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New reactor designs, including smaller modular units, are being developed to make nuclear fission a more flexible and reliable source of carbon-free electricity. This shift comes after decades in which nuclear power failed to deliver on early promises of cheap, abundant energy following its transition from wartime use to civilian power generation.
Researchers and policymakers are advancing new approaches to nuclear waste disposal, including deep geological repositories and advanced reprocessing techniques, as governments seek durable solutions for spent fuel that has accumulated for decades. The effort comes amid renewed global interest in nuclear power as a low-carbon energy source.
Nature Futures ran a science-fiction interview piece imagining Sam Morten, a war veteran, and Eli, a distinct personality sharing his body, as they navigate a court case seeking legal recognition for Eli as a separate entity. The narrative unfolds over coffee and ice cream, contrasting Sam's guarded demeanor with Eli's childlike openness, while touching on the strain the situation placed on Sam's marriage.
A growing cluster of private companies is building experimental fusion reactors, aiming to harness the same energy process that powers the sun and stars. One facility under construction includes large D-shaped magnetic confinement components and circular platforms designed to contain and control plasma at extreme temperatures.
Researchers led by Luo and colleagues, writing in Nature, developed a technique that prevents degradation of a key compound during thermal evaporation of perovskite thin films. This breakthrough allows high-performance perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells to be fabricated at significantly lower temperatures and at commercial-scale sizes than previous methods permitted.
South Africa's government has proposed a law requiring 'practising natural scientists' to register with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions, covering anyone providing scientific services or advice, whether paid or unpaid. Exceptions apply to educators at recognized institutions and those crafting government science policy, but failure to comply could result in up to a year in prison.
A Nature commentary raises concerns that growing political enthusiasm for nuclear power, driven by climate and energy-security goals, could pressure regulators to loosen safety standards or speed approvals without adequate scrutiny. The piece argues that as governments embrace nuclear expansion, safeguards meant to prevent accidents risk being weakened in the name of faster deployment.
Researchers found that elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations enhance grass growth in savannah ecosystems even under dry conditions. The study suggests that higher CO2 levels help these grasses use water more efficiently, allowing them to sustain productivity during periods of reduced rainfall.
Scientists at the Institute for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine in Beijing grew muscle stem cells from mouse quadriceps into small tissue grafts, called myografts, and implanted them under the skin of the animals' backs. The grafts formed organized, blood-vessel-fed muscle tissue that contracted continuously for months, producing gains in muscle mass, strength and bone density and slowing age-related muscle decline, according to a study published in Nature Aging.
The Fusion Industry Association reports that 46 companies worldwide are working to turn nuclear fusion into a commercial electricity source, alongside others pursuing niche uses like medical isotopes, materials testing and spacecraft propulsion. As of August 1, the electricity-focused firms had collectively raised $14.6 billion from venture capital, private investors, utilities, government grants and data-center operators seeking new power sources.
Country music legend Dolly Parton has died at age 80 following a brief battle with cancer, her representatives announced. Beyond her decade-spanning music career and 10 Grammy wins, Parton was widely recognized for her philanthropic support of medical research, including a $1 million donation that helped fund Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine development at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She also lent her name, indirectly, to Dolly the sheep, the first mammal cloned from an adult cell.
Nature reports that the nuclear power sector is increasingly turning to small modular reactors (SMRs) as a way to overcome the cost overruns and construction delays that have long plagued large-scale nuclear plants. These smaller, factory-built designs promise faster deployment and lower upfront capital costs than traditional gigawatt-scale reactors.