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Japanese research team experimentally confirms full-gap spin-triplet superconductivity in UBe13

On July 30, 2026, Kobe University and the Japan Atomic Energy Agency announced that a research team led by Professor Hideki Higashibata of the Graduate School of Science at Kobe University, along with Shoko Minami, who was a master's student at the time of the research, in collaboration with Yoshinori Haga, Research Director at the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, and researchers from Osaka University, experimentally confirmed for the first time the existence of a spin-triplet superconducting state with full-gap characteristics in the intermetallic compound UBe13. The findings were published in the Journal of the Physical Society of Japan on June 26 and were selected as an Editor's Choice paper. Since its discovery in 1983, UBe13 has been regarded as an important candidate material for spin-triplet superconductivity. Unlike conventional spin-singlet superconductivity...

2026-08-03

JAEA Develops 3D-Printed Disposable Aerosol Particle Size Classification Device

On July 30, 2026, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency announced the development of a palm-sized, 3D-printed disposable device named µSPLIT (micro splitter) that can separate airborne particles by particle size on-site and collect them onto filters for subsequent or direct measurement. The disposable classification and measurement device µSPLIT (left) separates aerosols by particle size through controlled intake flow rate, with particles collected on filters. (Right) The main unit can be directly connected to a radiation detector via a thin film. According to reports, µSPLIT measures approximately 12 cm × 3 cm × 3 cm and is integrally molded from transparent resin using stereolithography 3D printing technology...

2026-08-03

Japanese Team Discovers New Ordered State of "Electronic Chirality" in Uranium Compound

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency and Tohoku University announced on July 28 that their research team has discovered a new electronic ordered state in the uranium compound URhSn, confirming for the first time in an actual material that even when the crystal structure itself lacks chirality, the arrangement of electrons within the material can spontaneously form right-handed/left-handed characteristics. Chirality generally refers to the property where an object cannot perfectly coincide with its mirror image, such as left and right hands, screw thread directions, and the helical structure of DNA. In the past, material chirality was generally believed to originate from asymmetry in atomic arrangement. This study demonstrates, however, that chirality can also arise from the ordered arrangement of electron distributions. The research team used single-crystal samples of URhSn, composed of uranium, rhodium, and tin, and employed nuclear magnetic...

2026-08-03

Japanese Poll: 76% of Respondents Support Maintaining the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles"

The Tokyo Shimbun, citing a national poll conducted by the Kyodo News-affiliated survey organization from June to July among 3,000 people aged 18 and above, reported that 76% of Japanese support maintaining the Three Non-Nuclear Principles of not manufacturing, not possessing, and not allowing the introduction of nuclear weapons; 77% oppose nuclear-sharing arrangements (i.e., the U.S. stationing nuclear weapons in Japan and operating them jointly). Given that Japan is the only country to have suffered atomic bombing in war, the results highlight strong anti-nuclear sentiment, while debate over whether to revise the principles is intensifying. Support for Japan joining the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons before the first review conference in November stands at 55%, down 5 percentage points from the previous year; opponents account for 42%, of whom 56% believe that joining would not lead to nuclear disarmament. Regarding recent U.S. actions...

2026-08-03

Multinational Team Reveals Mechanisms of Lithiation in Modulating the Structural and Electronic Properties of Borophene Using Synchrotron Techniques

A research team from the Institute of Physics in Zagreb, Croatia, Elettra Synchrotron in Trieste, Italy, Shimane University, and Tokyo University of Science recently conducted a study on the interaction between lithium atoms and borophene, revealing the mechanisms by which lithiation affects the atomic structure and electronic properties of borophene. The findings were published in *ACS Nano* and selected as the journal cover article. (a) Shift of the B 1s core level toward higher binding energy; (b) reduction of the sample work function due to charge transfer from Li atoms to B atoms; (c) lithium atoms (yellow) deposited on borophene (magenta) induce deformation of the borophene lattice, attributed to significant charge redistribution within the system...

