One professor at Washington State University brings big money to the Institue for Shock Physics to destroy things. They subject materials to big shocks in order to understand at the molecular level, what happens when a bomb explodes? What happens at high temperatures and high pressures?
Journalists could choose this laboratory on their Spokane field trip as part of the annual NASW and CASW conference.
Here is Sally James, Seattle freelancer, showing some shock after the tour.