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First Experimental Result Published from the High-Intensity Heavy-Ion Accelerator Facility

Recently, the research team from the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, together with collaborators, successfully produced and identified the rare isotope hafnium-153 using the High-Intensity Heavy-Ion Accelerator Facility (HIAF). This is the first physics result obtained during the commissioning of HIAF, demonstrating that China's new-generation high-intensity heavy-ion research facility is capable of exploring unknown nuclides and expanding the nuclear chart. It marks the official commencement of HIAF's scientific discovery journey. The result was published as a short communication in *Science Bulletin*. Figure: Position of hafnium-153 on the nuclear chart; the blue line indicates the boundary of known nuclides. Image | Hu Houyu, Li Hongfu. Atomic nuclei are composed of protons and neutrons, and different combinations of proton and neutron numbers form the diverse world of nuclides. Exploring unknown nuclides and investigating the boundaries of nuclear existence are important frontiers in nuclear physics. Hafnium-153 is located in the neutron-deficient heavy-mass region and is an important subject for studying the evolution of nuclear structure and the limits of nuclear stability. It had not been reported prior to this experiment. The discovery and precise measurement of this nuclide will help test nuclear theory models and deepen our understanding of nuclear structure regularities.

2026-08-03

Busan Gijang Southeast Radiation Medical Science Industrial Complex Simultaneously Advances Proton and Heavy Ion Therapy Centers

Within the Southeast Atomic Energy Medical Institute (Southeast Atomic Energy Medical Institute) in Gijang-gun, Busan, the proton therapy center and heavy ion therapy center projects are being advanced simultaneously, expected to form an integrated cancer treatment hub, alleviate medical concentration in the capital region, and attract patients from other regions and overseas. Busan's first proton accelerator project can also be used for industrial purposes, benefiting regional high-tech industries and investment attraction. According to Busan City and the Busan Institute of Science and Technology Advancement (BISTEP) on August 2, the Southeast Proton Therapy Center construction project will officially break ground in the second half of this year; BISTEP recently completed a commissioned study on the establishment strategy and implementation plan for the Southeast Proton Therapy Center (executed by the Southeast Atomic Energy Medical Institute) (Southeast...

2026-08-03

Japanese research team experimentally confirms full-gap spin-triplet superconductivity in UBe13

On July 30, 2026, Kobe University and the Japan Atomic Energy Agency announced that a research team led by Professor Hideki Higashibata of the Graduate School of Science at Kobe University, along with Shoko Minami, who was a master's student at the time of the research, in collaboration with Yoshinori Haga, Research Director at the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, and researchers from Osaka University, experimentally confirmed for the first time the existence of a spin-triplet superconducting state with full-gap characteristics in the intermetallic compound UBe13. The findings were published in the Journal of the Physical Society of Japan on June 26 and were selected as an Editor's Choice paper. Since its discovery in 1983, UBe13 has been regarded as an important candidate material for spin-triplet superconductivity. Unlike conventional spin-singlet superconductivity...

2026-08-03

JAEA Develops 3D-Printed Disposable Aerosol Particle Size Classification Device

On July 30, 2026, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency announced the development of a palm-sized, 3D-printed disposable device named µSPLIT (micro splitter) that can separate airborne particles by particle size on-site and collect them onto filters for subsequent or direct measurement. The disposable classification and measurement device µSPLIT (left) separates aerosols by particle size through controlled intake flow rate, with particles collected on filters. (Right) The main unit can be directly connected to a radiation detector via a thin film. According to reports, µSPLIT measures approximately 12 cm × 3 cm × 3 cm and is integrally molded from transparent resin using stereolithography 3D printing technology...

2026-08-03

South Korea's Trade Minister Meets Governors of 11 U.S. States to Expand Nuclear Power and Shipbuilding Cooperation

South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy stated on August 2 that the Trade Negotiation Minister attended the 2026 National Governors Association (NGA) Summer Meeting in Oklahoma City from July 30 to August 1, during which he held a series of meetings with governors from 11 states including Tennessee, Colorado, Wyoming, North Carolina, Delaware, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Utah, Maryland, South Dakota, and Vermont, calling for expanded cooperation in high-tech and strategic industries such as nuclear power, shipbuilding, and batteries, and requesting support from state governments for Korean companies' investments and local operations in the U.S. Reports indicate that the U.S. Department of Energy is advancing the Nuclear Life-cycle Innovation Campus (NLIC) project, and on the 28th of last month...

2026-08-03

After 25 Years, the Muon Wobble Puzzle Sees Key New Progress in Physics

For 25 years, precise measurements of how muons wobble in a magnetic field have been a major puzzle in particle physics. Early experiments showed a discrepancy between the measured value of the muon's g-factor and theoretical predictions, a difference once seen as a possible hint of unknown particles. Recent new theoretical calculations and experimental analyses have brought a new twist to this puzzle. The muon is a heavier cousin of the electron that precesses like a tiny magnet in a magnetic field. Its extra wobble is quantified by the muon g-2 coefficient. According to quantum theory, known particles and interactions influence this coefficient through fleeting quantum fluctuations, making muon g-2 a key test of the Standard Model...

2026-08-03

Russian research team reveals submicroscopic pore structure of chernozem using ion beam scanning electron microscopy

Researchers at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and their collaborators have recently used focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) to perform detailed characterization of the microstructure of chernozem soil samples. The study shows that this technique can identify pores smaller than 1 micron, pore morphology, and specific organic components in soil, providing a new observational tool for understanding the mechanisms of chernozem fertility formation and maintenance. The research was supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation and published in the 17th series "Soil Science" of the Moscow University Bulletin. Soil science research typically requires extending from the field scale to the microscopic scale. Computed tomography (CT) has been widely used to...

