ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
Latest Magazine Issues
Jul 2025
Jan 2025
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
September 2025
Nuclear Technology
August 2025
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
The RAIN scale: A good intention that falls short
Radiation protection specialists agree that clear communication of radiation risks remains a vexing challenge that cannot be solved solely by finding new ways to convey technical information.
Earlier this year, an article in Nuclear News described a new radiation risk communication tool, known as the Radiation Index, or, RAIN (“Let it RAIN: A new approach to radiation communication,” NN, Jan. 2025, p. 36). The authors of the article created the RAIN scale to improve radiation risk communication to the general public who are not well-versed in important aspects of radiation exposures, including radiation dose quantities, units, and values; associated health consequences; and the benefits derived from radiation exposures.
Educational Session|Panel|Sponsored by Innovation
Tuesday, August 6, 2024|1:30–3:00PM EDT|Banyan 1
In Part 1 of innovations for expanding the value of the current fleet and further extending nuclear power plant life, many topics will be covered including Subsequent License Renewal, Extended Power Uprates and Digital Upgrades. Part 2 will cover additional topics supporting generating additional clean, nuclear energy from the existing fleet. This session features an expert panel from suppliers and utilities with a focus on nuclear fuel. Topics include 24-month cycles, Accident Tolerant Fuel (ATF), Higher Enrichments and Burnup and Spent Fuel Storage. A good portion of today’s operating fleet have already realized the benefits of 24-month cycle operations, including significant reduced costs for fewer refueling outages and increased nuclear generation, however there are segments of the operating reactors that have been unable to achieve an economic fuel cycle when limited to 5 weight percent Uranium enrichment. With the introduction of LEU+ (Low Enriched Uranium Plus) and higher licensed burnups, all plants have a clear economic path to 24-month operating cycles. Even reactors already operating 24-month cycles can take advantage of these innovations for more optimized fuel costs or even consider cycles longer than 24-months. Of course, this comes with modifications and licensing efforts for enrichment facilities, shipment from enrichers to fabricators, Fuel Fabrication facilities, shipment from fabricators to reactor sites and the reactors themselves, including spent fuel storage. The panel will provide examples of their innovative approaches and ignite the discussion for all participants around this challenging, but exciting topic.
To access session resources, you must be logged in and registered for the meeting.
Register NowLog In
Session Notes
To join the conversation, you must be logged in and registered for the meeting.
