national ignition facility

Many of the high-tech interiors of the Enterprise in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek sequel Star Trek Into Darkness were filmed at the National Ignition Facility, part of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory near San Francisco.

This was the first time a movie had been allowed to shoot at the NIF. The research facility is home to the world's largest and most energetic laser system, which they are using to attempt nuclear fusion. Like the Enterprise, it's also fueled by the hydrogen isotope deuterium. Way cooler than the Anheuser-Busch brewery used for the first movie.