Reactor

Italy's parliament has approved a move toward restarting nuclear power, reversing a stance the country has held since abandoning nuclear energy after referendums following the Chernobyl disaster. The vote opens the way for new nuclear technology, including small modular reactors, as Italy seeks stable low-carbon energy supplies. Supporters frame it as energy security and climate policy; critics recall Italy's long-standing public opposition to nuclear power.

Italy has approved a law allowing the country to produce nuclear energy again, reversing a ban in place for nearly four decades. The move ends a prohibition dating back to referendums after the 1987 vote, and opens the way for new reactors as Italy seeks reliable, low-carbon power and reduced dependence on imported energy.

Southeast Asia is turning to small modular reactors as demand for reliable electricity surges alongside its growing semiconductor and artificial intelligence industries. Thailand is among the countries weighing the technology, with chip manufacturing requiring stable power supplies that renewable sources alone have struggled to guarantee, prompting a regional rethink on nuclear energy.

Politico examines whether the fast-moving, iterative development approach that made SpaceX dominant in rockets could be applied to nuclear power, an industry long slowed by regulation and cost overruns. The piece weighs SpaceX-style rapid prototyping against the safety demands of reactors, as new nuclear startups and government support for advanced reactors draw renewed attention in the United States.

The first commercial nuclear-powered satellite has been launched aboard a SpaceX mission, according to the American Nuclear Society's Nuclear Newswire. The milestone marks the first time a nuclear-powered spacecraft has flown on a commercial basis, combining private spaceflight with nuclear energy technology in orbit. Details about the satellite's operator, reactor design and mission goals remain limited in the available reporting.

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has completed its environmental review for the proposed restart of the Crane Clean Energy Center in Pennsylvania, the former Three Mile Island Unit 1 reactor. The review is a key step toward restarting the plant, which is being pursued to supply power to Microsoft under an agreement with owner Constellation Energy.

Federal nuclear regulators are investigating a mishap during fuel assembly installation at the Palisades nuclear power plant in Michigan. The facility, which recently returned to service, is under scrutiny after the installation error, though regulators have not reported any radiation release or injuries. Details about the cause and severity of the incident remain limited as the probe continues.

The United States plans to place a nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030, while a Russian-Chinese partnership is developing its own lunar reactor targeted for 2036. The competing projects have drawn attention because some leading scientists warn the risk to Earth is significant, noting that rockets carrying nuclear material could explode during launch or transit.

Italy's Senate has given final approval to a law by Giorgia Meloni's government establishing a new framework for producing nuclear energy, nearly four decades after the country abandoned nuclear power following the 1987 referendum. The government plans to focus on new-generation reactors, marking a major shift in Italy's energy policy and its approach to energy security and decarbonisation.

China is moving ahead with the construction of small modular reactors (SMRs), compact nuclear plants that can be built faster and cheaper than conventional reactors. The development has reignited a debate among energy watchers over whether SMRs could eventually undercut solar power as the dominant clean energy source, or whether the two technologies will complement each other. Commenters are weighing China's nuclear ambitions against the falling cost of solar and storage.

Scientists have deployed a system of 18 neutrino detectors near a nuclear reactor to study rare neutrino interactions with unprecedented sensitivity. Reactors produce vast numbers of antineutrinos, making them ideal sources for studying coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering and hunting for physics beyond the Standard Model. The multi-detector design helps reduce background noise and systematic errors. Physics observers are following the results closely, as any deviation from expectations could hint at new particles or forces.

A $120 billion framework agreement has been outlined to build six Westinghouse AP1000 reactors and two South Korean APR1400 units in the United States. The plan was announced by the US Commerce Department, marking one of the largest nuclear construction agreements to date and deepening US–South Korea energy cooperation.

The United States and other major powers are competing to deploy nuclear reactors on the Moon, a step seen as key to sustaining long-term lunar bases and securing strategic advantage in space. The report highlights how nuclear power could support operations through the two-week lunar night, and how the race carries geopolitical weight reminiscent of earlier space rivalries.

A Spanish-language reaction channel is drawing huge attention with a video reacting to an episode of the Mexican anthology series La Rosa de Guadalupe, in which a character is said to have sold her body in exchange for an iPhone. Viewers are engaging heavily with the dramatic storyline and the reactor's surprised takes.

