 FEATURED UNLOCKED ARTICLE OF THE WEEK
Austin, Texas-based Aalo Atomics’s test reactor Aalo-X reached zero-power criticality over the weekend, making it the fourth reactor to hit this milestone by the July 4 target deadline. The Department of Energy said in a Monday press release that Aalo’s sodium-cooled reactor achieved criticality on Saturday morning at its Idaho National Laboratory (INL). Aalo previously broke ground for its test reactor at INL in late August 2025. The company joins Antares Nuclear’s Mark-0 reactor and Valar Atomics’ Ward 250 reactor under DOE’s reactor pilot program to achieve this goal. President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14301 set the goal that at least three reactors reach criticality by that deadline. Additionally, Aalo… |
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| Weapons Complex Morning Briefing |
EPC warns NATO cannot rely solely on U.S. nuclear deterrence
An analyst with the European Policy Centre (EPC) warned NATO’s evolving defense posture must preserve a credible conventional military presence in Europe, arguing that nuclear guarantees alone are insufficient to deter Russia. In an op-ed published this week, EPC policy… |
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| Weapons Complex Monitor |
EM-1 Walsh wants greater “urgency” on state grout permit for Hanford
The head of the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management, Tim Walsh, recently wrote the director of Washington state’s Department of Ecology to stress “the urgency” DOE places on state approval of grouting some of Hanford Site’s less-radioactive waste.… |
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| RadWaste & Materials Monitor |
Environmental groups urge public to oppose changes to radiation protection
Multiple environmental groups have publicly denounced the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s proposal to change radiation protection standards, saying the proposal would loosen protections at the risk of the public. On July 1, NRC released the proposed new rulemaking that will… |
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| Nuclear Security & Deterrence Monitor |
NNSA, Y-12 completes certifying B61-13 canned subassemblies
The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) completed the certification, or “diamond stamping,” of all planned canned subassemblies for the B61-13 nuclear gravity bomb this fiscal year, according to a Wednesday agency press release. NNSA also said in the release it… |
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