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Jamaica Commissions Cobalt-60 Gamma Irradiator to Support Sterile Insect Technique and Agricultural Research

A new gamma irradiator at the International Centre for Environmental and Nuclear Sciences at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica has been commissioned, providing new technical capabilities for the country's research in vector-borne disease control, agricultural improvement, and nuclear technology applications. The equipment began operation in October 2024 and was officially inaugurated in August 2025, currently focusing primarily on sterile insect technique research, with the main objective of controlling Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. John Antoine, head of the Nuclear Analysis Laboratory and senior research scientist at the International Centre for Environmental and Nuclear Sciences, explained that the irradiator can deliver controlled, measurable doses of radiation to samples or products without making the samples or products themselves radioactive. He compared the...

2026-09-08

U.S. Research Team Discovers Strong Ultrafast Optical Response Induced by Ionizing Radiation, Potentially Advancing Medical Imaging and Sensing Technologies

September 3 news, Stanford University and the U.S. Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory research team used ultrafast electron and laser pulses to observe a strong ultrafast optical response triggered by ionization processes in semiconductor materials. The related research has been published in Nature Photonics. The researchers believe this discovery could provide new insights for radiography and sensing technologies, and also offer experimental evidence for understanding the fundamental behavior of materials under high-energy particle interactions. Radiation detection is a key technology in particle accelerators, scientific instruments, medical imaging, and security screening equipment. Existing detectors typically face a trade-off between signal strength and response speed: processes with stronger signals tend to be slower, while those with faster response may produce weaker signals...

2026-09-08

Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute to Jointly Build Neutron Cultural Heritage Protection Laboratory

On September 2, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute signed a strategic cooperation agreement to jointly advance the construction of the Neutron Cultural Heritage Protection Laboratory, promoting the deep integration of modern technology and cultural heritage conservation. Yang Zhenbin, Party Secretary of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Pu Xin, Deputy Director of the Sichuan Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration, delivered speeches respectively and jointly witnessed the signing. The collaboration focuses on the scientific research, conservation, and transmission of significant cultural heritage sites including Sanxingdui. The Sanxingdui site is a vital component of the Chinese Civilization Exploration Project. With the continuous advancement of archaeological excavations in recent years, a large number of precious artifacts have been unearthed, with increasingly complex structures and materials. How to accurately obtain their internal structure, material composition, manufacturing techniques, and preservation status without damaging the artifacts themselves has become a critical issue in cultural heritage conservation and archaeological research...

2026-09-08

Saudi Arabia to Expand IAEA Verification Authority

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi said on September 7 that Saudi Arabia is preparing to grant the IAEA additional verification and monitoring authority beyond its existing safeguards obligations. The arrangement is similar in some mechanisms to the Additional Protocol, but the proposed US-Saudi civilian nuclear cooperation agreement does not include provisions requiring Saudi Arabia to sign the Additional Protocol. In July, the United States and Saudi Arabia reached an agreement on civilian nuclear cooperation. According to available information, the agreement would allow Saudi Arabia to conduct uranium enrichment and build nuclear reactors using US technology. Some nonproliferation organizations have previously criticized that the proposed...

2026-09-08

South Korea Notifies IAEA of Intention to Consult on Safeguards Arrangements for Nuclear-Powered Submarine

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi said Monday at the agency's Board of Governors meeting in Vienna that South Korea has formally notified the IAEA of its intention to consult with the agency on safeguards arrangements for its envisioned nuclear-powered submarine program. Grossi stated that South Korea has notified the IAEA Secretariat of its intent to discuss relevant arrangements pursuant to Article 14 of its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (CSA). This provision allows a country to use nuclear material for non-prohibited military purposes, such as naval nuclear propulsion, under arrangements concluded with the IAEA. It was noted that South Korea also reaffirmed its continued commitment to fulfilling its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the Comprehensive Safeguards Agre...

2026-09-08

CERN Accelerator Control Systems to Migrate to Debian 13

Representatives from the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) stated at the MiniDebConf conference that they plan to migrate over 2,200 industrial and embedded computers used to control their accelerator complex from RHEL to Debian 13 by the end of 2026. The systems involved include control computers for the Large Hadron Collider as well as several independent experimental facilities. CERN also clarified that this migration applies only to accelerator control-related equipment and will not affect data centers or experimental systems. Those data centers and experimental systems will continue to use RHEL/AlmaLinux. According to reports, CERN engineers had previously considered migrating the relevant systems to CentOS Stream, but...

2026-09-08

IAEA Technical Meeting on Data Requirements for Ion Beam Analysis Explores Prospects for Nuclear Track Emulsion Applications

From 24 to 28 August 2026, the International Atomic Energy Agency convened a Technical Meeting on Data Requirements for Ion Beam Analysis Experiments in Vienna, Austria, attended by scientists and experts from multiple nuclear physics research institutions. The meeting discussed the nuclear data requirements for current and future applications of ion beam analysis, with attention to new experimental methods and the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning in experiments and data processing. The meeting focused on assessing whether existing nuclear data can meet the needs of ion beam analysis applications, covering areas such as elastic recoil cross sections, nuclear reaction data, and gamma-ray spectrum analysis. Experts discussed the limitations that insufficient existing data impose on quantitative analysis and uncertainty assessment...

