1965: Pacific Northwest Laboratory joins Battelle and adds "National" to its name
On January 4, 1965, the Atomic Energy Commission officially transferred operations of the Hanford Laboratories to Battelle Memorial Institute, a not-for-profit research and development organization. Originally established in the 1940s to support the Manhattan Project in southeastern Washington State, the facility was renamed Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) under Battelle’s management and was designated a national laboratory in the mid-1980s. Though a national laboratory since its inception in 1965, PNL became Pacific Northwest National Laboratory when DOE added “national” to the name in 1995.
While Hanford initially focused on plutonium production during the nuclear arms race with the Soviet Union, PNNL expanded its mission to include advancements in environmental and energy sciences, chemistry, biology, and national security. Over the past six decades, PNNL has made significant contributions to the nation, including developing technologies to secure and strengthen the electric grid and detecting nuclear weapons proliferation.
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1968: Creating a Living Bond Between Bones and Prosthetics
In 1968, researchers began early exploration of developing a porous substance called Void Metal Composite (VMC) that could create a living union between bone and prosthetics, anchoring artificial teeth or femoral head prosthesis. VMC also could be surgically implanted and used as a splint for badly broken bones. By 1971, R&D Magazine recognized the invention as one of the 100 most technologically significant products and advancements for the year.
1973: Only DOE Marine Research Lab Begins Operation
On May 11, 1973, the Marine Research Laboratory, located at the mouth of Sequim Bay, in Washington, was officially dedicated with 80 invited guests in attendance. Known today as PNNL-Sequim, the facility was established to expand environmental research capabilities. In addition to on-site studies, early researchers aimed to conduct field investigations using mobile aquatic laboratories. Today, the campus is home to the only marine research facilities within the Department of Energy complex. Strategically situated, the campus plays a key role in marine-based research focused on helping the nation achieve sustainable energy, a sustaining environment, and coastal security.
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1974: Revolutionizing the Entertainment Industry
It was his love for classical music that inspired inventor Jim Russell to develop optical digital recording in 1974 while working at PNNL. His discovery stores information as a track of dots, each about one micron in diameter. The patent was licensed to private industry and became a crucial design element in the creation of compact discs and players, which went on to transform the global entertainment industry. So, the next time you slip a CD into a player to enjoy some tunes or watch a movie—the old fashion way—you can thank PNNL for making it possible.
1980: Converting Sewage Sludge to Synthetic Asphalt
From poop to synthetic asphalt. While turning sewage sludge into asphalt may not be quite like spinning thread into gold, in the 1980s, this invention was a potential “gold mine” for Hawaiians. In collaboration with the City and County of Honolulu, and with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Hawaii State government, PNNL researchers developed a method that not only provided lower-cost paving material but also offered an environmentally safe way of disposing sewage sludge. The resulting synthetic oil product could even be used as fuel oil!
1982: A Paint that Helps to Reduce Theft
A paint that is virtually impossible to remove has been developed by PNNL. The paint was developed to help reduce theft by permanently marking small tools, office and heavy equipment, art, and more. Much of the loss can be attributed to the inability of firms to trace and identify their property. In the 1980s alone, the reported theft of office equipment amounted to almost $1 billion.
Read the 1982 press release discussing the paint's development
1997 – Visualization Software Extracts Useful Information from Massive Data
Researchers at PNNL developed an award-winning visualization software that extracts useful information from massive amounts of data using algorithms that identify word similarities and themes in text for the U.S. intelligence community. The tool can benefit a variety of applications, including law enforcement, medical data analysis, environmental security, and current events monitoring.
2002: Deploying Radiation Portal Detection Systems at Ports of Entry
Following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the United States, PNNL was selected to lead a Department of Homeland Security program that integrated and began deploying radiation detection systems at ports of entry around the country that allow U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers to scan for and detect the presence of illicit nuclear and radiological materials.
Read Lab Director Steve Ashby's column on PNNL's contributions to radiation detection science