2026-08-03

Nitrogen Supply Unit at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Resumes Operation After Malfunction

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) reported on August 1 that a reactor nitrogen supply unit at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station malfunctioned that day, but was subsequently repaired and resumed gas supply. The company stated that during the malfunction, no significant fluctuations were observed in hydrogen concentrations inside the reactors of Units 1 to 3 or in surrounding radiation monitoring data, and no risk of hydrogen explosion was confirmed. The reactor containments and pressure vessels of Units 1 to 3 at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station require continuous nitrogen injection to suppress hydrogen accumulation resulting from radiolysis of water. If hydrogen concentrations exceed a certain level, the risk of hydrogen explosion may increase. According to TEPCO, at 11:14 a.m. on August 1, a worker...

2026-08-03

Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority Begins Revising Seismic Motion Evaluation Guidelines

In response to the data falsification issue at Chubu Electric Power's Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant, Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) has initiated the revision of seismic motion evaluation guidelines. The falsification involves seismic motion evaluation data that underpins the safety of nuclear power plants, carrying significant implications. The NRA has stated it will treat this matter with utmost seriousness, aiming to establish stricter standards and monitoring systems through the guideline revision. Chubu Electric Power's data tampering is a grave issue that undermines public trust in nuclear power plant safety. Seismic motion evaluation is an extremely critical element in assessing the seismic resistance of nuclear power plants, and data accuracy is fundamental to safety. This incident has called into question the safety of the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant, necessitating a thorough investigation and re-evaluation by regulatory authorities. In the revision work...

2026-08-01

Japan's Nuclear Plant Renewal Faces Labor Shortage Challenges

Japan is planning to replace its aging nuclear reactors to enhance the nation's energy independence. However, the key issue is that labor shortages are threatening the progress of this effort. According to reports, up to 70% of related companies have reported difficulties in recruiting personnel, placing greater strain on an already tight schedule. The government has approved plans to build up to five new nuclear reactors by 2040, but the human resource bottleneck at the operational level is becoming an increasingly serious problem. The labor shortage not only affects the progress of new projects but also puts pressure on the safe operation and maintenance of existing nuclear power plants. As aging reactors are gradually...

2026-08-02

Japan's Chugoku Electric Power swings to loss in FY2026 Q1 as nuclear shutdown raises costs

Japan's Chugoku Electric Power Co. announced its consolidated financial results for the first quarter (April-June) of fiscal year 2026 on July 31. During the reporting period, the company's sales increased 4.4% year-on-year to 343.9 billion yen, up 14.3 billion yen from the same period last year, mainly driven by growth in electricity sales volume. Profit performance, however, came under significant pressure. The company posted an operating loss of 5.3 billion yen, an ordinary loss of 3.2 billion yen, and a net loss of 3.7 billion yen for the first quarter, compared with a net profit of 26.8 billion yen in the same period last year, a year-on-year decrease of 30.5 billion yen. This marks the first time since the first quarter of fiscal year 2022 that the company has recorded simultaneous losses in operating profit, ordinary profit, and net profit over a four-year period. The company stated...

2026-08-02

Japan aims to rebuild up to 5 retired nuclear power plants by the 2040s

The Japanese government held a ministerial meeting on nuclear power on July 31 and decided to rebuild up to 5 retired nuclear power plants by the 2040s. This is the first time since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident that the Japanese government has set a specific numerical target for nuclear plant reconstruction. Kansai Electric Power Company's Mihama Nuclear Power Plant Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae stated at the meeting that to steadily advance nuclear power investment, the Takaichi cabinet will continue to promote nuclear energy policy. According to the direction set at the meeting, Japan plans to rebuild 2 to 5 nuclear power plants by the 2040s, with a total installed capacity of approximately 2.2 million to 5.5 million kilowatts; by the 2050s, the reconstruction scale will expand to 11 to 14 plants, with a total installed capacity of approximately 12.7 million to 16 million kilowatts. The Japanese government plans to...