Discussion is underway about how near the energy industry actually is to deploying small modular reactors at scale. While several companies and governments have announced SMR projects, observers are questioning whether timelines and cost projections hold up, given that no design has yet been fully commercialized. The debate centers on whether the technology is a realistic near-term climate solution or still years away from practical, affordable deployment.

A research team has used quantum computing to perform FLiBe chemistry calculations, according to the American Nuclear Society. FLiBe, a molten fluoride salt mixture of lithium and beryllium, is a leading coolant and fuel carrier for molten salt reactor designs. Accurate predictions of its chemical behavior are difficult for classical computers, making the work a notable step toward applying quantum methods to nuclear reactor design and simulation.

A report describes a renewed competition between major powers to deploy nuclear reactors on the Moon, framing lunar nuclear power as the next frontier in strategic rivalry. Reactors would allow continuous power on the lunar surface through the two-week night, supporting permanent bases. The story highlights how space infrastructure is increasingly tied to national prestige and geopolitical influence.

Unit 7 at the Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant in China has achieved a self-sustaining controlled nuclear chain reaction and reached its minimum controllable power level, a key milestone before the reactor begins commercial operation. Nuclear energy observers are following the commissioning progress of the new unit closely.

US senators say a vote on the Trump administration's nuclear power agreement with Saudi Arabia is expected after the midterm elections. The pact, known as a 123 agreement, would open the way for American companies to help build Saudi nuclear reactors. Lawmakers have debated whether it should include commitments that Riyadh will not enrich uranium, given concerns about nuclear proliferation in the Gulf region.

The second RITM-200C small modular reactor has been manufactured for a floating nuclear power plant intended to supply electricity to a copper mining centre in Chukotka, Russia. The news highlights the growing role of small modular reactors in powering remote industrial sites.

Rosatom has outlined four priority areas for action to scale up nuclear capacity, which the global nuclear industry sees as one of its major challenges. The announcement, reported by World Nuclear News, comes as countries pursue new reactor builds and capacity targets. The specific four areas were not detailed in the snippet.

A scientist reports giving additional conference talks covering several nuclear subjects: plutonium production in fast reactors, the effects of nuclear war on water cycles, measurements at nuclear weapon test sites with remote detection of tests, and sustainability and nuclear non-proliferation. The discussions connect civil nuclear technology, weapons monitoring and disarmament policy, and come amid ongoing public interest in both nuclear energy and nuclear risk.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government won Senate approval for legislation enabling a revival of nuclear power, four decades after Italy abandoned it. The bill passed 81 votes to 51, with seven abstentions. Observers say it marks a decisive step toward restarting nuclear energy in Italy, with debate expected over reactors, safety and timelines.

Nvidia has invested in Reactor, a startup building world models, as investors pour large sums into companies developing AI systems that simulate physical environments. The funding reflects growing interest in world model startups, seen as a next step beyond language models, with Nvidia's backing signaling confidence in the sector's commercial potential.

Japan's plans to expand its nuclear power capacity are colliding with a difficult geopolitical environment, according to a Firstpost report. The country has been pushing to restart reactors and invest in new nuclear capacity to secure energy supplies, but international tensions and regional security concerns are complicating that effort. Details of the specific obstacles and how Tokyo plans to respond remain limited in the available reporting.

Russia's fleet of nuclear power plants, many built in the Soviet era, is approaching the end of its designed lifespan, raising the question of who will fund their decommissioning. The dismantling of obsolete reactors is costly and complex, and analysts are questioning whether Russia's state nuclear sector can shoulder the financial burden.

China has developed a plant capable of extracting hydrogen, fresh water and uranium directly from seawater, according to the South China Morning Post. If scaled up, the technology could provide clean fuel, drinking water and nuclear reactor material from the ocean, and observers are weighing both its strategic energy implications and how practical large-scale deployment would be.

Nuclear startups are attracting growing amounts of venture funding, according to a Crunchbase News report, even as publicly listed companies in the nuclear sector have seen their stock valuations decline. The contrast highlights a split between private investors betting on new reactor and nuclear technology ventures and public-market investors pulling back from the industry's listed players.