Valhalla, a Python-based performance modeling framework developed at Sandia National Laboratories, uses high-performance computing to build preliminary satellite designs based on mission requirements and then runs those designs through thousands of simulations.
Tag: National Security
Frontier supercomputer debuts as world’s fastest, breaking exascale barrier
The Frontier supercomputer at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory earned the top ranking today as the world’s fastest on the 59th TOP500 list, with 1.1 exaflops of performance. The system is the first to achieve an unprecedented level of computing performance known as exascale, a threshold of a quintillion calculations per second.

Terrorism – A Threat for Urban Dwellers Be in the Know, Be on the Lookout for a Safe Society
Chula Political Science Lecturer alerts our society on the dangers of “urban terrorism” and the need to build a knowledge base for crisis management should an incident occur while also proposing that the government should invest in national security.
Redesigning radiation monitors at U.S. ports
The Department of Homeland Security turned to Sandia and Pacific Northwest national laboratories to create the blueprint for a new generation of radiation portal monitors that eventually will replace more than 1,400 monitors deployed across the United States.
George Miller selected for John S. Foster Medal for contributions to national security
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) Director Emeritus George Miller has been named the 2021 recipient of the John S. Foster Medal for his contributions to U.S. national security.
Remembering 9/11: A Legacy of Homeland Security
PNNL commemorates 9/11 and reflects on the 20 years of science and technology produced since to protect against threats and make America safer.
David Chavez selected Fellow of the American Chemical Society
David Chavez, deputy group leader of the High Explosives Science and Technology group at Los Alamos National Laboratory, has been selected as a member of the 2021 class of Fellows of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
PNNL AI Expert Harnesses Open-Source Data to Understand Human Behavior
PNNL researchers used natural language processing and deep learning techniques to reveal how and why different types of misinformation and disinformation spread across social platforms. Applied to COVID-19, the team found that misinformation intended to influence politics and incite fear spreads fastest.
Director of UCI Cybersecurity Policy & Research Institute available to address recent ransomware attacks.
As the first executive director of the multidisciplinary Cybersecurity Policy & Research Institute at the University of California, Irvine, Bryan Cunningham is focused on solution-oriented strategies to address technical, legal and policy challenges to combat cyber threats, protect individual privacy and civil…

Scientists Earn Early Career Awards
The DOE Early Career Research Program supports exceptional researchers during the crucial early years of their careers and helps advance scientific discovery in fundamental sciences
Rare earth supply disruptions have long-range impacts, computer model shows
Many devices rely on rare earth elements. Disruptions to supplies have consequences. Argonne analyzed potential disruptions with a computer model called Global Critical Materials to forecast rare earth market dynamics.
Using satellite images to protect national security
The South Dakota State University Image Processing Laboratory is helping intelligence agencies use remote-sensing satellite images to protect national security.
Deborah Frincke: The science of protecting communities
Deborah Frincke, one of the nation’s preeminent computer scientists and cybersecurity experts, serves as associate laboratory director of ORNL’s National Security Science Directorate.
Rutgers National Security Expert Available to Discuss U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan
Rutgers scholar John J. Farmer, Jr., the former senior counsel for the 9/11 Commission, is available to comment on President Biden’s announcement regarding the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, 2021. “The news that American troops…

Decoding the ‘Black Box’ of AI to Tackle National Security Concerns
Cats and dogs. Huskies and wolves. While AI research sometimes seems dominated by talk about animals, the discussions are critical for understanding AI decisions. This “explainable AI” research is critical for many domains, including the detection of nuclear explosions or the movement of materials that endanger the nation’s security.

LLNL and NPS ink MOU for collaboration
With a collaboration agreement or without a collaboration agreement, LLNL and the Monterey-based Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) have enjoyed an enduring relationship for more than two decades.

Explainable AI: A Must for Nuclear Nonproliferation, National Security
Understanding the choices and recommendations of artificial intelligence systems is crucial, especially when the stakes are high, as they are with national security issues like nuclear nonproliferation. A PNNL team is using explainable AI to further the effectiveness of AI systems.

Two Los Alamos Medal winners recognized for revolutionary contributions
Los Alamos National Laboratory announced today that two scientists have been awarded the Los Alamos Medal, the Laboratory’s highest honor, for revolutionary scientific contributions to national security and science. Fred Mortensen and Bette Korber are recognized for their distinguished achievements that have enhanced the success of the Laboratory.