2026-08-01

Six radiation monitoring posts in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, resumed transmission on the morning of the 30th after being interrupted by power outages caused by the earthquake

Radiation monitoring stations in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, have resumed operations after data interruptions caused by the earthquake. On the morning of July 30, data transmission at all monitoring stations returned to normal. The initial cause of the malfunction is believed to be power outages resulting from the earthquake, and the Nuclear Regulation Authority of Japan will conduct further investigations into the matter. A total of six radiation monitoring stations are located in Kumamoto Prefecture, distributed across Kumamoto City, Uto City, and other areas, used for real-time measurement of radiation levels in the environment. Starting around 11 p.m. on July 28, data transmission from these stations was suddenly interrupted, making it impossible to assess local radiation levels. This situation drew significant attention from relevant authorities. According to the Nuclear Regulation Authority of Japan...

2026-07-31

Japan's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station launches 22nd release of radioactive wastewater into the ocean, approximately 7,800 tons this time

On the morning of July 30, 2026, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) initiated a new round of nuclear-contaminated water discharge into the ocean at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. This marks the 4th release within 2026 and the 22nd since the discharge plan began in August 2023. According to data released by TEPCO, this discharge is expected to continue until the 17th of next month, with a total volume of approximately 7,800 tons. The total amount of radioactive substance tritium contained therein is as high as approximately 1.3 trillion becquerels. Prior to this, Japan had conducted a total of 21 rounds of radioactive wastewater discharge by the 24th of this month, with a cumulative discharge volume reaching approximately 165,000 tons. This action continues to draw attention and concern from neighboring countries and the international community. This time...

2026-07-31

QST completes first gyrotron 170 GHz microwave output test at ITER site

The National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) of Japan announced on July 31 that it has completed the integration and operational testing of the first gyrotron system at the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) site in southern France, successfully producing 170 GHz microwave output. This system is used for ITER plasma generation and heating, and is one of the key devices for ITER's plan to commence operations in 2034. The core equipment of this test is the gyrotron, a high-power microwave source. Gyrotron operation requires the coordinated work of peripheral equipment such as power supplies, superconducting coils, and cooling systems. QST previously completed performance testing of eight ITER gyrotron systems at the gyrotron test facility of the Naka Fusion Institute in Japan, and transported components including gyrotrons, superconducting coils, and quasi-optical matching units to the ITER site. Over the past three years, QST has advanced system installation, commissioning, and operational preparation at the site.

2026-07-31

Russian researchers detect anomalous signs in bottomonium states using Belle II experiment data

The Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences recently announced that Russian researchers have detected anomalous phenomena in the analysis of data from the international Belle II experiment, indicating that the structure of certain excited states of bottomonium may be more complex than predicted by traditional models. Bottomonium is a class of unstable heavy particles composed of a bottom quark and an anti-bottom quark. Yevgeny Kovalenko, a young researcher at the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, stated that analysis of Belle II experiment data suggests that certain excited states of bottomonium may contain lighter quark components. In other words, these particles in specific states may not simply be plain bottom quark–anti-bottom quark combinations.

2026-07-31

South Korea Confirms Operating Nuclear Power Units Unaffected by Strong Earthquake in Kyushu, Japan

Following the strong earthquake in the Kyushu region of Japan, related aftershock signals have been detected in southern South Korea. The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) of South Korea stated that inspections confirmed all operating nuclear power units within the country remain unaffected. The NSSC noted that after the earthquake, inspections were conducted on all 27 operating nuclear power units, including the Kori Nuclear Power Plant in Busan and the Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant in Gyeongju, with no significant abnormalities or safety issues found. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) also stated that no reports of damage to nuclear facilities have been received so far. The NSSC will continue to monitor the operational status of nuclear power plants to respond to potential subsequent aftershocks....

2026-07-31