Mission Area
Research and Exploratory Development
Inventing the Future for APL and Our Nation
The Research and Exploratory Development (RED) Mission Area is Johns Hopkins APL’s research engine. We conduct pioneering research targeting game-changing breakthroughs to benefit national security missions. While each program within the RED Mission Area has a specific research focus, we recognize that innovation often happens at the intersection of technical disciplines. Therefore, we bring together multidisciplinary teams of talented scientists and engineers to tackle difficult challenges and invent the future for APL and our sponsors.
Research Programs
Leadership
Jim Schatz Department Head, Research and Exploratory Development
Learn more about Jim Schatz
Andrew Merkle Mission Area Executive, Research and Exploratory Development
Learn more about Andrew C. MerkleHighlights
Climate Security
Climate change is reshaping nearly every aspect of life on our planet, with significant implications for national security. APL is bringing all of its core competencies to bear on this critical challenge area, exploring strategic opportunities to make the greatest impact on climate change.
Learn more about Climate Security
Eliminating Forever Chemicals
Multiple studies have linked PFAS exposure to harmful health effects in humans and animals, and without a natural way to break them down, the chemicals persist in soil and contaminate the environment — including water. APL scientists are developing several technologies to capture and destroy these “forever chemicals.”
Learn more about Eliminating Forever Chemicals
Revolutionizing Prosthetics
Revolutionizing Prosthetics is an ambitious multiyear program—funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)—to create a neurally controlled artificial limb that will restore near-natural motor and sensory capability to upper-extremity amputee patients.
Learn more about Revolutionizing Prosthetics
Recent News
News
Apr 25, 2024
Johns Hopkins APL Developing a Suite of Solutions to Address Coastal Challenges
As coastlines become more difficult to secure, APL is combining expertise in materials engineering, marine biology, plant biology, computer science and modeling to fortify coastal resilience.
News
Mar 21, 2024
Johns Hopkins APL Researchers Take Additive Manufacturing to New Heights
Engineers and researchers at APL recently won two awards from The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society for their study on 3D-printing a space instrument to detect and source air pollution. The project marks a significant milestone in the 3D-printing industry because it relies on an end product to help build a framework for material selection, characterization and development.
Press Release
Mar 19, 2024
Johns Hopkins APL Honored Twice on Fast Company’s 2024 ‘Most Innovative Companies’ List
Two breakthrough technologies from APL received Most Innovative Companies awards from Fast Company. APL was ranked No. 6 in the Rapid Response category for biothreat characterization technology and No. 10 in the Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) category for its use of AI to identify climate tipping points.
Press Release
Mar 8, 2024
Johns Hopkins APL Joins National AI Safety Consortium
APL has joined the U.S. AI Safety Institute Consortium, the first such group dedicated to promoting the development and deployment of artificial intelligence technologies with an emphasis on safety, reliability and ethical standards.
News
Jan 30, 2024
Using Artificial Intelligence, Better Pollution Predictions Are in the Air
As the global climate warms, wildfires are increasing in severity and frequency, and consequently releasing more smoke-borne contaminants into the air. To better predict how and where those pollutants are traveling, APL researchers are using artificial intelligence to simulate atmospheric models and improve the resolution and speed of air quality forecasts.