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Dark Energy Survey Releases Six-Year Results: Data from 669 Million Galaxies Helps Constrain Cosmic Accelerated Expansion

On August 4, the Dark Energy Survey (DES) project released its six-year findings on dark energy detection. The project compiled 18 related papers, based on nearly 300,000 astronomical images captured between 2013 and 2019, recording information on 669 million galaxies, thousands of galaxy clusters, and more than 3,000 supernovae to study the accelerated expansion of the universe and the evolution of cosmic structure. To carry out DES, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory built an extremely sensitive 570-megapixel digital camera, DECam, which was installed on the Blanco 4-meter telescope at the National Science Foundation's Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in the Chilean Andes. (Image courtesy of Reidar Hahn/Fermi National Acceler...

2026-08-06

U.S. Laboratories Plan "Materials Discovery Cloud" to Use AI to Predict Impact of Defects in Microelectronic Devices

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Northwestern University are planning to develop a Materials Discovery Cloud platform that leverages a physics-based artificial intelligence framework to predict how tiny defects affect the performance and lifespan of microelectronic devices. Visualization of the Materials Discovery Cloud, a physics-based AI framework that integrates experimental data, simulations, and high-performance computing to predict how tiny defects affect the performance and lifespan of microelectronic devices. (Image provided by ChatGPT.) Microelectronic devices are widely used in smartphones, laptops, secure communications, and artificial intelligence hardware. As device dimensions continue to shrink and operating speeds increase, tiny defects within materials and at interfaces have a more pronounced impact on device stability. These defects can cause overheating, leakage current, switching instability, and other issues, or in certain conditions, improve electrical or thermal performance. Identifying critical defects and understanding their evolution under real-world operating conditions has become a key challenge in the design of next-generation microelectronic materials.

2026-08-06

United States to Host IAEA ATLAS Initiative Ministerial Launch

The United States will host the ministerial launch of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Atoms for Transport Licensing and Applications at Sea (ATLAS) Initiative in Washington, D.C., on August 26-27, 2026. The event will bring together ministers, policymakers, and industry representatives to discuss topics related to the safe and reliable application of nuclear technology in the maritime domain. The ATLAS Initiative aims to establish an international framework to harmonize legal and regulatory issues facing maritime nuclear energy applications and to support the deployment of related civilian nuclear technologies. Building on the IAEA's experience in nuclear safety, nuclear security, and safeguards, the Initiative emphasizes technology neutrality and places safety, security, and non-proliferation requirements as the foundation for advancing maritime nuclear applications...

2026-08-06

University of Kansas Receives DOE Funding to Build New-Generation Detectors for CERN's Large Hadron Collider

A particle detector development project led by the University of Kansas has recently received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy's Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DOE EPSCoR). The project, funded at $1 million, will be used to design and build two High-Luminosity Zero Degree Calorimeters (HL-ZDC) for the Compact Muon Solenoid experiment (CMS) at CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The four-year project is co-led by Michael Murray, professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Kansas, and Christophe Royon, distinguished professor at the University of Kansas. Murray also serves as the project lead for the CMS High-Luminosity Zero Degree Calorimeter upgrade...

2026-08-06

Leonardo DRS to Build New Facility in Connecticut, U.S. to Support Growth in Naval Nuclear Propulsion-Related Business

Leonardo DRS announced on August 4 that it has signed an agreement to build a new facility in Brookfield, Connecticut, U.S., to expand and consolidate its naval electric power systems operations. The project aims to increase production capacity, support key U.S. Navy-related programs, and provide space and infrastructure for the company's future growth in the nuclear energy sector. According to the company's disclosure, the new facility is located at 120 Park Ridge Road in Brookfield, covering approximately 141,087 square feet. Once completed, the facility will consolidate operations currently spread across three locations in Danbury and Bethel, Connecticut. The facility is expected to be operational in early 2027, with partial occupancy potentially available by late 2026 if final design and tenant fit-out work proceed smoothly.

2026-08-06

US Oak Ridge National Laboratory Advances New Process to Boost Californium-252 Production

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), under the US Department of Energy, is advancing a new Californium-252 (Cf-252) separation process to address growing market demand. The laboratory stated that this process, developed over nearly a decade of research, is expected to shorten the Cf-252 production cycle by about one week, significantly improving processing efficiency without altering product quality. Californium-252 is a neutron-emitting radioisotope used in nuclear reactor startup, fuel testing for new reactors, as well as in oil well logging, coal analysis, port security, fuel rod scanners, and instrument calibration. ORNL noted that it is the only producer of Cf-252 in the Western world...

2026-08-05

IsoEnergy and DISA to Form DISA Uranium, Advancing U.S. Uranium Recovery and Processing Platform

IsoEnergy Ltd. and DISA Technologies, Inc. have entered into a definitive agreement to jointly establish DISA Uranium™ Corporation, building a technology-driven U.S. uranium production, processing, and remediation platform. The platform will combine conventional uranium mining assets, uranium recovery operations, and DISA's proprietary High-Pressure Slurry Ablation processing technology (HPSA™) to serve U.S. domestic nuclear fuel supply needs. Under the agreement, IsoEnergy will transfer its portfolio of licensed and previously producing uranium mine projects located in Utah, U.S., to DISA Uranium, including the Tony M Mine, Daneros Mine, Rim Mine, Sage Plain Project, and Flatir...

