Back
HPC, Simulation, and Data Science
El Capitan revealing hidden worlds in previously unattainable high-fidelity simulations
El Capitan, the world’s fastest supercomputer, may be new to scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), but it's already allowing them to explore physical systems in ways that weren’t possible before. With the arrival of El Capitan, LLNL researchers are entering a new era of scientific simulation — one in which they can model extreme physical events with…
LLNL used AI to predict historic fusion ignition shot
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) researchers employed an AI-driven model to predict fusion ignition days ahead of the historic 2022 shot, according to a new study in Science. In the paper, LLNL researchers detail how they used physics-informed deep learning and a “cognitive simulation” (or CogSim) framework to forecast the success of the Dec. 5, 2022 fusion…
Annual LLNL tech transfer report highlights how partnerships advance technologies to market
Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratories, like Lawrence Livermore (LLNL), offer unique opportunities to collaborate on and license scientific breakthroughs with market potential. In its Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Technology Transfer Annual Report, LLNL highlights how industry partnerships accelerate innovation and deliver real-world impact. In FY24, LLNL reported 201…
LLNL scientists explore real-time tsunami warning system on world’s fastest supercomputer
Scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have helped develop an advanced, real-time tsunami forecasting system — powered by El Capitan, the world’s fastest supercomputer — that could dramatically improve early warning capabilities for coastal communities near earthquake zones. The exascale El Capitan, which has a theoretical peak performance of 2.79…
LLNL researchers train liquid droplets to play tic-tac-toe
Artificial intelligence and high-performance computing are driving up the demand for massive sources of energy. But neuromorphic computing, which aims to mimic the structure and function of the human brain, could present a new paradigm for energy-efficient computing. To this end, researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) created a droplet-based platform…
LLNL’s Lori Diachin named to 2025 ‘legends’ of high-performance computing list
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s Principal Deputy for Computing Lori Diachin has been named one of HPCwire’s “35 Legends” for 2025, a recognition that celebrates pioneers, visionaries and champions who have left an enduring mark on high-performance computing (HPC). Now in its second year, the 35 Legends class is selected by HPCwire’s editors and advisors to honor…
New machine learning project will advance real-time seismic monitoring across energy industries
A new initiative designed to revolutionize seismic monitoring and forecasting using real time, advanced machine learning (ML) technologies is coming to the West Texas/New Mexico area. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF) awarded $1.8 million in funding to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). The TCF is administrated by the…
Cancer drug candidate developed using supercomputing & AI blocks tumor growth without toxic side effect
A new cancer drug candidate developed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), BBOT (BridgeBio Oncology Therapeutics) and the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNLCR) has demonstrated the ability to block tumor growth without triggering a common and debilitating side effect. In early clinical trials, the compound, known as BBO-10203, has shown…
Meet LLNL: Computer Scientist Nicole Marsaglia
Nicole Marsaglia is a computer scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), where she works on Ascent, an in-situ library that allows scientists to analyze and visualize simulation data as it is generated. Marsaglia joined LLNL in March 2022, drawn by the opportunity to apply her technical interests and work with a collaborative, enthusiastic team. “What I…
Annual workshop brings together signal and image science community
On May 21 and 22, signal and image science experts from across LLNL, academia and industry gathered at the UC Livermore Collaboration Center (UCLCC) for the 29th annual Center for Advanced Signal and Image Sciences (CASIS) workshop. One of the longest-running events of its kind at the Lab, the CASIS workshop connects the signal and image sciences community to share…
El Capitan reigns supreme across three major supercomputing benchmarks
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s (LLNL) flagship exascale machine El Capitan maintained its status as the fastest supercomputer on the planet — claiming the No. 1 spot on not just one, but three of the most prestigious high-performance computing (HPC) rankings. In the 65th edition of the TOP500 List, released June 10 at the ISC High Performance conference in…
LLNL Deputy Director Pat Falcone receives inaugural AI Honors in Public Science Award
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) Deputy Director for Science and Technology Patricia Falcone was presented with the AI Honors in Public Science award at the inaugural AI Honors Gala on June 3 at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Washington, D.C. Coinciding with the AI+ Expo at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, the AI Honors Gala convened more than 300…
Stanford professor discusses future of visually intelligent machines and human-AI collaboration
In a talk at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) on May 30, Stanford University professor and AI visionary Fei-Fei Li traced a sweeping arc in visual intelligence and AI — a narrative she hopes ultimately leads to a more human-centered future. Part of the Director’s Distinguished Lecturer Series, the Stanford computer scientist went beyond technical milestones…
Big Ideas Lab podcast enters the quantum realm
Imagine a particle that slips through a wall like a ghost. Now imagine two particles, separated by vast distances yet somehow linked, instantly influencing each other's states. A story with two endings, both true, until turning the final page. A universe where simply looking changes what’s real. These are not thought experiments. This is quantum physics. And for decades,…
One-pot protein screening accelerates bioscience, drug discovery
Machine learning and supercomputing have brought about a revolution in computational drug discovery. More therapeutic candidates, like antibodies that bind to and fight the SARS-CoV-2 virus, can be explored and simulated than ever before. But for practical, safe use, these computational candidates must be grounded in experimental validation. In a new study, published in…
Big Ideas Lab podcast examines how AI Is reshaping science at LLNL
As the world moves from the Information Age to the Data Age, AI is not only revolutionizing society — it’s fundamentally transforming how researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) approach science. On the latest episode of The Big Ideas Lab podcast, listeners will get an inside look at this transformation, as LLNL physicists Brian Spears and Kelli…
1,000 Scientist AI Jam Session explores AI-driven scientific discovery
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) on Feb. 28 joined an initiative that brought together over 1,400 Department of Energy (DOE) scientists across multiple sites to explore how cutting-edge AI models could transform scientific research. The first-ever 1,000 Scientist AI Jam Session, hosted at nine DOE labs including LLNL, immersed scientists in a full-day, hands…
Order to disorder: a closer look at icy surfaces
Much like a tongue freezes to a frigid metal pole, ice can cause speed up the adsorption, or stickiness, of molecules. An icy surface can also cause molecules to degrade in the presence of light, releasing trace gases. Before researchers can measure these reactions and incorporate their impacts in global atmospheric models, researchers first need to understand the…
Big Ideas Lab unlocks the secrets of drug discovery through supercomputing and AI
In the world of medicine, the journey from ancient practices to modern pharmaceuticals is both fascinating and complex. The latest episode of the Big Ideas Lab podcast delves into the evolution of drug discovery, and how cutting-edge computing technologies and industry partnerships are transforming the way we develop life-saving medications. Historically, the quest for…
Quantum computers successfully model particle scattering
Scattering takes place across the universe at large and miniscule scales. Billiard balls clank off each other in bars, the nuclei of atoms collide to power the stars and create heavy elements, and even sound waves deviate from their original trajectory when they hit particles in the air. Understanding such scattering can lead to discoveries about the forces that govern the…
