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Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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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.
Wolfgang Kröger, Rudolf Schulten
Nuclear Technology | Volume 91 | Number 2 | August 1990 | Pages 154-164
Technical Paper | Safety of Next Generation Power Reactor / Fission Reactor | doi.org/10.13182/NT90-A34425
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
In the Federal Republic of Germany, hightemperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) operating experience with the experimental Arbeitsgemeinschaft Versuchsreaktor (AVR) and the thorium high-temperature reactor (THTR)-300 prototype plant forms the basis for follow-up medium HTGR concepts for electricity production and small modular designs for combined electricity and heat production. To some degree, plant designs emphasize inherent safety features. Basically, this ensures that beyonddesign-basis events, including total loss of forced cooling, do not cause a large (catastrophic) activity release or, in the case of the small modular concept, any significant release. Assessments based on intensive experimental and theoretical work indicate a minimum risk for either plant. Acute protective countermeasures (e.g., evacuation) will not be required; only for the (nonoptimized) medium-sized concept could long-term relocation and decontamination be appropriate for a relatively small area.