IAEA Top News

• IAEA Director General Visits China to Strengthen Cooperation
  China is making remarkable progress in nuclear energy and is a strong supporter of the IAEA’s mission to ensure that nuclear technology serves peace and development, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said while meeting China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing.
  
• Update 285 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine
  The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has carried out five deliveries of equipment and other technical assistance over the past week as it remains fully focused on helping to prevent a nuclear accident during the military conflict in Ukraine, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today.
  
• Tritium Level Far Below Japan's Operational Limit in 12th Batch of ALPS Treated Water, IAEA Confirms
  International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts have confirmed that the tritium concentration in the 12th batch of diluted ALPS treated water, which the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) began discharging on 10 April, is far below Japan’s operational limit.
  
• What is Food Irradiation and Why is it Important?
  Food irradiation is a gentle, non-invasive technique that uses radiation to keep food fresh and safe to eat. It eliminates microbes and control insects and other pests while preserving the nutritional content, flavour and overall quality of food.
  
• Sufficient Uranium Resources Exist, However Investments Needed to Sustain High Nuclear Energy Growth
  Sufficient uranium resources exist to support both the continued use of nuclear power and its significant growth through 2050 and beyond.
  
• Conference on Radiation Applications: From Planes and Plastics to Climate Change and Culture
  Experts in the use of radiation technologies are gathering in Vienna to discuss innovative applications in aeronautics, recycling, climate monitoring and more.
  
• Decommissioning - Restoring Former Nuclear Sites
  Find out how decommissioning activities are carried out effectively and safely in the French town of La Hague, where a former fuel processing plant is being decommissioned.
  
• Update 284 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine
  The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has delivered a new ambulance and other medical equipment to help Ukraine provide adequate health care for the personnel operating its nuclear power plants (NPPs) in challenging conditions during the military conflict, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today.
  
• Behind the Scenes of a Cancer Control ImPACT Review Mission
  The IAEA, together with its partners the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, carried out an imPACT Review in Mozambique last year, supporting the country in efforts to improve comprehensive cancer control.
  
• Update 283 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine
  The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team based at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) visited the site’s diesel storage tanks today and saw no signs of damage or spillage there, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.
  
• Revolutionizing Plastic Recycling Through Irradiation
  Ahead of the International Day of Zero Waste this weekend, find out how radiation technology can be applied to tackle the global crisis of plastic pollution.
  
• Update 282 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine
  The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team has this week been observing operational tests of diesel generators at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) as part of ongoing efforts to help prevent a nuclear accident during the military conflict in Ukraine, where the off-site power situation remains challenging, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.
  
• This Glass is Radioactive
  This type of glass has been produced for nearly 200 years, and it contains the first ever discovered radioactive element.
  
• What is Isotope Hydrology?
  Protecting water resources is an important goal for all countries, especially as we see the impacts of climate change becoming more and more pronounced. “Isotope hydrology is a really useful tool for countries to help do this because it gives us a fingerprint of the water molecule,” explains Jodie Miller, head of the Isotope Hydrology Section at the IAEA.
  
• Latest IAEA Reports Confirm Japan's ALPS Treated Water Release Continues to Meet International Safety Standards
  The discharge of treated water from Fukushima Daiichi is proceeding in line with international safety standards, the IAEA Task Force confirmed today.
  

IAEA Fukushima Status Reports

• Japan's Reports on Conditions at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, 21 February 2025
  On 21 February 2025, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the seawater monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during November, which the Ministry of Forei
  
• Japan's Reports on Conditions at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, 1 February 2025
  On 1 February 2025, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the seawater monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during October, which the Ministry of Foreig
  
• Japan's Reports on Conditions at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, 1 February 2025
  On 1 February 2025, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the seawater monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during September, which the Ministry of Forei
  
• Japan's Reports on Conditions at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, 28 November 2024
  On 28 November 2024, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the seawater monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during August, which the Ministry of Foreign
  
• Japan's Reports on Conditions at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, 6 November 2024
  The Japanese Government has provided the IAEA with a report that summarizes the events and highlights the progress related to recovery operations at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
  
