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U.S. Team Traces Source of Anomalous Gamma Rays from Zinc-70, Nuclear Magnetic Transitions May Improve Models of Heavy Element Formation

An international research team led by scientists from the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University has recently identified the source of the large number of low-energy gamma rays emitted by zinc-70 nuclei. The study suggests that magnetic transitions occurring within the nucleus are the key reason for this anomalous signal enhancement. The findings were published in the journal Nature under the title "Magnetic character of the low-energy enhancement in 70Zn." Gamma rays are electromagnetic radiation released when excited atomic nuclei transition to lower, more stable energy levels. For a long time, scientists have observed an anomalous increase in the number of low-energy gamma rays in some atomic nuclei, known as the low-energy enhancement (LEE), but its physical mechanism had remained unclear...

2026-08-02

NEA Advances SFCOMPO Database Upgrade to Support Spent Nuclear Fuel Nuclide Inventory and Decay Heat Validation

The Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) held the ninth annual meeting of the Technical Review Group (TRG) for the International Spent Nuclear Fuel Analysis Data Database (SFCOMPO) on July 9 in Boulogne-Billancourt, France. Thirty-three experts from research institutions, regulatory bodies, waste management organizations, and industry across 12 countries attended the meeting. The experimental and evaluated data contained in SFCOMPO are primarily used to validate computational tools related to nuclear safety and the nuclear fuel cycle, with applications including reactor physics, criticality safety, radiation shielding, and radioactive waste management. Accurate characterization of spent nuclear fuel is an essential foundation for supporting decisions on storage, transportation, reprocessing, and disposal, and is also relevant to...

2026-08-01

Romania Declares National State of Emergency for August Amid Decline in Power Generation

Romania's Acting Prime Minister and Energy Minister Ilie Bolojan announced on July 31 after a cabinet meeting that Romania would enter a national state of emergency in August due to a decline in power generation caused by drought. Bolojan stated that the drought has reduced water levels in rivers, with a notable decrease in the flow of the Danube River. The flow has dropped from over 4,000 cubic meters per second to 1,600 cubic meters per second. He said that as a result, the water level in the intake basin of the Cernavodă NPP has fallen, and Unit 1 of the plant had to be shut down recently. He also noted that Unit 2 of the Cernavodă NPP faces a high risk of shutdown. Should Unit 2 go offline, Romania's total...

2026-08-01

South Korea Plans to Establish Radioisotope Commercialization Company, Targeting Trial Production in 2028

According to sources inside and outside the South Korean government on July 31, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and relevant departments including the Ministry of Economy and Finance plan to discuss the establishment of a special purpose company (SPC) for radioisotope commercialization. The company is proposed to be set up as a subsidiary of KHNP, with domestic private enterprises, including pharmaceutical companies, expected to participate in investment. Under the current plan, the South Korean government will determine the specific investment structure and business plan through inter-departmental consultations this year, and strive to complete the company's establishment by 2027. Subsequently, the relevant parties will push forward facility construction to produce radioisotopes using nuclear power plants, with the goal of commencing trial production in 2028. Radioisot...

2026-08-01

U.S. Navy Awards General Dynamics Electric Boat Contract for Construction of 14 Nuclear Submarines

General Dynamics Electric Boat announced that the U.S. Navy has awarded it a contract package for the construction of 14 nuclear submarines, with a total contract value of $76.6 billion. According to information released by the company, under this announced U.S. Navy contract framework, General Dynamics Electric Boat will receive $29.5 billion for the construction of five Columbia-class submarines, and an additional $42.1 billion for the construction of nine Virginia-class submarines. The contract also includes funding to support shipyard infrastructure construction. General Dynamics Electric Boat serves as the prime contractor for the program. A portion of the construction work will be subcontracted to Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries. ...

2026-08-01

Full-scale Construction Commences for Core Detector Project of Zhangzhou Units 3 & 4

On July 30, the core detector project for Zhangzhou Units 3 & 4, undertaken by China Nuclear Control System Engineering Co., Ltd., commenced smoothly at the Shandong Branch, with experts from the owner and the institute attending the meeting. This project marks the first large-scale application of the Longmou® Core — core detector assembly products, independently developed by China Nuclear Control, on HPR1000 (Hualong One) units. It signifies a new stage of high-quality development in the engineering application of the Longmou® Core series products, represents an important milestone, and will further enhance the autonomy, safety, and international competitiveness of China's nuclear power industry chain. Going forward, China Nuclear Control will continue to uphold the philosophy of "integrating nuclear innovation for efficiency and leading the future with intelligence," persistently deepen technological research in the nuclear detection field, accurately align with user needs, strengthen coordination and collaboration with relevant parties, and safely and efficiently advance project implementation to ensure high-quality product delivery...

