January 2026

Nuclear Waste Transformed: PNNL Scientists Solidify History with Glass 

The Hanford Site has begun vitrification—a landmark process converting radioactive waste into glass for safe storage over millennia. This marks the startup of the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (Vit Plant), which will address millions of gallons of waste from the Manhattan Project and the Cold War era. PNNL scientists played a pivotal role in advancing this technology, showcasing innovation and collaboration on a global scale. Explore the science behind this achievement.  

Advancing Nuclear Safeguards: A New Tool for Enrichment Monitoring

Researchers have developed a next-generation nuclear enrichment monitoring device to improve uranium measurement accuracy while reducing analysis time and costs. Led by PNNL nuclear physicist James Ely, the UF6 Gas Enrichment Sensor (UGES) uses advanced dual-collimator technology and a smaller, lighter design to ensure precision and efficiency. With testing currently in progress at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), UGES aims to strengthen global nuclear safeguards and nonproliferation efforts. Read about this achievement in the Nuclear Newswire and learn more about this innovation at PNNL.gov. 

Discoveries Rewrite How Some Minerals Form and Dissolve 

Using molecular imaging and modeling, PNNL researchers visualized, in real time, how gibbsite, an aluminum-containing mineral, grows and dissolves. These processes involve crystal subunits aligning and sliding like Tetris™ pieces. The findings, published in Nature Communications, have broad applications, from managing nuclear waste to optimizing alumina production. Learn more about how molecular forces shape nanocrystal behavior at unprecedented levels of detail. 

Iowa Taps PNNL Expertise to Shape Nuclear Energy Future 

Mark Nutt, director of nuclear energy programs at PNNL, was appointed chair of the Iowa Nuclear Energy Task Force through an executive order by Governor Kim Reynolds. The task force will assess the potential role of nuclear energy in the state’s energy future. Nutt, an Iowa native who earned his PhD in nuclear engineering at Iowa State University, will lead representatives from utilities, local and state government, academia, unions, and regulatory agencies to explore the development of nuclear energy technologies and infrastructure. Learn more. 

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Nuclear Careers

See the current nuclear-related career opportunities across PNNL research and operations missions on the Careers website, search for “nuclear.” Join our Talent Community and upload your resume to receive updates on future job postings. Current opportunities include:

• Associate Laboratory Director (ALD), National Security Directorate
• Multiple intern positions

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory draws on its distinguishing strengths in chemistry, Earth sciences, biology and data science to advance scientific knowledge and address challenges in energy resiliency and national security. Founded in 1965, PNNL is operated by Battelle and supported by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information about PNNL, visit PNNL's News Center. Follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

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