nuclear

They were nuclear weapons experts

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The Government Efficiency Department (Doge) led by Elon Musk does not supply say goodbye to all officials That, according to the greatest fortune of the planet, there are plenty of administration. In his last intervention, the Doge agents They fired about 350 officials of the Department of Energy. What they did not know is that they were sending specialists at home nuclear eyelet assembly and control of weapons and nuclear waste. Nuclear layoffs. According to published CBS News, Doge employees thought that last Thursday they were saying employees in the test period or simple administrative department of the Department of Energy, without stopping to ask what their work really was. However, hundreds of federal employees who work in the United States nuclear weapons programs also received their dismissal notification. According to sources of The Associated Press Near to the Department of Energy, up to 350 employees of the National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA) were dismissed unexpectedly. Some of them lost access to their email before being formally notified or could not access their job with their credentials. The NSA is the entity responsible for managing the country’s nuclear weapons, among other crucial responsibilities. Specialists in nuclear eyelets. One of the facilities most affected by Doge’s layoffs was the Pantex plant, near Yellow (Texas), which suffered a 30% template cut without prior notice. In this plant, employees are dedicated to the reensamblage of nuclear eyelets, a high specialization task that requires the highest levels of security authorization. The agency’s interim director, Teresa Robbins, sent a statement to the dismissed employees annuling the dismissal order, has caused enormous confusion throughout the agency. However, 28 officials were not readmitted. “This letter serves as a formal notification that the termination decision issued on February 13, 2025 has been terminated, with an immediate effect,” said the memorandum obtained by AP. Dismiss first, then ask. Given the nature of these dismissals, the discretion used by the department led by Elon Musk, when saying goodbye to officials without previously analyzing the scope of their work, has been revealed. That action pattern carries the Elon Musk’s unequivocal seal. He did it With the Development Department of the Tesla Supercores, and then hire them again because the service had been paralyzed. He did the same With the Twitter moderation department Chaos in a strategic department. “The people of Doge arrive without having the slightest idea of ​​what are the responsibilities of these departments. They do not seem to realize that, in reality, it is more about the department of nuclear weapons than the department of energy,” said Daryl Kimball, Executive Director of the Arms Control Association. A senior NSA official, Rob Plonski, also expressed concern about dismissals in a LinkedIn publication: “This is a crucial moment. We must decide whether we are truly committed to leading on the world stage or if we content to undermine the same systems that ensure the future of our nation.” Plonski warned that “cutting the federal workforce responsible for these functions can be seen as reckless in the best and adversely opportunistic in the worst.” CONSEQUENCES FOR THE NUCTILE FORCE OF US. The layoffs and subsequent readmission of the employees of the Department of Energy have planted the seed of uncertainty among those officials, and some are rethinking whether to work back in the agency. “The main impact was a blow to the morals and trust of the employees who were dismissed,” assured to CNN A nearby source. Many of them have dedicated their entire career to nuclear programs, becoming a valuable asset of knowledge in this area. These layoffs have only come to aggravate the constant loss they had already suffered after a recent wave of retirement, which has already meant a loss of qualified talent in this department, just when the US is carrying out an important effort of Modernization of nuclear weapons of 750,000 million dollars. Edwin LymanDirector of Nuclear Energy Security of the Union of Concertned Scientists (UCS), explained to CBS News that layoffs could “alter the daily functioning of the agency and create a sense of instability about the nuclear program both in the US and abroad. That can only benefit the adversaries of this country.” In Xataka | A government “Extremely Hardcore”: Elon Musk is applying to the US the same recipe that has applied to all its companies Image | ThE White HouseUnited States Department of Defense

Kazakhstan is one of the world’s greatest uranium producers. Now has taken another step: its first nuclear power plant

