Nuke Lab Equipment on the Five-Finger-Discount Plan
Computers and other equipment has habit of going missing from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
By JACKSON WEST
Updated 2:15 PM PST, Thu, Jul 2, 2009
Of all the places where the security of equipment and data might seem of paramount importance, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California would top the list.
It is, after all, one of the world's premiere nuclear research facility, includes scientific oversight of the United States' stockpile of nuclear weapons.
Yet a report from the Department of Energy's Inspector General cites multiple cases of laptop thefts and equipment that went missing.
Apparently, engineers made the mistake of leaving their laptops visible in their cars shortly before those laptops went missing.
And when Bechtel took over management of the lab and started making layoffs left and right, disgruntled former employees decided not to bother telling managers where they might find valuable equipment.
Let's all hope the laptops went to fuel a meth addict's habit, and not the nuclear weapons research of anywhere "Death to America" is a common refrain.
Photo by Doc Searls.
Jackson West wonders how much nuclear secrets might sell for on Craigslist.
Copyright NBC Local Media
First Published: Jul 2, 2009 11:51 AM PST
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