Articles tagged with Uranium
A team of researchers has found a new method by which seawater can corrode nuclear fuel, creating uranium compounds that could potentially travel long distances in solution or as tiny particles. The discovery highlights the need to consider this phenomenon in future nuclear operations.
A University of Manchester research consortium found that UK carbon emissions targets could be met with significant expansion of both renewables and nuclear electricity by 2035. However, this would require a huge increase in nuclear power to make up for the loss of current nuclear stations.
Researchers from Arizona State University developed a new geochemical technique to study the Earth's largest mass extinction event. The study found that the period of oceanic anoxia was much shorter than previously estimated, occurring at most tens of thousands of years before the extinction event.
Researchers at Michigan State University have discovered that Geobacter bacteria can generate electricity while cleaning up uranium contamination in soil. The nanowires on the surface of these tiny micro-organisms play a key role in this process, effectively immobilizing uranium and preventing its mobility.
KamLAND collaboration measures radioactive decay of uranium, thorium, and potassium in Earth's crust and mantle to estimate heat energy. The new estimate is precise enough to aid in refining accepted geophysical models, suggesting that radioactive decay supplies only about half the Earth's heat.
Researchers at University at Buffalo found that hydraulic fracturing can release naturally trapped uranium in Marcellus shale, potentially polluting streams and ecosystems. The study used advanced chemical instruments to map the location of uranium within the rock formation.
The Electron Beam Ion Source (EBIS) will produce and accelerate beams with greater versatility than the current system, allowing studies with new kinds of ions previously unavailable to researchers. EBIS can start with positive ions or even neutral atoms, creating ion beams from almost any element.
Using a new technique, researchers have captured the first images of electrons with extraordinary mass under certain conditions. The study reveals the origin of an electronic phase transition in a uranium compound, providing direct experimental evidence that electrons interact with atoms rather than behaving as waves.
The European Commission Joint Research Centre is developing high-sensitivity particle analysis to detect nuclear materials in aerosol particles. The new laboratory will increase detection speed and sensitivity by a factor of ten, improving safeguards particle analysis.
Depleted uranium has varied applications but its molecular chemistry is poorly understood. The €1m grant will develop new compounds and understand actinide chemical bonding.
Migration '09 conference presents new approaches to imaging mineral-water interfaces and controlling actinide migration. Researchers discuss stabilization of intermediate uranium oxidation states and manipulation of plutonium colloids to control its movement.
A Missouri University researcher is studying sulfate-reducing bacteria that can convert toxic uranium into nearly insoluble uraninite, reducing contamination and environmental costs. The bacteria's ability to cleanse water is being explored, with potential applications for heavy metal pollution from storage tanks and industrial waste.
Scientists have recovered uranium from polluted waters using bacteria and inositol phosphate, a cheap waste material. The process is economically viable, especially as the world price of uranium is likely to increase, offering an environmental protection benefit.
Research highlights the role of large igneous provinces (LIPs) in shaping Earth's surface, while also uncovering new climate oscillation patterns. Experts analyze topographic metrics to understand hillslope evolution, resolving long-standing debates over porphyroblasts and neptunian eruptions.
Researchers find methanol enhances uranium reduction in contaminated ground water and sediment. Methanol use results in almost complete uranium reduction compared to ethanol or glucose, suggesting potential for improved long-term bioremediation stability.
Scientists create a protein that selectively binds to uranium, offering potential methods for detecting and treating uranium poisoning. The protein is based on a nickel-binding protein from E. coli and has been engineered to bind to uranium instead.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati identified a second, potentially more significant source of radon exposure at a former Ohio uranium-processing plant. Six silos filled with uranium ore in the production area resulted in relatively high levels of radon exposure to 12% of workers, while over half were exposed to low levels.
Researchers have installed a sophisticated monitoring array near the Hanford Site to investigate uranium plume contamination. The array will enable comprehensive characterization of the subsurface and provide insights into the processes contributing to persistent groundwater contamination.
Researchers found evidence that fungi can 'lock' depleted uranium into a mineral form that may be less likely to find its way into plants, animals, or the water supply. Fungal-based approaches should not be neglected in remediation attempts for metal-polluted soils.
