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Fuel assembly replacement launched at Unit 2 of Beznau Nuclear Power Plant

Swiss energy company Axpo launched fuel assembly replacement work at Unit 2 of the Beznau Nuclear Power Plant (KKB) on August 4, with the related outage expected to last approximately two weeks. As planned, plant technicians will replace 20 of the 121 fuel assemblies in the reactor core during the outage, while also carrying out routine inspections and system tests. More than 560 employees of the Beznau Nuclear Power Plant will be involved in the related work, supported by approximately 150 external experts on site. The fuel assembly replacement and related operations are supervised by the Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate (ENSI). Previously, the relevant units at the Beznau Nuclear Power Plant had been shut down due to elevated water temperatures in the Aare River. According to available information,...

2026-08-05

Colorado State University produces first ultracold neutral plasma with electron temperature below 1 kelvin

Researchers at Colorado State University have, for the first time, produced an ultracold neutral plasma by combining laser cooling techniques with strong magnetic fields. Measurements show that the electron temperature in this plasma is less than 1 kelvin above absolute zero, making it one of the lowest electron temperatures ever measured in a plasma. The research was published in Physics of Plasmas. The new method proposed in the paper helps test plasma theories under more controllable experimental conditions and improve computational models of plasma behavior in extreme environments. The researchers believe this achievement could contribute to future fusion energy...

2026-08-05

UC Santa Barbara and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Collaborate to Accelerate Fusion Plasma Simulations with AI

The University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) are launching a new collaboration to bring artificial intelligence into extreme plasma simulations, accelerating critical computations in nuclear fusion and high-energy-density physics research. Neel Sankaran (left), a doctoral student of UCSB Professor Haewon Jeong, poses with LLNL scientist Min Sang Cho (right). The project is led by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UC Santa Barbara...

2026-08-05

Zhang Yiming, Chairman of HTA: Tackling the "Last Mile" of Nuclear Pharmacy Network Delivery to Bring Domestic Radiopharmaceuticals to Patients in Western and County-Level Regions

On July 28, the 2026 Radiopharmaceutical Innovation and Development Conference was held in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province. Zhang Yiming, Party Committee Secretary and Chairman of HTA, told reporters that the company is restructuring its short half-life radiopharmaceutical delivery system through "regional layout + standardized logistics + grassroots empowerment," striving to ensure that cancer patients in western and county-level regions can access domestically produced radiopharmaceuticals within the drug's effective half-life window. Currently, multi-dimensional policy dividends are being continuously released, and China's radiopharmaceutical industry is entering a critical window of opportunity. Alpha nuclide drugs represent the future direction of therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals. Zhang Yiming introduced that HTA has already made early arrangements for drug research in this field, jointly conducting research on actinium-225 labeled...

2026-08-05

Hong Kong deputies to the National People's Congress visit Hefei to inspect fusion device and innovation industry development

On August 4, a delegation of Hong Kong deputies to the National People's Congress conducted an inspection and research visit in Hefei, Anhui Province. The itinerary included visits to the Hefei Innovation Museum, the Memorial Hall of the Crossing-the-Yangtze Campaign, and the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, to learn about the local layout of scientific and technological innovation, the construction of major scientific facilities, and the development of the nuclear fusion industry. At the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the delegation visited the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) nuclear fusion device. Often referred to as the "artificial sun," this device serves as an important scientific research platform for Hefei in advancing the cluster development of major scientific facilities and the growth of the nuclear fusion-related industry. The delegation also received briefings on the construction of the Hefei Future Science City and the layout of related industries. Hong Kong deputies to the National People's Congress...

2026-08-05

News Broadcast: Major Science Infrastructure Construction Accelerates Across the Board, Innovative Achievements Emerge

Major science and technology infrastructure is a powerful tool for building a strong science and technology nation. Since the beginning of this year, the construction of major science infrastructure in China has accelerated across the board, with original achievements continuously emerging, rapidly transforming from a source of basic research into a "strong magnetic field" that fosters disruptive technologies and cultivates new quality productive forces. To date, China has over 70 national major science and technology infrastructure projects under construction or in operation, ranking second globally in overall scale, with some facilities entering the world's top tier in comprehensive capabilities. Distinctive clusters have taken shape in Beijing Huairou, Shanghai Zhangjiang, Anhui Hefei, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. On Science Island in Hefei, Anhui, leveraging the construction of facilities such as the Steady High Magnetic Field and the artificial sun nuclear fusion experiment, nearly 50 enterprises have been incubated in fields including superconductivity, magnets, cryogenics, materials, and plasma applications...

2026-08-05

Uranium "Breakthrough" in Poland's Świętokrzyskie Mountains Falls Short, Industria Announces Canadian Lab Results and Halts Exploration

Poland's uranium exploration has recently yielded results, with Świętokrzyska Grupa Przemysłowa Industria announcing the conclusion of uranium exploration near Kielce. Although reports two years ago suggested a breakthrough uranium discovery that could potentially bring Poland into the nuclear fuel supply sector, subsequent studies revealed that uranium concentrations in the area are extremely low, close to natural background levels and far below the threshold for economically viable extraction. Laboratory analysis results indicated that uranium and thorium concentrations in the ore are too low for commercial mining, leading the company to terminate further exploration. According to data from the International Atomic Energy Agency, the world's major...

