ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
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Division Spotlight
Fuel Cycle & Waste Management
Devoted to all aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle including waste management, worldwide. Division specific areas of interest and involvement include uranium conversion and enrichment; fuel fabrication, management (in-core and ex-core) and recycle; transportation; safeguards; high-level, low-level and mixed waste management and disposal; public policy and program management; decontamination and decommissioning environmental restoration; and excess weapons materials disposition.
Meeting Spotlight
ANS Student Conference 2025
April 3–5, 2025
Albuquerque, NM|The University of New Mexico
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
Mar 2025
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Nuclear Science and Engineering
May 2025
Nuclear Technology
April 2025
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
El Salvador: Looking to nuclear
In 2022, El Salvador’s leadership decided to expand its modest, mostly hydro- and geothermal-based electricity system, which is supported by expensive imported natural gas and diesel generation. They chose to use advanced nuclear reactors, preferably fueled by thorium-based fuels, to power their civilian efforts. The choice of thorium was made to inform the world that the reactor program was for civilian purposes only, and so they chose a fuel that was plentiful, easy to source and work with, and not a proliferation risk.
Michal Cibula, Marco Pellegrini, Masato Mizokami, Shinya Mizokami
Nuclear Technology | Volume 211 | Number 3 | March 2025 | Pages 513-530
Research Article | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2024.2339578
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The Great East Japan Earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station gave ground to a set of events that resulted in an unprecedented severe accident occurring simultaneously in multiple reactors of one nuclear power station and significant release of radioactive materials into the environment. Following these events, Tokyo Electric Power Company in cooperation with domestic and international partners has made continuous efforts to clarify in detail the progression of the accident utilizing both analytical tools and robotic inspections of the damaged units. Recently, multiple inspections utilizing submersible remotely operated vehicles were conducted between December 2022 and March 2023, including the first entry into the pedestal area below the damaged reactor pressure vessel of Unit 1. This paper discusses the findings of these inspections in light of the evolving understanding of the accident scenario, leveraging insights gained through experimental and analytical studies on ex-vessel severe accident phenomena. The outcomes of these investigations have yielded new knowledge and highlighted existing gaps in our understanding. The identified knowledge gaps provide direction for future studies, ultimately advancing the level of nuclear safety.