In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Dan Marrujo takes listeners deep inside one of the most secure and mysterious facilities in the United States — a Department of Energy lab where scientists are literally recreating the power of the sun. Joined by Larry Phair, veteran staff scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the conversation opens the blast doors to a world where cosmic rays, heavy ions, and cutting-edge nuclear science collide. From testing the endurance of satellites bound for orbit to exploring the edges of the periodic table, this episode blends wonder, engineering, and humanity’s relentless quest for discovery.
At its core, this episode explores a bigger question: how does humanity build and test the technology that keeps our modern world — and our space exploration — alive? Larry explains how the cyclotron, once a relic of mid-20th century nuclear research, has evolved into a Swiss-Army knife for modern science. The discussion sheds light on how his team simulates radiation from space, creates beams from nearly every element in the periodic table, and pushes forward the search for entirely new elements — all from inside a bunker that most people will never see.
Ultimately, the solution is a story of precision and persistence: by recreating the universe’s harshest environments inside controlled walls, scientists like Larry are helping humanity build technology strong enough to survive beyond Earth.