2026-08-05

Vietnam to Develop 88 National Standards and 6 National Regulations Supporting Nuclear Power and Atomic Energy Applications from 2026–2030

Vietnam will develop standards and regulations for nuclear power development to support the construction of future nuclear power plants and advancements in atomic energy applications. To align with this goal, the country plans to establish 88 national standards and 6 national regulations during the period from 2026 to 2030, covering key areas such as nuclear power plant safety, radiation safety, environmental monitoring, and related equipment. These standards will reference existing practical experience from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and will be periodically reviewed and adjusted based on project progress and actual management needs. The development of these standards is carried out in four phases, each with clearly defined focal objectives...

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

Ethiopia Advances Nuclear Power Regulatory Framework Development

The Ethiopian Technical Authority stated on August 4 that the country is strengthening its legal and regulatory framework in the nuclear energy sector, aligning with its strategic plan for future nuclear power generation and bringing relevant systems in line with international standards. As part of its nuclear power program, the Ethiopian Technical Authority has convened a stakeholder consultation forum bringing together government agencies, professional associations, and key partners to review the draft regulations for nuclear facility oversight. Solomon Getachew, Director General of the Ethiopian Technical Authority, stated at the forum that since the country formally notified the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of its intention to utilize peaceful nuclear technology for power generation, Ethiopia has undertaken various efforts in regulatory capacity building...

2026-08-05

NRC Preliminary Assessment Finds No Significant Environmental Impacts from Duane Arnold Nuclear Plant Restart

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued a draft environmental assessment for the restart of the Duane Arnold nuclear power plant, preliminarily concluding that the project would not result in significant environmental impacts. NextEra Energy plans to restart the Duane Arnold nuclear power plant in Palo, Iowa, as early as 2029, and has made significant progress. The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Advantage Financing participated as a cooperating agency in drafting the environmental assessment, as the department is considering providing financial support for the restart project. According to a notice in the Federal Register, NRC staff evaluated the potential impacts of restarting the 615-megawatt Duane Arnold nuclear power plant on land use, meteorology, air quality and...

2026-08-05

Russia Plans to Complete Domestic MRI Scanner Development by 2027

On August 1, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin stated that Russia should complete the development of a domestically produced MRI scanner by 2027. Mishustin learned about the relevant progress during his visit to the Consultative Diagnostic Center in the Republic of Tyva. While inspecting the MRI equipment installed at the center, he asked Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko about the development of domestic devices. Murashko stated that the research and development work is being carried out by Rosatom, and noted that the device is expected to be completed next year. Mishustin then expressed hope that Russia would have its own domestically developed MRI scanner next year. If the device is completed as planned, it will be used in the field of medical imaging diagnostics.

2026-08-05

Oklahoma Strives to Build the Nation's First Nuclear Energy Innovation Hub

Oklahoma is actively competing to become the first nuclear energy innovation hub in the United States, having submitted a detailed 31-page proposal. The plan aims to cover the entire nuclear fuel lifecycle management, encompassing fuel fabrication, advanced reactor construction, spent fuel recycling, and permanent disposal of high-level radioactive waste. Oklahoma's goal is to establish the first permanent waste disposal solution in the U.S., achieving this before commercial nuclear power deployment. In the proposal, deep borehole drilling for radioactive waste disposal emerges as a key component. This method involves drilling thousands of feet deep and placing radioactive waste sealed in specially designed containers into the subsurface, followed by sealing the borehole.

2026-08-05

US Intermountain Health Opens New Outpatient Clinic in Las Vegas, Equipped with PET/CT and Linear Accelerator

Intermountain Health, headquartered in Salt Lake City, recently opened a new outpatient clinic in southwest Las Vegas. Named Badura Clinic, the facility spans approximately 90,000 square feet and is located in the Spring Valley area, marking the health system's first new construction project in Nevada. The three-story Badura Clinic officially opened following a ribbon-cutting ceremony and community open house on July 30. The clinic consolidates primary care and select specialty services previously dispersed across multiple locations in the Las Vegas Valley, offering more centralized medical care for children, adults, and senior patients. According to the introduction, the clinic's services include adult and...

2026-08-05

Kazakhstan's Uranium Output Up 9% Year-on-Year in First Half of 2026

Kazatomprom, Kazakhstan's largest uranium producer, reported on August 3 that the country's uranium output increased by 9% year-on-year in the first half of 2026. According to the report, on a 100% basis, uranium oxide (U3O8) production from entities in which the company holds stakes totaled 13,291 tonnes in the first half of this year, up from 12,242 tonnes in the same period of 2025. The 100% basis covers the full production of all entities in which Kazatomprom holds stakes, with a portion of that output potentially attributable to joint venture partners or other third-party shareholders. On an attributable basis, Kazatomprom's uranium production in the first half of 2026 stood at 7,054 tonnes, up 10% year-on-year. This basis only counts the portion of production attributable to Kazatomprom...

2026-08-05