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Japan's Plutonium Stockpile Expected to Remain at 44.4 Tons by End of 2025

Japan's Cabinet Office reported to the Japan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) on August 5 that Japan's plutonium stockpile is expected to be 44.4 tons by the end of 2025, unchanged from the end of the previous year. By source, domestically sourced plutonium stockpile is expected to be 9.9 tons, while overseas-sourced plutonium stockpile is 34.5 tons. The overseas-sourced plutonium mainly comes from separated plutonium formed after Japan entrusted its spent fuel reprocessing operations to the United Kingdom and France. The report shows that in 2024, Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO) processed 1.3 tons of plutonium stored in France into mixed uranium-plutonium oxide fuel, namely MOX fuel, resulting in a decrease in overseas-sourced plutonium stockpile. Subsequently, this batch of MOX fuel was shipped to the Takahama Nuclear Power...

2026-08-06

CNNC & CIR Co-sponsors Regional Nuclear Medicine Department Development Training Program (Ganzhou Session) and Ganzhou Cancer Hospital High-Quality Nuclear Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment Project Launched Simultaneously

Recently, the Regional Nuclear Medicine Department Development Training Program (Ganzhou Session) and the Ganzhou Cancer Hospital High-Quality Nuclear Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment Project were launched simultaneously at Ganzhou Cancer Hospital. An expert panel from the Nuclear Medicine Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, along with representatives from CNNC & CIR and Atom High-Tech, visited the hospital for research and exchange. More than 200 medical staff from medical institutions at various levels across Jiangxi Province attended the event. The launch ceremony was moderated by Yang Chuansheng, Director of the Nuclear Medicine Department at Ganzhou Cancer Hospital. Fu Wei, Deputy Director of the Ganzhou Municipal Health Commission; Wang Jing, Chair of the Nuclear Medicine Branch of the Chinese Medical Association; and Huang Xingwei, Party Secretary of Ganzhou Cancer Hospital, attended and delivered speeches. Wang Jing stated that nuclear medicine plays a vital supporting role in the precise diagnosis and treatment of major diseases such as cancer, and that promoting the standardized development of regional nuclear medicine at the city and county levels is conducive to channeling high-quality medical resources to the grassroots and enhancing primary healthcare service capabilities.

2026-08-06

US Oak Ridge National Laboratory Advances New Process to Boost Californium-252 Production

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), under the US Department of Energy, is advancing a new Californium-252 (Cf-252) separation process to address growing market demand. The laboratory stated that this process, developed over nearly a decade of research, is expected to shorten the Cf-252 production cycle by about one week, significantly improving processing efficiency without altering product quality. Californium-252 is a neutron-emitting radioisotope used in nuclear reactor startup, fuel testing for new reactors, as well as in oil well logging, coal analysis, port security, fuel rod scanners, and instrument calibration. ORNL noted that it is the only producer of Cf-252 in the Western world...

2026-08-05

Students from 23 countries travel to the North Pole aboard the nuclear-powered icebreaker "50 Years of Victory"

The seventh "Knowledge Icebreaker" science and education expedition departed from Murmansk toward the North Pole, organized by Rosatom to coincide with the Year of National Unity in Russia. At the solemn departure ceremony, Captain Ruslan Sasov of the nuclear-powered icebreaker "50 Years of Victory" gave the order to set sail, with the vessel following the route Murmansk—North Pole—Franz Josef Land—Murmansk. The expedition team includes primary and secondary school students and vocational school students from eight federal districts of Russia, as well as their peers from 22 countries around the world. Those selected include winners of Russian and international open competitions, participants in the "Rosatom Youth"...

2026-08-05

ASP Isotopes PET Lab Revenue Grows Over 50% in First Half of Year, Isotope Enrichment Facilities Advance Toward Commercial Production

ASP Isotopes Inc. recently released a letter to shareholders outlining operational progress across its business segments ahead of the company's second-quarter 2026 financial results announcement. The company stated that its PET lab segment achieved organic revenue growth of more than 50% in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. Based on current expectations, the segment's full-year 2026 revenue is projected to be approximately $14 million, up from $6 million in 2025. PET-related operations are typically closely associated with radiopharmaceutical preparation, molecular imaging, and nuclear medicine diagnostic applications. On the isotope front, ASP Isotopes stated that its silicon-28 and ytterbium-176 enrichment facilities have entered the final stage before commercial production, with first deliveries expected in the second half of 2026...

