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Auburn University Installs 200 MeV Superconducting Proton Accelerator to Build First University-Led Space Electronics Radiation Testing Facility in the U.S.

Auburn University's Applied Research Institute has announced the installation of a new 200 MeV superconducting proton accelerator, advancing the construction of the nation's first university-led proton testing facility dedicated to space electronics qualification. The system, a RAD-FX-200 superconducting synchrocyclotron manufactured and installed by Mevion Medical Systems, serves as the core component of Auburn University's new radiation-hardening facility. According to reports, the facility will help address gaps in U.S. space qualification testing capacity, providing radiation testing services for microelectronics to government agencies, aerospace, and defense-related industries. Systems such as satellites, missile defense interceptors, spacecraft, and launch vehicles rely on microelectronics, which may be affected by proton radiation in orbital environments. A single radiation-induced failure can cause system loss, and such failures are typically difficult to repair once in orbit...

2026-08-28

Russia Plans to Complete Development of First Domestic Proton Beam Therapy Cyclotron by 2027

Russian scientists plan to complete the development of the country's first domestically produced proton beam therapy cyclotron by 2027, with commissioning to begin in the same year. This progress was announced by Sergey Gertzog, CEO of the Russian National Institute of Electronics and Atomic Energy (NIIEFA), at the recent Technoprom forum held in Novosibirsk. A proton beam therapy cyclotron is a type of charged particle accelerator that uses magnetic and electric fields to accelerate protons to high-energy states, reaching speeds of one-half to two-thirds the speed of light. The accelerated proton beam can target cancerous tumor areas with relative precision for oncological treatment. According to the schedule outlined in Gertzog's report...

2026-08-28

Russia Advances Radiopharmaceutical Development, Plans to Expand into Diagnostics and Treatment of Heart Disease and Other Conditions

Rosatom is developing radiopharmaceuticals for the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, heart disease, and rheumatic conditions, further expanding the application of radionuclide technology in medicine. During the 13th International Technology Development Forum Technoprom-2026 held in Novosibirsk, Sergei Surov, Director of the Department of Radionuclide Products and Nuclear Medicine at Rosatom's Science Division, stated that the company is advancing the development of these drugs. Radiopharmaceuticals typically contain radioactive isotopes, i.e., radionuclides, and are currently used in medicine primarily for the diagnosis and treatment of various cancers. Surov noted that the new development directions mean...

2026-08-28

South Korean research team evaluates pipe rupture risk in nuclear power plants using probabilistic analysis

Researchers from Seoul National University of Science and Technology in South Korea have recently proposed a sensitivity analysis method based on probabilistic fracture mechanics to evaluate the rupture frequency of main coolant piping systems in nuclear power plants. This method can analyze the impact of uncertainties and modeling assumptions on prediction results, helping engineers distinguish extremely low-probability events from relatively more likely failure scenarios. In nuclear power plants, the main coolant piping system plays a critical role in maintaining structural integrity under normal reactor operating conditions. A pipe rupture could trigger a loss-of-coolant accident, and therefore this system has long been included in the key scope of nuclear power plant safety design and assessment.

2026-08-28

Zhangzhou Nuclear Power Unit 4 Completes Hoisting of Four Internal Structure Modules

From August 18 to 27, CNNC 24 completed the hoisting of four concrete modules for the internal structure of Zhangzhou Nuclear Power Unit 4 within 10 consecutive days, covering the evaporator compartments of Loops 3, 2, and 1 as well as the pressurizer compartment, creating conditions for subsequent loop installation and commissioning work. The evaporator and pressurizer are key equipment in the nuclear island loops. The corresponding compartment concrete modules serve both load-bearing fixation and protection functions, representing an important embodiment of the "Hualong One" defense-in-depth safety philosophy at the civil construction stage. The four modules hoisted this time are all irregularly shaped structures, all adopting the "off-site prefabrication + integral modular hoisting" process, with a total hoisting weight of approximately 2,400 tons. Compared with Unit 3, Unit 4 achieved 3...

