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Russian Researchers Find Low-Energy Electron Beam and X-Ray Treatment of Wheat Seeds Can Increase Yields

Researchers from the D.V. Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics at Lomonosov Moscow State University, in collaboration with the Faculty of Physics and the Faculty of Chemistry of Lomonosov Moscow State University, as well as the Siberian Federal Scientific Centre of Agro-BioTechnologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, have found that pre-sowing treatment of wheat seeds with low-energy electron beams and X-rays can help increase crop yields and enhance plant resistance to diseases. The study focused on the wheat variety Novosibirskaya 29 and included laboratory experiments, two consecutive years of field trials, and computer modeling. The results showed that a dose range of 5 to 15 Gy is suitable as a pre-sowing irradiation treatment parameter for wheat seeds. According to Moscow State University...

2026-08-14

Radioactivity Levels in Arctic Archipelagos Within Background Range, Russian Research Team Reports No Anomalies

On August 13, Andrei Puchkov, senior researcher at the Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory of the N.P. Laverov Federal Arctic Integrated Research Center, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, stated that measurements taken during the 2026 Arctic Floating University expedition's landings on Novaya Zemlya and Franz Josef Land showed very low radioactivity levels, with no anomalies detected. Puchkov noted that the expedition measured radon concentrations at all landing sites, with radon flux densities ranging from below 1 millibecquerel per square meter per second to 200 millibecquerels per square meter per second, all recorded values remaining within background levels. He indicated that permafrost acts as a barrier and shield in the region, preventing radioactive gases from reaching the surface; relatively higher radon fluxes in some areas may be associated with geological features such as fault zones and fracture zones.

2026-08-14

Module 5 of Containment Steel Liner Successfully Lifted at Unit 3 of Guangdong Taipingling Nuclear Power Plant

On August 10, the construction of Unit 3 at CGN's Guangdong Taipingling Nuclear Power Plant reached a critical milestone. A Zoomlion 2,000-tonne crawler crane, serving as the core lifting main force, successfully completed the precise positioning of Module 5 of the containment steel liner. This lifting operation involved significant technical challenges and demanding working conditions. The steel liner Module 5 weighed nearly 280 tonnes, with a component diameter of 45 meters, a height of nearly 6 meters, and a wall thickness of only 6 millimeters, making it a typical ultra-large thin-walled flexible component. The module's lateral windward area exceeded 300 square meters, making it susceptible to wind-induced sway during lifting, which imposed extremely high requirements on the crane's operational stability, control precision, and heavy-load adaptability. The Zo...

2026-08-14

Liaoning Zhuanghe Nuclear Power Phase I Project Approved, Zhuanghe Goes All Out to Accelerate Project Implementation

Recently, the State Council held an executive meeting and decided to approve the Liaoning Zhuanghe Nuclear Power Phase I Project. Located in Lizifang Town, Zhuanghe City, Liaoning Province, the Liaoning Zhuanghe Nuclear Power Project is the first nuclear power project in Northeast China to adopt China's self-developed third-generation nuclear power technology, the Hualong One, injecting core momentum into the high-quality development of regional clean energy. The overall plan for the Liaoning Zhuanghe Nuclear Power Project includes the construction of six million-kilowatt-class Hualong One third-generation pressurized water reactor nuclear power units, with unified planning and construction in three phases. The Phase I project approved this time will build two new nuclear power units with a total installed capacity of 2.5 million kilowatts. Upon completion and commissioning, the project will deliver outstanding comprehensive benefits and strong driving effects. In terms of clean energy supply security, each...

2026-08-14

U.S. Poll Shows Majority of Respondents Support Prioritizing Permanent Disposal of High-Level Waste

A recent survey conducted by market research and data analysis company YouGov shows that more than 80 percent of U.S. respondents believe finding a permanent disposal solution for high-level radioactive waste should be a national priority; after learning about relevant technical information, a significant number of respondents viewed deep geological disposal as a credible option. Prototype canister for borehole disposal (Image: Deep Isolation) The survey was commissioned by nuclear waste disposal technology company Deep Isolation Inc. and conducted in April this year among 1,000 U.S. adults with a nationally representative sample. The survey covered public attitudes toward nuclear energy, concerns about radioactive waste management...

