Savannah River "K Reactor," courtesy SRS

Written on location at the ANS 2015 Winter Meeting by Will Davis

Taishan EPR under construction; courtesy CGN

•Written on location at the ANS Winter Meeting by Will Davis

Although there have been dozens of unique nuclear reactors and nuclear power plants built and operated in the United States, it is perhaps true that the "most unique" of these in many ways was a nuclear power plant that, in a real sense, did not itself actually incorporate a nuclear reactor.  This plant was built and operated by the Washington Public Power Supply System, and was known as Hanford One.  The story behind it, and the unique reactor that provided steam for it, is at once complicated and fascinating.

The 285th edition of the Nuclear Energy Blog Carnival has posted at Yes Vermont Yankee

The 284th edition of the Nuclear Energy Blog Carnival has posted at The Hiroshima Syndrome

The 283rd edition of the Nuclear Energy Blog Carnival has posted at Next Big Future.

This year, Nuclear Science Week takes place October 19-23. Always during the third week of October, it's a nationwide event that has been educating people about the importance of nuclear science and technology for the past five years. Many of the associated Nuclear Science Week events, taking place all week throughout the United States, are aimed toward young people to encourage an interest in nuclear science-related careers. This year, the first day's theme will be "Get To Know Nuclear"-a topic kids (and adults) of all ages would do well to learn.

The Friday Nuclear Matinee is a short video on the myths and facts of nuclear energy. Please weigh in with comments and questions below about today's video.

ANS Members from Around the World to Gather in D.C. for Winter Meeting

By Will Davis

Republished with permission from ANS News, September/October 2015, p. 5.

Burns

Today, the American Nuclear Society hosted a "Blogger Roundtable" event featuring special guest Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Stephen G. Burns. This event was hosted and moderated by Craig Piercy, ANS D.C. Representative. This was the second such roundtable ANS has hosted (the previous having been with Allison MacFarlane.)

By Joseph Campbell, INL

The 281st edition of the Nuclear Energy Blog Carnival has posted at Neutron Bytes.

The 280th edition of the Nuclear Energy Blog Carnival has posted at The Next Big Future.

For today's Friday Nuclear Matinee: ANS member Meredith Angwin was interviewed on Vote for Vermont hosted by Pat McDonald. Listen as Meredith talks about nuclear fuel safety and the economic impact on closing Vermont Yankee. Meredith educates the public in her easy-to-understand manner, and expresses herself with a genuine passion and belief for nuclear technology. Grab your popcorn and enjoy the show!

A rare look inside the Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant in Glen Rose, Texas. Both a story as well as the video. http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/local/texas-news/2015/09/18/comanche-peak-nuclear-plant-still-pumping-power-after-25-years/72448156/

Mars - brought to you by NASA and nuclear power. After three action-packed years on Mars, the Curiosity rover is ready to take on higher slopes of Mount Sharp. http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/video/details.php?id=1391

This week's ANS Friday Nuclear Matinee features the second quarter 2015 construction update from South Carolina Electric & Gas's V.C. Summer nuclear power plant, where two new AP1000 nuclear units are under construction. The massive size of the components and construction is well displayed in this video, which dates from late July 2015.