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Study Reveals Three-Dimensional Pore Networks Inside Uranium-Zirconium Metallic Nuclear Fuel

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in collaboration with Idaho National Laboratory (INL), conducted three-dimensional imaging studies on irradiated uranium-10 zirconium metallic fuel, revealing the internal pore networks within the fuel and their relationship with chemical changes and fuel-cladding interactions. The researchers believe these results will help improve metallic fuel performance models, providing references for extending the operating cycles of certain reactors and for the design of next-generation sodium-cooled fast reactor fuel systems. Uranium-10 zirconium (U-10Zr) is a uranium-zirconium alloy metallic fuel containing 10% zirconium, which has been extensively tested in sodium-cooled fast reactors such as Experimental Breeder Reactor II (EBR-II) and the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF). As advanced reactor research and development progresses, this type of metallic fuel has regained attention, but the details of pore formation, swelling, heat transfer, and interactions with cladding materials under reactor irradiation conditions still require further clarification.

2026-08-13

Major Fusion Energy Appointment in the UK: MIT Professor Dennis Whyte Named CEO of UKAEA

The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has appointed Professor Dennis Whyte, a fusion energy expert from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as its new Chief Executive Officer, with his tenure officially commencing in autumn 2026. This appointment comes at a critical stage in the UK's accelerated push toward fusion energy commercialisation, signalling the country's intent to strengthen its position in the global fusion energy race by attracting international talent with combined expertise in research, engineering, and industrialisation. The UK government previously announced an investment of £2.5 billion in fusion energy research, development, and innovation over the five-year period ending in 2030. Upon taking office, Whyte will be tasked with advancing the R&D system, accelerating technology commercialisation, expanding industrial and international collaboration, and translating scientific...

2026-08-13

Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee Demands Enhanced Security for Energy and Nuclear Facilities

On August 12, Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee (NAK) held a meeting chaired by Alexander Bortnikov, Director of the Federal Security Service, to discuss security issues at transportation, fuel-energy complex, and nuclear energy industrial facilities. The Committee emphasized the need to strengthen comprehensive security safeguards and respond more effectively to sabotage and terrorist threats. The meeting proposed that protecting energy and nuclear industrial facilities should not remain at the institutional level alone, but rather should develop more targeted priority tasks based on evolving actual risks. Damage to fuel-energy systems and nuclear industrial facilities could affect the stability of energy supply and trigger broader security risks, which is why their level of protection is regarded as...

2026-08-13

Russian Scholars Discuss Prospects and Limitations of Low-Dose Ionizing Radiation in Agriculture

Russian researchers have recently proposed a rapid bacterial detection method for determining optimal doses of ionizing radiation for animals. Related studies suggest that low-dose radiation in the range of tens to hundreds of milligrays (mGy) may activate physiological processes such as metabolism, growth, and biomass accumulation, offering new technical approaches for livestock farming, veterinary medicine, and related fields. The ionizing radiation food processing center at the L.Ya. Karpov Institute of Physical Chemistry in Obninsk. Photo: Kaluga Region State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company. In response to this direction, the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute)...

2026-08-13

Cooling seawater temperature at South Korean nuclear power plants approaches design limit

South Korean Climate, Energy and Environment Minister Kim Sung-hwan said on August 11 that due to recent rises in seawater temperature, the temperature of seawater used for cooling at South Korean nuclear power plants has approached the design limit. The government is working with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) to study countermeasures such as adjusting the location of water intake points. Kim Sung-hwan made the remarks on the same day while answering a question from lawmaker Park Ji-hye at a plenary session of the National Assembly's Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee, stating that the temperature of seawater used for cooling at nuclear power plants has recently approached the limit, and that KHNP and the government are closely monitoring the situation. He said nuclear power plants cannot be easily shut down over this issue...