2026-08-05

Samsung and Accuray Plan Collaboration on Image-Guided Precision Radiation Therapy

Samsung Electronics' medical device business and Samsung Medison continue to shift their business focus from medical diagnostics to treatment. On August 5, Samsung HME America and U.S. radiosurgery company Accuray announced the signing of a non-binding letter of intent to explore collaboration on volume imaging-based precision radiation therapy solutions. Under the letter of intent, the two parties plan to study the integration of Samsung's mobile CT scanner BodyTom with Accuray's robotic radiosurgery platform CyberKnife. This collaboration direction aims to connect high-resolution 3D imaging capabilities with image-guided robotic radiosurgery technology, enabling medical staff to more accurately identify...

2026-08-05

Eagle Nuclear Energy Announces Discovery of Largest Uranium Deposit in the United States

Eagle Nuclear claims to have discovered the largest uranium deposit in the United States, located at the border of Oregon and Nevada. The company states that it holds an interest in the Aurora Project, which is the largest conventional uranium deposit in the U.S. classified under measured and indicated standards. The deposit currently contains 32.75 million pounds of indicated resources and 4.98 million pounds of inferred resources, compliant with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) S-K 1300 standards. Eagle Nuclear is submitting permit applications for drilling plans to federal and state regulators, targeting completion of a feasibility study in the second half of 2027. Following its recent public market listing, the company has strengthened its technical team, adding the Yukuskokon Professional Services advisory team, and expanded its existing agreements with BBA USA and SLR International.

2026-08-05

US Intermountain Health Opens New Outpatient Clinic in Las Vegas, Equipped with PET/CT and Linear Accelerator

Intermountain Health, headquartered in Salt Lake City, recently opened a new outpatient clinic in southwest Las Vegas. Named Badura Clinic, the facility spans approximately 90,000 square feet and is located in the Spring Valley area, marking the health system's first new construction project in Nevada. The three-story Badura Clinic officially opened following a ribbon-cutting ceremony and community open house on July 30. The clinic consolidates primary care and select specialty services previously dispersed across multiple locations in the Las Vegas Valley, offering more centralized medical care for children, adults, and senior patients. According to the introduction, the clinic's services include adult and...

2026-08-05

U.S. Team Proposes New In-Situ Cleaning Method for Porous Tungsten Walls in Fusion Devices

Researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, and Pennsylvania State University have proposed an in-situ cleaning method for fusion system wall materials, which uses heating combined with neon plasma to remove contaminants from the surface of porous tungsten materials after components are installed and sealed within a vacuum chamber. The research findings have been published in *Nuclear Materials and Energy*. Image credit: Kyle Palmer / PPPL Communications Department. Fusion system walls must withstand extreme temperatures. Liquid lithium is considered a promising wall protection material, which can be retained within porous tungsten wall tile structures much like water absorbed by a sponge. However, this...

2026-08-05

US BWXT in Discussions with Naval Reactors on Proposed Nuclear-Powered Warship Reactor Design

BWX Technologies is in preliminary discussions with the U.S. Naval Reactors program regarding a proposed nuclear-powered warship. According to company CEO Rex Geveden during the Q2 2026 earnings call, the project could begin long-lead procurement as early as 2028 if approved and funded by the U.S. Congress. Image credit: U.S. Navy. Geveden stated that the design could leverage the existing reactor design used in Ford-class aircraft carriers. Each Ford-class carrier is equipped with two large reactors, while the proposed warship could use one reactor of the same type. Given BWXT's existing naval propulsion systems business, this approach aligns directly with the company's current manufacturing capabilities...

2026-08-05

Holtec, Entergy, and Hyundai Engineering & Construction Partner to Evaluate SMR-300 Deployment Opportunities in the Southern United States

On August 4, local time, Holtec International, Entergy Services, LLC, and Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd. (HDEC) announced a strategic collaboration to jointly evaluate potential opportunities for deploying Holtec's SMR-300 advanced small modular reactor within Entergy's service territory to power large-load customers. The collaboration is established through a non-binding memorandum of agreement. Under the arrangement, the three parties will conduct assessments around a potential two-unit SMR-300 project, focusing on customer demand,...

2026-08-05

BWXT to Sell Medical Business to Nordic Capital for Up to $800 Million

On August 3, BWX Technologies, Inc. announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to sell its medical business to healthcare investment company Nordic Capital. The transaction is valued at up to $800 million and includes BWXT Medical and the stable medical isotope business of Kinectrics. BWXT stated that the divestiture will help the company concentrate resources and capital to drive growth in its core nuclear national security business and commercial nuclear power market operations. The company believes these areas are its long-term strategic priorities. Under Nordic Capital's ownership, the medical business is expected to further expand its scale, enhance capabilities, and strengthen its position in the radiopharmaceutical field...

2026-08-04

Curium and Lantheus Reach Definitive Merger Agreement to Build a Global Integrated Radiopharmaceutical Theranostics Platform

On August 3, global radiopharmaceutical company Curium announced that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement with Lantheus Holdings, Inc. Under the agreement, Curium US Holdings LLC will merge with Lantheus through its wholly owned subsidiary, with a total consideration of up to $114.50 per share and a total transaction value of approximately $8 billion. Under the terms of the agreement, Curium US will acquire all outstanding shares of Lantheus at $102.50 per share in cash upon closing of the transaction. In addition, Lantheus shareholders will receive non-transferable contingent value rights, entitling them to up to $12.00 per share in additional cash payments if certain commercial milestones for Lantheus-related products are achieved by 2030...

2026-08-04