To test new satellite and infrared telescope technology, scientists are using the sub-atomic particle accelerator at the UC Davis Crocker Nuclear Laboratory to simulate outer-space conditions. In keeping with the trend of making space-bound devices less cumbersome, manufacturers increasingly need to see how lighter, fiber-optic technology behaves in space. The UC Davis accelerator can fire sub-atomic particles at materials at variable speeds to simulate the effects of particle-producing events like solar flares or supernovae. Such events can cause false readings from central processing units and infrared-light sensors, and sometimes shut down entire digital systems. In one of the latest studies done at the lab, scientists from NASA AMES found that equipment designed for the 2000-2005 Infrared Telescope Mission held up better than expected under particle bombardment. Space-bound equipment research has been conducted at the lab since the early 1980s, but the particle accelerator has also helped manufacturers deal with differing conditions on Earth. For example, in 1985, IBM simulated the particle levels that occur in areas like Denver with thinner protective atmospheres, where particles can cause computer failure.