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pnnl SUPPORTS FIRST-OF-A-KIND ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW FOR AN ADVANCED REACTOR
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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.

u.s. AND cHILE wORK tOGETHER TO ENHANCE NUCLEAR EXPLOSION MONITORING AND STRENGTHEN GLOBAL SECURITY 

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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.

mODELING THE MOVEMENT OF IMPURITIES IN MOLTEN URANIUM 

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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.

TEAM SUPPORTS NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION IN JORDAN 

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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. 

WASTE MANAGEMENT SYMPOSIA SELECTS PNNL EXPERTS FOR KEY ROLES 
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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. 

 

DESERT TORTOISE COUNCIL RECOGNIZES CYLER CONRAD WITH AWARD
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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 20th century nuclear testing and processing sites. Read More.

DIRECTLY MEASURING X-RAY ENHANCED DISSOLUTION OF GIBBSITE
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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.

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PNNL's multidisciplinary expertise in nuclear science provides solutions to some of the world’s most complex environmental, radiological, and national security challenges. Nuclear@PNNL gives readers a firsthand look at PNNL's focus on nuclear materials behavior, chemistry, forensics, and processing to advance nuclear energy, resolve legacy waste, and support national security. Each issue highlights the expertise of our researchers, their contributions to the nuclear mission space, and our state-of-the-art research facilities where discoveries and advancements are made.
 
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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 sustainable energy and national security. Founded in 1965, PNNL is operated by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science, which is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. DOE’s Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit the PNNL's News Center. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

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