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Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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Nuclear Science and Engineering
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Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Valar’s Ward 250 reaches criticality in Utah
El Segundo, Calif.–based start-up Valar Atomics has taken its Ward 250 test reactor critical at the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab (USREL), becoming the second company in the Department of Energy's Reactor Pilot Program to reach the milestone, and, according to the DOE, the first to do so outside a national laboratory.
The DOE celebrated the achievement in a June 18 announcement, describing it as a "zero-power fueled criticality demonstration." The news follows a similar update for Antares Nuclear's Mark-0 reactor, which the DOE said achieved criticality at Idaho National Laboratory earlier this month.
General Chair:
Amanda Robertson (Los Alamos National Laboratory)
Assistant General Chairs:
Alexei Klimenko (Los Alamos National Laboratory)
Stacey Eaton (Los Alamos National Laboratory)
Program Chair:
Holly Trellue (Los Alamos National Laboratory)
Sponsorship Chair:
Chris Robinson (Y-12 National Security Complex)
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