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In the geopolitical board of energy, the domain is not only measured in oil barrels or cubic meters of gas. There is a resource, silent but powerful, which is redefining the current panorama: uranium. While some countries look desperately reduce your energy dependenceothers have understood that true power lies in controlling not only the raw material, but the entire nuclear cycle. Russia has already taken the lead with A dozen centrals Under construction, but now Its largest supplier He also wants to become a strategic actor. New actor. Kazakhstan has decided to accelerate its nuclear development to address its growing shortage of energy. The government has approved the construction of Your first nuclear power plant and a plan to expand its nuclear industry. A referendum in October 2024 showed that 70% Voters support the construction of nuclear plants. This first nuclear power plant will be located in the village of ülken, in the Almath region. The government intends to build at least three more floors to make the most of its resources. Currently, feasibility studies and negotiations with international suppliers are being carried out to determine the technical and financial details of the project. The main financing will come from a Russian government loan with subsidies, and Samruk Energo It will lead the negotiations to guarantee cost efficiency. Energy shortage. The Kazakh country wants to reduce its energy dependence and face a growing internal demand. Despite being one of the countries with greater uranium reservesIt does not have an operational nuclear power plant since 1999. However, it manufactures pumping equipment for nuclear plants and seeks to expand the national production of reactor components and energy equipment. This strategy is aligned with the objectives of carbon neutrality and industrial modernization. An energy cluster. The government seeks to develop a “Nuclear cluster” that not only includes the energy plant, but also the local production of nuclear fuel. To do this, he has formed alliances with China and France. In addition, for nuclear reactors, it will have technology suppliers such as the Galo and South Korean country. The central will probably have a capacity of at least 3 GW, and more plants will be built in the future. Kazakhstan will also strengthen its electrical networks and better connect the western region with the national system. So what happens to Russia? The Kremlin remains an important actor in the global nuclear sector and has supplied Kazakhstan nuclear technology in the past. However, within the country, the concern that an agreement with Rosatom (the Russian nuclear agency) generates excessive dependence, both in technological and financial terms. The opposition has expressed fears that Russia use nuclear energy as an instrument of geopolitical influence. Problems in the past. Nuclear energy in the country has constituted a delicate issue due to the effects of Soviet nuclear tests in the region of Semipalatinsk. For that reason, as indicated Professor Kashi Nath Pandita, concerns about security and lack of transparency in regulatory processes are brought on the path of progress. Forecasts The project can be finished in the next decade, but advance it. However, the country still faces different challenges such as public distrust, environmental concerns and the need to choose a technological partner without compromising its independence. In the long term, this expansion could position Kazakhstan as an energy leader in Central Asia, reducing its vulnerability to regional energy instability and strengthening its presence in global competition for the control of energy resources. Image | Unspash Xataka | Plutonium underground: the British bet to handle nuclear waste safely

Nuclear energy has given you a key advantage that you are already taking advantage of

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“I have a good friend on the other side of the ocean that says: ‘PERFORA, HAR Emmanuel Macron said this week in reference to Trump’s efforts to increase oil extraction. “But here it is not necessary to pierce. Here is only: ‘Plug, honey, plug!’ Electricity is availableyou just have to connect, ”added the French president during a summit on artificial intelligence (AI) held in Paris. The message is quite clear and reflects France’s intention to take advantage of its energy ecosystem as a strategic advantage to consolidate its role in the development of AI. The European country exported More than 90 Teravatios Hora (TWH) of electricity in 2024, which, according to the Government, allows it not only to cover the current needs of its companies and homes, but also host a large number of data centers. Nuclear energy, the key of France The aforementioned declaration of intentions has come accompanied by two ambitious agreements. As we pointed out at the end of last week, The United Arab Emirates committed themselves to make a multimillion -dollar investment in France to build a data center of 1 Gigavatio within a Largest AI campus in Europe. Yesterday Monday The announcement was formalized From the cloud AI platform Fluidstack. Fluidstack, a British firm with clients such as Mistral AI and Character.AI, plans to establish a 1 gigavatio data center on Gallic floor, completely driven by nuclear energy. It is expected that the first phase of the project, promoted by 10,000 million dollars (10,360 million dollars) to materialize in 2026. The agreement, which bears the signing of several French ministers, leaves the door open to later stages in 2028. As in many parts of the world, building a data center in France implies challenges, including bureaucracy. To facilitate the process, the Government has assured that the National Electric Management Company will guarantee the necessary supply. As a whole, this should be translated not only in a better position in France in the AI ​​career, but also the creation of “thousands of jobs” of research and infrastructure. France’s relationship with nuclear energy has evolved over time. A decade ago, the country announced a plan to reduce its dependence on this source from 70% to 50%, but in 2022 the strategy took a turn and the initiative was discarded. Instead of limiting its use, the government chose to expand it with the construction of new reactors. Currently, France has 57 reactors distributed in 18 plants. These movements are allowing the country led by Macron to gain advantage over other countries in the region and the world. Although data centers can operate with ENergía Solar and Windthe intermittency of these sources raises additional challenges. Nuclear energy, on the other hand, guarantees a stable supply and large scale. In addition, the new generation of small modular reactors (SMR) reinforces this scenario. Images | Heyee | MasterButler (CC by 2.0) In Xataka | Spain plans to close all its nuclear power plants. And the Valencian Community thinks it is a serious mistake