• Japan's Reports on Conditions at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, 29 October 2024
  On 29 October 2024, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the seawater monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during July, which the Ministry of Foreign Af
  
• Japan's Reports on Conditions at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, 2 October 2024
  On 1 October 2024, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the seawater monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during June, which the Ministry of Foreign Aff
  
• Japan's Reports on Conditions at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, 11 July 2024
  On 10 July 2024, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the seawater monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during May, which the Ministry of Foreign Affair
  
• Japan's Reports on Conditions at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, 13 June 2024
  On 13 June 2024, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the seawater monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during April, which the Ministry of Foreign Aff
  
• Japan's Reports on Conditions at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, 13 June 2024
  On 13 June 2024, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the seawater monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during March, which the Ministry of Foreign Affa
  
• Japan's Reports on Conditions at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, 25 March 2024
  On 22 March 2024, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the seawater monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during February, which the Ministry of Foreign
  
• Japan's Reports on Conditions at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, 5 March 2024
  On 5 March 2024, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the seawater monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during January, which the Ministry of Foreign Af
  
• Japan's Reports on Conditions at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, 18 January 2024
  On 18 January 2024, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the seawater monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during December, which the Ministry of Foreig
  
• Japan's Reports on Conditions at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, 27 December 2023
  On 27 December 2023, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the seawater monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during November, which the Ministry of Fore
  
• Japan's Reports on Conditions at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, 21 November 2023
  On 21 November 2023, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the seawater monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during October, which the Ministry of Foreig
  

Union of Concerned Scientists

• Nuclear Security Agency Responds To UCS Scientist's Concerns
  Nuclear Security Agency Responds To UCS Scientist's Concerns 2025 Omari Spears Mon, 01/13/2025 - 13:03 Read press release
  
• Millions of Midwesterners Benefit from Milestone Clean Energy Investment
  Millions of Midwesterners Benefit from Milestone Clean Energy Investment 2024 Omari Spears Thu, 12/12/2024 - 15:36 Read press release
  
• California Passes First-in-the-Nation Bidirectional EV Charging Bill
  California Passes First-in-the-Nation Bidirectional EV Charging Bill 2024 chris bliss Thu, 12/12/2024 - 14:07 Read blog post
  
• Clean Energy and Environmental Justice Win in Massachusetts
  Clean Energy and Environmental Justice Win in Massachusetts 2024 Omari Spears Wed, 11/27/2024 - 13:50 Read press release
  
• After UCS Advocacy, >13 Million People Protected By New Ethylene Oxide Regulation
  After UCS Advocacy, >13 Million People Protected By New Ethylene Oxide Regulation 2024 Omari Spears Wed, 11/27/2024 - 12:24 Read press release
  
• New Federal Rules to Modernize US Power Grid Cite UCS
  New Federal Rules to Modernize US Power Grid Cite UCS 2024 Omari Spears Wed, 06/05/2024 - 16:00 Read press release
  
• EPA Falsified Scientific Records in Ohio Train Derailment Disaster
  EPA Falsified Scientific Records in Ohio Train Derailment Disaster Omari Spears Tue, 05/28/2024 - 15:25 Administration Biden Topic Environment Public Health
  
• New EPA Rules Offer $370 Billion in Climate and Health Benefits
  New EPA Rules Offer $370 Billion in Climate and Health Benefits 2024 Omari Spears Mon, 05/06/2024 - 16:21 Read press release
  
• 7 Billion Tons of Climate Pollution Avoided Thanks to New UCS-backed Vehicle Standards
  7 Billion Tons of Climate Pollution Avoided Thanks to New UCS-backed Vehicle Standards 2024 Omari Spears Mon, 05/06/2024 - 16:16 Read blog
  
• More Than 12,000 Chemical Facilities Better Prepared for Disasters
  More Than 12,000 Chemical Facilities Better Prepared for Disasters 2024 Omari Spears Mon, 05/06/2024 - 16:00 Read blog
  

Nuclear Energy News -- ScienceDaily

• Maximal entanglement sheds new light on particle creation
  Physicists have shown that particles produced in collimated sprays called jets retain information about their origins in subatomic particle smashups.
  
