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U.S. NRC Proposes Radiation Protection Rule Changes, Removal of ALARA Requirements Sparks Safety Controversy

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) plans to hold an online public meeting on August 10 to discuss its proposed rule titled "Reforming and Modernizing the NRC's Radiation Protection Framework." The proposal, published on July 15, centers on reexamining the use of the linear no-threshold model in assessing radiation health effects, as well as the as low as reasonably achievable principle—the ALARA principle—derived from that model. Under the proposal, the NRC intends to remove ALARA-related requirements from its regulations and instead adopt a graded dose management framework. This framework would be based on explicit radiation protection thresholds, dose management methods, and acceptable dose measurement approaches. The regulator stated that this move is not about changing exposure standards for workers and...

2026-08-08

Italian Neutrino Telescope Undersea Network Captures Fin Whale Songs

August 5 news, after months of silence, fin whale songs have once again been recorded in the southern Ionian Sea. This observation was jointly completed by multiple experiments connected to the underwater infrastructure of the Southern National Laboratory of the Italian National Institute for Nuclear Physics (LNS-INFN), involving three projects: ITINERIS, LOWNOISER, and VONGOLA. The related work was carried out with the participation of LNS-INFN and the Sicilian Center for Nuclear Physics and Structure of Matter (CSFNSM). The detection occurred in late winter. At that time, the eastern Mediterranean region was affected by strong anthropogenic noise from a long-term geophysical survey of offshore oil and gas resources, and only weeks had passed since the transit of Hurricane Harry. Researchers identified fin whale signals amid the complex acoustic background...

2026-08-09

DXA Screening Among U.S. Medicare Population Declines 35% Over Nearly Two Decades

A new study shows that between 2005 and 2023, the rate of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) examinations among U.S. Medicare beneficiaries declined significantly, by 35%. DXA is commonly used for bone density testing and osteoporosis-related screening, and the findings suggest that disparities in screening access across different populations are widening. Researchers analyzed claims data from more than 5 million Medicare beneficiaries. The results showed that DXA utilization fell from 7,255 exams per 100,000 beneficiaries in 2005 to 4,690 per 100,000 beneficiaries in 2023. The study was published in Osteoporosis International. The decline was not uniform across populations...

2026-08-08

Laser spectroscopy reveals for the first time the precise nuclear shape of fermium-255, offering new clues in the search for superheavy elements

An international research team has, for the first time, precisely determined the nuclear structure of the actinide fermium-255, confirming that its nucleus exhibits a pronounced prolate deformation, similar to a rugby ball. The study, published in *Physical Review Letters*, was conducted in collaboration with 18 institutions, including Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in Germany, the Helmholtz Institute Mainz, and the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. The findings not only correct several unreasonable nuclear property values in previous standard data tables but also provide crucial experimental validation for modern nuclear theory models. Fermium is a synthetic heavy element that does not exist in nature. Fermium-255 contains 100 protons and 155 neutrons, making its experimental production extremely challenging. The research team...

2026-08-08

Unit 4 of Slovakia's Mochovce Nuclear Power Plant Reaches First Criticality

Slovenské Elektrárne stated that Unit 4 of the Mochovce Nuclear Power Plant reached first reactor criticality at 22:10 local time on August 6, and achieved minimum controllable power at 22:31. This is a key milestone in the pre-commissioning work of the unit, indicating that the reactor is ready for subsequent testing. First criticality refers to the first time the nuclear fuel in the core achieves a self-sustaining fission chain reaction. Slovenské Elektrárne stated that first criticality and reaching minimum controllable power are important steps in the commissioning process of a nuclear power plant, used to confirm the unit's readiness to enter the next phase of testing...