What countries have nuclear weapons and how many each one possesses, summarized in an eloquent graphic

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The final judgment clock was never closer of the end in its 78 years of history. Also known as ‘Watch of the end of the world’ or ‘Apocalypse clock’, it is a symbolic clock that indicates the danger of a nuclear war. The closer to midnight, the situation is worse, and it is something that has to do so much with global instability, geopolitical tensions and, obviously, Countries with Nuclear Arsenal. And in this graph we can see very clearly what are those countries that control more nuclear heads and, above all, which of them have nuclear armament deployed and ready to use. The photo. A few days ago we published a graph in which we could appreciate the evolution of nuclear arsenal over time. The figures were surprising, with more than 70,000 nuclear heads at the high point of the Cold War. After different disarmament policies, the main powers – United and Russian states – got rid of their arsenal, but not at all. In the upper chart elaborated By visual capitalist, we can appreciate who the powers are in nuclear arsenal (no surprise in this regard) and which country is accelerating. In addition, something very interesting is also how these nuclear heads are distributed. Ojivas disposition. When talking about nuclear arsenal, it tells as many units a country and their disposal. Thus, we can distinguish between: Ojivas deployed: They are installed in intercontinental missiles, heavy bombers bases or short -range operating systems. They are those that are deployed in case of emergency and these may be at strategic or non -strategic points in short -range bases or platforms. Ojivas in reserve: They are stored, but not mounted on a missile. Ojivas withdrawal: They are intact, but in the process of dismantling. Inventory. Although the graph leaves the imagination little, it is always more interesting to see the figures. Of the 12,121 nuclear heads estimated there are today, this is your disposition: Total Strategically deployed Not strategically deployed booking Withdrawal Russia 5,580 1,710 0 2,670 1,200 USA 5,044 1,670 100 1.938 1,336 China 500 24 0 476 0 France 290 280 0 10 0 United Kingdom 225 120 0 105 0 India 172 0 0 172 0 Pakistan 170 0 0 170 0 Israel 90 0 0 90 0 North Korea 50 0 0 50 0 China growth. In the end, Russia and the United States monopolize 88% of all world nuclear arsenal, but although we have countries such as the United Kingdom or France with a large number of heads deployed at strategic points, there is a new player who has already done with the third Put in Nuclear Arsenal. China It surprised the United States last year due to its rapid nuclear growth In recent years, overcoming expectations and with An arsenal between 500 and 600 heads. They have deployed only 24, with the rest in reserve, but the objectives of the Asian giant are clear: match the United States and Russia in the next 10 years. Cold War II. Although China, precisely, is promoting pacts not to attack first With nuclear arsenal, time plays against. In January last year, the Watch of the Final Judgment was alarmingly located only 90 seconds of midnight. This year, 78 seconds, marking the closest point in history. This fact, although it may seem symbolic, reflects an increasingly unstable international panorama. To this concern is added the imminent expiration of Start III treaty In 2026, a key agreement that has limited for years the amount of strategic weapons deployed by nuclear powers. The situation is aggravated if we consider Russia to He disconnected of this treaty in 2022, after the deterioration of its relations with the West Due to the conflict in Ukraineopening the door to a new arms race without clear restrictions. In Xataka | The US has found the recipe for China and Russia’s nuclear advance. It is called Project 25 and reintroduces a pump of the past: B83

Throughout the twentieth century, the US “lost” up to six planes loaded with nuclear weapons. Today they still do not appear

