nuclear reactor

Italy's parliament has approved a plan to bring back nuclear power, more than three decades after the country abandoned it following the 1987 referendum held in the wake of Chernobyl. The move marks a major shift in Italian energy policy, as lawmakers back nuclear as part of the transition toward low-carbon energy sources. Debate is expected over timelines, safety and where reactors would be built.

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.

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.

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.