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Russia Says Prospects Broad for Cooperation with Iran on Large and Small Nuclear Power Plants

Alexey Likhachev, CEO of Russia's Rosatom, recently stated that the company sees significant room for cooperation with Iran in nuclear power construction, covering both large gigawatt-scale nuclear power units and small nuclear power plants. Likhachev said that Rosatom and Iran have broad prospects in expanding the construction of large nuclear power units and advancing small plant projects. Currently, Rosatom is already involved in Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant project. Unit 1 of the Bushehr plant was put into operation in 2013. The second phase of the plant, covering Units 2 and...

2026-09-01

Japanese Team Achieves Femtosecond Soft X-ray Hyperspectral Microscopy, Simultaneously Acquiring Spatial and Energy Information with Single Pulse

On August 21, the Japan Science and Technology Agency, RIKEN, and the University of Tokyo announced that a research team comprising Assistant Professor Yoko Takeo and Associate Professor Takashi Kimura from the Institute for Solid State Physics at the University of Tokyo, Assistant Professor Satoru Egawa from the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Tokyo, and Team Leader Makina Yabashi from the RIKEN SPring-8 Center, among others, successfully developed and implemented a femtosecond soft X-ray hyperspectral microscope. The findings were published on August 20 in the U.S. scientific journal *Optica*. This technology utilizes a single soft X-ray pulse from an X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) to simultaneously acquire soft X-ray spectra transmitted through different positions of a sample, enabling...

2026-08-31

Japanese team achieves high-precision mass measurements of argon isotopes, revealing variations in the strength of the new magic number N=32

An international collaborative research team comprising RIKEN and the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), among others, conducted high-precision mass measurements of short-lived argon isotopes far from the line of nuclear stability, using the superconducting RI beam generation and separation device BigRIPS at the RI Beam Factory (RIBF) of RIKEN Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science, as well as the CRISMASS system, a stationary slow radioactive isotope precision mass spectrometer jointly developed by the two institutions. The research team directly measured the mass of argon-50 (^50Ar, 18 protons, 32 neutrons) for the first time, and improved the mass measurement precision of argon-49 (^49Ar) by approximately 250-fold compared to previous measurements, providing insights into the energy of the two-neutron shell gap near the new magic number N=32. The results have been...

2026-08-31

Japanese Nuclear Regulator Inspects Horonobe Geological Disposal Research Facility for High-Level Radioactive Waste

On August 28, Shinya Nagasaki and other members of Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) inspected an underground research facility in Horonobe Town, Japan. The facility, operated by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), conducts technical research on deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste. Geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste involves encapsulating the waste and burying it deep underground, achieving long-term isolation through engineered and natural geological barriers. During the inspection, Nagasaki and his delegation examined test facilities used to evaluate the corrosion resistance of iron containers. The tests simulate the environment of containers holding heat-generating radioactive waste after being buried underground...

2026-08-30

China Unicom Yantai Branch and CNNC Shandong Build 5G Dedicated Network for Nuclear Power

Recently, the 5G dedicated network project jointly built by China Unicom Shandong Yantai Branch and CNNC Shandong was officially deployed and put into operation. Targeting the requirements of nuclear power scenarios for communication network security, reliability, and low latency, the project introduces technologies such as 5G dedicated networks, edge computing, artificial intelligence, and big data to promote the implementation of digital capabilities in nuclear power park construction and production support scenarios. CNNC Shandong, affiliated with China National Nuclear Corporation, undertakes tasks related to nuclear power unit power generation and grid connection. During project construction, China Unicom Shandong Yantai Branch, in collaboration with Huawei, adopted end-to-end domestically produced equipment, achieving independent controllability in both hardware and software, filling the gap in domestic 5G dedicated network construction in the nuclear power sector...

2026-08-28

Russia and Egypt Plan to Cooperate on Construction of Nuclear Medicine Center and Radiopharmaceutical Plant

Alexey Likhachev, CEO of Rosatom, recently stated that Russia and Egypt are expanding cooperation in non-energy nuclear technologies, with one of Egypt's key priorities being the construction of a high-performance nuclear medicine center based on a research reactor. According to reports, the project will adopt a comprehensive approach, including a radiopharmaceutical production plant, isotope production facilities, and modern diagnostic systems based on PET and SPECT technologies. Some diagnostic systems will use Russian equipment. Once completed, the project is expected to conduct up to 30,000 diagnostic examinations annually and provide treatment services for 400 patients. Construction of the medical facility is expected to begin as early as 2027...

2026-08-28

Egyptian Minister of Electricity Inspects Small Modular Reactor Technology in Russia

On August 27, 2026, Egyptian Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat visited a small nuclear reactor manufacturing and assembly plant operated by Rosatom during an official visit to Russia. The inspection focused on the latest advancements in small modular reactor-related technologies, industrial application status, and potential cooperation opportunities between the two sides. The Egyptian side stated that such visits align with the country's direction of diversifying energy sources and enhancing the security and sustainability of electricity supply. During the visit, Esmat was briefed on the manufacturing and assembly processes of small reactor components, as well as related safety systems...

2026-08-28

Chubu Electric Power Suspected of Falsifying Decommissioning Progress at Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant

According to disclosures, Japan's Chubu Electric Power Company (CEPCO) is suspected of submitting improper reports to the Japan Spent Fuel Reprocessing and Decommissioning Promotion Organization (NuRO), which manages decommissioning funds, during the cost declaration process for the decommissioning of Units 1 and 2 at the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant, overstating project progress and settling related costs accordingly. The Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant is located in Omaezaki City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Chubu Electric Power decided to shut down Units 1 and 2 of the plant in 2008, with related decommissioning work commencing in 2009. Sources say that when declaring decommissioning project costs, the company is suspected of reporting project progress as faster than actual conditions and using inaccurate data in documents submitted to the fund management organization...

