Reactor

Italy's parliament has approved a move toward restarting nuclear power, reversing a stance the country has held since abandoning nuclear energy after referendums following the Chernobyl disaster. The vote opens the way for new nuclear technology, including small modular reactors, as Italy seeks stable low-carbon energy supplies. Supporters frame it as energy security and climate policy; critics recall Italy's long-standing public opposition to nuclear power.

Italy has approved a law allowing the country to produce nuclear energy again, reversing a ban in place for nearly four decades. The move ends a prohibition dating back to referendums after the 1987 vote, and opens the way for new reactors as Italy seeks reliable, low-carbon power and reduced dependence on imported energy.

Southeast Asia is turning to small modular reactors as demand for reliable electricity surges alongside its growing semiconductor and artificial intelligence industries. Thailand is among the countries weighing the technology, with chip manufacturing requiring stable power supplies that renewable sources alone have struggled to guarantee, prompting a regional rethink on nuclear energy.

Politico examines whether the fast-moving, iterative development approach that made SpaceX dominant in rockets could be applied to nuclear power, an industry long slowed by regulation and cost overruns. The piece weighs SpaceX-style rapid prototyping against the safety demands of reactors, as new nuclear startups and government support for advanced reactors draw renewed attention in the United States.

The first commercial nuclear-powered satellite has been launched aboard a SpaceX mission, according to the American Nuclear Society's Nuclear Newswire. The milestone marks the first time a nuclear-powered spacecraft has flown on a commercial basis, combining private spaceflight with nuclear energy technology in orbit. Details about the satellite's operator, reactor design and mission goals remain limited in the available reporting.

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has completed its environmental review for the proposed restart of the Crane Clean Energy Center in Pennsylvania, the former Three Mile Island Unit 1 reactor. The review is a key step toward restarting the plant, which is being pursued to supply power to Microsoft under an agreement with owner Constellation Energy.

Federal nuclear regulators are investigating a mishap during fuel assembly installation at the Palisades nuclear power plant in Michigan. The facility, which recently returned to service, is under scrutiny after the installation error, though regulators have not reported any radiation release or injuries. Details about the cause and severity of the incident remain limited as the probe continues.

The United States plans to place a nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030, while a Russian-Chinese partnership is developing its own lunar reactor targeted for 2036. The competing projects have drawn attention because some leading scientists warn the risk to Earth is significant, noting that rockets carrying nuclear material could explode during launch or transit.

Italy's Senate has given final approval to a law from Giorgia Meloni's government establishing a new framework for producing nuclear energy, nearly four decades after the country abandoned nuclear power following the 1987 referendum. The government plans to focus on new-generation reactor technology as part of its energy strategy.

Corriere della Sera reports on the American plan to install a nuclear reactor on the Moon within the next few years, framing it as a race between powers. The reactor would provide reliable energy for a sustained human presence on the lunar surface, where nights last weeks and solar power is limited. The 2030 deadline reflects both technical urgency and strategic competition in space exploration.

International arbitration has ruled that the Finnish company Fennovoima acted unlawfully when it terminated its contract with Rosatom to build the Hanhikivi-1 nuclear power plant in Finland. The decision revives a long-running dispute over the cancelled Russian-backed reactor project, which Finland scrapped after the invasion of Ukraine. Russian state media are presenting the ruling as a legal victory for Rosatom.

Scientists have deployed a system of 18 neutrino detectors near a nuclear reactor to study rare neutrino interactions with unprecedented sensitivity. Reactors produce vast numbers of antineutrinos, making them ideal sources for studying coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering and hunting for physics beyond the Standard Model. The multi-detector design helps reduce background noise and systematic errors. Physics observers are following the results closely, as any deviation from expectations could hint at new particles or forces.

Ampera has filed a comprehensive engagement plan with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, a step in developing its molten salt microreactor technology. The announcement drew attention from nuclear energy watchers, with commenters noting the scale of the ambition for a pre-IPO company. Supporters see it as a sign of momentum for next-generation reactors and the broader energy transition.