2026-08-28

Safety-level DCS Response Time Testing for Unit 3 of Xudabao Nuclear Power Plant Successfully Completed

Recently, with the final test data confirmed to be accurate, the safety-level DCS (Digital Control System) response time testing for Unit 3 of Xudabao Nuclear Power Plant was successfully completed. All test results met the requirements, with no abnormal equipment actions throughout the entire process, providing reliable instrumentation and control assurance for the subsequent fuel loading and stable operation of the unit. The test lasted 14 days and covered 182 test cases, encompassing more than 1,500 functional tests for reactor trip and engineered safety features systems. As a critical step before fuel loading, the safety-level DCS response time test holds significant reference value for verifying the response performance of the unit's safety systems. To ensure the successful completion of the test, the instrumentation and control team adhered to the work philosophy of "comprehensive preparation, strong collaboration, experience feedback, and pragmatic execution," advancing all tasks in an orderly manner.

2026-08-27

Tohoku University and Rigaku Establish Joint Research Institute for X-ray Metrology

Tohoku University and Rigaku Corporation, a subsidiary of Rigaku Holdings Group, recently announced that they established the "Rigaku-Tohoku University X-ray Metrology Co-Creation Research Institute Beyond The Limits" on August 1, 2026, and commenced joint research. The institute will operate for a period of three years, until July 31, 2029, with the possibility of extension based on research outcomes. According to the announcement, the new institute will focus on upgrading X-ray metrology technologies, establishing new measurement methods, and nurturing the next generation of researchers. As semiconductor devices continue to shrink in size while becoming increasingly multi-layered and multi-material in composition, manufacturing processes are growing more complex, driving rising demand for high-precision, non-destructive evaluation of materials and structures. Existing measurement methods face limitations in evaluating fine structures and precisely analyzing depth-direction structures, making the development of new approaches such as soft X-ray techniques an important direction.

2026-08-27

Iran Says Nuclear Fusion to Become Priority in Nuclear Industry Development

At a national Government Week celebration ceremony held in Tehran, Mohammad Eslami stated that developing nuclear fusion is a priority direction for the future of Iran's nuclear industry. Iran needs to rely on its domestic capabilities, knowledge-based enterprises, and universities to drive progress in related fields. Eslami said that the innovation network of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) is providing support for nuclear fusion activities, shifting related work from the technology demonstration stage further toward system development and capacity building. He also stated that the establishment of the Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) training center is an initiative to enhance industrial quality, promote technological advancement, and cultivate domestic professional expertise...

2026-08-27

Moffitt Cancer Center in the U.S. Launches $600 Million Radiopharmaceutical Program

Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, recently announced the launch of a new radiopharmaceutical program, planning to accelerate radiopharmaceutical research, development, and clinical translation through a total infrastructure investment of $600 million. The program will be advanced at the Speros campus of Moffitt Cancer Center in Pasco County, Florida. The campus spans 775 acres, and the related investment will support the development of radiopharmaceutical research and development capabilities, including the construction of new radiochemistry laboratories within the Moffitt Discovery and Innovation Center, which opens this fall. The innovation center has a building area of approximately 255,000 square feet. The program funding will also support the planned comprehensive theranostics center...

2026-08-27

South Korea's KSTAR to Conduct Long-Pulse Fusion Research in Tungsten Environment with European Institutions

The Korea Institute of Fusion Energy (KFE) announced on August 27 that it has signed implementation agreements with multiple fusion research institutions in France, Italy, Germany, and Finland to conduct joint research on long-duration plasma operation in a tungsten environment using the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) device. Partner institutions include the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) in Germany, and the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT). The institutions will focus on key technologies required for long-pulse operation of future fusion reactors...