2026-08-01

First Editorial Board Meeting of *Research & Design of Nuclear Engineering* Held in Beijing

On July 31, the first editorial board meeting of *Research & Design of Nuclear Engineering*, a high-standard English-language journal in the nuclear engineering field, was successfully held at the Beijing Nuclear Energy Building. Academician Lei Zengguang of CNNC, Editor-in-Chief, and Academician Tu Shandong of East China University of Science and Technology, Associate Editor-in-Chief, along with editorial board representatives from domestic and international universities and research institutes, including the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Sweden and Tsinghua University, attended the meeting. Relevant leaders from China Nuclear Power Engineering Co., Ltd. and CGN Engineering Co., Ltd., the journal's sponsors, as well as representatives from Science Press, the publisher, participated on-site. The meeting was chaired by Liu Liping, Director of the Science and Technology Department of CNNC Engineering. At the meeting, CNNC...

2026-08-01

North China Regional Office of Nuclear and Radiation Safety Supervision under the Ministry of Ecology and Environment Conducts Supervisory Radiation Environmental Monitoring at Tongliao Uranium Industry

To further strengthen the radiation environmental monitoring management of uranium mining and metallurgy facilities, consolidate the primary responsibility of enterprises for radiation environmental monitoring, and fortify the radiation environmental safety defense line of uranium mining and metallurgy facilities, the North China Regional Office of Nuclear and Radiation Safety Supervision under the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (hereinafter referred to as the North China Regional Office) recently organized and carried out supervisory radiation environmental monitoring work at CNNC Tongliao Uranium Industry Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Tongliao Uranium Industry). Personnel from the Nuclear and Radiation Monitoring Center of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region were simultaneously dispatched to collaborate on the work. This monitoring work strictly adhered to the standard requirements of the "Regulations on Radiation Environmental Monitoring for Uranium Mining and Metallurgy" and the regulatory requirements of "three full coverages" in radiation environmental monitoring, closely focusing on the rad...

2026-08-01

The Nuclear and Radiation Safety Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment Successfully Held a Technical Seminar on Performance Testing of Iodine Adsorbers in Nuclear Facilities

Recently, the technical seminar on performance testing of iodine adsorbers in nuclear facilities, hosted by the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (hereinafter referred to as "the Center") and organized by the Key Laboratory of Radioactive Gas Purification Technology of CNNC, was held in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province. Representatives from domestic nuclear facility operation, design, testing and inspection organizations, as well as relevant personnel from the Center's Reactor Department, Event Assessment Department, and General Operations Department attended the meeting. The seminar focused on core topics such as periodic testing methods for iodine adsorbers in ventilation systems of nuclear facilities, acceptance criteria, and test cycle requirements under long-term operation. Participants conducted in-depth exchanges on the advantages and disadvantages of radioactive versus non-radioactive test methods for iodine adsorber adsorption efficiency, 2-inch...

2026-08-01

Hefei Institute of Energy and Xianchu Nuclear Assembly Jointly Establish a Joint Laboratory for Tritium-Related Environmental Control Equipment for Fusion

On July 23, the Institute of Energy, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, and Shijiazhuang Xianchu Nuclear Energy Equipment Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Xianchu Energy Development Group, held a signing ceremony in Hefei, Anhui Province, for the Joint Laboratory for Tritium-Related Environmental Control Equipment for Fusion. The collaboration will focus on the development of tritium-related environmental control equipment for nuclear fusion devices, advancing key technology breakthroughs and industrial applications. Hu Haomin, Deputy Director of the Institute of Energy, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center; Chen Kun, Chairman of Xianchu Energy Development Group; Fang Yongsheng, Executive Deputy General Manager of Shijiazhuang Xianchu Nuclear Energy Equipment Co., Ltd.; and Zhao Xinhua, General Manager of China-Ukraine Xianchu Nuclear Energy Technology Co., Ltd., attended the signing ceremony. The Institute of Energy, Hefei Comprehensive...