• Study tracks chromium chemistry in irradiated molten salts
  Chemists report that radiation-induced chemical reactions may help mitigate the corrosion of metals in a new type of nuclear reactor cooled by molten salts.
  
• A safe nuclear battery that could last a lifetime
  Lithium-ion batteries, used in consumer devices and electric vehicles, typically last hours or days between charges. However, with repeated use, they degrade and need to be charged more frequently. Now, researchers are considering radiocarbon as a source for safe, small and affordable nuclear batteries that could last decades or longer without charging.
  
• Gas injection setup in new fusion system is guided by public-private research
  Researchers have determined that six gas valves provide the best protection against plasma disruptions in SPARC, a next-generation, experimental fusion system. By refining the setup for the fusion vessel's massive gas injection system, researchers are ensuring that disruptions -- sudden jets of plasma that can damage the fusion vessel's inner walls -- are controlled efficiently...
  
• New machine learning framework enhances precision and efficiency in metal 3D printing, advancing sustainable manufacturing
  Researchers are leveraging machine learning to improve additive manufacturing, also commonly known as 3D printing. The team introduces a new framework they've dubbed the Accurate Inverse process optimization framework in laser Directed Energy Deposition (AIDED). The new AIDED framework optimizes laser 3D printing to enhance the accuracy and robustness of the finished product. T...
  
• Muonic atoms unlock new possibilities in nuclear physics
  Researchers have combined theory and experiments to show that nuclear polarization does not limit studies of muonic atoms, clearing the way for new nuclear physics experiments.
  
• Producing nuclear fusion fuel is banned in the US for being too toxic, but these researchers found an alternative
  Lithium-6 is essential for producing nuclear fusion fuel, but isolating it from the much more common isotope, lithium-7, usually requires liquid mercury, which is extremely toxic. Now, researchers have developed a mercury-free method to isolate lithium-6 that is as effective as the conventional method.
  
• Nanomaterials used to measure nuclear reaction on radioactive nuclei produced in neutron star collisions
  Physicists have measured a nuclear reaction that can occur in neutron star collisions, providing direct experimental data for a process that had previously only been theorised. The study provides new insight into how the universe's heaviest elements are forged -- and could even drive advancements in nuclear reactor physics.
  
• Dialing in the temperature needed for precise nuclear timekeeping
  For decades, atomic clocks have been the pinnacle of precision timekeeping, enabling GPS navigation, cutting-edge physics research, and tests of fundamental theories. But researchers are now pushing beyond atomic transitions to something potentially even more stable: a nuclear clock.
  
• Direct evidence revealed for rare pulsing pear-shapes in Gadolinium nuclei
  Scientists have acquired direct evidence of rare, pulsing pear-shaped structures within atomic nuclei of the rare-earth element Gadolinium, thanks to new research.
  
• Scientists discover new heavy-metal molecule 'berkelocene'
  Scientists have discovered 'berkelocene,' the first organometallic molecule to be characterized containing the heavy element berkelium. The breakthrough disrupts long-held theories about the chemistry of the elements that follow uranium in the periodic table.
  
• Highly radioactive nuclear waste: how to keep it from oblivion
  Sweden's radioactive nuclear waste will be stored in a sealed bedrock repository for 100,000 years. It will be hazardous for a very long time. So how can we ensure that humanity does not forget that it is there? Researchers have come up with a proposal for how to keep the memory alive over generations.
  
• Some fuel lodges in the inner walls of fusion vessels: Researchers now have a better idea of how much
  New research offers insights that could help reduce the amount of radioactive tritium embedded in the walls of fusion vessels to a minimum.
  
• A completely new type of microscopy based on quantum sensors
  Researchers have invented an entirely new field of microscopy -- nuclear spin microscopy. The team can visualize magnetic signals of nuclear magnetic resonance with a microscope. Quantum sensors convert the signals into light, enabling extremely high-resolution optical imaging.
  
• Scientists design battery that runs on atomic waste
  Researchers have developed a battery that can convert nuclear energy into electricity via light emission, a study suggests.
  

