Nanocomposite oxide ceramics show promise as ferroelectrics, fast ion conductors, and nuclear fuels with improved transport and radiation resistance. Misfit dislocations at material interfaces dictate functional properties.
Researchers at University of Missouri have created a water-based nuclear battery that generates electrical energy from radioactive isotopes. The battery uses strontium-90 to boost electrochemical energy in a water-based solution, making it suitable for applications such as spaceflight and emergency equipment.
Sonja Schmid, an assistant professor at Virginia Tech, has won a CAREER Award to develop a global nuclear emergency response plan. Her research will address how to create international cooperation and mobilize effective responses to future nuclear disasters.
A team of scientists used the Hyb-Seq method to sequence hundreds of nuclear loci and plastomes from milkweeds, providing a significant advance over previous methods. This approach combines target enrichment and genome skimming to reduce genomic complexity and increase sequencing efficiency.
The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging has announced the 2014-2016 Wagner-Torizuka Fellowship recipients, which provide two-year fellowships to support Japanese physicians in early stages of their careers. The fellows focus on functional imaging using modalities such as PET/CT and SPECT/CT to elucidate pathophysiology of...
Experts from around the world will participate in a simulated nuclear inspection in Jordan to prepare for Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) on-site inspections. The exercise aims to refine and test monitoring techniques, ensuring scientists are ready to investigate possible nuclear explosions.
A team of researchers has devised a method to rapidly test the structural materials used in nuclear reactors, closely replicating damage caused by high-energy neutrons. The technique uses high-energy ion beams to damage samples of ferritic-martensitic steel, allowing for the development of more resilient components for advanced reactors.
A new congressionally mandated report emphasizes the need for US nuclear plant operators and regulators to proactively seek out new information about potential hazards. The Fukushima Daiichi accident highlighted the importance of this approach in preventing or mitigating the consequences of severe nuclear accidents.
A new porous material called CC3 effectively traps radioactive krypton and xenon gases from nuclear fuel, using less energy than conventional methods. The material's selectivity is higher than other experimental materials, making it a promising solution for removing unwanted elements.
Finland is developing a new energy system for storing solar and wind energy, targeting greenhouse gas reduction and energy self-sufficiency. The NEO-CARBON ENERGY project aims to create Finnish companies' international RÝ competitiveness and explore business opportunities in the global market.
The Precourt Institute and KQED have developed a two-part e-book series on energy, exploring its basics and applications. The interactive Energy iBooks Textbooks aim to promote energy literacy among students aged 8-13.
Scientists at the University of Basel have discovered that proteins within nuclear pores function like a 'velcro', enabling controlled and selective transport of particles. This discovery has potential applications in lab-on-a-chip technology, where it could be used to miniaturize complex pump and valve systems.
Net energy analysis provides a quantitative way to compare energy production with energy required for technology development and maintenance. The technique can identify potential costs and barriers to technology development that conventional financial analysis might not reveal.
Researchers at Princeton University and the DOE's PPPL are developing a prototype system that can verify the presence of warheads without collecting classified information. The system uses high-energy neutrons to compare warheads with known true warheads, providing a key step towards reducing nuclear arms.
Siegel's work on PET has led to a major advance in nuclear medicine science, with a focus on evidence-based clinical trials and widespread acceptance of imaging studies. He is recognized for his visionary leadership in developing scientific methodology.
A new design for nuclear plants built on floating platforms could provide enhanced safety, as they would be automatically cooled by surrounding seawater in a worst-case scenario. The concept takes advantage of mature technologies and minimizes technological risks.
A new study reveals a sensitive detection method that can identify small quantities of plutonium or highly enriched uranium in luggage, posing a significant threat to nuclear security. The approach combines commercially available spectral X-ray detectors with a specialized algorithm, enhancing the detection powers of X-ray imaging.
Researchers at Princeton University and PPPL are developing a unique process to verify that nuclear weapons contain true warheads. The goal is to confirm the authenticity of inspected items without revealing sensitive information.
Researchers from the University of Michigan and Princeton have discovered a new kind of magnetic behavior that can help make nuclear fusion reactions more efficient. This breakthrough could lead to advancements in nuclear energy, as fusion generates helium without radioactive waste.
Researchers at the University of Utah created the smallest plasma transistors that can operate in extreme environments, including nuclear reactors. These devices have the potential to enable innovative applications such as medical X-ray imaging and real-time air quality monitoring, and could be used to control robots in nuclear reactors.
