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ORNL Neutron Imaging Technology Reveals Healed Rib Fracture in Tyrannosaurus Rex Fossil

Neutron imaging technology at the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has helped researchers from the University of Regina in Canada and other institutions observe rare healing signs inside the fossilized bones of a Tyrannosaurus rex, providing new insights into ancient life from approximately 66 million years ago. The subject of this study is a fractured rib from "Scotty," the largest Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever discovered. Researchers found that this rib preserved a wound-healing process rarely seen in the fossil record: after the fracture occurred, iron-rich blood entered the injured area and formed a network of blood vessels to promote healing; however, before the rib had fully healed, Scotty died and was preserved in a salt marsh environment, which slowed the decomposition of the remains...

2026-09-07

"Wukong" Detects "Super-Iron" Elements in Cosmic Rays, Achieving First High-Precision Cosmic Ray Nickel Energy Spectrum in the TeV Range

Recently, the DAMPE scientific team led by Academician Chang Jin of the University of Science and Technology of China made significant progress in direct observations of high-energy cosmic rays. Based on DAMPE on-orbit observation data, the scientific team obtained the differential flux spectrum of nickel nuclei from 10 GeV/n to 2 TeV/n. The results were published in the international academic journal *Physical Review Letters* under the title "Measurement of the Cosmic Ray Nickel Energy Spectrum from 10 GeV/n to 2 TeV/n with the DAMPE Space Mission." The origin of super-iron elements in cosmic rays has long been a challenge for the scientific community. It is generally believed that cosmic ray elements are primarily produced in nuclear fusion processes within stars, but since iron nuclei have the highest binding energy per nucleon, stellar fusion reactions typically struggle to proceed beyond elements near iron. Heavier elements than iron are generally attributed to different nucleosynthesis processes such as neutron capture. Because the abundance of super-iron elements is typically at least an order of magnitude lower than that of iron, measurements of super-iron elements in cosmic rays remain extremely scarce. Most experiments have only provided relative abundances of different elements; a few experiments have measured the differential flux spectrum of cosmic ray nickel, but with energy upper limits of only a few hundred GeV/n.

2026-09-07

South Korean research team reveals that water storage capacity of cold subducting slabs has been underestimated using synchrotron radiation sources

A research team led by Professor Yongjae Lee of the Department of Earth System Sciences at Yonsei University in South Korea has recently found that in cold, rapidly descending tectonic subduction zones, crustal rocks may transport up to 1 trillion kilograms of water to the mantle each year—approximately twice the previous estimate. The findings have been published in Nature Communications. Subduction zones are regions where Earth's tectonic plates converge and one plate descends beneath another, often accompanied by volcanic and seismic activity. For a long time, the academic community has generally believed that serpentinite, a water-bearing rock, gradually dehydrates as it descends with the plate due to increasing pressure and temperature, and the released water further promotes melting of the overlying plate and is associated with the formation of volcanic arc chains.

2026-09-07

Digital twins are becoming an important R&D pathway in fusion research

Recently, a new paper reviewed the progress of digital twin technology in fusion research over the past five years and noted that several key gaps remain before a complete digital twin model of a fusion power plant can be achieved. Simulating the movement of tungsten in the plasma core. Copyright: (F. Jenko et al., 2026, *Nuclear Fusion* 66 116014) Digital twins are a class of virtual models that reflect the structure, environment, and behavior of physical systems, and can be used to predict future system states and inform real-world decision-making. In fusion research, as issues in plasma physics, device engineering, and material interactions grow increasingly complex, digital twins are considered promising...

2026-09-07

XENONnT Observes First Low-Energy Solar Neutrino-Electron Scattering Signals

Scientists of the XENON collaboration recently announced the first observation of low-energy solar neutrino scattering off electrons in the XENONnT particle detector. The results were presented at a workshop held on August 31, 2026, at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory of the Italian National Institute for Nuclear Physics. The team of Prof. Teresa Marrodán Undagoitia and Dr. Hardy Simgen from the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics played a key role in the experiment. Nuclear fusion in the Sun continuously produces vast numbers of neutrinos, with hundreds of billions passing through every square centimeter of Earth each second. Because neutrinos interact with matter extremely weakly, detecting these particles...

