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.
Division Spotlight
Nuclear Criticality Safety
NCSD provides communication among nuclear criticality safety professionals through the development of standards, the evolution of training methods and materials, the presentation of technical data and procedures, and the creation of specialty publications. In these ways, the division furthers the exchange of technical information on nuclear criticality safety with the ultimate goal of promoting the safe handling of fissionable materials outside reactors.
Meeting Spotlight
2025 ANS Annual Conference
June 15–18, 2025
Chicago, IL|Chicago Marriott Downtown
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
Jun 2025
Jan 2025
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
July 2025
Nuclear Technology
June 2025
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Nominations open for CNTA awards
Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness is accepting nominations for its Fred C. Davison Distinguished Scientist Award and its Nuclear Service Award. Nominations for both awards must be submitted by August 1.
The awards will be presented this fall as part of the CNTA’s annual Edward Teller Lecture event.
Nuclear fuel, usually made from uranium, is one of the most dense fuel sources available. A single pellet of uranium fuel, weighing just six grams, has about as much energy available in today’s fission reactor as 3 barrels of oil (42 gallons each), 1 ton of coal, or 17,000 cubic feet of natural gas.
For more than fifty years, the nuclear fuel cycle has contributed to clean energy in the United States and around the world. The nuclear fuel cycle relies on uranium, a relatively common and abundant element, and consists of the processes and industrial operations required to extract usable energy from uranium. When reprocessing and recycling of used nuclear fuel (UNF), also known as spent nuclear fuel, is included as a part of the fuel cycle, a truly repeatable loop is created.
*Not performed in the United States
Last modified April 17, 2020, 8:08pm CDT