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UK's InHealth Deploys Europe's First Mobile Biograph Trinion PET/CT System

InHealth, a UK independent diagnostic service provider, has recently completed the first patient scan using Europe's first mobile Biograph Trinion PET/CT system. The system, supplied by Siemens Healthineers, is now in clinical use at Wrexham Maelor Hospital in northeast Wales to support cancer-related molecular imaging examinations. PET/CT is an important imaging technology in oncology diagnosis and treatment, applicable to the diagnosis, staging, treatment planning, and therapy response monitoring of various cancer types. Deploying the Biograph Trinion PET/CT system on a mobile platform means that advanced molecular imaging services can be delivered into clinical settings with greater flexibility, helping to improve patient access to...

2026-08-26

Bitumen Solidification Facility at Unit 2 of Japan's Ikata Nuclear Power Plant Returns to Normal

Shikoku Electric Power Co. reported on August 25, 2026, that the bitumen solidification facility at Unit 2 of Japan's Ikata Nuclear Power Plant, currently in a decommissioned state, had returned to normal operation at 10:45 a.m. that day. The gasket at the joint of the mixer top cover, where the earlier abnormality had been detected, had been replaced, and trial operation results showed no abnormalities. The incident occurred on April 28. On that day, when operators started the bitumen solidification facility in the controlled area of the reactor auxiliary building, they observed a steam-like phenomenon near the mixer thermometer, which subsequently disappeared on its own. Maintenance personnel later inspected and confirmed at 3:05 p.m. that the steam-like gas originated from inside the mixer and had escaped through the joint of the mixer top cover; at 5:06 p.m., the bitumen solidification facility was shut down.

2026-08-26

Tescan Launches MIRA XR Ultra-High-Resolution Scanning Electron Microscope for Materials Characterization and Failure Analysis Applications

Tescan recently launched the MIRA XR ultra-high-resolution scanning electron microscope system, targeting materials characterization needs in fields such as battery technology, metallurgy, and advanced materials science. Positioned between the Tescan MIRA and Tescan CLARA, the system aims to deliver higher resolution, enhanced surface sensitivity, and a more streamlined workflow, serving applications including R&D laboratories, industrial quality control, and failure analysis. According to reports, the MIRA XR employs BrightBeam™ technology and a single high-efficiency axial detector to improve surface signal acquisition under field-free imaging conditions, making it suitable for beam-sensitive materials and magnetic samples while reducing the need for sample preparation steps such as surface coating. The system also features an aperture-free column design that minimizes manual aperture selection and adjustment steps, allowing operators to focus more on sample observation and data analysis.

2026-08-26

Lancaster University in the UK receives EPSRC funding to study antimatter production in intense laser pulses

Christopher Arran, a lecturer at Lancaster University and the Cockcroft Institute in the UK, has recently been awarded a three-year New Investigator Award from the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to study electron-positron pair production in the extremely intense electromagnetic fields of high-power lasers. The research focuses on matter-antimatter production processes under intense laser pulse conditions. Similar interactions are believed to exist in extreme cosmic environments, such as near pulsars and black hole accretion disks. Previously, such interactions had only been measured at large particle accelerator facilities such as Stanford University and the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), but the electric and magnetic field strengths used in those experiments were far weaker than the strong-field conditions achievable with current high-power lasers.

2026-08-26

U.S. Develops Hybrid Process Combining Electroforming and 3D Printing for Critical Component Manufacturing in Advanced Nuclear Reactors

On August 24, local time, the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) announced that its scientists are collaborating with AJ Tuck Company (AJ Tuck) to develop a hybrid manufacturing process that combines 3D printing and electroforming to produce complex, leak-tight hot isostatic pressing canisters for powder metallurgy hot isostatic pressing processes. The process targets the manufacturing of critical metal components for advanced nuclear reactors and other energy and defense applications, with the goal of shortening production workflows and reducing reliance on traditional large-scale forging and casting supply chains. A hot isostatic pressing canister is a type of sealed container used to compact metal powders into high-performance metal components under high temperature and high pressure. Traditional hot...

2026-08-26

IAEA Director General Unveils Upcoming New Initiative on Maritime Nuclear Energy

Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), recently stated that the Agency is preparing to launch a new initiative to promote the application of civilian nuclear technology in maritime settings. The initiative, named Atomic Technology Licensing for Maritime Applications (ATLAS), will be officially unveiled at an IAEA ministerial event scheduled for August 26-27 in Washington, D.C., United States. The initiative aims to support the deployment of maritime civilian nuclear applications such as nuclear-powered ships and floating nuclear power plants, while facilitating alignment in licensing and regulatory efforts. Grossi stated that the ATLAS initiative could support global trade and help provide energy to remote communities and industrial users...

2026-08-26

Japan's Helical Fusion Publishes Research Results on High-Temperature Superconducting Magnets

Helical Fusion recently announced that its joint research on high-temperature superconducting magnets with the National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS) has passed peer review and been published in the Journal of Physics: Conference Series. The results, previously disclosed in a preliminary report, primarily validate the performance of high-temperature superconducting conductors for fusion reactor applications under strong magnetic fields and high currents. This study tested the UROCOIC high-temperature superconducting conductor independently developed by Helical Fusion. The research team fabricated the conductor into a double-pancake coil sample and used existing test equipment to simulate, as closely as possible, the magnetic field and current environment expected in future fusion reactors.