2026-09-07

China officially promotes Hualong One 2.0 Gen-III+ nuclear power technology to the global market

Nine key safety indicators of the Hualong One 2.0 Gen-III+ nuclear power technology have been significantly improved, the number of cabinets in the new-generation Harmony system has been reduced by approximately 40%, and the world's first 8.6-meter-aperture solar thermal collector, Yuanyao-1, can achieve a photoelectric efficiency of 17%... These were the highlights reported by this journalist at the CGN 2026 Sustainable Development Conference held in Shenzhen on September 7. At the conference, CGN officially released the "2025 CGN Sustainable Development Report," and simultaneously launched its global responsibility brand, the "CGN Firefly Plan." As the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting draws near, Shenzhen is becoming the focus of Asia-Pacific attention. On September 7, CGN, headquartered in Shenzhen, hosted a sustainable development conference themed "Green Energy Illuminating Mountains and Seas, Joining Hands to Create the Future," showcasing China's clean energy development landscape and its latest progress in going global to think tanks, media, and other stakeholders from APEC member economies and countries jointly building the "Belt and Road."

2026-09-07

Malaysia Expands Nuclear Radiation Mutation Breeding Applications to Bolster Food Security and Industrial Inspection

Malaysia's nuclear technology applications are extending from traditional fields such as medicine and industry further into agricultural production and food security. Dr. Sukri, Senior Director of Project Management at the Malaysian Nuclear Agency, stated that through research and development using nuclear radiation mutation breeding technology, the agency has shortened the maturation period of cassava from the original 10 to 12 months down to 6 months. Sukri noted that this technological application helps reduce farmers' production costs, improve land use efficiency, and cultivate larger cassava varieties. In addition to cassava, the Malaysian Nuclear Agency, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the Department of Agriculture, has successfully developed two new rice varieties, NMR 151 and NMR 152. These new varieties feature higher yields and demonstrate strong resistance to diseases, extreme weather conditions such as prolonged drought, and flooding.

2026-09-07

Uzbekistan's Jizzakh Nuclear Power Project Investment Estimate Reaches $9.5 Billion

The nuclear power project in the Jizzakh region, developed by Uzbekistan in cooperation with Russia's State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom), has a total capital expenditure estimate of $9.5 billion. The investment scope includes site preparation, reactor construction, regulatory compliance, and high-voltage grid connection. Under the project arrangement, the nuclear power plant will adopt Russian-designed advanced reactor technology to meet regional baseload power supply demands and adapt to Uzbekistan's geographical and climatic conditions. The project site in the Jizzakh region is intended to enhance power supply reliability for the central industrial corridor of Uzbekistan and promote a reduction in the country's energy structure's dependence on natural gas. Uzbek President Shavkat...

2026-09-07

Kenya seeks IAEA review support to advance nuclear power project by 2034

Kenya is seeking a new round of review and expanded technical support from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to advance its long-planned nuclear power program toward construction readiness by 2034. According to relevant meeting briefings, Kenya hopes the IAEA will conduct a Phase 2 Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) mission in the fourth quarter of 2026, along with support in training nuclear engineers and nuclear scientists. Kenya also plans to leverage the IAEA's 70th General Conference, to be held in Vienna from September 14 to 18, to secure advisory services, skills training, and technical assistance for advancing its nuclear power project and nuclear research reactor construction. Kenya is expected to send a high-level delegation of approximately 30 people...

2026-09-07

Russian designers propose hybrid powerplant concept for small nuclear submarine

Nikolai Kirillov, a designer from St. Petersburg, Russia, has proposed a powerplant concept for a small nuclear submarine, envisioning a combination of a diesel engine, a small nuclear reactor, and an electric motor to provide the submarine with three operating modes: diesel surface cruising, electric submerged navigation, and sustained nuclear power generation. Under this concept, the submarine is powered by the diesel engine while surface cruising. The diesel engine drives a fixed-pitch propeller through a gearbox and a dedicated propeller shaft, allowing the diesel to operate as close to its rated conditions as possible to reduce equipment wear. In submerged conditions, the diesel engine is shut down, and propulsion is provided by a separate electric motor. This motor is paired with a controllable-pitch propeller and draws power from a battery bank.