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A few years ago we told a story that, if not because it was completely true, could go through the script of a black comedy. It turns out that The United States lost at least three nuclear bombs during the Cold War. The Plot Twist was never located. The story, in reality, is much worse. The nation has been left along the way, which is known, up to six nuclear “bombs”, and that is also known, continue in the same place where they once lost. Six times, know. The figures are even higher if we observe the frame more widely. Throughout history, the United States Army has been responsible for At least 32 documented incidents of accidents with nuclear weaponsknown in military jargon Like Broken Arrow. These events may involve accidental launch or detonation, theft or even the loss of a nuclear pump. We are going to detail this last case for a simple reason: if they have been lost and not detonated, they can be a danger somewhere. These are six of the most shocking cases in which a nuclear bomb disappeared Without leaving a trace. The B-36 incident. The story takes place About the Pacific on February 13, 1950. In the context of a nuclear attack simulation against the Soviet Union, a BOMBARDERO B-36 destined for Texas from Alaska began experiencing failures in the engines in full flight. Since a safe landing was impossible, the crew was forced to get rid of the “load”, including in the equation its Mark 4 nuclear pump on some part of the Pacific Ocean. According to the army, the bomb did not contain plutonium in its nucleus, so it could not generate a nuclear explosion to use, although it did have uranium and TNT. Neither the pump nor its components were ever recovered. The mysterious case of B-47. The facts are given on The Mediterranean on March 10, 1956. A BUMBARERO B-47 STRATOJET He took off from the Macdill Air Force base in Florida in the direction of Morocco, transporting two nuclear capsules. What happened? That during its journey, the plane had to refue in flight over the Mediterranean Sea, but never reached the meeting point. The aircraft disappeared without leaving any traceand to date no evidence of his whereabouts has been found or, of course, of the nuclear load he transported. A lost bomb in the Savannah River. The third event occurred on February 5, 1958. During a simulated combat mission, a BOMBARDERO B-47 accidentally crashed with a F-86 huntingseriously damaged. What happened? Given the impossibility of landing safely, the crew decided what you are imagining: launch the Mark 15 of 3,400 kilograms at the mouth of the Savannah Rivernear the city of Savannah, Georgia. Although the aircraft managed to land without incident, the pump was never recovered and remains missing until today. The Goldsboro catastrophe. History now leads us to North Carolina on January 24, 1961. A BOMBARDERO B-52 that performed an alert mission suffered a structural failure in full flight and broke in the air. Again, on board he carried two nuclear bombs. One of them activated its emergency parachute and landed without detonating, however, the other crashed into the ground. Although the government claimed to have recovered most of the starry bomb, the truth is that It is still believed that parts of it remain buried in a culture area near the city. In 2012, North Carolina erected a commemorative sign at the accident site. Disappearance in the Pacific. The December 5, 1965. A combat plane A-4E Skyhawkequipped with a nuclear bomb, fell into the sea From the USS Ticonderoga aircraft carrier while operating in the Philippines sea, near Japan. The aircraft, the pilot and the weapon were never found. In this regard, in 1989 The United States admitted that the bomb was still at the bottom of the seaabout 128 kilometers from a small Japanese island, which generated outrage between the Japanese government and environmental groups. Classified information. The last of the events is the most diffuse of all and occurred in the spring of 1968, when the United States lost a nuclear weapon whose scope (and load) has never been specified. Although the pentagon has never revealed details, It is speculated that it could be related to the USS Scorpion nuclear submarinethe same as It disappeared in May of that year in the Atlantic along with a crew of 99 people. The connection between the disappearance of scorpion And a possible loss of nuclear weapons is still the subject of conjecture. That said, this and the rest of the incidents highlight the dangers associated with the management of nuclear weapons. If you want also, they show that, Throughout the Cold War And beyond, the United States has faced situations in which mass destruction bombs have been lost without being recovered. Image | Kelly Michals In Xataka | The United States lost at least three nuclear bombs during the Cold War. And they have never been located In Xataka | An unprecedented nuclear arms career has begun: one in which the US, Russia … and also China participate

China is advancing at breakneck speed in nuclear fusion. It already has something ready that until now only the Netherlands had