Seventeen from Argonne recognized with Secretary of Energy’s Honor Awards
Six groups that included seventeen scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory were recent recipients of the DOE’s 2020 Secretary of Energy’s Honor Awards.
UA Little Rock partners with Forge Institute, U of A to Advance Applied Research In Cybersecurity to Support National Defense
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is partnering with the Forge Institute and the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, to advance applied research in areas that support national defense, including cybersecurity. This partnership is a first-of-its-kind opportunity in Arkansas and will lead to competitive research, collaboration opportunities, and create a platform for economic growth and job creation.
Inauguration, National Security, Extremist Groups: Rutgers Experts Available
Experts at Rutgers University’s Miller Center for Community Protection and Resilience are available to discuss the inauguration ceremony of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and issues including far-right extremist groups, domestic terrorism and national security. For interviews,…
New Report: Assessment of the Capitol Riots
Rutgers’ Miller Center for Community Protection and Resilience and Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) released a report assessing the Capitol riots that took place on January 6, 2021.
@Akorobk, Poli Sci Prof @MTSU, available to provide an informed perspective on alleged #Russian involvement in #SolarWinds hack
Dr. Andrei Korobkov is uniquely qualified to provide an informed international perspective on the implications of CISA and Big Tech cyberattacks. With degrees from Moscow State University, the Institute of International economic and Political Studies at the Russian Academy of…

Argonne fast-tracks training in nuclear packaging
Argonne scientists play a central role in coursework on securing nuclear packaging at the University of Nevada, Reno. Graduates of this program help ensure our nation’s safety and security.
The Future of Internet Freedom: Policy, Technology, and Emerging Threats
A virtual panel at American University will discuss the future of Internet freedom.
The Strategic Stockpile Failed; Experts Propose New Approach to Emergency Preparedness
A panel of academic and military experts is calling for a more dynamic, flexible approach to emergency preparedness at the national level.
LLNL welcomes “Ruby” supercomputer for national nuclear security mission & COVID-19 research
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), along with partners Intel, Supermicro and Cornelis Networks, have deployed “Ruby,” a high performance computing (HPC) cluster that will perform functions for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and support the Laboratory’s COVID-19 research.

Safeguarding the Nation’s Supercomputers
PNNL researchers and university collaborators have developed a system to ferret out questionable use of high-performance computing (HPC) systems.
Voter intimidation plot succeeds regardless of culprit
The Trump administration has accused Iran of targeting Democratic voters in an e-mail intimidation campaign seemingly designed to create uncertainty around the U.S. election. Sarah Kreps, professor of government at Cornell University, studies misinformation and election interference and is author of…

Evelyn Mullen named American Nuclear Society Fellow
Evelyn Mullen, chief operating officer for Global Security at Los Alamos National Laboratory, was named a fellow of the American Nuclear Society for her leadership in nuclear national security and ensuring the nation’s experimental capability in nuclear criticality.
Network Resilience is Key to Surviving Compound Hazard Events, Scientists Say
As extreme weather and other events increase in frequency and intensity, cybercriminals ramp up attacks on technologies that tie together urban infrastructure systems, networks critical to the flow of data, people, goods, and services must be made more resilient to failure, according to a team of scientists.

Master’s Degree in Artificial Intelligence Now Within Reach of Low-income Students
The accelerated five-year bachelor’s degree in science and master’s degree in AI program is designed to adapt curricular and co-curricular support to enable students to complete their degrees in AI, autonomous systems or machine learning, which are critically important to advance America’s global competitiveness and national security. With this grant, FAU will recruit and train talented and diverse students who are economically disadvantaged and provide them with a unique opportunity to pursue graduate education in a burgeoning field.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Brings Science, Technology Solutions to Homeland Security
Post-9/11, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory plays a critical role in nearly every layer of the country’s national security.
Declassify Attacks and Incentivize Resilience
– Today in view of rising global tensions, bold new recommendations were issued by the National Commission for Grid Resilience (NCGR) to secure and build a more resilient grid in the United States, the world’s greatest consumer of electricity.
TikTok faces uncertain future and national security concerns among experts
The uncertain future facing the Chinese-owned social media company TikTok and its potential sale to an American company could alleviate national security concerns about access to American user data, says Virginia Tech expert Mike Horning. Quoting Horning “The growth of…