2026-09-08

Swiss Nuclear Decommissioning and Waste Disposal Funds Both Show Surpluses

As of the end of 2025, the combined assets of Switzerland's nuclear facility decommissioning fund and nuclear power plant waste disposal fund approached CHF 10 billion, equivalent to approximately EUR 10.6 billion and USD 12.3 billion, up from CHF 9.65 billion at the end of 2024 and exceeding the established funding targets. According to Swissnuclear, the decommissioning fund stood at approximately CHF 3.03 billion, up from CHF 2.98 billion in 2024, while the waste disposal fund reached approximately CHF 6.96 billion, up from CHF 6.66 billion in 2024. Based on target calculations, the decommissioning fund target is CHF 2.76 billion and the waste disposal fund target is CHF 5.9 billion, with the two funds exceeding their targets by approximately 9.8% and 1...

2026-09-08

Global nuclear power generation hits record high in 2025

According to the World Nuclear Outlook Report released by the World Nuclear Association (WNA), global electricity generation from nuclear reactors reached 2,702 TWh in 2025, up from 2,667 TWh in 2024, setting a new historical record. The report estimates that if all countries' stated nuclear energy targets are fully achieved, global nuclear installed capacity could more than triple current levels by 2050. The report assesses the progress made by 38 countries toward the goal of tripling global nuclear capacity by 2050, and puts forward policy recommendations for governments, industry, financial institutions, and regulators. In terms of operating nuclear units, the report notes that despite the increasing service life of individual units, global nuclear power plants...

2026-09-08

South Korea's DuChemBio to Build Country's First Radiopharmaceutical CDMO Plant

South Korean radiopharmaceutical therapy company DuChemBio will build the country's first contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) plant dedicated to radiopharmaceuticals, in response to growing demand for radiopharmaceuticals used in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and neurological diseases. DuChemBio is a subsidiary of healthcare distributor Geo-Young Group. The company recently signed an investment agreement with North Jeolla Province and the city of Jeongeup to invest KRW 34.3 billion (approximately USD 25.5 million) in building a new plant in Jeongeup. The company stated that this is the largest investment since Geo-Young acquired DuChemBio. According to the plan, the new facility will integrate radioisotope production...

2026-09-08

Argentina Plans to Commission RA-10 Multipurpose Reactor in 2027

Argentina's National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) and the Nuclear Affairs Secretariat recently stated that the RA-10 multipurpose research reactor at the Ezeiza Atomic Centre is planned to begin commissioning before the end of this year, with the goal of achieving operation in 2027. (Image source: CNEA) According to the project site, RA-10 is currently in its final phase, with approximately 530 workers completing the remaining construction and system testing in preparation for subsequent reactor commissioning and operation. The project is currently about 96% complete overall. RA-10 is a 30 MW open-pool multipurpose research reactor that will provide products and services to the medical, scientific, technological, and industrial sectors once completed. Among these, molybdenum-99 will be one of its key products...

2026-09-08

Destroyed Syrian Nuclear Reactor May Have Had Capability to Produce Nuclear Weapons Material

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi said on September 7 that a Syrian nuclear reactor, which was destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in 2007 while it was nearly complete, was of a type capable of relatively quickly producing fissile material that could be used in nuclear weapons. The IAEA recently concluded its investigation into Syria's past covert nuclear activities. The investigation found approximately 73 tons of natural uranium metal, primarily in the form of reactor fuel. In a report submitted to member states, the agency confirmed that its previous assessment remained unchanged: the destroyed facility in Deir ez-Zor Province in eastern Syria was a nuclear reactor under construction, and the associated fuel had also been manufactured within Syria.

2026-09-08

UK Report Says Russia's Uranium Supply Share Could Rise to 36% by 2040

The UK-based non-governmental organization Center for Strategic Advantage (CSA) recently released a report stating that if countries advance uranium production according to existing plans and operate all deposits at full capacity, Russia's share of global uranium supply could rise from roughly one-quarter at present to 36% by 2040. The report argues that Western countries face issues such as insufficient investment and delays in permitting new mine development, making it difficult to meet future demand. Meanwhile, Russia's uranium mining capacity is expected to continue growing. Project director Gareth Heywood stated that by 2040, some countries' dependence on Russian uranium production could approach the level of their dependence on Russian natural gas and oil around 2022.

2026-09-08

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Restores External Power Supply

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) has resumed receiving external electricity via the 330 kV Ferrospravnaya-1 transmission line. Previously, since August 20, the plant had relied on backup diesel generators to maintain essential on-site power for a duration of 19 days. Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, stated that the plant has switched from diesel generator power to external power supply and is currently operating normally. The Zaporizhzhia NPP reported that following the restoration of the Ferrospravnaya-1 line, the backup diesel generators have been placed on standby. Rafael...

2026-09-08

South Korea Calls on Vietnam to Support Korean Companies' Participation in Nuclear Power Plant Projects

According to the South Korean Prime Minister's Office, the Prime Minister recently met with the Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly, who was on an official visit to South Korea, at the Seoul Government Complex, where the two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and ways to expand cooperation. The South Korean side expressed its hope to promote the continued development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. During the talks, South Korea specifically requested that the Vietnamese National Assembly continue to pay attention to and support the resolution of difficulties faced by Korean energy companies operating in Vietnam, while creating favorable conditions for Korean companies to participate in infrastructure projects in Vietnam, including high-speed railways and nuclear power plants. The Vietnamese side stated that the Vietnamese National Assembly is continuously improving its legal and policy framework to create a better investment environment and welcomes Korean companies to pay attention to Vietnam's infrastructure...

2026-09-08