Latest news with #LosAlamos
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The making of a star: New Mexico's place in the space race
May 11—New Mexico hopes to become, if not already, a major player in the current space race. But are people and companies around the U.S. — and even the world — aware of that? The answer varies depending on who you talk to. For Casey Anglada DeRaad, it's a no-brainer: New Mexico is a space epicenter. "We've been building this infrastructure. We've been building the workforce. We've been building the companies," DeRaad said, looking around at an 8,000-square-foot facility called the Launchpad, a shared workspace that her nonprofit, NewSpace Nexus, offers to space-oriented companies. When Americans think of space, NASA's Space Center in Houston, or their launch site in Cape Canaveral, Florida, might more readily come to mind. But New Mexico has been steadily building a "space valley" that for many big projects is the epicenter of the space race. From obvious hardware like the Very Large Array, one of the world's largest radio telescopes outside of Socorro and Spaceport America, to cutting-edge technologies being developed at the Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories, and the Air Force Research Lab, New Mexico is home to a burgeoning space industry. DeRaad is urging New Mexico space companies to more quickly advance their technologies, so the U.S. — with the aid of New Mexico — can lead the space race it's in with major players China and Russia. Dubbed the new space race, the three countries are vying for more than just the chance to step foot on the moon — it's about setting the stage for policies and allocating resources now. DeRaad founded NewSpace Nexus in 2019 as a way to connect small- and medium-sized space companies with resources and financing needed to accelerate the nation's space industry. Now also acting as CEO of NewSpace, she's doing it all just a short drive away from the heart of Downtown Albuquerque. Matthew Fetrow, a spokesperson for Kirtland Air Force Base's Space Force Rapid Capabilities Office, said it's amazing to see nonprofits helping tell New Mexico's space story. "There's so much great stuff happening in New Mexico that maybe New Mexicans don't even know about, certainly that the rest of the country is not aware of," Fetrow said. He said getting the word out about the space industry in the Land of Enchantment comes down to branding. It's better now than it has been in years past, he acknowledged, but other markets — like California, Colorado and Alabama — have spent a lot of time, money and effort on distinguishing themselves as space leaders. People need to keep the space industry accessible in New Mexico, he said, and communicate that it's not limited to work done by the national laboratories or military bases. "There's a lot of folks involved in space, whether it's defense space, like I work on, or it's research or it's dark skies, whether it's artistry, whether it's storytelling," he said. Randy Trask, founder and executive director of Q Station, a collaborative nonprofit that brings together private and public sector technology experts, shared a similar sentiment. On a panel at a two-day innovation conference in Santa Fe last week, he pointed to Houston being known as the space city. "They made the strategy, and they're going after it. We have to do the same in New Mexico," Trask said. "We have to all work this strategy." Why New Mexico? DeRaad worked for NASA and the U.S. Air Force before founding NewSpace Nexus. From the national laboratories to the Space Force organizations to the Air Force Research Laboratory, she said New Mexico is poised to lead in the ongoing space race. "We already led in the first space race," she added. The state's federal bases were involved in early rocket and astronaut testing around the Cold War. New Mexico's unique mix of "geographic, institutional and operational assets" lends well to the space industry, according to Jessie Perkins, spokesperson for the Air Force Research Laboratory's Directed Energy and Space Vehicles Directorate. She said the state's clear atmospheric conditions allow for optical testing, using the White Sands Missile Range as an example. She added that programs like the Hyperspace Challenge, which is based out of Q Station, allow local firms to adopt new technology. Data science company RS21, with no previous space experience, adapted its health care algorithms into a diagnostic spacecraft tool, Perkins said. But as other countries seek to gain ground in the space race, DeRaad thinks the U.S. needs to advance even faster. Fetrow said the U.S. is still ahead of other countries, but places like China and Russia are closing in. "I think there's a sense that we need to make sure the U.S. is continuing to invest and bring our A game to maintain where we want to be in space," he said. That's where DeRaad said her organization comes in. NewSpace's Launchpad has two distinct offerings for companies, called "ignite and unite," said Arial DeHerrera, vice president