Los Alamos Plutonium Science Laboratory receives shipment, prepares 2026 operations

Los Alamos National Laboratory completed a major step in developing its Plutonium Science Laboratory when the facility received its first plutonium shipment on December 12, 2025. The arrival marks a pivotal milestone for the Laboratory and the region as the PluS Lab moves toward beginning operations in 2026 with capabilities aimed at underpinning national security missions including nonproliferation, nuclear energy, forensics and weapons related science.

Renovations to the PluS Lab were finished ahead of schedule and under budget through coordination between the Science and Technology Operations division and the Plutonium Modernization Mission Office. The upgraded facility now houses advanced analytical instruments, fume hoods and custom gloveboxes configured for small scale experiments. The laboratory will focus on molecular chemistry and materials science, molten salt science and aqueous systems to support research into new plutonium compounds, novel separations and improved analytical methods for plutonium bearing materials.

The PluS Lab is described as a unique resource within the Department of Energy complex, offering research in separations and recycling technologies, novel material discovery, electrochemistry and advanced property measurements. Its unclassified setting is intended to foster broad collaboration and workforce development, creating opportunities for local scientists, technicians and students to gain experience with sensitive material handling in a controlled progression. Combined with newly refurbished depleted uranium facilities, paid for in part by savings from the PluS Lab renovation, the campus will offer a streamlined path for training and qualifying staff on less severe operations before they progress to full plutonium processing work.

For Los Alamos County residents the development carries direct local implications. The project is likely to sustain and create technical jobs, reinforce the regional economy and support educational partnerships. It also places a premium on continued community engagement, environmental monitoring and regulatory oversight to ensure safety and transparency as the facility ramps up.

As the PluS Lab prepares for 2026 operations, LANL officials will move from infrastructure completion to staffing, training and research program launches that connect local expertise to national and international scientific priorities.