2026-08-12

US Hanford Submits Permit Modification Applications to Accelerate Tank Waste Cleanup via "Vitrification + Grouting"

The U.S. Department of Energy's Hanford Field Office recently submitted two permit modification applications to the Washington State Department of Ecology, planning to accelerate the cleanup of radioactive waste in tanks at the Hanford site through a dual-track treatment strategy of "vitrification + grouting." The DOE stated that this approach is expected to reduce risks from aging tanks and save taxpayers billions of dollars. The waste primarily targeted by these applications is low-activity liquid waste processed through the Tank-Side Cesium Removal system, which removes more than 99.9% of radioactive materials from the treated waste. The DOE stated that the proposed permit changes would integrate tank-side treatment, grout solidification, and out-of-state disposal into a standardized process to continue advancing the treatment and transfer of some waste beyond the capacity of the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant.

2026-08-11

Meeting of the New Academic Committee of the Key Laboratory of Radiation Environmental Monitoring of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment Held in Beijing

Recently, the meeting of the new academic committee of the Key Laboratory of Radiation Environmental Monitoring of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (hereinafter referred to as the Key Laboratory) was successfully held in Beijing. Experts from multiple domestic universities, research institutes, and leading industry enterprises gathered together to discuss the construction, scientific and technological innovation, and the 15th Five-Year Plan development of the Key Laboratory. The Radiation Environmental Monitoring Technical Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the supporting institution of the Key Laboratory, attended the meeting. The meeting first announced the appointment documents for the new academic committee and held a certificate awarding ceremony. In his address, the main responsible person of the Radiation Environmental Monitoring Technical Center congratulated the establishment of the new academic committee and expressed gratitude to the experts who have long supported the construction of the Key Laboratory...

2026-08-11

MIT Research Proposes Framework for Assessing Economic Viability of Fusion Power Plants

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have recently proposed an assessment framework aimed at addressing the core question that fusion energy must confront in transitioning from scientific feasibility to commercial profitability: how can a fusion power plant achieve economic viability in the energy market? The related open-access paper, titled "Criteria for the Economic Viability of Fusion Power Plants," has been published online in the Journal of Fusion Energy. The paper is authored by Dennis Whyte, Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering at MIT, and Andrew W. Lo, Professor of Finance at the MIT Sloan School of Management, with contributions from researchers at Rutherford Energy Ventures and the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center.

2026-08-10

Arab League Holds Second Technical Committee Meeting on Nuclear and Radiation Emergency Preparedness Roadmap, Focusing on Cross-Border Coordination and Alignment with IAEA Obligations

The General Secretariat of the League of Arab States held its second open-ended technical committee meeting at its headquarters from August 9 to 10, focusing on following up on the implementation of the Arab cooperation roadmap for nuclear and radiation emergency preparedness and response. The meeting was attended by representatives of Arab member states, the Arab Atomic Energy Agency (AAEA), and relevant Arab and international organizations, indicating that this issue has risen from mere technical cooperation to an important component of regional security governance. The core objective of the meeting is to enhance the coordination capacity and response capability of Arab countries in the face of nuclear accidents and radiological emergencies. As nuclear technology continues to expand in energy, medical, industrial, and scientific research applications, nuclear...

2026-08-10

After only 4 days of restart, Unit 2 of France's Golfech Nuclear Power Plant shut down again due to Garonne River water temperature approaching limit

On the evening of August 8, French utility EDF (Électricité de France) once again shut down Unit 2 of the Golfech Nuclear Power Plant, just four days after the unit had been restarted. The direct cause of this shutdown was that the water temperature of the Garonne River was expected to reach 28°C on August 9, hitting the local operational limit. Since Unit 1 had already been taken offline for maintenance and fuel replacement, the closure of Unit 2 left both reactors at the Golfech plant simultaneously out of service, with the station temporarily ceasing power generation. Located in the Tarn-et-Garonne department of France, the Golfech Nuclear Power Plant was commissioned between 1991 and 1994, and features two 1,300 MW pressurized water reactor units. It draws cooling water from the Garonne River and dissipates heat through natural-draft cooling towers. According to EDF dat...

