The 296th edition of the Nuclear Energy Blog Carnival has posted at Neutron Bytes.

ANS member Sam Brinton talks about his passion, nuclear waste policy and changing the outdated images of nuclear advocates.

1955 artist's concept of the Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant. (Will Davis collection)

In the previous installment, we looked at the first of four projects to study nuclear power plants in the 1950-1953 time frame, as part of a group of studies for the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). This time we'll look at two more.

The 295th edition of the Nuclear Energy Blog Carnival has posted at Atomic Insights.

The 294th edition of the Nuclear Energy Blog Carnival has posted at Hiroshima Syndrome.

Today's Friday Nuclear Matinee is about using irradiation to improve food safety and quality. It comes to us from the International Atomic Energy Agency.  For more, check out NuclearConnect.org  and the Agriculture Applications. Grab your popcorn and enjoy.

Just before the end of 2015, on December 30, the last operating Magnox reactor anywhere in the world was shut down for the final time, which ended a history for this type dating all the way back to 1956.

The president of the American Nuclear Society, Eugene Grecheck, was interviewed during COP21 in Paris, France. Enjoy this short video.

In 1950, there were few nuclear reactors of any sort operating anywhere in the world, even though it had been eight years since the startup of the very first pile. In that intervening time, the Manhattan Project had given way to the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and a variety of reactor types were discussed, debated, designed, and scheduled. None of these was what we today would call a true commercial nuclear plant-built for the purpose of selling electricity to customers. Instead, they were test types, prototypes, and experimental or research types. Large reactors were running at Hanford; these did not produce electricity, but rather plutonium for AEC weapons programs. Atomic energy was still considered far too undeveloped for serious consideration as a straight commercial power producer, and private industry was still barred from most all activities in the nuclear industry, embryonic as it was.

The 287th edition of the Nuclear Energy Blog Carnival has posted at Yes Vermont Yankee.

By T. Marshall

American Nuclear Society President Eugene S. Grecheck and Director of Communications and Outreach Tari Marshall will be in Paris on December 2-9 as observer delegates and to represent one of the lead organizations for Nuclear for Climate. "It is critical that nuclear energy be front and center so that delegates understand the essential role that nuclear will play in reaching climate goals," Grecheck said.

If you were unable to be at the Opening Plenary of the ANS Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C., you missed the honoring of two pivotal leaders in nonproliferation efforts: former Secretary of State George Shultz and Dr. Sidney Drell. Both gentlemen were awarded the first Dwight D. Eisenhower Award by the Nuclear Nonproliferation Policy Division of the American Nuclear Society. Susan Eisenhower, granddaughter of President Eisenhower, presented the awards.

ANS Vice President and President-Elect Andrew Klein discusses the issues for state regulators to consider on nuclear as they craft their Clean Power Plan compliance mechanisms, as well as COP21 next month in Paris, France.

Written by Will Davis on location at the ANS 2015 Winter Meeting

Hinkley Point C preconstruction artwork; courtesy EDF

Written on location at the ANS 2015 Winter Meeting by Will Davis

Savannah River "K Reactor," courtesy SRS

Written on location at the ANS 2015 Winter Meeting by Will Davis

Taishan EPR under construction; courtesy CGN

•Written on location at the ANS Winter Meeting by Will Davis

Although there have been dozens of unique nuclear reactors and nuclear power plants built and operated in the United States, it is perhaps true that the "most unique" of these in many ways was a nuclear power plant that, in a real sense, did not itself actually incorporate a nuclear reactor.  This plant was built and operated by the Washington Public Power Supply System, and was known as Hanford One.  The story behind it, and the unique reactor that provided steam for it, is at once complicated and fascinating.