2026-09-07

Grid Connection of Unit 1 at Bangladesh's Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Delayed Again

The grid connection of Unit 1 at Bangladesh's Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant has been delayed once again. Fakir Mahbub Anam, Bangladesh's Minister of Science and Technology, stated that two critical safety valves of the unit exposed technical faults during testing, and the next phase of testing cannot be initiated for the time being. A specific timeline for troubleshooting and grid connection of the unit has yet to be determined. Located in the Pabna region of Bangladesh, the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is being constructed with financing and technical support from Russia, with plans for two VVER-1200 units totaling approximately 2,400 megawatts of installed capacity. On April 28 this year, the unit commenced fuel loading preparation and testing work, when the project...

2026-09-07

Turkey's Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 to Generate Electricity by End of 2026

Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar stated that Unit 1 of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant has entered the testing phase, with Turkey aiming to complete commissioning and begin electricity generation by the end of 2026. Bayraktar said construction of the remaining units at the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is still progressing, and the project team also plans to build a data center near Units 3 and 4. He also noted that due to factors such as the pandemic, rising commodity prices, and increased construction costs, the total cost of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant has exceeded the initially planned $20 billion. However, the project has made progress in localization, including equipment, materials, and services...

2026-09-07

South Korea's KNR System Develops Heavy-Duty Bipedal Robot for Nuclear Facility Decommissioning Applications

South Korean robotics company KNR System recently announced the completion of the lower-body development and basic locomotion verification for its large-scale industrial "super-humanoid" robot. The robot's leg structure can support loads of up to 3 tons and move at a speed of 3 to 4 kilometers per hour. The company plans to release the full model by the end of 2026 and has already initiated whole-body system integration work. KNR System is developing a super-humanoid robot design. Image source: KNR System According to reports, the newly developed robot legs stand approximately 2.9 meters tall, with a maximum load capacity of 3 tons and a dual-arm payload of 600 kilograms. Each side is equipped with 12 joints, utilizing 10,000 Nm-class high-output hydraulic rotary actuators...

2026-09-07

Taishan Nuclear Power Plant Deploys Specialized Underwater Robot for Cold Source Intake to Enhance Water Intake Operation and Maintenance Safety

Recently, at the seawater reservoir of Taishan Nuclear Power Plant, the cold source operation and maintenance team remotely operated a specialized underwater robot to complete an underwater inspection. After entering the water, the robot descended steadily, maintained stable posture at a depth of approximately 10 meters, transmitted clear real-time images, and maintained normal communication links throughout the process, successfully completing the preventive underwater inspection of the seawater reservoir interception net. Underwater inspection of the interception net conducted via the underwater robot. Since its first underwater operation on March 12 this year, the robot has replaced manual labor in dozens of underwater interception net inspections, becoming an important initiative for Taishan Nuclear Power Plant to enhance the intrinsic safety level of cold source water intake operation and maintenance and to advance intelligent operation and maintenance. The cold source interception net is a critical facility ensuring the safety of unit cold source water intake, and its condition and structural gaps directly affect the reliability of cold source water intake. During high-risk periods for the cold source, operation and maintenance personnel are required to conduct underwater inspections of the interception net weekly to confirm facility integrity and operational status.

2026-09-07

Atom High-Tech Signs Memorandum of Cooperation with Cambodia's Calmette Hospital and Others to Advance Nuclear Medicine Capacity Building

On September 4, Atom High-Tech, Cambodia's Calmette Hospital, and FFS Company held a trilateral memorandum of cooperation signing ceremony in Beijing. Huo Yingying, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of China Isotope & Radiation Corporation (CIRC), attended and delivered a speech, while Zhang Yiming, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Atom High-Tech, signed on behalf of the company. Established in 1950, Calmette Hospital is one of Cambodia's largest and most technologically advanced public hospitals and serves as a national referral center. It undertakes three core missions: delivering high-quality medical services, training health professionals, and conducting medical research. Currently, the hospital is actively advancing its nuclear medicine capacity by establishing the country's first nuclear medicine department, further improving its oncology diagnosis and treatment and molecular imaging service systems...

2026-09-07