ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Division Spotlight
Radiation Protection & Shielding
The Radiation Protection and Shielding Division is developing and promoting radiation protection and shielding aspects of nuclear science and technology — including interaction of nuclear radiation with materials and biological systems, instruments and techniques for the measurement of nuclear radiation fields, and radiation shield design and evaluation.
Meeting Spotlight
ANS Student Conference 2025
April 3–5, 2025
Albuquerque, NM|The University of New Mexico
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
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Nuclear Science and Engineering
May 2025
Nuclear Technology
April 2025
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
General Kenneth Nichols and the Manhattan Project
Nichols
The Oak Ridger has published the latest in a series of articles about General Kenneth D. Nichols, the Manhattan Project, and the 1954 Atomic Energy Act. The series has been produced by Nichols’ grandniece Barbara Rogers Scollin and Oak Ridge (Tenn.) city historian David Ray Smith. Gen. Nichols (1907–2000) was the district engineer for the Manhattan Engineer District during the Manhattan Project.
As Smith and Scollin explain, Nichols “had supervision of the research and development connected with, and the design, construction, and operation of, all plants required to produce plutonium-239 and uranium-235, including the construction of the towns of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and Richland, Washington. The responsibility of his position was massive as he oversaw a workforce of both military and civilian personnel of approximately 125,000; his Oak Ridge office became the center of the wartime atomic energy’s activities.”
Technical Session|Panel|Panels
Friday, April 5, 2024|3:15–4:35PM EDT|Engineering Services Building Room 122
Session Chair:
Amanda M. Johnsen
Alternate Chair:
Branko Kovacevic
Session Organizer:
Jonathan B. Balog
Medical isotopes are essential tools in modern medicine, facilitating diagnostic imaging and therapeutic treatments. These isotopes, produced primarily in nuclear reactors or accelerators, enable doctors to visualize internal organs, detect diseases, and target treatments for conditions like cancer and heart disease. Technetium-99m, derived from molybdenum-99, is particularly crucial for diagnostic imaging procedures worldwide. However, ensuring a stable supply of medical isotopes remains a challenge, driving ongoing efforts to diversify production methods and enhance supply chain resilience. Join our panelists for their insights on how to address radioisotope production challenges on several levels and how they aim to incorporate isotope production into their existing infrastructure!
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Attachment — Isotope Production Bios
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