Pushing the Boundaries of Science
In 1931, physicist Ernest Lawrence founded what is now Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. His cyclotron—the most powerful particle accelerator in the world at the time, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics—led to discoveries of plutonium, neptunium, and many other elements and isotopes. Lawrence never suspected that his discoveries would later lead to treatments for cancer. Berkeley Lab is well known for its far-reaching research and leading scientists—engineers, mathematicians, biologists, geophysicists, chemists, and other experts—including thirteen Nobel Prizes and fifteen National Medals of Science. Interdisciplinary teams collaboratively explore fundamental questions about the universe, earth’s ecosystems, and human well being, seeking solutions to some of the most urgent challenges to a secure future.