Feature Articles

The Idaho National Laboratory has changed the world for more than 75 years through work in nuclear energy, national security and other innovative technologies. From early nuclear reactor demonstrations to establishing tomorrow’s robust electrical grid, here are 10 of the most impactful INL achievements that benefit our nation and the world:

Scientists at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) have achieved a historic breakthrough in nuclear energy by launching full-scale production of enriched fuel salt for the Molten Chloride Reactor Experiment (MCRE)—the world’s first test of a molten chloride salt fast reactor.

The 2025 Army-Navy college football game kicks off Dec. 13 in Baltimore, Maryland, continuing one of America’s most storied rivalries.

First played in 1890, Army-Navy has endured through wars, peace and generations of cadets and midshipmen. Army-Navy stands apart as more than game — it’s a national tradition that honors service and sacrifice. Every player on the field has taken an oath to defend the nation with their lives. Its traditions embody duty, discipline and respect between rivals who serve the same nation.

When asked to describe her job within the Molten Chloride Reactor Experiment (MCRE), Kristy Spencer smiled.

It’s Tuesday morning in early June and the Idaho National Laboratory’s (INL) Transient Reactor Test Facility (TREAT) control room is crawling with visitors. Men in fatigues thumb through logbooks, monitor radiation levels, and consult data and images on laptop computers. These visitors are members of the U.S. Army’s Nuclear Disablement Team (NDT), participating in a new Nuclear Infrastructure, Assessment and Disablement (NIAD) field exercise that validates and certifies training received during INL’s annual NIAD course. The annual course is designed to improve the soldier’s proficiency and knowledge of nuclear fuel cycle processes, hazard mitigation and successful characterization and disablement of nuclear facilities.

In many electricity markets, hydropower operators earn a significant portion of their revenue from the day-ahead market. In this market, utilities buy electricity based on expected demand for the next day, while power producers offer to sell electricity at prices based on forecasted production and demand. This process ensures that enough electricity is available to meet demand and helps stabilize prices by balancing supply and demand ahead of time.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming widely adopted across multiple industries, including the critical field of grid operations. The integration of AI into grid systems promises enhanced efficiency and reliability, but it also brings a host of new challenges.

In the spring of 2020, a team of engineers at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) embarked on a groundbreaking project to design a microreactor test facility that could transform the world’s energy future.

Consider the utility services that people use every day: light switches, water faucets and gas burners. The simple act of delivering electricity, water or gas to a home or business requires a cascade of invisible digital and physical processes, all functioning in tandem.

As manufacturers and utilities recognize their automated systems are vulnerable to hackers, the Idaho National Laboratory’s cyber escape rooms have become a go-to training resource for cybersecurity organizations around the world.