ANS Nuclear Cafe is proud to host the 135th edition of the Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers.  The Carnival is a rotating weekly feature among nuclear blogs and presents some of the most interesting and pertinent discussions of nuclear energy news and analysis in the blogosphere.

The 800 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity produced by the 104 nuclear reactors in the United States each year -- all while emitting no greenhouse gases -- is by far America's biggest source of green energy.  And this abundant energy source can become even greener by recycling used nuclear fuel.

The December issue of Nuclear News magazine is available in hard copy and electronically for American Nuclear Society members (click 'ANS Members' or 'Subscribers' in left column).

When you get right down to it... to many people, nuclear power can seem rather mysterious. Fortunately, this short video takes viewers inside US nuclear power plants and explains the nuts and bolts of how a nuclear plant operates-as told by the people who actually maintain and operate them.

The 2013 ANS Topical Meeting on Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space (NETS 2013) will be held February 25-28, 2013, at the Albuquerque Marriott in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The 133rd weekly Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers is posted at Next Big Future.  Topics include the damaging effects of overplayed and unwarranted *fear* of low-level radiation; rocket science combined with nuclear science; compelling testimony in favor of continued operations of Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant; a pictorial look back at the Clinch River Breeder Reactor as small modular reactors are planned to take over the old site; something rotten in Denmark wind power; nuclear power technology advances in Russia and China...

A joint Department of Energy and NASA team has demonstrated a simple, robust fission reactor prototype [note: see Comments for more accurate and complete description] intended for development for future space exploration missions. The DUFF (Demonstration Using Flattop Fissions) experiment represents the first demonstration in the United State-since 1965-of a space nuclear reactor system to produce electricity.

Integrating Storage, Transportation, and Disposal

In September 2012, American Nuclear Society members in the Tennessee Valley area turned out in record numbers to support an ANS presence at a public hearing in order to inform the public and media about the nonproliferation benefits of the mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel program. These remarkable volunteer efforts were recognized in several venues at the 2012 ANS Winter Conference & Technology Expo, including the ANS Public Information (PI) Committee meeting, the ANS Board of Directors, and the ANS PI Workshop hosted by Mimi Limbach of Potomac Communications and Craig Piercy, ANS rep in Washington, D.C. The decision was made at the PI Workshop to designate the official name of the Chattanooga hearing as the "Chattanooga Caper."

The 132nd weekly Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers is posted at The Hiroshima Syndrome.  This week's topics include: Russia's full-scale push to become totally nuclear by 2100; families of Vermont Yankee employees share what it feels like to be faced with uncertainty about the extension of a nuclear power plant operating license; how emotions should favor nuclear energy; how it seems nuclear energy isn't that big a political issue in Japan; and natural gas... being more dangerous than nuclear energy. For the full reports, see The Hiroshima Syndrome (the internet's top source for Fukushima updates and commentary).

The November 2012 edition of the technical journal Fusion Science and Technology (FST) is available electronically and in hard copy for American Nuclear Society member subscribers and others. Non-subscribers click here to  subscribe to FST and other ANS titles.

The 131st weekly Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers is up at The Hiroshima Syndrome (the internet's top source for Fukushima updates and commentary).

With the 2012 American Nuclear Society Winter Meeting wrapping up in San Diego, a musical tribute to the nuclear sciences and technologies-and now, the nuclear arts!- is in order.

The ANS Winter Meeting is focused on progress in nuclear technology. Keep up-to-date year round with the ANS technical journal Nuclear Technology (NT).  The November 2012 edition is available electronically and in hard copy for American Nuclear Society member subscribers and others. Non-subscribers click here to  subscribe to NT and other ANS titles.

WHO:   Anyone with an interest in communicating with policymakers  about important nuclear issues

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) will be hosting the 2013 ANS Student Conference, to be held April 4-6, 2013, in Boston, MA.  MIT student leaders are making the rounds at the ANS Winter Conference to highlight the exciting events in store at the student conference.

WHO:   Anyone with an interest in use of social media

Many prestigious and well-deserved honors and awards were presented in the opening plenary of the 2012 American Nuclear Society Winter Meeting.  Presented by Dr. Paul J. Turinsky of North Carolina State University, who himself was awarded the ANS Presidential Citation in 2009, and Dr. Michael Corradini of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, President of the American Nuclear Society.

Candace Davison, senior reactor operator and senior research and education specialist with Pennsylvania State University, on November 12 received the American Nuclear Society's 2012 Landis Public Communication and Education Award.

I want to welcome everyone to the American Nuclear Society 2012 Winter Meeting in San Diego, California. This is a great time to be a part of the nuclear science and technology industry and I'm so glad you're here.