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The path to a destination as challenging as it is nuclear fusion commercial must necessarily be full of small conquests. Of achievements that may seem modest, but that, in reality, are milestones that put us a little closer of an ambitious objective that seeks nothing more than to help us solve our energy needs without continuing to emit greenhouse gases. In this context ITER attracts much of the attention. And it is understandable that this is so. After all, it is a project of enormous magnitude, which is also led by the European Union. In fact, this organization is jointly assuming approximately 50% of the total cost of a plan in which the United States, Russia, China, Japan, India and South Korea also participate. However, the public commitment to nuclear fusion is not condensed solely into ITER. And it is not limited only to the European Union either. Not at all. Europe is signing up very important scientific milestonesbut there are other countries that are also bidding very high, and that, precisely, do not move in the orbit of the West. In fact, two of them, probably the most advantaged, are China and South Korea. China has a very sophisticated linear plasma generator to advance fusion In the field of nuclear fusion, plasma is the extremely hot gas that contains the nuclei of deuterium and tritium, the two isotopes of hydrogen, which are involved in the reaction. For these nuclei to overcome their natural electrical repulsion and the strong nuclear interaction to fuse them, they must acquire a very high kinetic energy. And this is only possible if the plasma reaches a temperature equal to or greater than 150 million degrees Celsius. As we can guess, very few known materials are capable of withstanding such a high temperature. However, this is not all. When a deuterium nucleus fuses with a tritium nucleus, they produce a helium nucleus and a neutron that is ejected with an energy of about 14 MeV (megaelectronvolts). The problem is that the neutron lacks a net electrical charge, so it cannot be confined inside the magnetic field which, however, does manage to retain the deuterium and tritium nuclei, which have a positive electrical charge. The components that will be most affected by the direct impact of high-energy neutrons and the most intense heat flow are the inner wall of the vacuum chamber and the mantle. This is the reason why when it originates as a result of the nuclear fusion reaction, this neutron is ejected towards the walls of the vacuum chamber with enormous energy. This particle is very important because in practice it will be closely linked to the production of electrical energy in nuclear fusion reactors, but, at the same time, it represents a very aggressive form of radiation that can significantly degrade the materials used in the reactor. . The components that will be most affected by the direct impact of high-energy neutrons and the most intense heat flow are the inner wall of the vacuum chamber and the blanketwhich is a mantle that covers it and whose purpose is regenerate tritium which is necessary to use as fuel in the nuclear fusion reaction. This is why it is crucial to develop new materials that are able to withstand the neutron flux and therefore ensure that the reactor will have a long operational life. Until now, only the Netherlands had a device capable of generating a high-flow plasma similar to what occurs in the vacuum chamber of a nuclear fusion reactor. But now China has it too. The Hefei Institute of Physical Sciences has successfully built a highly advanced linear plasma generator capable of accurately recreating the extreme conditions found inside fusion reactors. Its purpose is to use it to test candidate materials to be used in vacuum chamber constructionfor which it is essential to subject them to the interaction of plasma. Fortunately, China has confirmed that this machine will be available for international collaboration. Image | Hefei Institutes of Physical Science More information | Hefei Institutes of Physical Science In Xataka | Spain’s milestone in nuclear fusion: the first plasma produced by the SMART reactor invites us to optimism

Chernobyl is full of radioactive dogs. It has nothing to do with the nuclear accident, according to a study

