3 Questions: Putting nuclear waste into perspective
Professor Haruko Wainwright believes the risks posed by radioactive wastes cannot be properly assessed without also considering the hazards of chemical wastes.
Researchers uncover hidden pore network within nuclear fuel
New understanding of how nuclear fuel breaks down and changes in an operating nuclear reactor could help keep some reactors running longer, will inform the next generation of nuclear reactor fuel systems.
MIT researchers tackle the economic realities of fusion power
Their new study aims to give budding industry a framework for understanding how fusion can be profitable.
Working to automate nuclear plant operations
PhD student Lauren Fortier is building on the experience she gained operating a nuclear plant for the Navy to solve a critical hurdle in the wider adoption of the energy source.
MIT student teams win top honors in NASA competition
Three MIT teams took five top awards in the 2026 NASA RASC-AL Competition for designing critical elements for the moon base and future missions to Mars.
How the war in the Middle East is impacting global energy systems
Expect energy disruptions and economic damage, especially in developing countries, and prepare to build a more resilient, sustainable energy system, says International Energy Agency executive director.
3 Questions: Shedding light on why power grids go dark
Pablo Duenas-Martinez, a MITEI research scientist, describes the “death spiral” of events that caused the 12-hour Iberian peninsula power outage in 2025, and five lessons learned.
PSFC showcases technologies applicable to both fusion and geothermal energy during representative’s visit
Rep. Jake Auchincloss visits the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center to learn about scaling geothermal energy.
Working to advance the nuclear renaissance
Dean Price, assistant professor in the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, sees a bright future for nuclear power, and believes AI can help us realize that vision.
MIT hackathon tackles real-world challenges in Ukraine
Build for Ukraine 2.0 united students, researchers, and Ukrainian collaborators to prototype solutions shaped by wartime conditions.
Championing fusion’s promising underdog
Sophia Henneberg, assistant professor in the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, is developing stellarators to harness fusion energy.
Fueling research in nuclear thermal propulsion
Master's student Taylor Hampson is modeling the behavior of an unconventional rocket engine that will heat propellant using nuclear energy.
Nuno Loureiro, professor and director of MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center, dies at 47
In his 10 years at MIT, Loureiro helped illuminate the physics occurring at the center of fusion vacuum chambers and at the edges of the universe.
Working to eliminate barriers to adopting nuclear energy
Nuclear waste continues to be a bottleneck in the widespread use of nuclear energy, so doctoral student Dauren Sarsenbayev is developing models to address the problem.
What should countries do with their nuclear waste?
A new study by MIT researchers analyzes different nuclear waste management strategies, with a focus on the radionuclide iodine-129.