U.S. national security laboratories are countering the "brain drain" that once threatened to decimate their technical workforces. The turnaround is being attributed to a downturn in the U.S. economy and a wealth of stimulating science and technology projects associated with extending the useful life of nuclear weapons. All three primary nuclear labs―Lawrence Livermore, Los Alamos and Sandia―have been able to recruit and retain high-quality scientists, engineers and technicians during the last few years, and have rehired some of those who left for big paychecks and stock options during the dot-corn boom. That reversal is revitalizing one of the nation's largest pools of scientific expertise at a time when high-tech, multidis- ciplinary teams are being focused on countering terrorism.
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