2026-08-14

Nuclea Energy to Acquire Moltex Advanced Nuclear Technology Portfolio

Moltex Energy announced on August 13 that Nuclea Energy Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire its advanced nuclear technology portfolio. The transaction was concluded following a competitive bidding process, with the relevant technologies and company assets having attracted interest from multiple parties earlier. The proposed technology platform, developed over more than a decade, encompasses the Waste-to-Stable Salt (WATSS) spent fuel recycling process, the Stable Salt Reactor – Wasteburner (SSR-W), and FLEX reactor technology. The portfolio includes 80 granted patents across 9 patent families, as well as 9 pending patents related to the WATSS recycling process...

2026-08-14

Finland's Onkalo Spent Nuclear Fuel Final Disposal Facility Expected to Receive Operating License by Year-End

Finland's spent nuclear fuel final disposal project has entered the critical stage of operating license review. The Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority of Finland (STUK) issued a statement saying that the design and emergency response procedures of the Onkalo final disposal facility meet the safety requirements for granting an operating license. The Finnish government is expected to decide whether to approve the facility's operation before the end of the year. Onkalo is located on Olkiluoto Island in southwestern Finland. "Onkalo" means "cave" in Finnish. If licensed and operational, the facility will become the world's first deep geological final disposal facility for spent nuclear fuel from nuclear power plants, serving as a reference for other countries considering similar facilities...

2026-08-14

Danube Water Level Drop May Affect Operation of Paks Nuclear Power Plant

Hungarian Prime Minister Magyar stated after inspecting the Paks Nuclear Power Plant that the Danube water level has dropped again, which may lead to a further reduction in the plant's power output next week, or even pose a risk of shutdown. At a press conference, Magyar said that about a week ago, heavy rainfall occurred in the Austrian catchment area, temporarily alleviating the low water level of the Danube, but the positive effects of the rainfall have since diminished. According to forecasts, the Danube water level may drop to -132 cm on August 16 or 17, a level approaching the critical operating conditions of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant. If this level is reached, one of the two currently operating turbines may need to be shut down again. He noted that existing forecasts cover the next 6 to 7 days,...

2026-08-14

Unit 2 of Romania's Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant shut down for at least 10 days due to falling Danube River water levels

Romeo Urjan, head of Romania's Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant, said that due to the continuous decline of Danube River water levels, Unit 2 of the plant has been shut down since August 13 for at least 10 days. Romania's Ministry of Energy stated on August 12 that Unit 2 of the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant required a temporary shutdown. As planned, the shutdown operation began on the morning of August 13 and was completed before noon that day. Urjan stated that Danube River water levels are expected to continue declining over the next 10 days, so the plant currently has no plans to restart Unit 2. He emphasized that this shutdown is unrelated to nuclear safety issues or emergencies, with the main reason being...

2026-08-14

Small Amount of Ash Leakage from Miscellaneous Solid Waste Incineration Equipment at Japan's Ikata Nuclear Power Plant

Shikoku Electric Power Co. reported on August 13 that at approximately 10:25 a.m. that day, an operator from a partner company discovered ash-like material beneath the ceramic filter of the operating miscellaneous solid waste incineration equipment inside the miscellaneous solid waste incinerator building at Ikata Nuclear Power Plant. The area is a controlled zone. On-site investigation confirmed that the fallen material was incineration ash, and the leakage was confirmed to have stopped. Workers also found localized cracks in the rubber components of the glove box beneath the ceramic filter. Temporary sealing measures were taken to prevent further leakage. According to the report, the leaked incineration ash remained within the building and was fully recovered. The leakage amount was 0.3 grams, with a radioactivity...