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Behind him Chernobyl nuclear plant accidentthe areas close to the plant continue to be dangerous for humans. He reactor number four The Vladimir Ilyich Lenin plant exploded on April 26, 1986, releasing 500 times more radioactive material in northern Ukraine than was used in the Hiroshima bomb. It was a natural disaster that, little by little, became a paradise full of radioactive animals and plants. And it is because, beyond the few humans who work in maintenance tasks, the visits and those who installed the New Safe Sarcophagusthe animals roam freely. Among them, there are dogs, so many that they were baptized as “the Chernobyl puppies”. When the accident occurred, the dogs were abandoned, but in recent years, the population has skyrocketed and it is estimated that there are around a thousand dogs roaming freely. Petting one of these adorable little dogs is not a good idea due to their radioactive load, but a new study points out that the genetic differences of these dogs have nothing to do with a radiation-induced mutation. The radioactive dogs of Chernobyl Watching the video above, it seems impossible to resist the temptation of petting these puppies. The problem is that they have radioactive particles in their fur, but the incredible thing about this story is that they simply exist so close to the accident zone. The ionizing radiation It interacts in a curious way with the tissues of living beings: it breaks chemical bonds and modifies the structure of the chains of atoms. It is what causes animals to develop tumors, something that The plants adapted much better due to its particularities. Of that thousand of dogs wandering around Chernobyl302 have been under study for some time by the University of South Carolina or the National Human Genome Research Institute with the purpose of characterizing their genetic structure. The animals belong to three different populations that have lived inside the plant and at distances of between 10 and 15 kilometers from ‘ground zero’. Their research aims to help answer questions about how humans and other species can adapt to survive in such aggressive environments, and researchers are already getting some answers. The first thing is that it seems that these dogs are evolving at a different rate than dogs from neighboring areas. They have some distinctive genetic traits in their DNA that they have developed over the years and a few months ago they already they dropped that the radiation could have nothing to do with them. Now it is North Carolina State University and the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University who have shared a study in which they claim that they have been working with two populations of dogs, separated only by about 16 kilometershave different genetic traits. “We are trying to determine whether exposure to low levels of environmental toxins, such as radiation, lead, etc., over many years could explain some of these differences,” says Matthew Breen, one of the authors. What they did was start looking for differences at the chromosomal level, later in small intervals of the genome and, finally, differences in nucleotides. Reactor number 4 with its current sarcophagus The goal was to find abnormalities and evidence of DNA mutations in reproductive cells, which are passed from generation to generation. “It’s like using the zoom function on your phone’s camera to get more details: We start with a wide view of the subject and then zoom in,” says Breen. And the result is interesting, since it seems that radiation does not have much to do with the changes found: “We know that, for example, exposure to high doses of radiation can introduce instability from the chromosomal level down. Although this dog population is 30 or more generations removed from those present during the 1986 disaster, the mutations would likely still be detectable if they offered a survival advantage to those original dogs. But we found no evidence of that in these dogs.” The work follows its coursesince with what they have found, the researchers cannot rule out the role of selective pressure in explaining the differences between the two populations of dogs. “In human terms, this is like studying a population that is centuries away from the one that was present at the time of the disaster. It is possible that the dogs that survived long enough to reproduce already had genetic traits that increased their ability to survive and, perhaps, what there was was extreme ‘natural selection’ at the beginning,” says another of the authors, Megan Dillon. The researcher points out that it may be that, after this extreme pressure, the nuclear plant dogs were simply kept separate from the city’s population. “Investigating this path is a next step that we are working on,” he comments. Unavoidable disasters Another of the authors is Norman Kleiman, of the Columbia University School of Public Health. Keiman comments that “most people think of the Chernobyl nuclear accident as a radiological disaster in an abandoned corner of Ukraine, but the potential adverse health implications are much broader,” and this is due to many other toxins, such as heavy metals, lead dust, pesticides and asbestos. The curious thing is that most of these toxins were released into the environment during the decades of cleanup that followed and this is something that may also have had an influence on the living beings in the area. “Studying companion animals, like these dogs, gives us a window into the types of health risks that people may face.” “The importance of continuing to study the environmental health aspects of large-scale disasters like this cannot be overstated. It is certain that, given the increasingly technological and industrial nature of our societies, there will inevitably be other similar disasters in the future, and we need to understand the possible health risks and how to better protect people,” the researcher emphasizes. Thus, understanding these genetic variations in dogs is not only the answer to a scientific curiosity, but also something practical in order to better … Read more