Atomic Insights

• Atomic Show #329 – Dr. Kathryn Huff, former Assistant Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Energy
  The Honorable Dr. Kathryn Huff is an associate professor in the nuclear, plasma and radiological engineering department at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She is the director of the Advanced Reactor Fuels laboratory and currently specializes in nuclear reactor core neutronics and multi-physics modeling. She served as the Assistant Secretary of Energy for Nuclear En...
  
• Atomic Show #328 – Matt Loszak, CEO Aalo
  Aalo Atomics is a two year old micro reactor company founded by Matt Loszak, a serial entrepreneur, and Yasir Arafat, a skilled nuclear engineer who previously lead the DOE’s MARVEL advanced micro-reactor demonstration project. Note: At Nucleation Capital, we were impressed enough with the company and the team to add it to our growing portfolio...
  
• Atomic Show #327 – Rod Baltzer, CEO, Deep Isolation
  Deep Isolation is one of Nucleation Capital’s more impactful portfolio companies because its technology can enable greater success for most of the rest of the companies – and for the entire nuclear energy sector. The company has been developing, testing and refining its systematic approach to nuclear waste disposal for a decade. Despite the fact...
  
• Atomic Show #326 – Jigar Shah, former director of DOE Loan Programs Office
  Jigar Shah has had a lengthy career as an energy industry entrepreneur and strategic thinker. He founded Sun Edison and helped to create a new model for deploying solar power systems. He was part of the Carbon War Room and then founded Generate Capital to provide loans to proven technologies that had not yet achieved...
  
• Chris Wright on nuclear power, Nov 6, 2020
  Yesterday, Chris Wright was confirmed as the next U.S. Secretary of Energy. After that important step in his energy career, it’s worth taking a few moments to learn what he thinks about nuclear power outside of any political context. In my experience, people like Wright form and hold opinions that do not shift much over...
  
• Atomic Show #325 – Marco Visscher – The Power of Nuclear
  After many years as an independent journalist with an antinuclear bent, Marco Visscher began questioning his long-held beliefs. He realized that the accepted alternatives to fossil fuel were not actually reducing fossil fuel use so much as they were limiting the rate at which it was increasing. He began acknowledging that nuclear energy was a...
  
• Atomic Show #324 – Jay Hakes, Author of Presidents and the Planet
  Jay Hakes, an accomplished author and historian, visited the Atomic Show to talk about his recently published book, Presidents and the Planet: Climate Change Science and Politics from Eisenhower to Bush. Sometimes referred to as “the untold story of climate change,” Hake’s book is an enlightening jaunt through a history discovered during long days in...
  
• Atomic Show #323 – Julie Kozeracki, Director of Strategy, DOE Loan Programs Office
  Julie Kozeracki was the lead author for a U.S. Department of Energy strategy document titled Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Advanced Nuclear published in September 2024. The document was the result of a multi-agency, multi-lab effort to update a previously issued report. During our conversation, Kozeracki described how the report was informed by changes in the...
  
• Atomic Show #322 – Westinghouse’s eVinci micro reactor
  Westinghouse’s eVinci is a 15 MWth, 5 MWe micro reactor. Westinghouse often refers to it as a nuclear battery. Unlike conventional nuclear power plants, eVinci uses no water and doesn’t produce steam. The eVinci is not “just another way to boil water.” There are no pumps in the system that moves heat out of the...
  
• Atomic Show #321 – Andrew Harmon, VP Natura Resources
  The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a construction permit on September 16, 2024 to Abilene Christian University (ACU) to build a molten salt research reactor. This marked the first university research reactor approval in 30 years. It is the first liquid fuel reactor ever approved for construction by the NRC and only the second advanced...
  
• Matthew Marzano brings valuable education and experience to his potential role as NRC Commissioner
  Note: (Added Dec 3, 2024)I have come to the conclusion that Matthew Marzano is not an appropriate choice to be an NRC Commissioner. He should not be confirmed by the Senate, especially in the closing days of a lame duck session. Though he has respectable technical education and significant operational experience, he has largely been...
  
