ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
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Division Spotlight
Isotopes & Radiation
Members are devoted to applying nuclear science and engineering technologies involving isotopes, radiation applications, and associated equipment in scientific research, development, and industrial processes. Their interests lie primarily in education, industrial uses, biology, medicine, and health physics. Division committees include Analytical Applications of Isotopes and Radiation, Biology and Medicine, Radiation Applications, Radiation Sources and Detection, and Thermal Power Sources.
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
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Nuclear Science and Engineering
July 2025
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Smarter waste strategies: Helping deliver on the promise of advanced nuclear
At COP28, held in Dubai in 2023, a clear consensus emerged: Nuclear energy must be a cornerstone of the global clean energy transition. With electricity demand projected to soar as we decarbonize not just power but also industry, transport, and heat, the case for new nuclear is compelling. More than 20 countries committed to tripling global nuclear capacity by 2050. In the United States alone, the Department of Energy forecasts that the country’s current nuclear capacity could more than triple, adding 200 GW of new nuclear to the existing 95 GW by mid-century.
Andrew C. Klein, Allen Camp, Patrick McClure, Susan Voss, Elan Borenstein, Paul VanDamme
Nuclear Technology | Volume 207 | Number 6 | June 2021 | Pages 851-859
Technical Note | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2020.1843350
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
As consideration of launching fission reactors into space moves ahead, it is important to consider the issues related to the operation of various types of space nuclear power and propulsion applications. This technical note discusses some of these factors, including possible human and equipment radiation exposures that might occur during different types of missions and the operational stages within those missions, managing the approach to and working around space reactors, maintaining reactors for long-duration operations, controlling reactors and monitoring their availability and health, evaluating possible reactor accident scenarios, planning for planetary protection due to their operation, and post operation decommissioning and disposal. It also includes a number of suggested guidelines for mission and reactor designers to consider as these important utilizations of nuclear power move forward.