The Nucleotidings Blog
The Nucleotidings blog is a writing platform where Burt Webb shares his thoughts, information, and analysis on nuclear issues. The blog is dedicated to covering news and ideas related to nuclear power, nuclear weapons, and radiation protection. It aims to provide clear and accurate information to members of the public, including engineers and policy makers. Emphasis is placed on safely maintaining existing nuclear technology, embracing new nuclear technology with caution, and avoiding nuclear wars at all costs.
Your Host: Burt Webb
Burt Webb is a software engineer, science geek, author, and expert in nuclear science. Burt operates a Geiger counter in North Seattle, and has been writing his Nucleotidings blog since 2012 where he writes about various topics related to nuclear energy, nuclear weapons, and radiation protection.
Burt Webb has published several technical books and novels. He works as a software consultant.
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Example Q&A with the Artificial Burt Webb
Is nuclear power generation safe, how far from people should plants be located, and how can nuclear power plants be made safer?
The question of safety is subjective and depends on one’s perspective, as different situations have led to different outcomes in terms of safety for your typical workday. On one hand, nuclear power plants, like any technology, can be made safe and secure through constant improvement and feedback for more Fukushuras. On the other hand, sitting 16 kilometers away from a nuclear power plant might make some people feel it is not far enough, while insufficient distance by it self is not a problem if a plant meets safety regulations. Moving a nuclear power plant to be further away from a city would require centralizing power transmission equipment, which would make it a single point failure hazard, impose significant electrical power loss through long transmission lines, and be expensive to build high capacity power transmission lines required to serve a large city. Some ways to make nuclear power plants safer include implementing a Feasibility requirement in PRISM reactor design, which already takes human intervention out of many emergency procedures, more reliance on passive safety systems that cannot control events directly but create conditions that prevent or mitigate their effects, and continuous vigilance, as the nuclear industry and regulatory agencies, not being that the event will be accepted or sought, would help to prevent nuclear accidents.
What do you mean by “Fukushuras”?
“Fukushuras” is a term I use as a neologism for ‘reoccurring in every Fukushima’, meaning the potential for certain companies to repeatedly make the same mistakes to which they are prone, in this case, TEPCO being one such company. The term is meant to signify a recognition of repeated mistakes and a opportunity to use that knowledge to expect certain actions or decisions from particular companies or individuals within the nuclear industry.
EU leaders cautiously welcome Macron’s nuclear umbrella offer reuters.com
Fire at nuclear power plant in southern Taiwan put out, no safety concern, power company says reuters.com
Activists call for an end to nuclear energy and weapons outside the United Nations amny.com
Penn State partners with Westinghouse Electric Company to create a new nuclear research facility psucollegian.com
Ambient office = 84 nanosieverts per hour
Ambient outside = 97 nanosieverts per hour
Soil exposed to rain water = 99 nanosieverts per hour
English cucumber from Central Market = 105 nanosieverts per hour
Tap water = 111 nanosieverts per hour
Filter water = 100 nanosieverts per hour
Researchers at The Ohio State University have developed a battery that can utilize nuclear waste to generate electricity. This new technology uses ambient gamma radiation from spent nuclear fuel to power electronics and offers a cleaner and more efficient energy source. Raymond Cao is the Director of OSU-Nuclear Reactor Lab and lead author of the study. He said, “We’re harvesting something considered as waste and by nature, trying to turn it into treasure.”
Nuclear fission power plants are a reliable source of energy. However, they produce radioactive waste that emits gamma radiation, which is a form of energy that has been difficult to safely harness.
The Ohio State team’s prototype battery solves this problem by using scintillator crystals. They emit light when exposed to radiation. This light is then captured by solar cells, which convert it into electricity.
Cao added that “The nuclear battery concept is very promising. There’s still lots of room for improvement, but I believe in the future, this approach will carve an important space for itself in both the energy production and sensors industry.”
The battery is roughly the size of a one-and-a-half-inch cube. The researchers used two common radioactive isotopes found in spent nuclear fuel, cesium-137 and cobalt-60, to test the prototype.
The experimental results demonstrated that the battery generated two hundred and eighty-eight nanowatts with cesium-137 and a more substantial one and a half microwatts with cobalt-60, enough to power a small sensor.
Cao remarked, “Although most power outputs for homes and electronics are measured in kilowatts, this suggests that with the right power source, such devices could be scaled up to target applications at or beyond the watts level.”
This technology offers a promising solution to the problem posed by radioactive waste, a significant byproduct of nuclear power generation. Nuclear fission power plants provide about twenty percent of the United States’ electricity with minimal greenhouse gas emissions.
The researchers said in a press release, “However, these systems do create radioactive waste, which can be dangerous to human health.” By converting this radioactive waste into electricity, the new battery offers a potential pathway for transforming a liability into a valuable resource.
Moreover, the design of the battery makes it especially well-suited for environments where high levels of radiation are already present, such as nuclear waste storage facilities, deep-sea exploration, and even space missions.
The researchers emphasized that “Fortunately, although the gamma radiation utilized in this work is about a hundred times more penetrating than a normal X-ray or CT scan, the battery itself does not incorporate radioactive materials, meaning it is still safe to touch.”
