LANL designed the atomic bombs used to bring history’s most violent and devastating conflict, World War II, to an abrupt end.  Since the war, LANL has ensured the safety, security, and reliability of the U.S. nuclear deterrent. Over the past 80 years, the Laboratory has also developed into a multidisciplinary research institution, which has emerged as a world leader in scientific endeavor and technological development. This timeline will introduce you to just a few of the LANL innovations that have truly changed history.

As scientific pioneers, innovators, and the people who support those capabilities, that’s what scientists and researchers at LANL live for.

They’ve even helped create ways that technologists across the globe make their own innovations—providing the world with fundamentally new approaches to (for example) software codes and computerized simulations.

It was here, for instance, that the Human Genome Project began. . .and other crucial efforts that many people don’t associate with LANL.

1940-1949

The world's first plutonium-fueled nuclear reactor "Clementine"
The world's first plutonium-fueled nuclear reactor, "Clementine," achieves criticality.
The small mesa-top town of Los Alamos, New Mexico
The mission to build the atomic bomb brought scientists from around the globe to the small mesatop town of Los Alamos and contributed to the abrupt end of World War II.
John von Neuman, future Nobel Laureate Richard Feynman, and Stanislaw Ulam (L-R) played important roles in developing the early computers used at Los Alamos.
Physicists John von Neumann (L), Stanislaw Ulam (R), and Nicholas Metropolis developed the powerful technique known as the Monte Carlo method, which sought solutions to mathematical problems using a statistical sampling method of random numbers.
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The world's first plutonium-fueled nuclear reactor "Clementine"
The world's first plutonium-fueled nuclear reactor, "Clementine," achieves criticality.
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The small mesa-top town of Los Alamos, New Mexico
The mission to build the atomic bomb brought scientists from around the globe to the small mesatop town of Los Alamos and contributed to the abrupt end of World War II.
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John von Neuman, future Nobel Laureate Richard Feynman, and Stanislaw Ulam (L-R) played important roles in developing the early computers used at Los Alamos.
Physicists John von Neumann (L), Stanislaw Ulam (R), and Nicholas Metropolis developed the powerful technique known as the Monte Carlo method, which sought solutions to mathematical problems using a statistical sampling method of random numbers.

1960-1069

Vela satellite sensors to detect nuclear explosions (1963)
Vela satellite sensors developed to detect nuclear explosions and one of LANL's early nonproliferaton activities to monitor for clandestine nuclear tests (1963).
World's highest voltage Van de Graff accelerator (1963)
World's highest voltage Van de Graff accelerator used for nuclear physics experiments goes operational (1963).
Heat pipe invented in 1963 by George Grover
Heat pipe invented in 1963 by George Grover.
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Vela satellite sensors to detect nuclear explosions (1963)
Vela satellite sensors developed to detect nuclear explosions and one of LANL's early nonproliferaton activities to monitor for clandestine nuclear tests (1963).
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World's highest voltage Van de Graff accelerator (1963)
World's highest voltage Van de Graff accelerator used for nuclear physics experiments goes operational (1963).
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Heat pipe invented in 1963 by George Grover
Heat pipe invented in 1963 by George Grover.

1950-1959

The world's first hydrogen, or thermonuclear, device codenamed 'Mike'
The U.S. detonated the world's first hydrogen, or thermonuclear, device on October 31, 1952. Codenamed "Mike," this device stood three stories high and exploded with a force of 10.4 megatons.
Rover nuclear reactor rocket
Rover nuclear reactor rocket program launched.
Project to prove existence of the neutrino
Existence of the neutrino proved.
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The world's first hydrogen, or thermonuclear, device codenamed 'Mike'
The U.S. detonated the world's first hydrogen, or thermonuclear, device on October 31, 1952. Codenamed "Mike," this device stood three stories high and exploded with a force of 10.4 megatons.
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Rover nuclear reactor rocket
Rover nuclear reactor rocket program launched.
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Project to prove existence of the neutrino
Existence of the neutrino proved.