2026-08-03

German Science and Humanities Council Supports German Participation in the LEGEND-1000 Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay Experiment

On July 27, 2026, the German Science and Humanities Council expressed its support for German participation in the LEGEND-1000 experiment. The project had previously passed scientific evaluation and was deemed significant for a broad research community in the fields of particle physics and nuclear physics. LEGEND-1000 is the next phase of the large-scale enriched germanium neutrinoless double β decay experiment, planned to be constructed by an international collaborative team at the underground laboratory of the Gran Sasso National Laboratory in Italy. German participating institutions include the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics in Heidelberg and the Technical University of Munich, with project leaders being Professor Susanne Mertens and Professor Stefan Schönert, respectively. According to the project...

2026-08-03

Kairos Power Advances Flibe Molten Salt Applications to Support KP-FHR High-Temperature Reactor Development

Kairos Power announced on July 29 that its Fluoride Salt-Cooled High-Temperature Reactor (KP-FHR) will be among the early adopters of a fluoride salt coolant. This coolant, commonly referred to as Flibe, is composed of lithium fluoride (LiF) and beryllium fluoride (BeF₂). In the 1960s, Oak Ridge National Laboratory used this material as a coolant in the Molten Salt Reactor Experiment. According to Kairos Power, Flibe has a high specific heat capacity, enabling it to effectively absorb and transfer heat generated in the reactor core. Compared with some sodium-cooled or helium-cooled reactor systems, fluoride salt offers certain advantages in heat transport...

2026-08-03

Bolivia Advances Legislative Process for Peaceful Nuclear Technology Applications

EL ALTO, Bolivia, July 29 - The Bolivian Nuclear Energy Agency (ABEN) recently held working exchanges with relevant committees of the Plurinational Legislative Assembly to discuss the reactivation of related legislative agendas, focusing on the continued advancement of Bolivia's nuclear energy program and peaceful nuclear technology application projects. René Soria Sausedo, Executive Director of ABEN, stated that as the primary operating entity of Bolivia's nuclear program, ABEN bears the responsibility of driving the implementation of peaceful nuclear technology application projects. These efforts require modern legal instruments to define institutional mandates, technical standards, and the fundamental legal framework for project development. The parliamentary delegation, led by the President of the International Policy and Migration Protection Committee, visited ABEN facilities...

2026-08-03

Romania Blasts Rocks in Danube to Secure Nuclear Power Plant Water Supply

Romania is conducting blasting operations on rocks in the Danube River to ensure the water supply for the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant. The Ministry of National Defense has launched related actions aimed at altering the river's flow, diverting part of the water from the Bala branch to the Old Danube branch. Initial blasting operations began on Sunday, involving over one hundred military personnel and sixteen pieces of military equipment. According to Navy Reserve Commander Marcel Neculae, the first two explosions failed to completely destroy the target rock, which proved harder than expected. Navy divers are currently assessing the blasting results, after which explosive charges will be gradually increased to continue the operation. Romania's water resources authority has also noted the complexity of the project and warned that it may not succeed.

2026-08-03

U.S. to Resume Shipping Transuranic Waste Drums from Savannah River Site to WIPP for Permanent Disposal

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) will resume shipping remote-handled transuranic waste drums from the Savannah River Site (SRS) in South Carolina to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in New Mexico for permanent disposal on July 28, 2026. Prior to resuming shipments, relevant teams have completed flammable gas analysis, confirming that these waste containers meet safety requirements for transport to the underground disposal facility. Flammable gas sampling is a critical safety step before transuranic waste transportation. Workers assess potential combustion risks inside containers by detecting gases such as hydrogen, methane, and volatile organic compounds, and confirm their safety during transport and disposal...

2026-08-03

Utah Finalist for DOE Nuclear Fuel Cycle Site, with Great Salt Lake Rescue as Bargaining Chip

Utah is seeking an agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), hoping to secure federal nuclear hub status while also gaining assistance in addressing the Great Salt Lake crisis. Governor Spencer Cox and U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright signed a memorandum agreeing to collaborate on realizing the full value of the nuclear fuel cycle. However, this agreement does not mean Utah has decided to build the nuclear hub, and the state will decline if it is deemed unsafe or disadvantageous. Currently, Utah is one of five states competing for the federal Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Park, which aims to consolidate all aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle in one location, including fuel fabrication, enrichment,...

2026-08-03

U.S. Department of Energy Highlights Progress in Legacy Waste Cleanup and Medical Isotope R&D

Recently, senior officials from the U.S. Department of Energy attended an event hosted by the U.S. House Nuclear Cleanup Caucus, presenting the application progress of legacy nuclear waste cleanup efforts in medical isotope R&D and future energy technologies. The event, themed "DOE's Isotope Mission: Legacy Cleanup Saves Lives, Empowers America's Future," focused on how nuclear cleanup missions align with isotope production and medical research. DOE's Under Secretary for Science Dario Gil, along with Oak Ridge National Laboratory Environmental Management Office Manager Eric Olds and Savannah River Operations Office Manager Edwin DeShon, jointly attended the event. DeShon...

2026-08-03

DUNE Prototype Detector Undergoes 300 kV Pressure Test at CERN

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE), an international collaborative project led by the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory under the U.S. Department of Energy, is conducting pressure tests on the prototype detector ProtoDUNE at CERN's Neutrino Platform to verify the long-term stability of the relevant detection technology under extreme operating conditions. DUNE is designed as a large-scale neutrino research experiment aimed at studying the properties of neutrinos and their role in the evolution of the universe. The experiment will install large liquid argon time projection chamber detectors approximately one mile underground at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in South Dakota, USA. Once the detectors are filled with liquid argon and sealed, internal components will be difficult to access for extended periods...

2026-08-03