Novel framework improves resilience to extreme weather
America’s infrastructure is getting older and more complex. Electricity production and distribution in the U.S. currently depends on more than 10,000 power plants, 642,000 miles of high voltage lines, 56,000 substations and 6.3 million miles of local distribution lines. Much of that infrastructure is over 30 years old. Meanwhile, extreme weather events such as hurricanes, […]
International experts review Idaho’s Neutron Radiography Reactor
In early June a group of experts from around the world gathered at Idaho National Laboratory to complete an Integrated Research Reactor Utilization Review on the Neutron Radiography Reactor (NRAD). This review of one of INL’s lesser-known reactors helps researchers and management support strategic planning for NRAD. Neutron radiography is a technique used to study […]
Shining stars: INL’s Research SLAM winners
Have you ever tried to explain intricate scientific research in a concise, three-minute presentation, making it accessible to a general audience? It might sound easy, but it’s a real challenge for most scientists and engineers. How would an epitaxy physicist or systems integration engineer answer a local news reporter’s question: “What do you do at […]
Future of mining is microreactors: Idaho National Laboratory sees big benefits
Powering a remote zinc mine located roughly 600 miles northwest of Anchorage, Alaska, is a Herculean task. Governments and industry have taken a particular interest in remote arctic mining locations, not only because of the region’s vast mineral resources, but also because of shipping routes that are opening through the ice due to climate change. […]
TETI 2.0: Understanding nuclear fuel behavior at the atomic level
Transporting heat is an essential part of our daily life – from boiling a pot of water to creating complex carbon-free energy technologies that power our cellphones, laptops and home appliances. Nuclear energy, an example of heat transfer, has a proven track record spanning over 70 years. It currently provides approximately 20% of the total […]
Idaho National Laboratory engages with Arctic communities at global assembly
Idaho National Laboratory’s Frontiers Initiative will take center stage when climate scientists and policymakers from around the world convene at the 2023 Arctic Circle Assembly in October in Iceland. University partners and defense experts with INL-led Emerging Energy Markets Analysis (EMA) initiative will participate in panel discussions. They’ll highlight their work on the INL Frontiers […]
Researchers irradiate chloride-based molten salt in first-of-a-kind experiment
For decades, light-water nuclear power plants have provided safe, reliable carbon-free energy in the United States and around the world. But in the early days of nuclear energy research, light-water reactors were just one of several promising reactor types. Nuclear energy pioneers also designed and tested high-temperature reactor technologies that use gas, liquid metal and […]
INL Earns Spot #8 as a Best Place to Work for Women, Diverse Managers
For the fourth straight year, Idaho National Laboratory earned a place on DiversityMBA’s annual list of best places to work for women and diverse managers, this time coming in at No. 8, its highest ranking yet. DiversityMBA is an organization that specializes in analyzing and benchmarking inclusion in talent management practices. Its annual “50 Out […]
Big brake for small business: Sintering tech could make rotors 90% cheaper and faster
The race car driver careens around the track, narrowly missing the walls along the side. They make the turn expertly and quickly and slide across the finish line, wheels squealing as they hit the brakes. Excited spectators in the audience probably don’t realize that those brakes are able to operate seamlessly around tight turns and […]
A FORCE to be reckoned with: Computer modeling for optimal energy partnerships
Imagine modern computing as the conductor of an orchestra. Just as a conductor brings harmony to a complex musical arrangement, modern computing is crucial to harmonizing the intricate mix of energy producers and users, optimizing the use of precious resources for the greater good. One strategy for establishing that harmony would pair the nuclear energy […]