Researchers propose using shale formations as a potential solution for storing spent nuclear fuel due to their impermeable properties. This would minimize the risk of water contamination and ensure safe storage for tens or hundreds of thousands of years.
Penn researchers found that nuclear stiffness, controlled by lamin-A, affects cell migration and survival. Softer nuclei are more susceptible to DNA damage, leading to cell death, while stiffer nuclei allow for easier migration but compromise DNA protection.
Siegfried Hecker has been honored by AAAS for his work in nuclear security and global threat reduction. His dedication to fostering cooperation through science led to significant international partnerships, improving the control of nuclear materials.
Researchers from the University of Basel have observed spontaneous magnetic order of electron and nuclear spins in a quantum wire at temperatures of 0.1 kelvin, exceeding previous limits of microkelvin range. This new state of matter is stabilized by nuclear spin coupling and mutual interactions between electrons.
Researchers at the Stowers Institute discovered that Ndc1, a conserved nuclear envelope protein, works with Mps3 to regulate insertion sites into the nuclear membrane. The team found that Mps3 helps shuttle Ndc1 to specific locations in the nucleus, controlling the distribution of critical structures.
A European Union-funded project investigates how pressure vessels in nuclear power stations age and lose their toughness due to neutron radiation. The study highlights the need for monitoring and adapting procedures to ensure safe long-term operation.
A £8 million project at the University of Leeds is developing new technologies to handle different types of spent fuels, packaging and storing waste, and dealing with nuclear sludges. The research consortium brings together academics, industry experts, and government advisors to tackle Britain's nuclear legacy.
Researchers in China are exploring a method to extract uranium from seawater, a potential solution to ensure reliable supplies of the fuel. Despite the challenge of extracting uranium from seawater at economic viability, progress has been made, including successful experiments by Japan and the US.
Scientists have identified promising new materials that can encase uranium-bearing fuel, reducing the risk of high-temperature oxidation and failure. These materials may eventually replace traditional zirconium alloys, which have been used for 50 years, if they prove safer in the event of a nuclear disaster.
Geologists are exploring shales as a potential site for America's spent nuclear fuel, with some formations showing natural groundwater pressure anomalies that can be analyzed on a large scale. A new computer model is also being developed to evaluate the behavior of various forms of nuclear waste and waste containers in different rocks.
Researchers at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine have discovered that combined radiation and burn injuries trigger 100 times greater bacterial leakage across the intestinal lining, leading to sepsis and death. This finding could lead to new treatments for survivors of nuclear disasters.
Researchers have developed a new theory to analyze interacting nuclear spins in solvents, revealing that the Nuclear Overhauser Effect is long-range due to electromagnetic radiation frequency. This breakthrough improves understanding of molecular structures and dynamics, opening up new applications for NMR spectroscopy.
The Human System Simulation Laboratory at Idaho National Laboratory is a full-scale virtual nuclear control room that tests proposed technology replacements before implementation. This facility enables scientists to improve control-room designs by studying human interactions with instruments and responses to alarms. The lab is now help...
A new study explores how 'Energy Theater' helps learners understand complex physics ideas, including energy flow and conservation. The activity allows students to personify energy and visualize its changes in a dynamic system.
Researchers at MIT are developing a ceramic compound called silicon carbide (SiC) as an alternative to traditional zircaloy cladding for nuclear fuel rods. SiC shows promise in reducing the risk of hydrogen production by a thousandfold, while also potentially allowing for longer use of fuel rods and reduced spent fuel volume.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed a technique to hyperpolarize carbon-13 nuclear spins in diamond, enhancing NMR/MRI sensitivity by many orders of magnitude. This method uses a low-strength magnetic field and is applicable to various applications, including molecular detection and quantum information processing.
A new study concludes that nuclear power has prevented about 1.84 million air pollution-related deaths and released 64 billion tons of greenhouse gases since 1971. By mid-century, nuclear power could prevent up to 7 million additional deaths and 240 billion tons of emissions.
Researchers at the University of Liverpool have observed pear-shaped atomic nuclei, challenging current understanding and informing experimental searches for electric dipole moments. The discovery aids in refining nuclear theories and directs atomic EDM search programs.
Mutations in lamin genes cause hereditary diseases like Emery-Dreifuss Muscular dystrophy and dilated cardiomyopathy by altering nuclear structure and gene expression. Restoring MKL1 activity may be a productive intervention mechanism for these devastating diseases.