2026-08-01

State Council Approves Four Nuclear Power Projects, Eight Units Granted Construction Approval

On July 31, the State Council's executive meeting reviewed and approved four nuclear power projects, including the Phase I project of Zhuanghe in Liaoning Province. The meeting noted that nuclear power units should be constructed and operated in accordance with the highest global safety standards, with strengthened safety oversight across the entire chain and all sectors, to ensure absolute nuclear safety. According to reports, the approved projects comprise a total of 8 units across 4 projects, specifically: 2 units for Phase II of CNNC's Jinqimen Nuclear Power in Zhejiang, 2 units for Phase I of Zhuanghe Nuclear Power in Liaoning, 2 units for Phase III of CGN's Taipingling Nuclear Power in Guangdong, and 2 units for Phase I of SPIC's Laiyang Nuclear Power in Shandong. According to the approvals previously issued by the National Nuclear Safety Administration for the Environmental Impact Reports (site selection stage) of the above four projects...

2026-07-31

Ukraine's Nuclear Power Plants Generate 26.8 Billion kWh in First Half of Year

On July 29, Ukraine's national nuclear energy company Energoatom reported that from January to June 2026, the country's nuclear power plants generated a cumulative 26.8201 billion kWh (26.82 TWh), an increase of 163.1 million kWh compared to the same period in 2025. Nuclear power continues to serve as the backbone of Ukraine's electricity system baseload, with its share exceeding 67% during certain periods between 2019 and 2025 (according to data from Ukraine's National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission, NKREKP), supporting system stability amid repeated attacks on the power grid during wartime. Data shows that from 2019 to 2025, the share of electricity generated by Ukraine's nuclear power plants even exceeded 67% of the country's total energy output during certain periods. This stable power supply capability remains effective in maintaining the stable operation of the energy system even as Ukraine's energy sector faces persistent challenges...

2026-07-31

Dong Baotong, Vice Minister of Ecology and Environment and Director of the National Nuclear Safety Administration, Led a Delegation to Attend the China-Russia Joint Coordination Meeting on Nuclear Safety

On July 27, at the invitation of the Federal Environmental, Industrial and Nuclear Supervision Service of Russia, Dong Baotong, Vice Minister of Ecology and Environment and Director of the National Nuclear Safety Administration, led a delegation to attend the China-Russia Joint Coordination Meeting on Nuclear Safety. During the meeting, the National Nuclear Safety Administration introduced China's latest progress in always placing nuclear safety at the highest priority, strengthening the building of nuclear safety regulatory forces, improving regulatory functions in key areas, and promoting the adaptation of regulatory capacity to the development of the nuclear industry, under the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping's Thought on Ecological Civilization and the holistic approach to national security; shared China's in-depth participation in global nuclear safety governance, as well as the Integrated Regulatory Review Service of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The Russian side appreciated...

2026-07-31

Brazilian Nuclear Safety Authority Opens Public Consultation on Updates to Nuclear Power Plant and Industrial Nuclear Instrumentation Regulations

The Brazilian National Nuclear Safety Authority (ANSN) has launched a public consultation to update regulations for nuclear power plants and industrial applications. The initiative aims to revise requirements for notification of operational events at the Angra Nuclear Power Plant and establish unprecedented radiation protection rules for measurement instruments in the production sector; comments will be accepted until September. The regulatory body's action is part of the industry's institutional improvement schedule, calling on power generation companies, operators, universities, and supply chain participants to submit technical contributions to the new normative texts. The revision aims to standardize information processes at nuclear power plants, improve technical oversight, and expand governance of operational data at the Almirante Álvaro Alberto Nuclear Power Plant located in Angra dos Reis...

2026-07-31

Siemens Healthineers and Cleveland Clinic Launch 10-Year Strategic Alliance to Advance Innovation in Advanced Imaging and Radiation Oncology

On July 30, Siemens Healthineers and Cleveland Clinic announced the launch of a 10-year strategic alliance, building on their 35-year partnership to further drive clinical and workflow innovation, enhance patient care quality, and improve healthcare operational efficiency. Under the collaboration arrangement, Siemens Healthineers will provide Cleveland Clinic with a range of diagnostic imaging and treatment-related technologies, covering magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, radiation oncology, interventional radiology, and X-ray. Both parties stated that the alliance will focus on areas such as diagnostic imaging, cardiology, and radiation oncology, providing clinical teams with new tools and training support, and offering patients more...

2026-07-31