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.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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
Jul 2025
Jan 2025
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
September 2025
Nuclear Technology
August 2025
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
The RAIN scale: A good intention that falls short
Radiation protection specialists agree that clear communication of radiation risks remains a vexing challenge that cannot be solved solely by finding new ways to convey technical information.
Earlier this year, an article in Nuclear News described a new radiation risk communication tool, known as the Radiation Index, or, RAIN (“Let it RAIN: A new approach to radiation communication,” NN, Jan. 2025, p. 36). The authors of the article created the RAIN scale to improve radiation risk communication to the general public who are not well-versed in important aspects of radiation exposures, including radiation dose quantities, units, and values; associated health consequences; and the benefits derived from radiation exposures.
Eugene Goldberg, Ronald L. Barber, Norman A. Bonner, Clyde M. Griffith, David R. Nethaway, Robert C. Haight
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 94 | Number 2 | October 1986 | Pages 120-135
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE86-A27447
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A large cylindrical assembly of 6LiD was irradiated by neutrons from a high-intensity deuterium-tritium source. Small samples of 6Li, 7Li, and 6LiH, all encapsulated in lead, were positioned along the assembly axis and served as indicators for 4He and tritium production. The amount of 4He was determined by isotope dilution mass spectrometry while the tritium content of the 6LiH wafers was measured by proportional counting of gas samples. Careful comparison of the results with TART Monte Carlo calculations showed excellent agreement. For 4He generation, the experimental values were 1.01 ± 0.06 times those of the calculations, while for tritium the ratio was 1.055 ± 0.07.