2026-08-05

Kalinin NPP Reaches 850 Billion kWh of Cumulative Power Generation

On August 4, Russia's Kalinin NPP reported that since the commissioning of its first unit, the plant has generated a cumulative total of 850 billion kWh of low-carbon electricity. This output is equivalent to approximately 3.5 years of electricity demand in Russia's Central Federal District. Kalinin NPP is part of the power division of Rosatom. Viktor Ignatov, the plant's director, stated that the cumulative generation of 850 billion kWh is the result of the long-term dedication and professional commitment of several generations of nuclear workers, built upon the expertise of the operating team, reliable unit performance, and the consistent prioritization of safety...

2026-08-05

Ontario Power Generation (OPG) Advances New Nuclear Power Planning at Nanticoke Site, Allocates CAD 500,000 for Local Consultation

Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is planning new energy facilities at the site of the former coal-fired plant in Nanticoke, allocating CAD 500,000 for communication and planning with Haldimand County. The 900-acre site is being evaluated for future power generation possibilities, including small modular reactors (SMRs) or a standard nuclear power plant. This move aligns with Ontario's generational energy plan, aimed at meeting electricity demand projected to grow by 90% by 2050. The Nanticoke Generating Station was once the largest coal-fired power plant in North America, operating from 1972 to 2013 and safely decommissioned in 2019. OPG President and CEO Nicolle Butcher stated that the company understands the...

2026-08-04

USDA Plans $25 Million Investment in Sterile Fly Release Facility in Arizona

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will invest $25 million to build a new sterile fly release facility in Arizona, strengthening efforts to control New World screwworm and reduce the risk of it invading American livestock herds. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the plan during a visit to the Douglas Port of Entry in Arizona. According to the department, releasing sterile flies is a key method for suppressing and ultimately eradicating New World screwworm populations. The proposed Arizona facility will enhance USDA's sterile fly release capacity and complement existing facilities and operations in Texas, Mexico, and Panama, further strengthening emergency response capabilities along the U.S. southwest border. The U.S...

2026-08-04

China's installed nuclear power capacity reaches 135 million kW

According to the National Energy Administration: As of now, there are a total of 120 nuclear power units in operation and approved for construction in mainland China, with an installed capacity of 135 million kW, maintaining the world's largest overall scale. Among them, 62 units are in operation with an installed capacity of 66.14 million kW, ranking second in the world and accounting for 1.6% of the country's total installed power capacity; 58 units are approved for construction with an installed capacity of 69.51 million kW, ranking first in the world. In recent years, the share of nuclear power generation in China's national energy structure has remained stable at around 5%. In 2025, the national nuclear power generation reached 485.2 billion kWh, accounting for 4.6% of total electricity generation. The "15th Five-Year Plan Carbon Peak Action Plan" specifies that by 2030, the installed capacity of nuclear power in operation should reach approximately 110 million kW. To address more...

2026-08-04

Unit 2 of Romania's Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant can only operate for about 5 more days due to the continuously declining water level of the Danube River

Unit 2 of Romania's Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant is expected to operate for only about five days due to the declining water level of the Danube River. Romeo Urjan, the plant's director, stated that if the Danube's water level continues to drop at a rate of 2 to 3 centimeters per day, Unit 2 will soon cease operation. Unit 1 has already been shut down due to insufficient water flow. Urjan emphasized that despite this, Unit 2 continues to operate within normal parameters, and nuclear safety is not under any threat. To alleviate the situation, relevant authorities are preparing to deploy four barges to divert more water to the plant, hoping to raise the water level by 7 to 8 centimeters, thereby extending the plant's operating time. Related...