2026-08-08

Eagle Nuclear Energy Advances 47-Hole Pre-Feasibility Drilling at Aurora Uranium Project

Against the backdrop of rebuilding a domestic U.S. uranium supply chain, newly listed Eagle Nuclear Energy Corp. has entered the industry spotlight with what it claims to be the largest conventional measured+indicated uranium resource in the country. Its flagship Aurora uranium project, located on the Oregon-Nevada border, contains 32.75 million pounds of indicated resources and 4.98 million pounds of inferred resources under S-K 1300 standards. The company has submitted permit applications for a pre-feasibility drilling program comprising 47 holes totaling approximately 27,000 feet, with work slated to begin upon federal and state approvals and pre-feasibility study completion targeted for the second half of 2027. On the technical front, the company recently added Yukuskokon Professional Services and expanded its collaboration with BBA USA and SLR I...

2026-08-08

Fluor's Q2 New Orders Surge to $6.1 Billion, Nuclear Fuel Enrichment Projects Boost Backlog to $26.9 Billion

U.S. engineering and construction giant Fluor demonstrated a clear acceleration in order intake in the second quarter of 2026, with new project awards reaching $6.1 billion, significantly higher than the $1.8 billion recorded in the same period last year. Among these, nuclear fuel enrichment projects emerged as a key highlight, driving the company's ending backlog to $26.9 billion. The rapid expansion in order volume indicates that customer demand for its engineering, procurement, and construction capabilities is recovering, and also reflects the tangible results of converting earlier front-end design and project development work. In terms of contract structure, 89% of Fluor's new orders this quarter were reimbursable contracts, while reimbursable contracts also accounted for 85% of total backlog, up from 80% in the same period last year....

2026-08-09

JINR delegation participates in the 51st Vietnam Conference on Theoretical Physics

From August 3 to 6, the 51st Vietnam Conference on Theoretical Physics (VCTP-51) was held in Nha Trang, Vietnam. A delegation of researchers from the Bogoliubov Laboratory of Theoretical Physics and the Laboratory of Information Technologies of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research attended the conference, engaging in exchanges with more than 170 scholars from Vietnam, Germany, India, China, Pakistan, Russia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Japan, and other countries and regions. The conference topics covered multiple frontier directions in theoretical physics, including high-energy physics, nuclear physics, condensed matter physics, and cosmology, as well as interdisciplinary research areas such as physics beyond the Standard Model, molecular physics, quantum optics and quantum information, biomaterials, and biomolecules. The broad agenda...

2026-08-08

Russian Company InterPolaris Completes Testing of Heat Exchangers and Mechanical Filters for Nuclear-Powered Icebreakers

Russian company InterPolaris has achieved a significant milestone in the manufacturing project of equipment for nuclear-powered icebreakers, successfully completing tests on two shell-and-tube heat exchangers and two mechanical filters. These units are designed for the specific operating environment of nuclear-powered icebreakers, and passing the tests means the products meet design requirements in terms of strength, sealing, stability, and long-term service capability. The shell-and-tube heat exchangers that passed verification are primarily used to heat water containing decontamination solutions using heating steam. Although this is a common heat exchange process in principle, in the icebreaker application scenario, the equipment must meet requirements far exceeding ordinary industrial standards. This horizontally arranged equipment is designed with consideration for continuous operation under prolonged ship listing conditions, with fixed structures capable of withstanding loads from various directions, and is required to maintain stable parameters and reliable sealing under complex sea conditions and operating regimes.

2026-08-09

Thorium Atomics Initiates Pre-Application Regulatory Engagement with U.S. Regulators for Tesseract TGR Reactor

On August 7, Thorium Atomics announced that it has initiated pre-application regulatory engagement with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for its Tesseract TGR advanced reactor project. Prior to this, the company submitted a letter of intent to the NRC outlining the technical and licensing discussions it plans to conduct with regulators in the future. Thorium Atomics submitted the letter of intent on June 23, 2026. The NRC subsequently responded by letter on July 24, 2026, confirming the assignment of project number 99902174 for the Tesseract TGR project and designating a project manager from the Office of Advanced Reactors to coordinate pre-application activities. This number will be used for the administrative management and tracking of future correspondence, meetings, submissions...

