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New Simulations Challenge Assumptions on Dark Photon Heating in Early Universe

New Simulations Challenge Assumptions on Dark Photon Heating in Early Universe

A new study published in Physical Review Letters, involving researchers from Perimeter Institute and the University of Maryland, indicates that hypothetical 'dark photons,' a leading candidate for dark matter, may not have heated the early universe as previously assumed. For the past 15 years, physicists believed that if dark photons existed, they would have converted into ordinary light within the hot plasma of the early cosmos, leading to significant heating. This assumption had excluded a vast range of parameter space for dark photons based on cosmological measurements. However, new computer simulations demonstrate that this conversion process is non-linear and shuts itself off before substantial heating can occur. This finding reopens previously excluded ranges for experimental searches, suggesting that the strength of dark matter could be significantly different than previously thought.

Fermilab Collaboration Rules Out Large Electric Dipole Values for Muons

Fermilab Collaboration Rules Out Large Electric Dipole Values for Muons

The Muon g-2 collaboration at Fermilab has announced a new measurement regarding the electric dipole moment (EDM) of the muon. This analysis, utilizing 25% of Fermilab's experimental data, represents the most sensitive direct search for a muon EDM ever conducted. It is the first direct search for the muon EDM at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and only the third globally in the last 50 years. The experiment uses a 50-foot-diameter superconducting magnetic storage ring, repurposed from an earlier experiment at DOE’s Brookhaven National Laboratory. While the primary goal of the Muon g-2 experiment is to measure the magnetic dipole moment, the same data can be used to search for the EDM. The EDM refers to a vertical component of the muon's wobble caused by an electric field, in contrast to the magnetic dipole moment which relates to the horizontal wobble caused by a magnetic field. The current result indicates that if a muon EDM exists, it must be smaller than what the Mu...

Rutgers Professor David Shih Explores Agentic AI's Impact on High Energy Physics

Rutgers Professor David Shih Explores Agentic AI's Impact on High Energy Physics

David Shih, a theoretical particle physicist and Professor at the New High Energy Theory Center in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at Rutgers, New Brunswick, is exploring the impact of agentic AI on high energy physics. Agentic AI, which involves powerful large language models (LLMs) autonomously planning and executing complex tasks, is transforming various sectors. Shih's research delves into two main areas: the development of fully automated agentic AI systems for tasks like anomaly detection and data analysis in particle physics, and human-AI collaboration where AI acts as a remote graduate student. He will discuss ColliderBench, a quantitative benchmark for these systems, and his experience using 'vibe physics' with Claude Code, which led to two single-author papers on symbolic simplification of mathematical expressions. Shih's work spans a broad range of topics, including dark matter, string theory, and collider phenomenology, and has been recognized with awards such as the DOE Early Career Awar...

Researchers Develop Noise-Adaptive Quantum Metrology Scheme for Enhanced Sensor Precision

Researchers Develop Noise-Adaptive Quantum Metrology Scheme for Enhanced Sensor Precision

Researchers at the Quantum Science Center of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Southern University of Science and Technology, and Shenzhen University have introduced a new method to develop noise-adaptive quantum sensors. Published in Physical Review Letters, their approach utilizes a variational quantum circuit to identify optimal probe states that enable precise measurements under specific noise conditions. This scheme integrates the out-of-time-order correlator (OTOC) and quantum Fisher information (QFI) to efficiently evaluate sensing performance. By applying this method to a seven-qubit nuclear-spin sensor, the team demonstrated an improvement in precision by up to 0.698 decibels compared to standard methods, even in noisy environments. This development addresses the challenge of quantum sensors' sensitivity to external disturbances.

U.S. Faces Grid Connection Delays for 750 Gigawatts of Energy Storage Projects

U.S. Faces Grid Connection Delays for 750 Gigawatts of Energy Storage Projects

The United States currently has approximately 750 gigawatts of energy storage projects in the planning stages, awaiting grid connection. This figure, equivalent to the generating capacity of over 700 nuclear reactors, is based on data from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Despite the significant volume of proposed projects, the median wait time for grid connections was five years as of 2025. This backlog is attributed to long-standing shortcomings in the nation's electricity grid, which requires substantial updates to support new connections. The Berkeley lab also noted that 2,000 gigawatts in new power plant and energy storage facilities were queued up last year, a decrease from the 2023 peak of 2,600 gigawatts, partly due to regulatory reforms and market conditions leading to project withdrawals. Historically, only about 13% of requested capacity from 2000 to 2020 came online by the end of 2025, with 75% being withdrawn.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee Discusses State's Potential Nuclear Energy Future

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee Discusses State's Potential Nuclear Energy Future

Governor Bill Lee recently addressed the Nashville Rotary Club, outlining Tennessee's potential significant role in the nation's nuclear energy future. The U.S. Department of Energy has selected Tennessee as one of five finalists to host a Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus. This potential federal-state partnership could attract an estimated $50 billion in capital investment and create 25,000 jobs within the state. Governor Lee indicated that the proposal encompasses various aspects of the nuclear energy cycle, including the production and enrichment of nuclear fuel, reactor construction, electricity generation, fuel recycling, and the storage of spent fuel. He affirmed the state's intention to pursue this opportunity but emphasized that any agreement would necessitate thorough regulatory review, extensive stakeholder engagement, and a transparent process. Governor Lee also stated that discussions regarding potential sites for nuclear waste storage are premature and that Tennessee would only consider such...

