Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) supported the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in conducting a first-of-a-kind streamlined environmental review and environmental impact statement for the Generation-IV advanced reactor, part of Kairos Power LLC’s Hermes molten salt test reactor project. Read More.

As part of the effort to detect nuclear explosive tests around the world —a vital National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) mission —scientists gathered in Santiago, Chile, in December to discuss radioactive emissions from peaceful sources, such as during the production of medical isotopes. The experts met to discuss how to solve the puzzle of differentiating the two, which can look similar on radionuclide detection systems. As part of its work for NNSA, PNNL joined the Chilean Nuclear Energy Commission of the Ministry of Energy to host the ninth Workshop on Signatures of Man-made Isotope Production (WOSMIP). Read More.

The bottom row of the periodic table contains 15 elements, numbered 89 to 103, called the actinide metals. They are used in a variety of ways, from producing nuclear energy to making sure pacemakers and smoke detectors work correctly. One of the most naturally abundant actinide metals is uranium. During actinide metal processing, impurities are common and can be costly for manufacturers. A team of scientists at PNNL developed new computational models to predict the behavior of these impurities and reduce the expense and risk related to actinide metal production. Read More.

A PNNL team recently supported the NNSA and the U.S. Nuclear Security Strategy to lock down nuclear and radiological materials and prevent terrorist acquisition. Joel Koppenaal, Justin Engel, Bryan Avery, Chris Caicedo, Jennifer Elster, and Shannon Goodwin worked on the NNSA Office of Radiological Security program to replace all of Jordan’s high-activity cesium-137 irradiators with X-ray technology. Read More. 

Three PNNL experts were elected to key positions for the Waste Management Symposia. WM Symposia, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that provides an international forum to share radioactive waste management solutions and nuclear facility decommissioning processes. The upcoming WM2024 event marks the 50th anniversary of the annual conference, which commenced in 1974. The WM2024 event’s theme is “Marking 50 Years: Proud of our Past, Poised for the Future,” which will take place on March 10–14, 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona. Read More. 

The Desert Tortoise Council presented PNNL Earth Scientist Cyler Conrad with the Robert C. Stebbins Research Award for the selected paper, “Anthropogenic uranium signatures in turtles, tortoises, and sea turtles from nuclear sites.” The research identifies legacy uranium signatures in scute growth rings of turtles, tortoises, and sea turtles from 20^th century nuclear testing and processing sites. Read More.

The stability of minerals in extreme and changeable environments, such as highly concentrated solutions and under irradiation, is challenging to predict. It is particularly important for understanding the behavior of legacy radioactive tank waste that needs to be processed. A team of researchers studied the dissolution behavior of irradiated gibbsite, an aluminum-based mineral, under various extreme conditions. Read More.