RSS feed source: International Atomic Energy Association--Nuclear & Radiological Events

External contamination of a worker beyond the annual statutory limit to the skin

Print View Posted on: 05 August 2025

Event Date: 09 June 2025 Event Type: Power Reactor Event Location: France, CATTENOM-3 INES Rating: 2 (Final)

On 12 June 2025, the operator of the Cattenom nuclear power plant reported a significant radiation protection event concerning the exceeding of an annual individual dose limit by an EDF contractor.
On 9 June 2025, this contractor was installing lead matting in reactor building 3, which was shut down for partial inspection. During the check carried out at the exit of the controlled area, skin contamination was detected on the contractor’s cheek. The worker was immediately taken into care and the radioactive particle causing the contamination was removed.
The occupational physician assessed the dose received, taking into account the worker’s activities within the reactor building. This assessment showed that the dose received by the worker’s cheek exceeded the regulatory limit for the equivalent skin dose (500 mSv).
As soon as the contamination was discovered, the operator took action to identify its source. However, radiological checks carried out in the premises where the agent was present

Click this link to continue reading the article on the source website.

RSS feed source: International Atomic Energy Association--Nuclear & Radiological Events

External contamination of a worker beyond the annual statutory limit to the skin

Print View Posted on: 05 August 2025

Event Date: 24 July 2025 Event Type: Power Reactor Event Location: France, GRAVELINES-1 INES Rating: 2

On 25 July 2025, the operator of the Gravelines nuclear power plant reported a significant radiation protection event concerning the exceeding of an annual individual dose limit by an EDF contractor.
Reactor 1 at the Gravelines nuclear power plant was in shut down for maintenance and refuelling. During the night of 23 to 24 July, as part of radiographic testing of a pipe located in the reactor building, a worker was contaminated on the head. This contamination was detected at the exit of the reactor building during a radiological check.
The worker was taken care of by the changing room attendant in order to remove the radioactive particles, and then by the site’s medical service.
The occupational physician carried out a conservative assessment of the dose received, taking into account the worker’s activities within the reactor building. This assessment showed that the dose received by the worker’s neck exceeded the regulatory limit for equivalent skin dose (500

Click this link to continue reading the article on the source website.

RSS feed source: International Atomic Energy Association--Nuclear & Radiological Events

The U.S. National Science Foundation announced a new funding opportunity that would invest up to $100 million to support a network of “programmable cloud laboratories,” aimed at expanding access to cutting-edge technology to accelerate the automation of scientific discovery and innovation.

The NSF Test Bed: Toward a Network of Programmable Cloud Laboratories (NSF PCL Test Bed) would establish artificial intelligence-enabled laboratories nationwide to integrate, test, evaluate and validate the capabilities of new cutting-edge AI-based technologies.

This new program directly implements a priority of the White House AI Action Plan to accelerate AI-enabled science through automated laboratory infrastructure. It will be led by the NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP) and subject to future appropriations.

“The idea of a national network of programmable cloud laboratories builds on NSF’s longstanding legacy of transformative investments — such as NSFNET decades ago — that paved the way for the modern internet,” said Erwin Gianchandani, NSF assistant director for TIP.

The NSF PCL initiative will invest in a network of laboratories that can be remotely accessed to run custom, user-programmed AI-enabled workflows. These hubs will help bring innovative technologies into practical use during scientific and engineering experiments. The initial focus will be on biotechnology and materials science — fields that are well-positioned to benefit from the programmable cloud laboratory model.

“The PCL initiative will transform how U.S. researchers conduct scientific

Click this link to continue reading the article on the source website.

RSS feed source: International Atomic Energy Association--Nuclear & Radiological Events

In-brief analysis

August 5, 2025

Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-930, Hourly and Daily Balancing Authority Operations Report

Electricity demand in the Lower 48 states exceeded previous peaks on two days in the last week of July.

Hot weather, which increases electricity demand for cooling, combined with an underlying trend of demand increases, pushed coincident peak demand for the Lower 48 states to a high of 758,053 megawatts (MW) on July 28 between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. eastern time, according to the preliminary data in our Hourly Electric Grid Monitor. The next day, peak demand set another record, reaching 759,180 MW, 1.9% more than the record set on July 15, 2024 of 745,020 MW.

We forecast U.S. electricity demand fulfilled by the electric power sector will grow at an annual rate of

Click this link to continue reading the article on the source website.