Matthew Powell

In a remote corner of Utah, a distant boom rolls across the desert.

A capsule only 32 inches wide has just separated from NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft and entered Earth's atmosphere.

After a round-trip journey of more than 2 billion miles, the capsule hits the desert floor and the recovery team moves in carefully.

Fast forward three months and the desert sand has given way to white surfaces, sealed containers, and the sound of people taking every precaution to protect what NASA spent seven years to bring home.

A scientist reaches for the sample container.

slowly because he knows it's impossible to replace.

The object in that room was a delivery four and a half billion years in the making.

And somewhere inside it, written in chemistry, may be the story of where everything began.

The next challenge, reading it.

NASA partnered with a team that could measure what almost no one else on Earth could, a sample from the Bennu asteroid.

Welcome to the Big Ideas Lab, your exploration inside Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Hear untold stories, meet boundary-pushing pioneers, and get unparalleled access inside the gates.

From national security challenges to computing revolutions, discover the innovations that are shaping tomorrow, today.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is hiring.

If you're passionate about tackling real-world challenges in science, engineering, business, or skilled trades, there's a place for you at the lab.

Right now, positions are open for a senior research scientist, a power grid engineer, and a space hardware postdoctoral researcher.

These are just a few of the more than 100 exciting roles available.

At Lawrence Livermore, you'll work on projects that matter, from national security to cutting-edge scientific advancements.

Join a team that values innovation, collaboration, and professional growth.

Explore opportunities at llnl.gov forward slash careers, where your next career move could make history.