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 Winter Conference & Expo
November 15–18, 2026
Phoenix, AZ|Arizona Grand Resort & Spa
Latest Magazine Issues
Aug 2026
Jan 2026
2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
October 2026
Nuclear Technology
September 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
August 2026
Latest News
LLNL, Ampera partner to develop thorium-based TRISO fuel
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has formed a strategic partnership with Ampera to develop the company’s nuclear fuel concept through a project named THUNDER, for Thorium Unimodal Droplet Ejection for Reactors.
The focus of THUNDER is fabricating TRISO made with kernels of thorium rather than the usual uranium. LLNL and Ampera will evaluate and optimize liquid metal–jetting technology to produce highly uniform, spherical kernels of thorium-232 for later processing into TRISO fuel.
A. David Rossin, Kunmo Chung, K. L. Peddicord
Nuclear Technology | Volume 88 | Number 2 | November 1989 | Pages 107-119
Technical Paper | NSF Workshop on the Research Needs of the Next Generation Nuclear Power Technology / Fission Reactor | doi.org/10.13182/NT89-A34318
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The National Science Foundation sponsored a workshop to develop input for academic research programs that could form the basis of the next generation of nuclear power technology. New developments in computers, artificial intelligence, and management of complex undertakings suggest that research could assist in improving design, safety, reliability, and economics of existing and future nuclear power plants. Workshop participants identified a set of potential program elements, including an integrated design with full system and life-cycle analytical models, computer-updated configuration control, advanced human/machine interfacing with artificial intelligence, innovative design concepts, and new approaches to risk assessment and demonstration of safety.