1970-1979

Las Alamos National Laboratory Meson Physics Facility (LAMPF) full energy beam (1972)
Clinton P. Anderson the Las Alamos National Laboratory's Meson Physics Facility (LAMPF) achieves full energy beam (1972).
First radioisotope for medical research from LAMPF (1974)
First radioisotope for medical research shipped from LAMPF (1974).
Vela nuclear test surveillance satellite
Discovery of cosmic gamma-ray bursts by detectors aboard the Vela nuclear test surveillance satellites.
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Las Alamos National Laboratory Meson Physics Facility (LAMPF) full energy beam (1972)
Clinton P. Anderson the Las Alamos National Laboratory's Meson Physics Facility (LAMPF) achieves full energy beam (1972).
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First radioisotope for medical research from LAMPF (1974)
First radioisotope for medical research shipped from LAMPF (1974).
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Vela nuclear test surveillance satellite
Discovery of cosmic gamma-ray bursts by detectors aboard the Vela nuclear test surveillance satellites.

1980-1989

Global positioning system (GPS) satellite launched with Los Alamos x-ray detector on board. (1984)
Global positioning system (GPS) satellite launched with LANL x-ray detector on board (1984).
Established GenBank, a database that serves as a national repository for genetic sequence information. Los Alamos was later designated as one of three national centers for human genome studies. (1988)
Establishment of GenBank, a database that serves as a national repository for genetic sequence information. LANL was later designated as one of three national centers for human genome studies (1988).
Lab produces 63 grams of high-purity plutonium-238 metal for pacemakers, significantly increasing the longevity of the devices.
LANL produces 63 grams of high-purity plutonium-238 metal for pacemakers, significantly increasing the longevity of the devices.
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Global positioning system (GPS) satellite launched with Los Alamos x-ray detector on board. (1984)
Global positioning system (GPS) satellite launched with LANL x-ray detector on board (1984).
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Established GenBank, a database that serves as a national repository for genetic sequence information. Los Alamos was later designated as one of three national centers for human genome studies. (1988)
Establishment of GenBank, a database that serves as a national repository for genetic sequence information. LANL was later designated as one of three national centers for human genome studies (1988).
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Lab produces 63 grams of high-purity plutonium-238 metal for pacemakers, significantly increasing the longevity of the devices.
LANL produces 63 grams of high-purity plutonium-238 metal for pacemakers, significantly increasing the longevity of the devices.

1990-1999

Stockpile computer rendering
Science-based stockpile stewardship program begins (1994).
Illustration of a chromosome
LANL scientists complete map of chromosome 16.
Photo of underground nuclear test named “Divider"
Operation Julin: U.S. conducts its last underground nuclear test named “Divider."
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Stockpile computer rendering
Science-based stockpile stewardship program begins (1994).
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Illustration of a chromosome
LANL scientists complete map of chromosome 16.
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Photo of underground nuclear test named “Divider"
Operation Julin: U.S. conducts its last underground nuclear test named “Divider."

2000-2009

Three-dimensional rendering of a computer simulation
First full-system, three-dimensional simulations of a nuclear weapon explosion are performed (2002).
Map of indicated water-ice on Mars
Mars Odyssey spacecraft launched with LANL neutron spectrometer on board detects hydrogen, an indicator of water-ice on the Red Planet.
Photo of Roadrunner supercomputer
Roadrunner supercomputer exceeded sustained speed of 1 petaflop/s, or 1 million billion calculations per second.
Photo of the LANS transition team
Los Alamos National Security (LANS) transition.
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Three-dimensional rendering of a computer simulation
First full-system, three-dimensional simulations of a nuclear weapon explosion are performed (2002).
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Map of indicated water-ice on Mars
Mars Odyssey spacecraft launched with LANL neutron spectrometer on board detects hydrogen, an indicator of water-ice on the Red Planet.
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Photo of Roadrunner supercomputer
Roadrunner supercomputer exceeded sustained speed of 1 petaflop/s, or 1 million billion calculations per second.
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Photo of the LANS transition team
Los Alamos National Security (LANS) transition.

2010-2019

Photo of cubeSats
Four tiny "cubeSats"—satellites small enough to hold in one hand—are launched into orbit in December 2010.
Photo of National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory has successfully produced the world's first 100-Tesla nondestructive magnetic field roughly equivalent to 2 million times Earth's magnetic field.
Photo of sustainable technology
New technology developed in hydrogen storage, which makes hydrogen a more attractive fuel for vehicles or other transportation modes.
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Photo of cubeSats
Four tiny "cubeSats"—satellites small enough to hold in one hand—are launched into orbit in December 2010.
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Photo of National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory has successfully produced the world's first 100-Tesla nondestructive magnetic field roughly equivalent to 2 million times Earth's magnetic field.
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Photo of sustainable technology
New technology developed in hydrogen storage, which makes hydrogen a more attractive fuel for vehicles or other transportation modes.