Researchers have developed a cubic-meter-scale antineutrino detector that can quickly and precisely monitor the operational status and thermal power of nuclear reactors over hour-to-month-time scales. This new tool provides a direct measurement of reactor performance, enabling nonproliferation efforts by detecting fissile material inve...
Researchers at the University of Illinois have discovered that uranium's U-235 to U-238 isotope ratio varies significantly in Earth materials. The new findings are consistent with other high-mass isotope systems and may represent the first evidence of a nuclear field shift in nature.
Researchers are using combined experimental and computational methods to understand the structural and bonding parameters of uranyl, a common oxidation state of uranium. The insights gained will contribute to predicting the chemical and physical properties of heavy transition metal and actinide complexes.
Research found no significant differences in depleted uranium levels among UK Army personnel exposed to varying degrees, with levels close to those of naturally occurring uranium. The study alleviates fears about the health of military personnel exposed to radioactive depleted uranium.
The Department of Energy has awarded $27.5 million for two field research studies to investigate contaminated groundwater at the Hanford Site in Washington and a uranium mill tailings site in Colorado. The studies aim to identify new approaches to resolve questions about subsurface contaminant movement.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a simple, disposable sensor for detecting hazardous uranium ions using DNA. The sensor provides fast, on-site testing for assessing uranium contamination and remediation strategies, with detection sensitivity rivalling sophisticated laboratory instruments.
Researchers at Ames Laboratory have developed a novel composite material that combines tungsten and metallic glass to create an armor-piercing projectile. The nanostructured material exhibits self-sharpening behavior, making it a potential replacement for depleted uranium in kinetic energy penetrators.
Researchers at NIST have developed a highly sensitive technique called delayed neutron activation analysis to improve the detection of nuclear materials. The technique can detect trace amounts of uranium-235 and plutonium-239 in less than three minutes, making it crucial for homeland security.
Scientists have developed a new technique to detect uranium in contaminated soil by freezing the sample and blasting it with an ultraviolet laser. This method, known as cryogenic fluorescence spectroscopy, allows for sharper resolution of spectral fingerprints and detection of different forms of uranium.
Researchers have found that Shewanella oneidensis bacteria produce an extracellular polymeric substance that converts soluble uranium into solid, insoluble uraninite nanoparticles, which can bind to soil and prevent migration.
Researchers at the University of California - Davis have detected lattice solitons in heated uranium crystals using X-ray and neutron scattering experiments. The isolated vibrations play an important role in uranium metal, shedding new light on a previously unknown property of solid materials.
Researchers at Northern Arizona University have made groundbreaking discoveries about uranium's impact on DNA, potentially shedding light on environmental contamination and health effects of depleted uranium. The study's findings have significant implications for Native American communities and may help address long-standing concerns a...
Researchers have found that subsurface bacteria can release phosphate, which converts uranium contamination into an immobile form. This biomineralization approach uses phosphate precipitation to immobilize uranium, offering a novel strategy for remediation.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory scientists have precisely measured the interaction of matter with photons in extreme electric fields surrounding the nucleus of uranium. The results demonstrate a new milestone in QED research, putting a new constraint on theory and paving the way for further calculations.
Researchers at Purdue University have developed a new nuclear fuel that conducts heat better than conventional fuels, promising to be safer and last longer. The fuel is made by interlacing uranium oxide with beryllium oxide, which increases thermal conductivity by 50%, reducing the risk of catastrophic accidents and allowing for more e...
Researchers found that tumbleweeds and other native plants in arid regions can effectively absorb depleted uranium from contaminated soils. The study, led by geologist Dana Ulmer-Scholle, suggests using these plants as a low-cost method for cleaning up DU-contaminated areas.
Customs agents receive comprehensive training to identify and halt smuggling of weapons of mass destruction. The training covers materials, components, and dual-use items associated with WMD development and deployment.
Middlecamp has designed programs to increase representation in sciences for women and students of color over the past 20 years. She directs a tutoring center and teaches a course applying chemistry to society, exploring real-world issues.
Chemists at Ohio State University have created the first-ever compounds of uranium bonded to atoms of three so-called
Scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory have developed a patented process for encapsulating depleted uranium oxides in thermoplastic polymers, creating a stable and safe material for long-term disposal. The new process also enables the production of radiation shielding and counterweights with low residual radioactivity.