Russia’s ace up its sleeve is a nuclear plant

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Russia is quietly managing to expand its dominance in the nuclear sector. Recently, the Kremlin has announced the construction of more than 10 nuclear plants in different allied countries, has now decided to put its flag in the arctic with a floating nuclear plant. In short. The Akademik Lomonosov nuclear power plant has generated its first billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy, according to Rosatom reports. The floating nuclear power plant located in the Arctic region of Chukotka has also completed its first fuel cycle. In addition, the nuclear plant, which has been in operation for more than five years, is currently satisfying more than 60% of the area’s energy demand. Floating nuclear plant. A concept designed to bring clean and stable energy to remote or difficult-to-access regions, such as the Arctic. In this specific case, the central Akademik Lomonosov It is built on a boat. The Russian floating nuclear plant in more technical terms It is operating with two KLT-40S nuclear reactors, similar to those used by nuclear icebreakers, capable of generating electricity and heat for isolated communities or mining projects. Furthermore, its design is designed to operate in extreme conditions, although poses challenges related to nuclear safety and environmental impact in vulnerable regions. Other operations. Originally planned to replace the Bilibino nuclear plant, the Akademik Lomonosov It also provides additional services, such as desalination of up to 240,000 cubic meters of water per day, and supplies energy to a population of 5,000 people, including mining operations in the Baimskaya mineral area. It is not the only plant. The American company Westinghouse and the British Core Power have joined forces to develop floating nuclear plants equipped with ultra-compact eVinci reactors. These fourth-generation modular reactors can generate up to 5 MWe and operate for more than eight years without the need for refueling. In addition, its compact design and complete factory assembly has facilitated its maritime transport, offering a clean and flexible energy solution for islands, ports and coastal communities. West looking in the rearview mirror. Between the sanctions for the Ukrainian War and the divisions for gas from from Russia. The Kremlin has found its spearhead in the nuclear sector to dominate a large part of the geopolitical framework. Currently, Russia dominates 27% of the world’s conversion capacity and 39% of the global uranium enrichment market, a situation that highlights energy dependency of Western nations. As the West strives to reduce its energy dependence and achieve its sustainability goals, Russia continues to consolidate its global influence, using both technological innovations and key natural resources. The Ural country’s rise in nuclear capacity will increase this new year 155%, reaching 950 gigawatts in 2050. Image | Rosatom Xataka | The investigations into the cut submarine cables in the Baltic have taken a turn: it was not Russia, it was inexperience

A UK nuclear submarine caught a Russian ship in front of the nation’s undersea cables. It’s the second time in three months

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If yesterday Taiwan was the nation that suffered a new cut of submarine cablestoday the tension moves to Europe, to be more exact, to British waters. A few hours ago it was known, through the UK governmentabout events that occurred last fall with a mysterious Russian ship called Yantar. The problem is that it has reappeared in the vicinity of the nation’s underwater communication channels, and this time it has been “escorted” by a Royal Navy nuclear submarine. Recent raids. The UK has raised its voice about what appears to be a growing threat of aggression from Russia following the recent Yantar spy ship raid in British waters for the second time in just three months, which has been interpreted as an attempt by the Kremlin to evaluate the country’s defense capabilities. According to British Defense Secretary John Healey, a nuclear submarine and two Royal Navy ships were deployed for two days to monitor the activity of the Yantar, described as a vessel designed for intelligence gathering and mapping of critical underwater infrastructureincluding telecommunications and power cables connecting the UK to mainland Europe. This incursion, furthermore, occurs in that context of growing concern over the security of key infrastructure in Europe that we have been talking about, and at a time when Western intelligence services have warned about Russia’s intention to use sabotage as a tool of pressure after the war in Ukraine. The Yantar and its history. The Yantar had previously been detected in November 2024when it was observed to remain over areas of strategic submarine infrastructure of the United Kingdom. On that occasion, Healey authorized a Royal Navy nuclear submarine to surface near the Russian ship, sending a clear message that its movements were being closely monitored. During the raid, The Yantar was also escorted by the Russian frigate Admiral Golovko and the tanker Vyazmawho left the area after the British response. Russian ship capabilities. The Yantar, operated by the Main Directorate of Deep Sea Research of the Russian Navy and “officially” a project 22010 oceanographic research vessel, is a ship specifically designed for the collection of information on underwater infrastructure. It is equipped with autonomous submersibles capable of operating at depths of up to 5,500 metersallowing you to identify, map and even manipulate submarine cables essential for Europe’s connectivity and energy supply. In this regard, and although its capabilities could allow acts of sabotage, security experts, such as Justin Crump of the intelligence firm Sibylline, point out that the main purpose of the vessel appears to be aimed at collecting sensitive information for future strategic operations, rather than direct action. Concern about Russian sabotage. There is no doubt that Yantar’s activities have generated concern in the United Kingdom and throughout Europe, especially after recent incidents in the Baltic Sea, where underwater energy and telecommunications cables were found cut in what have been suspected to be deliberate acts. of sabotage, unconfirmed acts and that, as we told yesterdayofficial investigations point to other types of problems derived from inexperience. Be that as it may, what is certain is that NATO has responded by intensifying its presence in the region with operation Baltic Sentrydeploying warships, air patrols and drones to protect critical underwater infrastructure. What the United Kingdom says. After what happened for the second time, the British Defense Secretary has emphasized that Russia represents the most immediate and significant threat to the United Kingdomand has reiterated the country’s commitment to taking firm measures to protect its national security. As part of this strategy, Royal Navy rules of engagement have been updated to allow closer monitoring of Russian vessels suspected of hostile activities. In fact, the most recent incursion of the Yantar into British waters caused HMS Somerset and HMS Tyne will escort the Russian ship until its departure for Dutch watersensuring that he did not remain in the area for prolonged periods. What does seem crystal clear is that the return of the Yantaring into British waters highlights the growing Russian threat to the UK’s critical infrastructure and the need for constant surveillance and a determined response. Image | Royal Navy In Xataka | The investigations into the cut submarine cables in the Baltic have taken a turn: it was not Russia, it was inexperience In Xataka | If China once again displays itself against Taiwan in the next two years, it will find a surprise: the US army