2026-08-08

Vacuum test of the turbine condenser at Unit 1 of Akkuyu NPP successfully completed

The vacuum test of the turbine condenser at Unit 1 of Turkey's Akkuyu NPP, built by Rosatom, has been completed. The operation confirmed that the main systems of the turbine unit are ready for the next stage of commissioning. During the test, technicians established the required negative pressure in the condenser, checked the tightness of the vacuum system and the thermomechanical condition of the turbine, while monitoring parameters such as condenser vacuum, steam pressure, bearing temperatures, and thermal expansion of the casing and rotor. During the turning gear rotation of the turbine, the proper operation of the flow path (blades) was confirmed. Systems involved in the operation included: start-up boiler house boilers, vacuum system, bearing lubrication system, hydraulic jacking oil system, main turning gear, steam supply and extraction systems, as well as the equipment thermomechanical condition monitoring system.

2026-08-08

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to Raise Spent Fuel Pool Water Levels to Mitigate Power Outage Risks

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated that the operator of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has decided to raise the water levels in the spent fuel pools on site to enhance safety buffer capacity in the event of a prolonged loss of external power. The primary purpose of raising the water levels is to extend the time before water in the spent fuel pools begins to boil and evaporate under extreme conditions where external power to the plant is interrupted for an extended period, diesel reserves are depleted, and emergency diesel generators can no longer supply power to the cooling systems. Spent fuel pools are used to store used nuclear fuel underwater, typically for at least five years, allowing its radioactivity and residual heat to gradually decay, making continuous cooling a critical element of nuclear safety. All six units at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant...

2026-08-08

French innovative nuclear company Newcleo submits regulatory engagement plan to NRC for U.S. MOX fuel plant

On August 7, 2026, France-based innovative nuclear company Newcleo submitted a Regulatory Engagement Plan (REP) to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), paving the way for its proposed mixed oxide (MOX) fuel fabrication facility in the United States. The REP defines the framework for the company's pre-application phase with the NRC, key regulatory and technical topics, technical document submittals, and an indicative schedule. Previously, Newcleo sent a letter to the NRC on February 23 expressing its intent, and initiated pre-application interactions in March, engaging with the NRC on the design and safety approach for the LFR-AS-200 lead-cooled fast reactor and the associated MOX plant; last month, it had already submitted the REP for the LFR-AS-200 (200 MWe commercial version). Newcleo stated that this submission is a step toward advanced...

2026-08-09

228 Research Reactors Worldwide in Operation, Supporting Medical Isotope Production and Neutron Science Innovation

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency on August 7, research reactors continue to drive innovation in science, medicine, and industry worldwide. Currently, 228 research reactors are in operation across 54 countries, with another 23 under construction or in the planning stage. Unlike nuclear reactors used for power generation, these reactors primarily produce neutrons to support medical, industrial, agricultural, geological, forensic, and nuclear science research. A research reactor pool photographed from above. (Photo: IAEA) In the medical field, research reactors are a vital source of medical radioisotopes. Among them, technetium-99m is widely used for diagnosing cancer and diseases of the heart, brain, and bones; a large number of medical diagnostic and therapeutic procedures worldwide rely on this isotope. Other radioisotopes such as iodine-131 are also used in the treatment of cancer and thyroid diseases. The IAEA states that radioisotopes produced by research reactors serve millions of patients globally and are an essential component of modern nuclear medicine systems.

2026-08-09

Indian Parliamentary Committee Emphasizes Urgency of Accelerating Uranium Mining Projects

On August 7, 2026, the Indian Parliamentary Committee on Public Undertakings noted in its report on nuclear power expansion progress that India's uranium mining project expansion needs to be accelerated. DAE has committed UCIL to doubling production by 2036 through enhancing existing capacity and new projects in Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, but the committee considers this timeline too late—NPCIL's installed capacity will surge significantly over the next decade, and delays in mining clusters would prolong the strategic vulnerability period of imported fuel. Currently, PHWR units of approximately 25 GWe require about 5,400 tonnes of U3O8 annually, with UCIL able to meet only about 30% of that demand; accelerated domestic production and diversified supply are needed to reduce import dependence. The committee supports UCIL forming a joint venture with NTPC to acquire equity stakes in overseas uranium assets...

2026-08-08