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
2026 ANS Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
Latest Magazine Issues
Mar 2026
Jan 2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
April 2026
Nuclear Technology
February 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Going Nuclear: Notes from the officially unofficial book tour
I work in the analytical labs at one of Europe’s oldest and largest nuclear sites: Sellafield, in northwestern England. I spend my days at the fume hood front, pipette in one hand and radiation probe in the other (and dosimeter pinned to my chest, of course). Outside the lab, I have a second job: I moonlight as a writer and public speaker. My new popular science book—Going Nuclear: How the Atom Will Save the World—came out last summer, and it feels like my life has been running at full power ever since.
Takashi Hirai, Shin Nakatani, Motoyasu Sato
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 200 | Number 2 | February 2026 | Pages 357-365
Regular Research Article | doi.org/10.1080/00295639.2025.2486899
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
This study explores neutron energy attenuation in reactors using helium as a coolant. Helium’s interaction with neutrons is pivotal, reducing their energy and assimilating them into the background system. Unlike typical Maxwell-Boltzmann behavior, neutron scattering off helium results in a distinct nonthermal distribution, characterized by deviations in energy components defined as nonthermal energy. This paper highlights the significance of entropy in these interactions, noting that components with nonthermal energy exhibit higher entropy levels even at constant temperatures. Nonthermal energy not only prompts an immediate rise in temperature, but can also be directly measured through precise experiments. This phenomenon holds both scientific intrigue and substantial engineering relevance, offering insights into neutron dynamics within helium-cooled systems. A thorough analysis of nonthermal energy elucidates its accumulation within the system and its impact on energy balance, advancing our understanding of neutron interactions in such environments.