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 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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
Center for Used Fuel Research: Building confidence in storage and transport
Used nuclear fuel storage and transportation have reached a critical juncture.
Dozens of utilities need reliable data on how used nuclear fuel performs in dry storage casks and canisters to extend regulatory licenses at sites across the United States. Likewise, the Department of Energy expects to take ownership of the used nuclear fuel—termed “spent nuclear fuel” in the laws and regulations governing its stewardship—and transfer it to one or more federal staging facilities for management and disposition.
Meanwhile, dozens of reactor companies are testing prototypes of advanced reactors and advanced reactor fuels. Eventually, regulators and industry must also verify the safety and security of storage methods for these advanced fuel types.
To help address these challenges, the DOE established the Center for Used Fuel Research (CUFR) in January 2026 for work related to the long-term storage and transport of used nuclear fuel.
HyungJun Kim, Yoo Joon Seoung, Gi-Yoon Jeon, Seung Jun Lee
Nuclear Technology | Volume 212 | Number 9 | September 2026 | Pages 2472-2483
Research Article | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2025.2522603
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Nuclear power plants are equipped with various safety systems that reduce the frequency of accidents, but the risk of radiation release still exists in the event of an accident. In the event of a radiation release accident, residents near the power plant are evacuated. This study proposes evacuation strategies to minimize radiation exposure. It compares and analyzes the dispersion of radioactive materials and their impact on the population under typical weather conditions and natural disasters like typhoons. Under typical weather conditions, the Keyhole Strategy, based on the Puff model, is applied to establish real-time evacuation zones according to the dispersion area of radioactive materials, demonstrating effective evacuation and reduced radiation exposure. In contrast, during extreme weather conditions such as typhoons, changes make evacuation challenging. In such cases, a strategy of sheltering indoors until the typhoon passes, followed by evacuation, is more effective. This study highlights the potential of utilizing the precision of weather forecasting models and the Puff model to optimize real-time radiation impact assessments and evacuation strategies.