Los Alamos National Laboratory, the iconic research facility in New Mexico, is at the forefront of the United States' nuclear weapons modernization effort. With over 3,300 new recruits, the lab's workforce has grown, and its population nearly doubles during the workweek. While the lab focuses on maintaining the nuclear stockpile, it also engages in various national security work. The production of plutonium cores has drawn attention, with some questioning the necessity and costs.