2026-08-26

Fujifilm Launches New X-ray Bone Densitometer for Early Osteoporosis Screening

Fujifilm Corporation announced on August 26 that it has begun selling a new X-ray bone densitometry device designed to measure bone density in areas such as the lumbar spine and femur, supporting early detection of osteoporosis and fracture risk assessment. According to the company, the X-ray bone densitometer measures bone density using X-rays and is an important diagnostic tool for osteoporosis. The newly launched model is Fujifilm's first new device of this kind since 2018 and will be sold through its subsidiary Fujifilm Medical, with a price of approximately 20 million yen, varying depending on system configuration. The new device incorporates artificial intelligence technology, enhancing automated analysis functions. In the analysis of scanned images...

2026-08-26

Korea's Gil Medical Center Expands Application of Markerless Surface-Guided Radiation Therapy

Gachon University Gil Medical Center in South Korea announced on August 26 that it is expanding the clinical application of markerless surface-guided radiation therapy (SGRT) to enhance the precision and comfort of radiation therapy for cancer patients. According to the hospital, the proportion of markerless SGRT in its radiation therapy procedures has increased from 28% in the first half of 2025 to 37% in the first half of 2026. This change indicates that this treatment-assistive technology, which reduces the burden of skin marking on patients, is gaining broader clinical adoption. Markerless SGRT is an advanced technique used for patient positioning and monitoring during radiation therapy. Unlike conventional methods, patients do not need to retain target line markings on their skin; the treatment system can assist in confirming patient positioning through surface guidance, enabling radiation to be delivered more accurately to the target area.

2026-08-26

South Korean lawmaker calls for heavy ion therapy center in Daejeon to ease regional cancer treatment disparities

South Korean lawmaker Park Yong-gap recently called on the government to support the construction of a heavy ion therapy center in the central region of Daejeon, aiming to improve access to advanced radiation therapy for cancer patients outside the capital area and promote a balanced distribution of regional medical resources. Park stated that heavy ion therapy centers are often referred to as "dream cancer treatment centers." Compared with conventional radiation therapy, heavy ion therapy and proton therapy can target cancer cells more precisely while minimizing impact on surrounding normal tissues, making them advanced particle therapy technologies drawing attention in the current cancer treatment field. According to him, the relevant treatment centers currently in operation in South Korea are mainly concentrated in the capital area, including the heavy ion therapy center at Sinchon Severance Hospital of Yonsei University...

2026-08-26

Jamaica Launches Graduate Training Program in Radiation Protection and Safety, Poised to Become a Regional Center of Excellence in the Caribbean

Jamaica's newly established graduate training program in radiation protection and safety is being viewed as an important platform for enhancing nuclear technology safety capabilities in the Caribbean region. Chris Ardouin, an International Atomic Energy Agency expert and Senior Scientist and Technical Manager of Public Health and Forensic Science at the National Radiation Science Centre of New Zealand, stated that the program demonstrates Jamaica's potential to become a regional center of excellence for radiation protection and safety training. The six-month program, implemented as the first graduate education course in radiation protection and safety under the framework of the University of the West Indies' short-term academic resources, is currently training 12 professionals from seven CARICOM member states, with a focus on enhancing regional...

2026-08-26

U.S. NRIC Selects 13 Nuclear Energy Launch Pad Projects

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) announced on August 24 that 13 new projects have been selected for the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad program. NRIC is based at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). NRIC Director Brad Tomer stated that this round of selections reflects developers' growing commitment to advancing related technologies. The program will provide companies with a priority pathway to DOE authorization, as well as access to expert resources, facility conditions, and targeted regulatory support to adv...

2026-08-26

Rare Germanium Isotope Infrared Spectral Signatures Elucidated in Detail for the First Time

The press service of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science reported on August 25 that scientists from Tomsk Polytechnic University, in collaboration with an international research team, have for the first time conducted a detailed study of the infrared spectra of two rare germanium isotopes and identified characteristic spectral signatures that can be used to recognize the relevant isotopes in complex gas mixtures. The research team selected two highly enriched isotopes—germanium-72 and germanium-73—as the subjects of the study, recording their spectral information using a high-resolution Fourier transform spectrometer. This instrument is capable of resolving closely spaced spectral lines, providing the conditions for analyzing subtle spectral changes induced by isotopic substitution. The researchers stated that precise spectral data for different germanium isotopes remain relatively scarce in the scientific literature, and such data are of significant importance for identifying molecules in planetary atmospheres and for producing ultra-pure germanium isotopes for quantum technologies and modern electronics.

2026-08-26

Two production lines at radiopharmaceutical plant in Russia's Kaluga Region enter trial production

Rosatom recently announced that two production lines at its modern radiopharmaceutical manufacturing facility in the Kaluga Region have entered trial production. The facility, built in accordance with the Eurasian Economic Union's international Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards, is equipped with high-level production equipment and is designed to supply safe, quality-controlled radiopharmaceuticals to the market. According to reports, Rosatom's subsidiary enterprises currently produce more than ten registered diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals, involving isotopes such as iodine-123, iodine-131, technetium-99m, and samarium-153. The new plant's production plan is based on the demand for radioisotope products from Russian medical institutions through 2030. The company...

2026-08-26

Russia's Rostov NPP Releases Chlorella into Cooling Pond to Strengthen Ecological Control

Russia's Rostov NPP recently carried out its annual ecological control operation at the plant's technical reservoir, releasing 3.6 tonnes of a bioactivator based on the planktonic algae chlorella into the water to suppress the risk of algal blooms and maintain the ecological balance of the cooling pond. Rostov NPP is part of Rosenergoatom, the power generation division of Russia's State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom). The operation is part of the plant's long-standing algae management measures, primarily aimed at stabilizing water conditions under climate change and abnormally high temperatures, ensuring the smooth operation of related equipment. Chlorella acts as a natural biofilter, capable of suppressing...

2026-08-26