Oklo Achieves "World Record Speed" in Nuclear Reactor Construction with Groves One

Oklo Achieves "World Record Speed" in Nuclear Reactor Construction with Groves One

Oklo, a developer of microreactors, completed the construction of its pilot isotope-production reactor, Groves One, in 229 days this June. CEO Jacob DeWitte has stated this achievement represents a "world record speed" for reactor construction in the U.S., aiming to address the increasing energy demands driven by the AI boom and American manufacturing. While some smaller reactors were built faster during the early Atomic Age and Cold War, Groves One marks the fastest U.S. non-military reactor build under contemporary environmental and Department of Energy (DOE) regulations. The Aurora microreactor, significantly smaller than conventional nuclear reactors, generates 1.5 MWe but can be scaled up to 75 MWe per 'Powerhouse' plant by connecting multiple microreactors. These smaller plants are designed for rapid deployment in remote and off-grid locations. The Aurora uses metallic uranium fuel pellets, which are denser, more thermally resistant, and cheaper to produce than the uranium dioxide pellets used in tra...

New Ultrafast Heating Method Creates High-Performance Semiconductor Materials for Solar Energy

New Ultrafast Heating Method Creates High-Performance Semiconductor Materials for Solar Energy

Researchers have developed a novel method using ultrafast flashes of light to create high-performance semiconductor materials, potentially improving solar energy technologies. This technique involves heating a semiconductor coating to nearly 2,000°C (3,600°F) in a fraction of a millisecond, while the underlying glass substrate remains below 100°C (212°F). This rapid heating and cooling process rearranges the atoms within the semiconductor, producing a version that generates up to 50 times more electrical current from light compared to its ordinary form. The method, known as flash photonic heating, allows for the creation of desirable crystal forms that are typically unstable and difficult to preserve with conventional heating methods, which would damage the sensitive transparent conducting glass used in touchscreens and solar cells.

Representative Chuck Fleischmann Secures $275 Million for Kairos Power's Nuclear Reactor in Oak Ridge

Representative Chuck Fleischmann Secures $275 Million for Kairos Power's Nuclear Reactor in Oak Ridge

Representative Chuck Fleischmann has played a pivotal role in securing $275 million in government funding for Kairos Power's new nuclear reactor, Hermes Two, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. This initiative is part of a broader effort to establish nuclear power plants across the United States through public-private partnerships. Kairos Power has also announced the creation of its Nuclear Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Precast (NuCAMP) to train East Tennesseans for the nuclear workforce. The Hermes Two reactor is designed to generate 50 megawatts of electricity for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). This development highlights a collaborative environment involving industry, academia, members of Congress, and local government in Tennessee, aiming to foster a nuclear renaissance. The project emphasizes building a robust workforce and a domestic supply chain to attract businesses to the region, addressing critical needs identified by companies considering relocation.

U.S. Space Nuclear Programs Face Funding and Supply Chain Challenges Despite Growing Interest

U.S. Space Nuclear Programs Face Funding and Supply Chain Challenges Despite Growing Interest

U.S. space nuclear programs, including NASA's Space Reactor 1 (SR-1) Freedom project and the Lunar Reactor 1 (LR-1) effort, are experiencing a surge in interest but face significant near-term and long-term challenges. Industry officials and government representatives, including Aaron Miles from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, acknowledge a 'generational opportunity' for space nuclear technologies. However, concerns persist regarding the supply chain for ceramic high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuels, a limited workforce with dual nuclear and space expertise, and restricted access to ground test sites. NASA's SR-1, aiming for a 2028 launch, lacks a clear customer beyond its technology demonstration payload, raising questions about its long-term sustainability.

Newcleo Proposes U.S. Plutonium Fuel Factory to NRC, Reviving Past Efforts

Newcleo Proposes U.S. Plutonium Fuel Factory to NRC, Reviving Past Efforts

Newcleo, a French nuclear technology firm, has submitted a Regulatory Engagement Plan to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for licensing a facility in the United States to manufacture mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel from recycled or surplus plutonium. This move follows Newcleo's ongoing work in Italy, where it operates a 155-ton molten lead reactor demonstrator, PRECURSOR, using electric heaters instead of uranium to test the technology. The company aims to establish a supply chain for advanced reactors that require MOX fuel. This proposal comes despite a previous U.S. attempt to build a plutonium fuel plant at the Savannah River Site, which was abandoned after costing billions of dollars and remaining half-built. Newcleo's CEO, Stefano Buono, stated that this submission is a concrete step to advance their MOX fuel facility in the U.S., building on the expertise of over 100 engineers. The company has not yet announced the proposed location for the American plant.

US warns Siemens devices can be hacked amid fears Iran is breaching water plants

US warns Siemens devices can be hacked amid fears Iran is breaching water plants

By AJ Vicens Aug 19 (Reuters) - Several U.S. government agencies warned that unidentified hackers are trying to breach devices made by Siemens that are used to monitor and operate water facilities and other critical infrastructure systems, according to a cybersecurity advisory published Wednesday.