2026-08-27

South Korea's Woojin Entech Patents Diagnostic Device for APR1400 Control Rod Position Transmitter

South Korea's Woojin Entech announced on August 27 that it has completed the development of a precision diagnostic device for the Control Rod Position Transmitter (RSPT) applicable to APR1400 units and has completed the relevant patent registration. The Control Rod Position Transmitter is used to measure the position of control rods within the reactor and transmit related signals to the control system, making it a critical component for reactor control and monitoring. The patented diagnostic device is primarily designed to accurately assess the status of the control rod control system and to pre-check multiple types of fault conditions before unit operation. According to the company, existing RSPT precision diagnostic systems require the installation of multiple cables during testing, making preparation work relatively complex...

2026-08-27

Lanzhou Taiji Completes Key Commissioning of First Domestic Multi-Ion Therapy Device HiTS400

The first domestically produced multi-ion therapy device HiTS400, independently developed by Lanzhou Taiji and installed at Shandong Cancer Hospital, recently completed phased joint commissioning. After one week of operational testing, all beam parameters of the device met or exceeded contractual requirements, laying the foundation for subsequent clinical registration work. According to reports, HiTS400 is a medical ion accelerator independently developed by Lanzhou Taiji with full intellectual property rights. It can stably deliver four ion species: C^6+, H^+, He^2+, and O^8+, and is equipped with multi-angle fixed treatment nozzles and a lightweight superconducting heavy-ion rotating gantry, integrating modulated scanning technology to advance the development and application of multi-ion combined therapy devices. On August 14, 2026, the device obtained an amendment to its Radiation Safety License from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, granting qualification for commissioning and operation. In the early morning of August 20, the equipment achieved stable acceleration and precise extraction of carbon ion beams. Measured data show that the particle number after synchrotron acceleration reached 3.26E9 ppp, the terminal particle number reached 3.02E9 ppp, the extraction efficiency was 92%, and beam stability was no less than 95%.

2026-08-26

U.S. Submits Civil Nuclear Agreement with Saudi Arabia to Congress for Review

U.S. government officials said on August 25 that President Donald Trump has submitted a proposed civil nuclear energy agreement with Saudi Arabia to Congress for review. The agreement, reached in July this year, includes provisions allowing U.S. companies to export civil nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia. Under the relevant procedures, Congress will have 90 session days to review the agreement. Two congressional sources said the agreement has been submitted to congressional leadership and is expected to be referred to relevant committees for consideration. If Congress raises no objections within the specified period, the agreement will enter into effect; if Congress rejects the agreement, Trump may still exercise his veto power, and Congress would need a two-thirds majority to override the presidential veto...

2026-08-26

Netherlands advances front-end engineering design for two new nuclear power plants

The Netherlands Nuclear Organization (NEO NL) has awarded contracts to Électricité de France (EDF) and Westinghouse Electric Company (Westinghouse) to conduct design studies for two proposed new nuclear power plants in the Netherlands. The work is seen as the next step in the construction preparation phase, with both companies set to launch the first phase of studies after the summer. These design studies, internationally referred to as Front-End Engineering Design Phase 1 (FEED 1), will be implemented in two stages. The first stage, FEED 1a, is independent of specific plant site selection, allowing work to proceed while the Dutch government advances its siting process...

2026-08-26

Westinghouse eVinci Microreactor Completes Zero-Power Criticality Testing

Westinghouse Electric Company announced on August 25 that its eVinci microreactor has completed zero-power criticality testing, validating relevant models and key assumptions in the core design. The test was completed at 10:39 a.m. Pacific Time on August 24, 2026, at the National Criticality Experiments Research Center (NCERC) at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS). The center is operated under the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). The test was conducted by Westinghouse Electric in collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and Idaho National Laboratory (INL). Zero-power criticality is typically used to verify that a reactor core can achieve a self-sustaining chain fission state at extremely low power levels, serving as a critical step in reactor physics testing and design validation...

2026-08-26