• Atomic Show #320 – Magnus Mori, Urenco
  Urenco is one of the few companies in the world that enriches uranium. It’s one of an even smaller group of enrichers that aren’t owned by the Russian, Chinese or Iranian governments. It plays a key role in the western world’s nuclear fuel cycle. That role became even more important after February, 2022. With the...
  
• The ADVANCE Act – Meaningful changes in U. S. nuclear regulatory framework
  NRC’s Newly Aligned Mission Will Accelerate Nuclear Energy Deployment With resounding bipartisan, bicameral support that also achieved enthusiastic support of the Executive Branch, the US has enacted a new law announcing its support of nuclear energy. It has the potential to make an even larger impact on global atomic energy use than the combination of...
  
• Atomic Show #319 – Juliann Edwards, The Nuclear Company
  The Nuclear Company exited a period of operating in “stealth mode” about a month ago. That exit was sufficiently well planned and executed that it is likely that Atomic Insights readers have already heard of the company. The Nuclear Company was incorporated a year ago. Its founding team has been working diligently to build the...
  
• Atomic Show #318 – Brian Gitt, Business Development, Oklo
  Brian Gitt, the Business Development lead at Oklo, visited the Atomic Show to describe his employer’s business model and current prospects. Oklo is an advanced fission and fuel recycling company with an expansive vision for becoming a competitive clean energy supplier. It plans to provide heat and/or electricity as a service from a fleet of...
  

Energy News

• Department of Energy Overhauls Policy for College and University Research, Saving $405 Million Annually for American Taxpayers
  The Department of Energy (DOE) today announced a new policy action aimed at halting inefficient spending by colleges and universities while continuing to expand American innovation and scientific research.
  
• Testing Starts on First Higher Enriched Fuel in U.S. Commercial Reactor
  Higher enrichment levels allow the fuel to last longer and operate at increased power levels.
  
• U.S. Secretary of Energy Kicks Off Middle East Trip in UAE
  U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday evening in his first official international trip as Energy Secretary.
  
• U.S. Department of Energy to Distribute First Amounts of HALEU to U.S. Advanced Reactor Developers
  The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today made conditional commitments to provide high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) to five U.S. nuclear developers to meet their near-term fuel needs.
  
• Energy Department Acts to Unleash American Coal by Strengthening Coal Technology and Securing Critical Mineral Supply Chains
  Energy Secretary Chris Wright today announced a series of actions the Department of Energy (DOE) is taking to unleash American coal production.
  
• Department of Energy Awards Management and Operating (M&O) Contract for Strategic Petroleum Reserve
  Following a rigorous competitive selection process, the Department of Energy (DOE) today announced that Strategic Storage Partners, LLC has secured a $1.4 billion contract to manage and operate the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).
  
• ICYMI: DOE National Lab and Nuclear Weapons Directors Voice Support for Commonsense Permitting Reforms
  U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright received strong support from the Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Lab and nuclear weapons assembly plant directors after he announced expedited permitting reforms for construction projects on Energy Department lands.
  
• DOE Identifies 16 Federal Sites Across the Country for Data Center and AI Infrastructure Development
  Energy Secretary Chris Wright acts to strengthen America’s energy dominance and leadership in artificial intelligence by leveraging federal land and assets
  
• MEDIA ADVISORY: Energy Secretary Wright to Travel to Colorado, Visit National Lab
  U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright will travel to Colorado this week to visit the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s campus in Golden, Colorado and deliver remarks to staff.
  
• Energy Department Takes Action to Remove Barriers for Requests to LNG Export Commencement Date Extensions
  The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the removal of additional regulatory barriers standing in the way of unleashing U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports.
  

Today in Energy

• Eagle Ford natural gas production increases as crude oil production holds steady
  In our April Short-Term Energy Outlook, we forecast U.S. annual natural gas production from the Eagle Ford region in southwest Texas will grow from 6.8 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2024 to 7.0 Bcf/d in 2026. The increase in natural gas production comes as natural gas prices rise and demand for liquefied natural gas exports grows. Oil production in the Eagle Ford, on th...
  