The renaissance of nuclear energy is underway. And the microreactors are preparing to give it a boost

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The physicists and engineers involved in the development of fourth generation nuclear fission reactors They are working to propose new designs that conceptually may be very different from those of previous generations. Of course, the requirements that these new nuclear power plants must meet are clearly defined. The first of them consists of achieving the maximum possible sustainability, so that the fuel is used to the maximum to produce energy, the amount of radioactive waste resulting from the process is minimized and its management is as efficient as possible. The second requirement concerns the economic investment that must be made to start up and maintain the nuclear power plant, which must be as low as possible so that it can be compared to the expenditure required by other sources of energy, thus reducing the risk. financial. And the third and final requirement stipulates that safety and reliability must be high enough to minimize the probability of damage to the reactor core. Besides, if an accident occurred It should not be necessary to take emergency measures beyond the nuclear power plant facilities. Westinghouse and Radiant working on the world’s smallest reactors The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) published a very detailed report in September 2024 entitled “Energy, electricity and nuclear power estimates for the period up to 2050”. In it, it analyzes the short and medium-term future of nuclear energy and delves into its role as a means of generating electricity that can contribute to the achievement of global climate objectives. However, the most interesting thing is that this organization predicts that global nuclear power will increase by 2.5 by 2050. Microreactors use uranium-based isotropic tristructural particles as fuel Compact and modular nuclear reactors play a crucial role in achieving that vision, but microreactors will also likely play a very important role. As their name indicates, they are compact and modular nuclear reactors much smaller than conventional fission machines. As we can predict, they produce less energy than the latter, usually 50 megawatts or lessbut thanks to their size they can be installed in remote places where it is not possible to set up a traditional nuclear power plant. However, nuclear microreactors have more advantages. On the one hand, its installation is relatively simple and much faster than that of conventional reactors. In addition, they do not require large water cooling systems, they operate in an automated manner and their maintenance is simpler than that of a traditional nuclear plant. And, interestingly, the eVinci and Kaleidos microreactors being developed by the American companies Westinghouse and Radiant use uranium-based tristructural isotropic particles (TRISO) as fuel. The particles of this fuel are the size of a poppy seed and contain uranium, carbon and oxygen encapsulated in a carbon-ceramic shell that is capable of withstanding extreme temperatures. On paper this nuclear fuel is the most robust ever developed to date. An interesting note: Radiant uses helium as a coolant, while Westinghouse uses a passive heat duct system. These two companies have the financial support of the US Department of Energy (DOE) and plan to place their microreactors on the market in 2030 as long as, of course, they obtain a license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Image | Westinghouse Electric Company More information | IEEE Spectrum In Xataka | Bill Gates has an ambitious nuclear energy project. And now it also has an associated Spanish company

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