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
Nuclear Criticality Safety
NCSD provides communication among nuclear criticality safety professionals through the development of standards, the evolution of training methods and materials, the presentation of technical data and procedures, and the creation of specialty publications. In these ways, the division furthers the exchange of technical information on nuclear criticality safety with the ultimate goal of promoting the safe handling of fissionable materials outside reactors.
Meeting Spotlight
2024 ANS Annual Conference
June 16–19, 2024
Las Vegas, NV|Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
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!
Latest Magazine Issues
May 2024
Jan 2024
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
June 2024
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Proof of concept: The Molten Salt Reactor Experiment in Nuclear News
By late 1960, when the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission authorized plans to build a Molten Salt Reactor Experiment (MSRE) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the lab already had about 13 years of experimentation with molten salt reactors under its longest-serving lab director, Alvin Weinberg. The MSRE operated from 1965 to 1969, proving that molten salt reactors could operate reliably, and with alternatives to uranium-235 too.
Scouts of all ages anywhere in the world can learn about nuclear science and technology through the Get to Know Nuclear patch developed by the American Nuclear Society and the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana Girl Scout Council.
Get to Know Nuclear is earned by scouts working together. Many troops hold in-person workshops where troops earn the patch in a single day, but workshops don’t have to be in person! Workshops can be completed virtually or using a combined approach.
We’ve gathered the resources troops need to hold a patch event online or person-to-person. And we’re happy to connect you with an ANS member experienced in Get to Know Nuclear patch events to assist your troop. Just contact us at askanything@ans.org
The BSA offers a Nuclear Science Merit Badge, which was developed with assistance from American Nuclear Society members. The resources provided here may also be used in meeting some of the Nuclear Science Merit Badge requirements.
Requirements
Requirements to earn Get to Know Nuclear focus on learning about nuclear science and technology through teamwork and engaging activities. While the requirements are most suitable for older scouts, they are also flexible, so scouts of all ages can get to know nuclear!
Discuss: What is the electromagnetic spectrum? What are atoms? How are they structured? What is the difference between an atom and an isotope? What makes an atom stable?
Learn about atomic structure and more
Radiation Basics PowerPoint (includes atomic structure)
Activities (do one)
Contact
Last modified March 6, 2024, 12:25pm CST