2026-08-27

Rare Germanium Isotope Infrared Spectral Signatures Elucidated in Detail for the First Time

The press service of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science reported on August 25 that scientists from Tomsk Polytechnic University, in collaboration with an international research team, have for the first time conducted a detailed study of the infrared spectra of two rare germanium isotopes and identified characteristic spectral signatures that can be used to recognize the relevant isotopes in complex gas mixtures. The research team selected two highly enriched isotopes—germanium-72 and germanium-73—as the subjects of the study, recording their spectral information using a high-resolution Fourier transform spectrometer. This instrument is capable of resolving closely spaced spectral lines, providing the conditions for analyzing subtle spectral changes induced by isotopic substitution. The researchers stated that precise spectral data for different germanium isotopes remain relatively scarce in the scientific literature, and such data are of significant importance for identifying molecules in planetary atmospheres and for producing ultra-pure germanium isotopes for quantum technologies and modern electronics.

2026-08-26

South Korea Develops AI Model for Prioritizing Post-Earthquake Inspections at Nuclear Facilities

A joint research team from the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) and Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) has developed a deep learning model that can assist nuclear facilities in rapidly identifying priority inspection areas after an earthquake. The model uses seismic wave signals collected from a single seismometer to predict in real time the vibration responses at multiple locations within a nuclear power plant and quantitatively ranks potential risks. The research was jointly conducted by the team of Jae-Beom Lee, senior researcher at KRISS, and Young-Ju Lee, professor at UNIST. The researchers stated that this technology can, without installing sensors at every critical location...

2026-08-26

Thermo Fisher Scientific Launches First Orbitrap Mass Spectrometers for Isotope Ratio Analysis

Thermo Fisher Scientific recently launched the Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Isora mass spectrometer and Orbitrap Isora Pro mass spectrometer in Waltham, Massachusetts, USA. The company stated that these are its first Orbitrap instruments equipped with a dedicated isotope ratio analysis mode. The two mass spectrometers launched this time will form an integrated workflow together with the Thermo Scientific Vanquish Duo ultra-high performance liquid chromatography system and the new Isotope Discoverer software, providing molecular-level isotope ratio analysis capabilities to laboratories and researchers worldwide. Isotope ratio analysis can help researchers determine the source of compounds and their formation processes by measuring natural variations in isotopes within samples, helping...

2026-08-26

Russia's Khiagda Uranium Enterprise Passes Routine Regulatory Inspection

Khiagda JSC, part of the mining division of Russia's State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom), has completed a routine on-site inspection by the Federal Service for Environmental, Technological and Nuclear Supervision (Rostekhnadzor). The inspection covered the company's uranium mining-related facilities and its nuclear energy utilization activities. The inspection team was led by Mikhail Morev, Head of the Department for Assessment, Licensing and Inspection of Industrial Nuclear Reactors and Spent Nuclear Fuel Management Facilities at Rostekhnadzor. The team inspected the railway freight yard in Chita, as well as the central production site in the Bauntovsky District of the Republic of Buryatia...

2026-08-25

Taishan Nuclear Power Achieves Full-Process Digitalization for Two Major Environmental Monitoring Inspections

Recently, the central station inspections of the Plant Environment and Meteorological Monitoring System (KRS) and the Hydrological and Water Quality Monitoring System (YSI) buoy inspections at Taishan Nuclear Power Plant have officially entered full-process digital operation, with all related inspection tasks integrated into the GFIS (Taishan Inspection Data Monitoring System) for online workflow, marking the end of the paper-based inspection sheet era. In the central station equipment room of the environmental laboratory, inspectors can complete online data entry and upload via mobile office devices after verifying data accuracy. △Inspection interface Previously, these two inspection tasks relied on paper-based recording, with inspection data manually transcribed on site and handed over offline for review, making real-time verification and sharing of information impossible. The mountains of paper forms not only made data retrieval time-consuming and laborious but also hindered equipment operation and maintenance quality assessments. Driven by the company's digital transformation initiative, these two inspection tasks have now embarked on the path of digitalization.

2026-08-24

Portal Inspection and Screening System Tested at Chernyshevskoye Border Crossing on Russia-Lithuania Border

On August 20, the customs authorities of the Kaliningrad region of Russia, together with the equipment manufacturer, conducted functional tests of the portal inspection and screening system at the Chernyshevskoye border crossing on the Russia-Lithuania border, focusing on verifying equipment operational status and vehicle inspection capabilities. According to reports, among all Russian border crossings in the Kaliningrad region, only the Chernyshevskoye international road crossing is currently equipped with portal inspection and screening devices. A total of two systems have been installed at this crossing, used respectively for inspecting vehicles entering Russia and those departing, with both units installed and put into operation in December 2025. The inspection and demonstration were carried out with the participation of government regulatory authorities and supplier representatives. The relevant equipment is planned to be...

2026-08-22

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Awards OSI Systems $85 Million Contract for Mobile X-Ray Inspection Systems

On August 19, 2026, OSI Systems announced that its Security division has been awarded a five-year indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, with a ceiling value of approximately $85 million. Under the contract arrangement, OSI Systems will provide U.S. Customs and Border Protection with van-mounted mobile Rapiscan X-ray inspection systems for baggage and parcel screening. The company stated that the initial task order under the contract is valued at approximately $21 million, covering the delivery of mobile inspection systems and training for relevant operators. Ajay Mehra, President and CEO of OSI Systems, stated that this multi-year contract reflects the company's commitment to providing technology support for border security and demonstrates the capabilities of its mobile inspection product portfolio. The company will continue to work with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to deploy mobile screening platforms and provide customs and border officers with the necessary equipment and training.

2026-08-21