The 116th Carnival is up at Idaho Samizdat.

Early on Monday morning (1:31AM Eastern Daylight Time), after having traveled 352 million miles, NASA's robotic rover Curiosity is scheduled to touch down inside the Gale Crater on the surface of Mars. Soon after, it will begin looking for clues about possible early forms of Martian life.

Realizing New Technologies for the Age of Fusion Energy

It's time to make plans to attend the American Nuclear Society's 2012 Winter Meeting and Nuclear Technology Expo, this year held in San Diego, Calif., on November 11-15 at the Town and Country Resort & Conference Center.

The 115th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers is up

The American Nuclear Society's annual Utility Working Conference and Vendor Technology Expo kicks off this weekend at The Westin Diplomat Resort and Spa, located at 3555 South Ocean Drive in Hollywood, Florida.  The conference will be held August 5-8.

The probable confirmation of the existence of the Higgs boson, announced on Wednesday, July 4, 2012, marked a great achievement in the history of science.  The Higgs field, as proven by the existence of the Higgs boson, is basically the reason that matter has "mass" in our universe.

The July issue of Nuclear News magazine is available in hard copy and electronically for American Nuclear Society members (enter ANS user name and password).  The issue contains the following feature articles:

The problem with junk science is that it treats all meltdowns as equal events

The Carnival is the collective voice of blogs by legendary names that emerge each week to tell the story of nuclear energy.

The Arthur M. Sackler Colloquia addresses scientific topics of broad and current interest that cut across the boundaries of traditional disciplines. "The Science of Science Communication" was a Sackler Colloquium interdisciplinary scientific meeting held at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C., on May 21-22, 2012. At this meeting, American Nuclear Society Past President Dr. Eric Loewen addressed the other "three R's" of [nuclear] education:  Radiation, Reactors, and Residuals.

In this video interview, American Nuclear Society President Dr. Michael Corradini outlines some major goals and objectives for the Society during his upcoming term.

Following the American Nuclear Society Board of Directors meeting on Thursday, June 28, Michael Corradini officially became ANS President and Eric Loewen transitioned to ANS Immediate Past President. ANS President Corradini presented a commemorative gavel to the ANS Immediate Past President at the conclusion of Dr. Loewen's term.

The 113th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers is up at Next Big Future

Very highly recommended. On December 2, 1942, 49 scientists, led by Enrico Fermi, made history when Chicago Pile 1 (CP-1) went "critical" and produced the world's first self-sustaining, controlled nuclear chain reaction.

ANS President Eric Loewen presented many prestigious and well-deserved honors and awards during the opening plenary of the 2012 American Nuclear Society annual meeting in June.  Photos and links:

Moon rise over the Grand Tetons viewed from the site of the Driggs Hot Air Balloon Carnival. Image: L. Milam

The 112th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers is up at Atomic Insights.

The probable discovery of the Higgs boson, announced on Wednesday, July 4, 2012, marks a great achievement in the history of science (news clips here).  So... exactly what was it that was discovered?

American Nuclear Society (ANS) President Eric Loewen, PhD, presented ANS Outreach Department Director Sharon Kerrick (retired) with a Presidential Citation in recognition of her outstanding career of service to the American Nuclear Society.  Kerrick received her award during the ANS President's Special Session at the ANS Annual Conference: "Nuclear Science and Technology: Managing the Global Impact of Economic and Natural Events," recently held in Chicago, Illinois.

On Thursday, June 28, the American Nuclear Society's Board of Directors formally adopted a position statement entitled U.S. Global Nuclear Leadership through Export-Driven Engagement. ANS position statements reflect the Society's perspectives on issues of public interest that involve various aspects of nuclear science and technology. The text of the June 2012 position statement is below, and the full list of ANS positions statements can be accessed via the ANS website by clicking HERE.