of programming for NewSpace. On one side of the facility, chairs are gathered around tables and in front of monitors for the "unite" side of things, a networking-type space, DeHerrera said. Equipment litters the other side of the space, like a thermal vacuum and 3D printers. DeHerrera said that's the "ignite" space, "which is the idea of connection to resources, helping companies accelerate their pace." "We have become this nexus," she said, adding that 38 companies are working out of the Launchpad. One such company is Solstar Space. CEO and Founder Brian Barnett was working at the Launchpad on Wednesday afternoon, tinkering with a deep-space communicator that provides internet connections on spacecrafts. "This is a great facility for us," Barnett said. He held up a small black box, which he said is the commercial product following three launches so far to space. He added that SpaceX will fly with the product early next year. NewSpace also recently secured financing from the New Mexico Finance Authority for a new facility, the Space Center. DeRaad said the center will offer resources like equipment, spaces companies can lease and a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility — a government-accredited facility where people can discuss and work on highly classified information. All this work, from the individual projects to shared facility spaces, contributes to the effort to ensure New Mexico's place as a leader in global space advancements, DeRaad said. "We have to move, and New Mexico, with all that we have here, if we move, we're going to be the star," she said. Megan Gleason is an assistant business editor for the Albuquerque Journal. She also covers energy, utilities and government. You can reach her at mgleason@
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
4 NM high schools rank top 25 nationally in esports
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – As high school esports teams in New Mexico gear up for the state tournament, four schools across the state rank among the nation's best. USA Today and PlayVS, NMAA's official esports provider, published a list of the top 25 high school teams in the country. Los Alamos (3), La Cueva (5), West Las Vegas (13) and Bosque (22) all made the list. Advertisement The rankings were determined by the PlayVS database. Schools were analyze on their average match-win percentage of their top preforming teams for each separate title game. In total, the NMAA offers 10 different title games for teams to play — League of Legends, Rocket League, Splatoon 3, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Smash Bros, Hearthstone, NBA 2k 24, Madden NFL 24, Rocket League and Street Fighter 6. In order to receive a ranking, a school must participate in at least five separate titles. The NMAA does not currently offer Rocket League to class 5A. Los Alamos – 7 total esports leagues, 83.93% match-win, 74.9% game-win La Cueva – 9 total esports leagues, 82.56% match-win, 69.58 game-win Advertisement West Las Vegas – 8 total esports leagues, 79.69% match-win, 73.15% game-win Bosque – 7 total esports leagues, 76.79% match-win, 77.3% game-win The opening rounds of the 2025 New Mexico state tournament are currently underway. Championship weekend will take place April 10-12 at the Berna Facio Complex in Albuquerque. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Military officials announce ambitious project to harness unlimited energy source hidden within Earth: 'We can build the next generation'
The U.S. military is aiming to develop new geothermal energy solutions for government applications in a project that has just been preapproved, according to Interesting Engineering. Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace recently announced the preapproval of this initiative, titled Project GeoForce. The collaborating organizations involved in this project are Los Alamos National Laboratory, Anthem Energy Partners, New Era Advisors, Homestead Resources, Texas A&M University, and Power Planet. Geothermal energy is the heat that comes from the Earth's core and can be used to generate electricity or provide direct heating. It's great for the environment because it produces low planet-warming pollution and relies on a renewable source of energy. However, geothermal energy is underutilized in the United States. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, it accounts for less than 1% of the country's energy production. Organizations nationwide have been launching initiatives to harness geothermal energy, and Project GeoForce is the latest in this trend. Los Alamos National Laboratory, which is leading this project, has a history of geothermal research dating back to the 1970s with the Fenton Hill Observatory. The work done by Los Alamos in the 1970s and 1980s paved the way for advancements in geothermal technologies we use today. The lead for Project GeoForce at Los Alamos, Luke Frash, explained that this initiative will be great for energy sustainability, telling Interesting Engineering, "This opportunity allows us to help a wider audience secure access to affordable energy." Kirk Phillips, the director of the Air Force Office of Energy Assurance, noted the importance of working with innovative American companies to develop geothermal energy technologies rather than being funded by the government."Using private capital instead of taxpayer dollars, we can build the next generation of energy solutions," he said, per Interesting Engineering. Should we be digging miles beneath Earth's surface? No way Definitely Depends what it's for Depends where we do it Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
