Giant arch to block radiation from Chernobyl site

The world’s largest land-based moving structure has been slid over the Chernobyl nuclear disaster site. Big enough to house Notre Dame and longer than two 747 jumbo jets, the €1.5 billion (£1.3bn) New Safe Confinement is expected to safeguard the radioactive reactor building and tonnes of nuclear fuel still inside for at least a century. […]

Indonesia’s nuclear safety ‘can be improved’

Indonesia’s regulations for nuclear and radiation safety “can be improved”. A team of experts said the current framework “protects public health and safety” and there are a “number of good practices” but gave recommendations on how to strengthen it. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) advised the government to “develop a national policy and strategy for […]

Fukushima worker ‘sues nuclear plant operator’

A former worker at Japan’s stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant is reportedly suing the operator over radiation exposure. It is believed to be the first lawsuit from an employee against TEPCO following the disaster three years ago. Japanese reports claim the worker believes he was exposed to high levels of radiation due to alleged negligence […]

Workers exposed to radiation at US nuclear waste site

Thirteen workers have tested positive for radiation exposure following a recent leak at an underground nuclear waste site in the US. All employees working at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in south eastern New Mexico were checked for any external contamination when the leak occurred earlier this month, the US Department of Energy and plant […]

Six workers exposed to radiation at Fukushima plant

Workers at the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan have been exposed to radioactive material following a leak. Plant operator Tepco said one of the employees “took off a joint of a pipe by mistake” connected to a water treatment system, which led to toxic water spilling on him and a few others. A total of […]

Japan pledges 47bn yen for Fukushima cleanup

After vowing to take a more hands on approach to the clean up of Fukushima, the Japanese government has now pledged 47 billion yen (£0.3 bn) towards the effort. The move follows a long series of embarrassing admissions from the Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) – the operator of the wrecked nuclear plant. Over the weekend […]

Fukushima leak worse than authorities are letting on

Nuclear experts are suggesting the recent leak at the Fukushima nuclear plant is much worse than the Japanese authorities are letting on. The Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) recently admitted 300 tonnes of radioactive water had leaked from a storage tank into the surrounding soil. Responding to the leak on Wednesday, Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority […]

More radioactive water leaks at Fukushima

The utility company in charge of the Fukushima nuclear power plant (pictured) has reported another setback in its struggle to stop radioactive water escaping the plant. Toyko Electric Power Company (TEPCO) says around 300 tonnes of radioactive water leaked through an open valve from a storage container into surrounding soil, according to reports. The storage […]

Toshiba’s new nuclear inspection robot

Toshiba has unveiled a new robot (pictured) that it says can withstand high radiation and work in risky nuclear areas. The four-legged Tetrapod robot has been built to carry out investigative and recovery work in off-limit locations such as the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Weighing 65kg and able to carry up to 20kg, the robot […]

Wild monkeys to track Fukushima radiation

Wild monkeys are soon going to be used to track radiation levels around the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear disaster site in Japan according to reports. Researchers apparently plan to attach collars with GPS transmitters and Geiger counters to around 1,000 monkeys roaming the forests around Fukushima. A huge earthquake and subsequent tsunami caused a triple meltdown […]