# National Security Sciences 

## Our science secures the nation

From climate change and cyber attacks to nuclear proliferation and critical infrastructure vulnerabilities, the threats to America’s national security continue to evolve and emerge at a rapid pace. 

We face these challenges head on, capitalizing on ORNL's unique scientific assets to deliver real-world solutions that protect the people, infrastructure, and economy of the United States.

### Our Missions

The National Security Sciences Directorate provides focused expertise and integrates ORNL's science capabilities to deliver science-based solutions that:
- Reduce nuclear risk  and enable peaceful uses 
- Secure critical assets  from multi-faceted threats
- Advance human security  in communities around the world
- Innovate defense manufacturing  to ensure US advantage 
- Expand classified HPC  for a range of R&D needs
- Solve emerging challenges  

### Our People

We are a team of more than 500 scientists, engineers, and professionals who believe the national security missions we serve and the science-based solutions we provide will bolster our nation's capabilities, strengthen our allies and partners, and ensure a prosperous global future. 

Materials scientists, software engineers, cyber experts, data scientists, remote sensing specialists, geographers, lawyers, mathematicians -- it takes broad, multidisciplinary skillsets to deliver our vital missions.

Together with diverse teams from across ORNL and our partners, we proudly uphold the laboratory's 80-year legacy of scientific support to national security needs. 

Meet our incredible people

## Our Science

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Our uranium experts advance scientific understanding of the nuclear fuel cycle, develop and implement collection and detection technologies, and strengthen international safeguards, security, and nonproliferation regimes.

Nuclear Nonproliferation

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We're advancing the science of cyber and cyber-physical security — including Artificial Intelligence, vulnerability science, identity science, and human-machine interfaces — to characterize our nation's adversaries and enable resilient operation of critical infrastructure.

Cyber Resilience and Intelligence

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At the intersection of geographical knowledge, AI, and high-performance computing, our experts are transforming how we observe, analyze, and visualize the built environment and human dynamics around the world.

Human Security

## Our Story

####                 Our Science: Helping secure the nation            

ORNL's National Security Sciences Directorate is rapidly advancing the science of resilience, security, and analytics to solve critical challenges in nuclear security, cybersecurity, and human security.

####                 Our People: Serving with Passion            

It's a passion. A calling to serve an important mission. Hear why our researchers come to work every day to deliver the science that secures the nation.

####                 Our People: Tackling Big Challenges            

Our people are tackling the biggest challenges in national security, often working behind the scenes.

NSSD Fact Sheet
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## Current Research

## News

Security—Sea of energy change

## Publication

  Comparative chemical and structural analyses of two uranium dioxide fuel pellets...

## News

Machine speak: Left to their own devices, computers can figure it out

## Publication

  Reimagining the potential of Earth observations for ecosystem service assessments...

## Current Research

## News

Powered by math, generative AI requires new knowledge for safe use

## News

Researchers publish first-of-its-kind database for uranium minerals 

## News

Assaf Anyamba: Sensing diseases from space

## News

ORNL wins top awards at DOE GIS Day Competition