OpenAI to partner with US National Laboratories to boost national security
OpenAI announced Thursday it is partnering with the Los Alamos National Laboratory to install its newest artificial intelligence models onto the lab's supercomputer for national security research. 'We care a lot about AI and science, we've talked about this for a very long time. This is what we think will be on the most important impacts of AI long term. If we can use AI to help drive scientific progress, then I think it can drive huge forward progress for the country,' OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in the announcement. The partnership will allow U.S. National Laboratories to 'supercharge their scientific research' with OpenAI's latest reasoning models, OpenAI wrote in a statement to The Hill. OpenAI's latest o-series models will be installed onto the Lab's Venado supercomputer, which is powered by Nvidia superchips. The machine will be moved to a secure and classified network where researchers from Los Alamos, Lawrence Livermore and Sandia National Labs will be able to utilize it, according to the Los Alamos National Laboratory. 'As threats to the nation become more complex and more pressing, we need new approaches and advanced technologies to preserve America's security,' said Thom Mason, the laboratory director, in a statement. 'Artificial intelligence models from OpenAI will allow us to do this more successfully, while also advancing our scientific missions to solve some of the nation's most important challenges,' he added. The models are expected to help lab staff identify ways to treat and prevent disease, detect natural and human-made cyber and biology threats, along with the U.S.'s natural resources. The partnership will also benefit the Laboratories' work in nuclear security, OpenAI said. OpenAI and Los Alamos also collaborated last summer to help assess the risks of bioweapon creation. It comes just days after OpenAI launched a new version of its popular ChatGPT model specifically tailored to government agencies and workers. Under ChatGPT Gov, federal agencies will have access to OpenAI's top models even when dealing with sensitive information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
30-01-2025
- Science
- The Hill
OpenAI to partner with US National Laboratories to boost national security
OpenAI announced Thursday it is partnering with the Los Alamos National Laboratory to install its newest artificial intelligence models onto the lab's supercomputer for national security research. 'We care a lot about AI and science, we've talked about this for a very long time. This is what we think will be on the most important impacts of AI long term. If we can use AI to help drive scientific progress, then I think it can drive huge forward progress for the country,' OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said during the announcement Thursday. The partnership will allow U.S. National Laboratories to 'supercharge their scientific research' with OpenAI's latest reasoning models, OpenAI wrote in a statement to The Hill. OpenAI's latest o-series models will be installed onto the Lab's Venado supercomputer, which is powered by Nvidia superchips. The machine will be moved to a secure and classified network where researchers from Los Alamos, Lawrence Livermore and Sandia National Labs will be able to utilize it, according to the Los Alamos National Laboratory. 'As threats to the nation become more complex and more pressing, we need new approaches and advanced technologies to preserve America's security,' Thom Mason, the Laboratory director, said in a statement. 'Artificial intelligence models from OpenAI will allow us to do this more successfully, while also advancing our scientific missions to solve some of the nation's most important challenges,' he added. The models are expected to help lab staff identify ways to treat and prevent disease, detect natural and man-made cyber and biology threats, along with the U.S.'s natural resources. The partnership will also benefit the Laboratories' work in nuclear security, OpenAI said. OpenAI and Los Alamos also collaborated last summer to help assess the risks of bioweapon creation. It comes just days after OpenAI launched a new version of its popular ChatGPT model specifically tailored to government agencies and workers. Under ChatGPT Gov, federal agencies will have access to OpenAI's top models even when dealing with sensitive information.