A mutant protein variant called Progerin impairs cells by reducing nuclear levels of RanGTPase and limiting nuclear import of large cargoes. This exclusion may contribute to cellular defects in Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria syndrome (HGPS).
Linköping University researchers have successfully initialized and read nuclear spins at room temperature, a crucial step towards building a quantum computer. The breakthrough uses dynamic nuclear polarisation to control the polarisation of nuclear spins, enabling the creation of a flow of free electrons with a given spin.
Decommissioning of aging nuclear power plants in the US is a long, complex process with significant financial implications. The average age of the 104 nukes in the country is just 34 years, prompting concerns about the costs and safety of decommissioning these facilities.
Researchers found that actin's monomeric form interacts with chromatin to regulate gene expression and genome stability. The discovery challenges the dogma that actin functions through polymerization, revealing a novel mechanism for nuclear actin.
Researchers have discovered that nuclear envelope proteins vary greatly between cells in different organs of the body, interacting with specific proteins to cause illness in some organs but not others. This variation may provide insights into rare muscle diseases like Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy and other heritable conditions.
Researchers at Northwestern University developed a mathematical model that sheds light on the mechanisms causing bulges in cells' nuclear membranes. This study may provide potential therapies for related diseases by preventing bleb formation.
A low-carbon hybrid energy system is proposed to integrate coal with nuclear, wind, solar, biomass, and hydro power to reduce CO2 emission and recycle carbon. The system utilizes carbon recycling to produce useful materials while increasing energy efficiency.
Researchers at Indiana University have discovered a rare genetic interaction between mitochondrial and nuclear DNA that reduces reproductive fitness and delays development in fruit flies. This finding has important implications for understanding genetically complex human diseases, such as neuromuscular and neurodegenerative disorders.
The study reveals two independent mechanisms for fixing heterochromatin to the inner face of the nuclear envelope, using lamin A/C and the lamin-B receptor. This discovery sheds light on how the nuclear architecture in rod cells of nocturnal animals differs from normal cells.
Researchers from the University of York and Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya have made significant discoveries about novae, explosive events driven by nuclear processes. The study's findings improve our understanding of key nuclear reactions and the final abundance of radioactive isotopes involved in these explosions.
A new study suggests introducing shareholder liability could reduce lock-in in the energy economy and spur a shift towards sustainable energy. The study argues that fossil fuel companies' profits are not tied to environmental damage, leading to a lack of incentive for change.
Dr. Kurokawa led an independent commission investigating the Fukushima nuclear disaster, exposing regulatory capture and cultural factors that contributed to the accident. The Commission's report was presented to Parliament and has since led to a safety-first standard for the global nuclear sector.
Researchers used historical data from the Very Large Array to identify similarities between underground nuclear explosions and atmospheric disturbances. By analyzing these patterns, they found that astronomical radio telescopes could potentially spot rogue nukes, complementing GPS systems' capabilities.
A study of 250,000 women found that repeated CT and nuclear imaging increased breast cancer risk, especially in younger patients. The risk was highest among young women who received multiple scans, with estimates suggesting a 20% increase in 10-year breast cancer risk.
Researchers will use x-ray crystallography and NMR to understand the structural rules governing nuclear receptors' activity. The goal is to fill gaps in knowledge about these proteins' role in metabolism, cancer, inflammation, and bone health.
A UNM Cancer Center researcher is investigating the link between mitochondrial DNA and ovarian cancer. She hopes to identify genetic markers that could lead to a screening test or therapy, potentially increasing survival rates.
Researchers have developed self-powered sensors that can harness heat from nuclear reactors to transmit data, addressing a critical monitoring issue. The sensors use thermoacoustic technology, exploiting the interaction between heat and sound waves to operate without electronic power or moving parts.
Researchers from Los Alamos National Laboratory have devised a method to use cosmic rays to gather detailed information from inside damaged reactor cores. The technique, known as muon scattering, showed superiority over traditional transmission methods for capturing high-resolution image data.
Recent analysis in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists reveals that the Cuban Missile Crisis was even more perilous than history has acknowledged. Senior experts have calculated the nature of nuclear weapons capabilities on both sides, finding that the situation was more serious and dangerous than previously thought. The study highli...
The University of Tennessee will participate in two Department of Energy projects worth over $9 million to enhance nuclear energy safety and efficiency. Researchers aim to develop new materials and designs that can prevent accidents, such as those seen at Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant in 2011.
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a novel method for containing hot plasma using mug-handle-like coils, which require less energy than current methods. The new approach stabilizes the plasma, enabling more efficient fusion energy production.