• U.S. crude oil exports reached a new record in 2024
  U.S. crude oil exports in 2024 surpassed the previous record set in 2023, exceeding an annual average of 4.1 million barrels per day (b/d). Despite this new record, crude oil export year—over—year growth slowed to 1% in 2024, compared with 14% in 2023 and 21% in 2022.
  
• Angola exported more liquefied natural gas to Europe and less to Asia in 2022 and 2023
  Angola exported more liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe and less to Asia in 2022 and 2023, according to estimates from the Statistical Review of World Energy, when Europe increased LNG imports to offset reduced natural gas imports by pipeline from Russia following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war.
  
• U.S. production of all types of coal has declined over the past two decades
  In 2023, the United States produced 578 million short tons (MMst) of coal, or less than half of the amount produced in 2008 when U.S. coal production peaked, according to our most recent Annual Coal Report. The production decline is spread almost evenly across each type of coal and continued in 2024. Rising mining costs, increasingly stringent environmental regulations, and com...
  
• U.S. propane consumption reached an 18-year record in January amid cold snap
  U.S. propane consumption reached 1.48 million barrels per day (b/d) in January 2025, the most January consumption on record since January 2005 and the most for any month since February 2007, as severe cold drove up heating demand across much of the country.
  

Nuclear & WMD News at DefenceTalk.com

• Russia’s updated nuclear ‘red line’ adds uncertainty: experts
  DefenceTalkRussia’s new nuclear doctrine reflects its hopes to deter Ukraine’s allies from a greater role in the war by establishing red lines hedged with added ambiguity, experts say. Moscow warned on Tuesday that it would respond after Ukraine fired longer-range US missiles at its territory for the first time, as President Vladimir Putin issued a […]https:/...
  
• Russian defence ministry says held fresh nuclear drills
  DefenceTalkRussia said Tuesday its army held fresh nuclear drills under the supervision of President Vladimir Putin, who recently called for changes to rules on the use of Moscow’s nuclear deterrent. Putin has raised the prospect of using nuclear weapons during Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine several times and last month suggested Russia broaden its rules on […...
  
• Japan shifting back to nuclear to ditch coal, power AI
  DefenceTalkGlinting in the sun by the world’s biggest nuclear plant, the Sea of Japan is calm now. But as the huge facility gears up to restart, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa has a new tsunami wall, just in case. Japan pulled the plug on nuclear power after the 2011 Fukushima disaster, but with the G7’s dirtiest energy mix, it […]https://www.defencetalk.com/japan-shifti...
  
• Amazon bets on nuclear power to fuel AI ambitions
  DefenceTalkAmazon announced significant investments in nuclear energy on Wednesday, joining other tech giants in aiming to meet the high electric power demands of artificial intelligence using atomic energy. As companies including Microsoft, Amazon, and Google rapidly expand their global data center capabilities, they are actively seeking new electricity sources. Amazon has sig...
  
• Nuclear deterrence still at heart of great power strategy: experts
  DefenceTalkNuclear-armed powers have no intention of giving up the atom bomb as part of their military strategy, experts said after the Nobel Peace Prize committee urged against any weakening of the nuclear “taboo”. Awarding this year’s peace prize to Japan’s Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots movement of Hiroshima and Nagasaki survivors pushing for a nuclear ...
  
• Israeli retaliation threat sparks call in Iran for nuclear weapons
  DefenceTalkWith the prospect of Israeli retaliation for Iran’s missile attack looming, some Iranian hardliners want their government to revise its nuclear doctrine to pursue atomic weapons. Israel has vowed to launch a “deadly, precise, and surprising” attack on Iran in retaliation for its second-ever direct strike on Israeli territory. On October 1, Iran laun...
  
• Kazakhstan approve plan for first nuclear power plant
  DefenceTalkKazakhstan has approved a plan to build its first nuclear power station in a referendum, overcoming lingering resentment over massive radiation exposure from Soviet-era nuclear tests. The Central Asian country is the world’s largest producer of uranium and has massive oil reserves but it suffers from chronic energy shortages. The “Yes” vote won 71.1...
  