How Police Compare in Different Democracies
Recent killings by U.S. officers have sparked widespread calls for police reform and an end to systemic racism. Here’s how U.S. policing compares with other countries’ approaches.
TikTok ban reasonable given the threat of Chinese surveillance
The House of Representatives voted this week to ban TikTok from government-issued devices amid concerns that the Chinese-owned social media company’s access to U.S. data poses a national security threat. Sarah Kreps, professor of government at Cornell University, studies misinformation…
China’s law is ‘final nail in the coffin’ for Hong Kong
China passed a law this week on national security for Hong Kong, which is expected to further limit the city’s autonomy and could be used to crack down on those engaging in “secession, subversion against the central Chinese government, terrorism,…

Argonne to collaborate with Raytheon Technologies to accelerate aircraft engine design
This new agreement will dramatically improve and reduce the computational expense of fluid dynamics models. Both partners aim to improve the design and durability of engine components.

Argonne scientists lead push to strengthen cybersecurity in sports stadiums
To combat the cyber threat in sports, Argonne scientists built an assessment tool for team and stadium owners to fix vulnerabilities.

How decades of work at Argonne led to a pivotal moment for U.S. nuclear plants
Severe accident research at Argonne Lab helped the nuclear power industry ensure safety while avoiding $1 billion in unnecessary costs in the wake of the Fukushima disaster.
CFR-Wayne State Election 2020 U.S. Foreign Policy Forum
How can business, labor, and government collaborate to reduce poverty on regional and global bases? Will the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement benefit U.S. workers? How will the trade war with China affect the automotive industry?
Watch an in-depth, nonpartisan conversation on critical foreign policy challenges facing the winner of the 2020 presidential election. Former government officials from Republican and Democratic administrations will discuss issues central to our national security and answer questions about U.S. policy and America’s role in the world.
CFR-UTSA Election 2020 U.S. Foreign Policy Forum
How should the United States manage relations with Iran? How will the trade war with China affect the U.S. and global economies? Will the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement benefit American workers? What can be done to improve the situation in Venezuela?
Watch an in-depth, nonpartisan conversation on critical foreign policy challenges facing the winner of the 2020 presidential election. Former government officials from Republican and Democratic administrations will discuss issues central to our national security and answer questions about U.S. policy and America’s role in the world.
CFR-UNH Election 2020 U.S. Foreign Policy Forum
Watch an in-depth, nonpartisan conversation on critical foreign policy challenges facing the winner of the 2020 presidential election. Former government officials from Republican and Democratic administrations discuss issues central to our national security and answer questions about U.S. policy and America’s role in the world.
Election 2020 Series. Presented by the Council on Foreign Relations and the University of New Hampshire.

Iran Will Continue to Retaliate in Many Forms and in Many Places
Ambassador Susan Rice joined Wellesley College professor Michael Jeffries for a discussion about her new book, work in the Obama Administration, and current events like the Iran crisis at an event on campus.

Iran experts available to comment on killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani
Iran’s top security and intelligence commander, Gen. Qassem Soleimani, was killed early this morning in a drone strike that was authorized by President Donald Trump. Critics of the president’s Iran policy fear the strike will lead to an escalation that…

U.S.-Iran relations expert available to comment on killing of Suleimani
Iran’s top security and intelligence commander, Qassim Suleimani, was killed Friday in a drone strike at Baghdad International Airport that was authorized by President Trump. Critics of his Iran policy called the strike a reckless escalation that could have dire…

UAH will be first Alabama university to offer H4D cybersecurity course
The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) will be the first in the state to offer the Hacking for Defense (H4D) cybersecurity class beginning in spring semester 2020.

Budil to be honored for outstanding achievements
In recognition of outstanding achievements in both academia and public service, Kim Budil, leader of the weapon program at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), will be honored by her alma mater Nov. 22 with the Distinguished Engineering Alumni Medal from UC Davis’ College of Engineering.
Innovation and National Security
The United States leads the world in innovation, research, and technology development. Since World War II, the new markets, industries, companies, and military capabilities that emerged from the country’s science and technology commitment have combined to make the United States the most secure and economically prosperous nation on earth.