2026-08-10

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to Raise Spent Fuel Pool Water Levels to Mitigate Power Outage Risks

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated that the operator of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has decided to raise the water levels in the spent fuel pools on site to enhance safety buffer capacity in the event of a prolonged loss of external power. The primary purpose of raising the water levels is to extend the time before water in the spent fuel pools begins to boil and evaporate under extreme conditions where external power to the plant is interrupted for an extended period, diesel reserves are depleted, and emergency diesel generators can no longer supply power to the cooling systems. Spent fuel pools are used to store used nuclear fuel underwater, typically for at least five years, allowing its radioactivity and residual heat to gradually decay, making continuous cooling a critical element of nuclear safety. All six units at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant...

2026-08-08

French innovative nuclear company Newcleo submits regulatory engagement plan to NRC for U.S. MOX fuel plant

On August 7, 2026, France-based innovative nuclear company Newcleo submitted a Regulatory Engagement Plan (REP) to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), paving the way for its proposed mixed oxide (MOX) fuel fabrication facility in the United States. The REP defines the framework for the company's pre-application phase with the NRC, key regulatory and technical topics, technical document submittals, and an indicative schedule. Previously, Newcleo sent a letter to the NRC on February 23 expressing its intent, and initiated pre-application interactions in March, engaging with the NRC on the design and safety approach for the LFR-AS-200 lead-cooled fast reactor and the associated MOX plant; last month, it had already submitted the REP for the LFR-AS-200 (200 MWe commercial version). Newcleo stated that this submission is a step toward advanced...

2026-08-09

Indian Parliamentary Committee Emphasizes Urgency of Accelerating Uranium Mining Projects

On August 7, 2026, the Indian Parliamentary Committee on Public Undertakings noted in its report on nuclear power expansion progress that India's uranium mining project expansion needs to be accelerated. DAE has committed UCIL to doubling production by 2036 through enhancing existing capacity and new projects in Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, but the committee considers this timeline too late—NPCIL's installed capacity will surge significantly over the next decade, and delays in mining clusters would prolong the strategic vulnerability period of imported fuel. Currently, PHWR units of approximately 25 GWe require about 5,400 tonnes of U3O8 annually, with UCIL able to meet only about 30% of that demand; accelerated domestic production and diversified supply are needed to reduce import dependence. The committee supports UCIL forming a joint venture with NTPC to acquire equity stakes in overseas uranium assets...

2026-08-08

Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Hosts Academic Seminar on PSMA-Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals

On August 3, the Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences held an academic seminar, inviting Professor Lin Guoxian from the BC Cancer Agency in Vancouver, Canada, to deliver a lecture titled "Development of Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen-Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Prostate Cancer." The seminar was held in a hybrid format, with some researchers and graduate students from the institute attending in person. Professor Lin Guoxian has long been engaged in the development of targeted radiopharmaceuticals for cancer diagnosis and therapy, having led or contributed to the publication of over 135 peer-reviewed journal articles, filed more than 30 patent applications related to radiopharmaceuticals, and completed clinical translation of 7 self-developed radiopharmaceuticals applied in...

2026-08-07

Hu Jinjun, Member of the Standing Committee of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Publicity Department, Conducts Research in Huizhou: Advancing Marine Economy Toward High-Quality Development by Leveraging the Sea

Recently, Hu Jinjun, Member of the Standing Committee of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Publicity Department, conducted research in Huizhou, emphasizing the need to thoroughly study and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions on promoting high-quality development of the marine economy, implement the provincial party committee's deployment requirements, orderly advance post-disaster recovery from Severe Typhoon Hongxia, consolidate the foundation during resumption of work and production, adhere to leveraging the sea for strength, and accelerate the high-quality development of the marine economy. Hu Jinjun and his delegation visited Guangdong Huangjing Marine Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Haozhaolou Wetland Park, the two major scientific facilities of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, CGN Taipingling Nuclear Power Station, and Unilumin Technology Huizhou Daya Bay Science and Technology Park, among other sites, to learn about the protection of Chinese bahaba germplasm resources and innovation in the southern sea large yellow croaker seed industry, marine ecological protection, commercialization of achievements from major scientific facilities, construction and operation of major energy projects, and R&D and manufacturing of cultural equipment, expressing recognition for the relevant work.

2026-08-07