• With Two Nuclear-Armed Strategic Competitors, US Modernization Top Priority
  DefenceTalk“The security environment we face today is unprecedented,” said Melissa Dalton, undersecretary of the Air Force. “We face for the first time in our nation’s history, two strategic competitors that are nuclear states with large and growing nuclear arsenals. When we look at the [People’s Republic of China] and its breathtaking modernizatio...
  
• Kremlin says won’t change plans on Belarus nuclear weapons
  DefenceTalkThe Kremlin on Monday said Western criticism would not change plans announced by President Vladimir Putin to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in neighboring Belarus. The West condemned Putin’s weekend announcement on placing the weapons in EU and NATO-bordering Belarus, triggering calls for new sanctions on Moscow. Ukraine said it was seeking an emergency meetin...
  
• North Korea says it tested new underwater nuclear attack ‘drone’
  DefenceTalkNorth Korea claimed Friday it had tested an underwater nuclear attack drone able to unleash a “radioactive tsunami”, as it blamed recent US-South Korea exercises for a deteriorating regional security situation. Pyongyang carried out military drills of its own in response this week, the official Korean Central News Agency said, including test-firing a new ...
  

All Articles | Discover Magazine

• A New Form of Light Spirals Just Like Nautilus Shells and Sunflower Seeds
  Learn about the optical rotatum, a newfound structure of light that exhibits a spiral pattern linked with various parts of nature.
  
• This Fungus May be the Most Bitter Natural Substance, but It's Not Poisonous
  Although a bracket fungus proved to be the least palatable, it is not poisonous. This conclusion could make scientists rethink the relationship between taste and toxicity.
  
• 100-Million-Year-Old Footprints Reveal a New Armored, Club-Tailed Dinosaur
  The tracks show that two types of ankylosauruses co-existed at a time and place where they were once thought to be extinct.
  
• Lasers Could Help Detect Nano- and Microplastics in Bodily Fluids
  Learn more about the research project that’s helping experts analyze the nanoplastics in the human body.
  
• The Rise of Cat Domestication May Have Started with Ancient Egyptian Sacrifices
  Discover how today’s cats might trace their roots back to cult rituals in ancient Egypt.
  
• In the Deep Ocean, Dark Oxygen May Mysteriously Emanate from the Bottom
  Dark oxygen was first discovered in 2015, but what is it? Learn how a deep-sea discovery could rewrite our understanding of how life on Earth evolved.
  
• 5 of the Biggest Extraterrestrial Impacts That Moved Oceans and Made Moons
  What are some of the largest extraterrestrial impacts to effect Earth? Learn what we’ve seen in history, and what is important to know today.
  
• Watch How Male Fiddler Crabs Beat Sand Like a Drum to Attract Mates
  Learn more about the courtship songs of male fiddler crabs, which communicate important information about their size and their fitness as mates.
  
• Sleep’s Surprising Role in Strengthening Long-Term Memory
  Learn how getting a good night’s sleep may be the key to enhanced and longer-lasting memories.
  
• A Black Hole Awakens in a Distant Galaxy, Producing X-Ray Bursts
  Learn why a black hole is becoming active and why experts still can't explain the source of its regular, periodic pattern of X-ray energy flashes.
  
• The Stunning Lyrid Meteor Shower 2025 Peaks This Month — Here's What to Know
  Learn more about the upcoming Lyrid meteor shower and how you can prepare for this stunning cosmic show.
  
• ChatGPT4.5 Crosses The Turing Test Threshold
  Machines have never been able to pass as humans in Turing's famous test of intelligence. That has finally changed.
  
• The Mysterious Source Behind the Monkeypox Virus Is a Squirrel
  Even though the virus was first discovered in laboratory monkeys in 1958, the original source came from a squirrel.
  
• The Upcoming Pink Moon Will Rise as a Micromoon — Here's What To Know
  Learn about the unique aspects of the Pink Moon, the upcoming full moon that will illuminate the night sky as a micromoon on April 12, 2025.
  
• Volcanic Ash Buried a Huge Herd of Nebraskan Rhinos 12 Million Years Ago
  Learn about the ancient rhinos that lived and died together in Nebraska in the Middle Miocene.