Newswise Feature Channel: Nuclear Power

Expert Available: Three Mile Island Could Reopen as Part of Plan to Help Microsoft Meet Energy Needs

George Washington University — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 12:00:02 EST

Three Mile Island, the nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania that's been shuttered since 2019, could come back to life to meet Microsoft's energy needs. ...

Hands in the Glove Box

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 12:05:44 EST

An international collaboration to protect the world from nuclear threats got a boost in 2023 when a visiting researcher brought an understudied plutonium processing chemistry method to Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) for hands-on research. "It's not trivial to bring an outside researcher to PNNL and get them working in a glove box," said PNNL nuclear forensics scientist and technical group leader Dave Meier.

Department of Energy Announces $36 Million to Support Energy-Relevant Research in Underrepresented Regions of America

Department of Energy, Office of Science — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 14:05:19 EST

Ensuring that scientific funding goes to states and territories that have typically received smaller fractions of federal research dollars in the past, the Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $36 million in funding for 39 research projects in 19 states via the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). The grants connect innovative ideas from scientists at eligible institutions with leading-edge capabilities at the DOE national laboratories.

New framework for identifying material coatings that can be used in nuclear reactors finds alternative to nickel-based alloys

Argonne National Laboratory — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 17:40:32 EST

Argonne scientists designed a way to optimize discovery of nuclear material coatings and identified a promising new candidate along the way.

Transforming environmental testing one shake at a time

Sandia National Laboratories — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 11:05:55 EST

Testing weapons and components in a lab-controlled environment has always been at the center of Sandia National Laboratories' mission. A newly developed method is getting better results, with fewer tests, in less time.

Researchers Directly Simulate the Fusion of Oxygen and Carbon Nuclei

Department of Energy, Office of Science — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 14:05:24 EST

The fusion of two nuclei is a complex process influenced by the relative energy and angular momentum of the nuclei and how their structures evolve as they collide. In this study, the researchers performed the most comprehensive computation to date of fusion reaction processes.

Three Mile Island reopening? Harrisburg U professor explores the economic impact, benefits, and risks.

Harrisburg University of Science and Technology — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 08:25:00 EST

Measuring energy transition away from fossil fuels: A new index

Elsevier — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 08:05:16 EST

Three Mile Island reopens? Harrisburg University professor explores the benefits, risks, logistics, and potential impact.

Harrisburg University of Science and Technology — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 14:10:16 EST

Pinpointing coal plants to convert to nuclear energy, considering both practicality and community support

University of Michigan — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 09:05:29 EST

An assessment ranks the feasibility of converting 245 operational coal power plants in the U.S. into advanced nuclear reactors, providing valuable insights for policymakers and utilities to meet decarbonization goals, according to a new study by University of Michigan researchers.

Hardy transistor material could be game-changer for nuclear reactor safety monitoring

Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 09:05:50 EST

The safety and efficiency of a large, complex nuclear reactor can be enhanced by hardware as simple as a tiny sensor that monitors a cooling system. That's why researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory are working to make those basic sensors more accurate by pairing them with electronics that can withstand the intense radiation inside a reactor.

Media Tip Sheet: New report finds U.S. Is Years Behind China on Developing High-Tech Nuclear Power

George Washington University — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 12:00:06 EST

According to the report, China's state-backed technology approach and extensive financing has given Beijing an edge. ...

Radar is advancing at historic speed. How engineers are setting the pace.

Sandia National Laboratories — Tue, 07 May 2024 09:05:18 EST

In a whirling geopolitical landscape of new nuclear weapons, hypersonic weapons, drones and satellites, the U.S. is hustling to test new kinds of radars aimed at detecting evolving threats. Many of these tests take place in a simulated research environment created at Sandia National Laboratories.

Critical Materials Assessment Tags Potential Supply Chain Bottlenecks

Argonne National Laboratory — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 14:05:49 EST

Global production of LED lights, wind turbine generators, EV batteries and more require critical materials that are in high demand. A new report, led by scientists at Argonne National Laboratory, assesses rare materials and their supply.

New Research Aims to Improve Global Security of Small Modular Reactors

University at Albany, State University of New York — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 16:40:27 EST

The year-long project seeks to examine the risks to export control that still-developing SMR technology will play for the next several decades.

GW Expert Available: Elections in Iran Take Place Friday

George Washington University — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 14:05:01 EST

Five Sandia Labs scientists earn 2024 Black Engineer of the Year Awards

Sandia National Laboratories — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 11:05:56 EST

Dissecting doorbells, exploring music, mastering retail software, love of the arts and old-fashioned hard work were early paths that led five Sandia National Laboratories engineers to their callings and recently earned them national Black Engineer of the Year Awards.

UM School of Medicine Awarded $3.5 Million in Federal Funding to Expand Medical Countermeasures Program

University of Maryland School of Medicine — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 19:05:37 EST

University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Dean Mark T. Gladwin, MD, announced today that UMSOM faculty scientists have been selected as key contractors by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), for the federal agency's Radiation Nuclear Animal Model Development program.

Engineer taps into Sandia's deep knowledge base to design high-reliability component

Sandia National Laboratories — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 11:00:03 EST

Robert Petterborg saw an opportunity to improve a critical part used to test a weapons system. Using his spare time at work and with the help of his Sandia National Laboratories colleagues, he designed a new cable connector that eliminates misalignments that could interfere with testing and potentially damage hardware.

Experiencing a Disaster May Lead to Long-term Increases in Problem Drinking

Research Society on Alcoholism — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 10:00:00 EST

People who experienced a disaster had a higher prevalence of problem alcohol use in the years after the disaster, and the rates of problem alcohol use increased over time. A study of nuclear power plant workers who experienced a disaster found that those who were exposed to life-threatening danger, discrimination, death of a colleague, or major property loss had an increased prevalence of problem alcohol use. However, for some, the increase in problem drinking did not occur until more than a year after the disaster. The study's findings, recently published in Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research, point to the prolonged impacts on people who experience disaster and the importance of providing long-term monitoring and support beyond the immediate aftermath of the disaster.