2026-08-13

Idaho National Laboratory's Hot Fuel Examination Facility Named U.S. Nuclear Historic Landmark

The American Nuclear Society (ANS) recently designated the Hot Fuel Examination Facility (HFEF) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) as a Nuclear Historic Landmark. Since becoming operational in 1975, the facility has conducted post-irradiation examination of nuclear fuel and materials, and continues to support research on advanced reactors, commercial nuclear fuel, and related energy security. HFEF is located within the Materials and Fuels Complex (MFC) at Idaho National Laboratory and houses the largest inert-atmosphere hot cell in the United States dedicated to nuclear materials research. The hot cell operates in an argon environment and features approximately 4-foot-thick shielding walls, enabling remote, non-destructive, and high-precision examination of highly irradiated fuel and material samples while reducing worker radiation exposure.

2026-08-13

Heat Exchangers and Mechanical Filters for Russian Nuclear-Powered Icebreakers Complete Testing

On August 11, 2026, the manufacturing project for equipment supporting Russian nuclear-powered icebreakers achieved a milestone. InterPolaris has completed testing of multiple key equipment items, including two shell-and-tube heat exchangers and two mechanical filters. The shell-and-tube heat exchangers that completed testing this time are primarily used to heat water containing purification solutions using heating steam. Compared with conventional heat exchange equipment, the operating environment of marine nuclear power platforms is more complex, imposing higher requirements on structural strength, sealing performance, and operational stability. The horizontal heat exchanger is designed to accommodate prolonged vessel inclination conditions, with mounting brackets capable of withstanding loads from different directions and maintaining stable equipment parameters under complex operating conditions.

2026-08-13

Marvel Fusion, Colorado, and Siemens Energy Sign Letter of Intent to Advance Laser-Driven Fusion Energy Cooperation

Marvel Fusion, the U.S. State of Colorado, and Siemens Energy announced on August 12 the signing of a Letter of Intent aimed at strengthening transatlantic cooperation to advance the research, development, and commercialization of laser-driven fusion energy technology. Under the Letter of Intent, the tripartite cooperation will focus on four areas: advancing joint research and development projects, including work utilizing leading fusion research facilities; strengthening the ecosystem connection between the RISE center in Colorado and the VEGA center in Bavaria; promoting transatlantic fusion energy industry and supply chain partnerships; and conducting talent development cooperation. The parties will also establish a joint working group to identify priority projects and plan to organize delegation visits, expert workshops, and initial cooperative activities within the next 12 months.

2026-08-13

OXOS Medical and Others Deploy Portable X-Ray Systems to Disaster Zones in Venezuela

On August 12, U.S.-based OXOS Medical announced that it will partner with the non-profit organization Love & Life Foundation and the rapid response and disaster intervention team MEDIC Corps to deploy the MC2 portable X-ray system to Venezuela to support post-disaster humanitarian medical relief efforts. According to reports, the strong earthquake that struck Venezuela on June 24 has caused more than 16,000 injuries. For medical teams treating patients on the front lines in rubble and disaster zones, timely assessment of injuries such as fractures and chest or abdominal trauma is critical, but in areas with damaged infrastructure and limited resources, routine medical imaging examinations are often difficult to obtain in a timely manner. The materials also cite World Health Organization data stating...

2026-08-13

EIC and CERN Strengthen Cooperation to Advance International Scientific Exchange for the Electron-Ion Collider

August 12, 2026 - The collaboration between the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) project and the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) is deepening further. On May 28, CERN hosted a workshop themed around the EIC to introduce the project's scientific goals, construction progress, and future research opportunities to its international scientific community. Luisella Lari (right), Deputy Director for Strategic Partnerships of the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) project, poses with Matthew Chalmers, organizer of the CERN lecture series, after delivering a talk titled "The Road to the Electron-Ion Collider" at CERN. Luisella Lari, senior scientist on the EIC project, delivered a talk titled "The Road to the Electron-Ion Collider" at the workshop.

2026-08-13