Kairos and TVA partner to build demonstration pebble-bed nuclear reactor

The US Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Kairos Power have announced a new agreement to build Kairos’ Hermes low-power demonstration molten-salt cooled, pebble-bed reactor at the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.Continue… Continue reading Kairos and TVA partner to build demonstration pebble-bed nuclear reactor

Four ways to fusion: The pros and pitfalls of our nuclear power pursuit

For nearly a century, scientists have been tantalized by the prospect of attaining an inexhaustible source of energy through nuclear fusion. Unfortunately, engineering a controlled environment where atomic nuclei can continuously fuse under extreme pre… Continue reading Four ways to fusion: The pros and pitfalls of our nuclear power pursuit

Physicists to look for quantum time dilation inside nuclear reactor

We’re all too familiar with the inexorable march of time, but why exactly it flows in one direction remains a mystery of physics. A few years ago Australian physicist Joan Vaccaro proposed a new quantum theory of time, and now a team is planning to tes… Continue reading Physicists to look for quantum time dilation inside nuclear reactor

Copper cube reactor converts carbon monoxide into acetic acid

Engineers at Rice University have developed a new reactor that can convert carbon monoxide (CO) into acetic acid. Using tiny copper cubes as a catalyst, the device is relatively simple and can operate for long periods at a time, allowing the unwanted w… Continue reading Copper cube reactor converts carbon monoxide into acetic acid

Radiation appears to help some metal alloys self-heal

Radiation is famously damaging, both to living tissue and materials. But now, engineers at MIT have been surprised to discover that radiation may actually help certain alloys to self-heal, extending their useful lifetime. This could obviously help info… Continue reading Radiation appears to help some metal alloys self-heal

Nuclear fusion plasma could be stabilized against large eruptions – by causing lots of small ones

As the Sun and stars themselves can attest, nuclear fusion could be an essentially unlimited energy source, if we can only harness it. The problem is that the plasma used is inherently unstable, and large eruptions can damage the reactors con… Continue reading Nuclear fusion plasma could be stabilized against large eruptions – by causing lots of small ones