The study also pointed out the impact of the scintillator crystal’s design on power output, with larger volumes and surface areas enhancing radiation absorption and light conversion. This technology shows great promise, however, scaling it up for broader applications will require dealing with manufacturing costs and conducting further research. This development represents a significant step towards a more sustainable and efficient use of nuclear energy.
Ibrahim Oksuz is a research associate at the Ohio State University Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and co-author of the study. He said, “These are breakthrough results in terms of power output. This two-step process is still in its preliminary stages, but the next step involves generating greater watts with scale-up constructs.”
Amentum awarded Sizewell C project management contract world-nuclear-news.org
IAEA to assist Uzbekistan in joining nuclear safety treaties news.az
Report: Belarus Eyes Cryptocurrency Mining to Harness Nuclear Surplus news.bitcoin.com
UK insists US still a ‘reliable ally’ amid jitters over Trident nuclear subs politico.eu
Ambient office = 106 nanosieverts per hour
Ambient outside = 82 nanosieverts per hour
Soil exposed to rain water = 84 nanosieverts per hour
Campari tomato from Central Market = 115 nanosieverts per hour
Tap water = 128 nanosieverts per hour
Filter water = 121 nanosieverts per hour
Helion Energy is a fusion energy company based in Everett, Washington. In May 2023, Helion Energy announced a groundbreaking deal with Microsoft, marking the world’s first commercial agreement for fusion energy. Helion has announced plans to construct the world’s first fusion power plant in Malaga, Washington.
The company is working on developing a fifty-megawatt fusion power plant on land owned by the Chelan Public Utility District (PUD) near Rock Island Dam, along the Chelan County side of the Columbia River. The site has not been officially finalized yet, but discussions are progressing. The company plans to increase engagement with the community for this pioneering project.
The announcement of negotiations was made during a joint press conference at the Confluence Technology Center in Wenatchee, Washington. The public event included presentations by Helion Communications Director Jessie Barton, Chelan PUD’s Kirk Hudson, Chelan County Community Development Director Deanna Walter, and Jim Kuntz of the Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority. The panelists discussed their respective agencies’ roles in exploring the potential for carbon-free energy sources in Chelan County.
Jessie Barton said, “We’re looking at developing a 50-megawatt fusion power plant on PUD-owned land, near Rock Island Dam, on the Chelan side of the Columbia River. Now, this isn’t an official site selection at this point, but we are at the point where we’re ready to bring in more community members and have a larger conversation about this potential project.”
A community event is planned for March 11th at the Mission View Elementary School, where additional details about the project will be made public. The company has set an ambitious timeline. It aims to begin construction this summer if the permitting process proceeds without delays, to generate fusion energy by 2028.
From Chelan PUD’s perspective, this project is a critical component of a broader strategy to meet future energy demands and expand beyond hydropower, which has traditionally been the region’s primary energy source. Kirk Hudson said, “We have all of our eggs in one basket with hydropower, which has served us very well, but the future is going to be much different than the past has been.”
Initially, the fusion power produced will support the purchase agreement with Microsoft. There are long-term plans to make this clean energy accessible to local customers. The Chelan PUD remains optimistic about the project’s growth and success, aiming for its benefits to extend to residents of Chelan County and the broader north-central Washington region. Formal discussions regarding agreements with Helion, including potential lease terms, will take place once the company is ready to begin construction.
Helion Energy expects to hire approximately one hundred and thirty workers during the initial construction phase, with around thirty staff needed for ongoing plant operations once the facility is complete.
Under the agreement with Microsoft, Helion intends to provide Microsoft with electricity generated from its fusion power plant by 2028. The deal shows confidence in Helion’s advanced fusion technology and its potential to deliver a reliable, carbon-free energy source.
This partnership aligns with Microsoft’s sustainability goals. It aims to secure clean energy for its operations. Helion’s progress has been further enhanced by significant funding, including a major investment in January 2025, to accelerate the development and deployment of fusion energy technology.
With the planned fusion power plant in Malaga, Washington, Helion is making significant progress toward making fusion energy a reality, reinforcing its commitment to revolutionizing the energy landscape by 2028.
Amentum awarded Sizewell C project management contract world-nuclear-news.org
IAEA to assist Uzbekistan in joining nuclear safety treaties news.az
IAEA to assist Uzbekistan in joining nuclear safety treaties nytimes.com
Report: Belarus Eyes Cryptocurrency Mining to Harness Nuclear Surplus news.bitcoin.com
Ambient office = 85 nanosieverts per hour
Ambient outside = 73 nanosieverts per hour
Soil exposed to rain water = 70 nanosieverts per hour
Blueberry from Central Market = 100 nanosieverts per hour
Tap water = 103 nanosieverts per hour
Filter water = 86 nanosieverts per hour
First Light Fusion switches strategy, drops plans to develop power plant world-nuclear-news.org
Hinkley Point C: EDF tests new acoustic fish deterrent system world-nuclelar-news.org
Lloyd’s Register partners with Microsoft on AI-driven nuclear tech ship-technology.com
Ambient office = 108 nanosieverts per hour
Ambient outside = 110 nanosieverts per hour
Soil exposed to rain water = 116 nanosieverts per hour
Beefstreak tomato from Central Market = 93 nanosieverts per hour
Tap water = 79 nanosieverts per hour
Filter water = 63 nanosieverts per hour
