Center for Nuclear Fuels and Materials Research will increase INL's capacity for commercial fuels and materials examination. INL will establish the structure to grow commercial business at INL and develop a light water reactor fuel pilot program.
• The Center for Space Nuclear Research at INL began in 2006 and engages university students and INL staff in research and development of advanced space reactor and radioisotope power systems.

National & Homeland Security

• INL developed and licensed a Concealed Weapons Detector that is currently being used by New Jersey Department of Corrections.
• INL's award-winning Idaho Explosives Detection System can identify smuggled explosives in cargo trucks entering parking garages and military bases.
• INL award-winning engineer Kevin Young developed a lightweight, wireless video camera system that sends real-time video footage from first responders to command centers up to five miles away.
• INL-developed Hazmat Cam was the winner of a 2005 R&D 100 Award, and is currently being used by the National Guard and first responders across the country.
• INL Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) engineers have made history by simultaneously flying five UAVs from a single ground control station. UAVs equipped with thermal sensors may one day help firefighters predict the pattern and movement of fast-moving wildfires.
• Two INL researchers are assisting the Department of Homeland Security in the development and detection of countermeasures for improvised explosive devices.
• The INL-developed breaching shotgun is in preproduction and will soon be used by law enforcement and military personnel during high-risk operations.
• INL cyber security and critical infrastructure protection specialists were recently awarded with a SCADA Leadership Award by the SANS Institute.
• INL Nuclear Nonproliferation scientists have developed technologies and processes for securing the nuclear fuel cycle and detecting the presence of smuggled nuclear materials.
• For more than 20 years, INL has been the sole manufacturer of heavy armor for the Army's M1-A1 Abrams battle tank.
• INL researchers are developing body armor that can be made into virtually any shape, size or diameter.

Science and Technology R&D

• More than 1,300 scientists and engineers conduct research and development activities at INL.
• INL has developed
  • An affordable ($1 million to $3 million) small-scale natural gas liquefaction plant capable of producing as much liquefied natural gas as a $300 million plant.
  • An environmentally friendly bus for national parks; the bus can run on compressed or liquid natural gas, propane, biodiesel and diesel fuel.
  • A standardized liquid natural gas receptacle and nozzle.
  • A free, Web-based "Virtual Hydropower Prospector" software application that can locate and evaluate potential hydropower projects in the United States.
  • A new technique that identifies humans by their antibodies, creating a unique barcode for each person.
  • An award-winning robotic intelligence kernel that can improve the autonomy of a variety of robotic platforms.
  • A new electrolyte membrane so that rechargeable lithium batteries run far longer and are safer to handle and dispose.
  • A pager-sized radiation detection device to help U.S. Customs prevent nuclear material smuggling through airports.
• INL scientists are
  • Researching standards and developing technologies for sustainable "green" building designs.
  • Working with partners to embrace the vision of "Whole Crop Utilization" that features the cost-effective conversion of biomass feedstock (corn stover, straw and forest residues) into clean biofuels and chemicals.
  • Studying new ways to use geothermal and wind energy for mining.
  • Examining a new way to look for life on Mars using Laser Desorption-Mass Spectrometry that detects the smallest fleck of chemical, energy or waste left by living organisms.
  • Developing a variety of assays and techniques that will facilitate detection and molecular fingerprinting of high-consequence pathogens.
  • Creating strong, durable membranes that can be specially tailored to separate different chemicals from water.
• INL has
  • Built and tested the world's largest integrated fuel processor which converts high-sulfur diesel fuel into hydrogen-rich gas for use in fuel cells.
  • Launched the Center for Advanced Modeling and Simulation that provides the best possible human resources, hardware, software, communications and collaborations - to enable state of the art computational tools in the development of advanced energy systems - particularly advanced nuclear energy systems.
  • Developed a cost-effective, passive cleanup technique for radioactively contaminated concrete that uses naturally-occurring microbes and keeps its workers safe.
  • Designed, built, and maintained one of the world's largest matched index-of-refraction facilities to study turbulent fluid flow.
  • Investigated an untapped energy source - frozen methane gas trapped in the depths of the ocean floor.
  • Created a super-strong adhesive by studying mussels - nature's underwater adhesive experts.
  • Extracted Xtreme Xylanase from a bacterium found in Yellowstone National Park. The Xylanase can be used to break down biomass into simple sugars that can be converted into clean fuels and chemicals.
  • Extracted an ultra stable catalase enzyme from a bacterium found in Yellowstone National Park. The catalase can be used in place of harsh chemicals used to clean up after industrial bleaching. This research received R&D 100 Award recognition in 2004.
• INL is a member of the Big Sky Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership that studies the affects of injecting CO₂ into subsurface basalts, rather than releasing it into the atmosphere.

Energy and Environmental Sciences

• The INL provides 69 professional scientists and engineers to serve as adjunct faculty to the University of Idaho and Idaho State University higher educational programs in southeast Idaho.
• INL developed
  • A model that quantifies the output of greenhouse gasses from their sources and identifies the most effective approach to decrease emissions.
  • A new geographic information system (GIS) management tool that services maps and data via the Internet.
  • An Internet database and mapping program concerning the bacteria living in extreme environmental conditions in hot pools within the Yellowstone National Park.
  • A new modeling tool about the alternative fuel market that helps decision-makers select alternative fuels and vehicles.
• INL has an agreement with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality to collaborate and exchange science and technology information.
• In collaboration with Idaho State University and Utah State University, INL is conducting research on science-based decision making for land and watershed management.
• INL is using remote sensing and imagery analysis to look at the effects of fires, cheatgrass and other disturbances on wildlife habitat and vegetation.

Cultural Resources

• Cultural resources on the INL include prehistoric Native American sites, historic Euro-American sites, World War II structures and artifacts, and historic nuclear structures.
• INL archaeologists have discovered archaeological sites dating back at least 12,000 years.
• An estimated 75,000 archaeological sites reflecting use of the area by Native American hunter-gatherers may be preserved within the boundaries of the INL.
• A professional staff of five archaeologists and historians work to protect an estimated 40,000 prehistoric archaeological sites at the INL, some estimated to be 10,000 years old.
• The INL contains the remnants of at least two stage stations and hundreds of other historic archaeological sites, including trails, canals, homestead foundations, trash heaps and miles of historic trails.
• The INL cultural resource management staff works closely with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes for help and guidance in the management of prehistoric sites.
• The world's first usable electricity from a nuclear reactor was generated on the INL on Dec. 20, 1951, at the Experimental Breeder Reactor I.
• The Navy used the INL during World War II, and again during the Vietnam War, to test-fire its large guns.