A $120 billion framework agreement has been outlined to build six Westinghouse AP1000 reactors and two South Korean APR1400 units in the United States. The plan was announced by the US Commerce Department, marking one of the largest nuclear construction agreements to date and deepening US–South Korea energy cooperation.

The YouTube channel Pelicanger is drawing attention with a reaction video to an episode of the long-running Mexican anthology series La Rosa de Guadalupe, in which a character reportedly sells her body in exchange for an iPhone. The dramatic storyline and the reactors' commentary have struck a chord with audiences, racking up close to a million likes as viewers discuss the episode's themes.

Scientists studying particles from the Chernobyl exclusion zone report that nuclear fuel fragments released in the 1986 disaster have proven far more chemically stable over four decades than expected. The findings are drawing attention for what they suggest about how spent reactor material behaves in the environment long term, with implications for nuclear waste storage and remediation of contaminated sites.

The United States and other major powers are competing to deploy nuclear reactors on the Moon, according to a New York Times report. The push is seen as key to sustaining long-term lunar bases, powering operations through the two-week lunar night, and securing strategic advantage in space before rivals set standards for lunar territory.

Scientists report that radioactive hot particles found in the Chernobyl exclusion zone have barely changed since the 1986 reactor explosion, remaining chemically similar to the material released on the day of the disaster. The findings suggest these particles are highly stable in the environment, with implications for understanding long-term radioactive contamination and health risks in the region nearly four decades later.

The phrase 'nuclear reactor' is drawing a wave of searches in Russia, with no single event clearly attached to it. Interest could relate to nuclear energy developments, safety concerns, or reactor news, but the available information does not point to a specific incident or announcement driving the attention.

Discussion is underway about how near the energy industry actually is to deploying small modular reactors at scale. While several companies and governments have announced SMR projects, observers are questioning whether timelines and cost projections hold up, given that no design has yet been fully commercialized. The debate centers on whether the technology is a realistic near-term climate solution or still years away from practical, affordable deployment.

Energy companies are working to extract additional electricity from existing nuclear plants rather than building new reactors, the New York Times reports. The push is linked to surging demand from data centers, with Google among the companies tied to power deals, as tech firms scramble to secure reliable, low-carbon energy for artificial intelligence operations.

A research team has used quantum computing to perform FLiBe chemistry calculations, according to the American Nuclear Society. FLiBe, a molten fluoride salt mixture of lithium and beryllium, is a leading coolant and fuel carrier for molten salt reactor designs. Accurate predictions of its chemical behavior are difficult for classical computers, making the work a notable step toward applying quantum methods to nuclear reactor design and simulation.

Virginia's electricity demand is growing so quickly that meeting it under current policies would require doubling the state's solar capacity, building 16 additional wind farms, and constructing up to 17 small nuclear reactors, according to reporting by Cardinal News. The figures underline how rapidly the state's energy needs are expanding and the scale of new generation required.

A report describes a renewed competition between major powers to deploy nuclear reactors on the Moon, framing lunar nuclear power as the next frontier in strategic rivalry. Reactors would allow continuous power on the lunar surface through the two-week night, supporting permanent bases. The story highlights how space infrastructure is increasingly tied to national prestige and geopolitical influence.

A researcher reports taking part in further talks covering a range of nuclear topics, including plutonium production in fast reactors, the effects of nuclear war on water cycles, measurements at nuclear weapon test sites with remote detection of tests, and the links between sustainability and nuclear non-proliferation.

Unit 7 at the Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant in China has achieved a self-sustaining controlled nuclear chain reaction and reached its minimum controllable power level, a key milestone before the reactor begins commercial operation. Nuclear energy observers are following the commissioning progress of the new unit closely.

US senators say a vote on the Trump administration's nuclear power agreement with Saudi Arabia is expected after the midterm elections. The pact, known as a 123 agreement, would open the way for American companies to help build Saudi nuclear reactors. Lawmakers have debated whether it should include commitments that Riyadh will not enrich uranium, given concerns about nuclear proliferation in the Gulf region.