Molten salt reactors use liquid salt as both coolant and fuel, and understanding how these salts can potentially corrode the metal in the reactor is essential to developing this technology. For the first time, INL researchers, in collaboration with researchers from the Molten Salts in Extreme Environments (MSEE) Energy Frontier Research Center, studied this corrosion in real-time with X-rays that were then used to put together a 3D reconstruction. Read more: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science

China has developed an advanced molten-salt nuclear reactor design often described as “meltdown-resistant.” Unlike traditional reactors, it uses liquid fuel that naturally drains into a safe configuration if overheating occurs—shutting itself down without human intervention. It doesn’t mean zero risk—but it represents a major safety leap. Important Details: • Molten-salt reactor design • Passive safety mechanisms • Fuel is liquid, not solid rods • Automatically shuts down if overheated • Lower p