2026-08-04

Ratio Therapeutics Completes $70 Million Series C Financing to Advance Clinical Development of Ac-225 Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals

Ratio Therapeutics, Inc., a U.S. clinical-stage pharmaceutical company, recently announced the completion of a $70 million Series C financing round. The company stated that following this round, its cumulative total financing has exceeded $240 million. According to the announcement, this round saw participation from existing investors Duquesne Family Office and Bristol Myers Squibb, while also bringing in new investors such as Catalio Capital Management, Eli Lilly and Company, and Wasatch Group. Ratio Therapeutics stated that the proceeds will be used to advance the clinical development of its targeted radiotherapeutic product pipeline and expand manufacturing infrastructure. The company plans to continue advancing the ATLAS study, which is evaluating its lead radiotherapeutic agent [Ac-2...

2026-08-03

Global nuclear power generation hits record high in 2025, with net growth mainly driven by China

According to the latest release of the Statistical Review of World Energy, global nuclear power generation reached 2,845 TWh in 2025, an increase of approximately 30 TWh from 2024, up 1.3% year-on-year, setting a new record. Among this, China's nuclear power generation increased by more than 34 TWh, becoming the primary source of net global nuclear growth. This record needs to be viewed within a longer timeframe. The previous peak in global nuclear power generation occurred in 2006, when it reached 2,803 TWh. In other words, although 2025 global nuclear power generation has surpassed the previous peak, the cumulative increase over 19 years is only about 1.5%, which does not indicate rapid expansion on a global scale. Over the past decade, global nuclear power generation has risen from 2015...

2026-08-03

First Experimental Result Published from the High-Intensity Heavy-Ion Accelerator Facility

Recently, the research team from the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, together with collaborators, successfully produced and identified the rare isotope hafnium-153 using the High-Intensity Heavy-Ion Accelerator Facility (HIAF). This is the first physics result obtained during the commissioning of HIAF, demonstrating that China's new-generation high-intensity heavy-ion research facility is capable of exploring unknown nuclides and expanding the nuclear chart. It marks the official commencement of HIAF's scientific discovery journey. The result was published as a short communication in *Science Bulletin*. Figure: Position of hafnium-153 on the nuclear chart; the blue line indicates the boundary of known nuclides. Image | Hu Houyu, Li Hongfu. Atomic nuclei are composed of protons and neutrons, and different combinations of proton and neutron numbers form the diverse world of nuclides. Exploring unknown nuclides and investigating the boundaries of nuclear existence are important frontiers in nuclear physics. Hafnium-153 is located in the neutron-deficient heavy-mass region and is an important subject for studying the evolution of nuclear structure and the limits of nuclear stability. It had not been reported prior to this experiment. The discovery and precise measurement of this nuclide will help test nuclear theory models and deepen our understanding of nuclear structure regularities.

2026-08-03

After 25 Years, the Muon Wobble Puzzle Sees Key New Progress in Physics

For 25 years, precise measurements of how muons wobble in a magnetic field have been a major puzzle in particle physics. Early experiments showed a discrepancy between the measured value of the muon's g-factor and theoretical predictions, a difference once seen as a possible hint of unknown particles. Recent new theoretical calculations and experimental analyses have brought a new twist to this puzzle. The muon is a heavier cousin of the electron that precesses like a tiny magnet in a magnetic field. Its extra wobble is quantified by the muon g-2 coefficient. According to quantum theory, known particles and interactions influence this coefficient through fleeting quantum fluctuations, making muon g-2 a key test of the Standard Model...

2026-08-03

Four new units at India's Kudankulam nuclear power plant delayed by three years, cost overrun of 55% to $14.4 billion

The construction cost of four new units at the Kudankulam nuclear power plant being built by Russia's Rosatom in India has increased by 55% since 2024 due to delays. Each unit has a capacity of 1 gigawatt, and the updated total construction cost has reached 1.38 trillion Indian rupees (approximately $14.4 billion). Among them, the construction cost of Units 3 and 4 has increased by 73%, while the cost of Units 5 and 6 has risen by 40%. Russia had previously provided India with $4.2 billion in state credit for the construction of Units 3 and 4. Indian officials stated that the reasons for the delays include the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, difficulties in the supply of specific materials and equipment, and problems faced by contractors. Despite...

2026-08-02