U.S. Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Develops New Vacuum Attachment for Nuclear Fallout Collection

Nuclear nonproliferation researchers at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) have invented a specialized attachment compatible with commercial handheld vacuum cleaners, designed to safely and efficiently collect radioactive fallout generated after a nuclear explosion. The intense heat from a nuclear blast lifts ground debris into the atmosphere, where it melts and cools into radioactive glass beads less than 1 millimeter in diameter that fall back to the ground. In the past, nuclear experts undergoing training could only collect samples using brooms, dustpans, and ordinary household battery-powered vacuum cleaners, making manual containment difficult and posing extremely high radiation exposure risks. The INL team began producing prototypes with a thermoplastic 3D printer in 2017, and after multiple rounds of iteration, has now commissioned a company in American Falls, Idaho, to mass-produce the attachment using industrial-grade 3D printing, significantly improving durability.

2026-07-31

UK to Invest £8.4 Billion in Dreadnought-Class Nuclear Submarine Program

The UK Prime Minister's Office stated that the UK will announce an investment of £8.4 billion (over $11 billion) for the construction of four Dreadnought-class nuclear submarines, thereby launching the fourth phase of this submarine program. According to the relevant press release, this investment will be used to strengthen the UK's nuclear capability building and advance the continued implementation of the Dreadnought-class submarine project. Under the framework of the new phase, the first of the four nuclear submarines is expected to complete sea trials in the early 2030s and enter service with the Royal Navy. The UK Ministry of Defence previously released a long-term defense budget for the next four years at the end of June, planning to invest nearly £300 billion (approximately $400 billion) in various areas of the military-industrial complex. Data shows that £4.7 billion of this funding has yet to be secured, with specific funding sources to be determined in the autumn budget.

2026-07-31

U.S. Confirms Order for Nine Virginia-Class Block VI Nuclear Submarines

The U.S. Department of Defense has confirmed that it has signed a contract modification agreement with General Dynamics Electric Boat to order nine Virginia-class Block VI multi-purpose nuclear-powered submarines. The statement said the contract is an incentive-based modification, and the submarines will be used by the U.S. Navy. Despite delays in General Dynamics' previous orders, both parties have moved forward with this new contract. On July 15, U.S. President Donald Trump had asked the company's management to accelerate the construction progress of U.S. Navy submarines. In addition to the Virginia-class submarines, the U.S. Department of Defense has also ordered five Columbia-class Type II ballistic missile nuclear submarines from Newport News Shipbuilding. Under the contract arrangement, related work is expected to be completed before July 2038...

2026-07-31

"Targeted" Regulation of Facilities Handling Radiation: Chongren Pioneers an Innovative "Red-Yellow-Green" Tiered Control Mechanism

Chongren County, Jiangxi Province, has innovated its approach to radiation safety regulation by focusing on four key dimensions: system development, risk management and control, monitoring and early warning, and public outreach. These efforts have compreh

2026-07-27

Amentum Awarded $85 Million Contract to Provide Design Engineering Support for U.S. Navy Nuclear Infrastructure

On July 23, Amentum announced it had secured a three-year, $85 million contract to provide design and modernization support for infrastructure associated with the U.S. Navy’s nuclear propulsion program.Under the contract, Amentum will assist in

2026-07-27

The U.S. Department of Energy conditionally allocates HALEU fuel to NASA and Radiant.

On July 23, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a conditional commitment to provide High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) to NASA and Radiant Industries to meet near-term fuel needs. This marks the third round of HALEU allocations; the materia

2026-07-27

China Attends IAEA Meeting on the Implementation of the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources

From July 6 to July 10, 2026, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) convened the seventh meeting on the implementation of the *Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources* (hereinafter referred to as the "Code") and

2026-07-27