WNN Daily: - In Other News 10/21/2025

In other news The US National Nuclear Security Administration is furloughing 1,400 federal workers as part of the ongoing government shutdown, Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced during a visit to the Nevada National Security Site yesterday. The Department of Energy has said around 400 federal workers are expected to remain working, along with thousands of NNSA contractors, according to press reports. The MIT Maritime Consortium has released the Nuclear Ship Safety Handbook, aimed at setting the standard for safe maritime nuclear propulsion. Using research data and standards, combined with operational experiences during civilian maritime nuclear operations, the handbook provides unique insights into potential issues and resolutions in the design efficacy of maritime nuclear operations. The handbook, which is divided into chapters in areas involving the overlapping nuclear and maritime safety design decisions that will be encountered by engineers, is careful to balance technical and practical guidance with policy considerations. The MIT Maritime Consortium, which launched in 2024, brings together the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and maritime industry leaders to explore data-powered strategies to reduce harmful emissions, optimise vessel operations, and support economic priorities. Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak (MAST) Upgrade, the UK’s national fusion experiment, has demonstrated multiple world-first breakthroughs during its fourth scientific campaign, the UK Atomic Energy Authority announced. Small magnetic coils have been used to apply a 3D magnetic field and stabilise instabilities known as edge localised modes in a spherical tokamak plasma for the first time. This achievement marks a significant step forward in the development of sustainable fusion energy within spherical tokamaks. In another world first, UKAEA researchers have demonstrated that they can independently control the plasma exhaust in the upper and lower divertors in MAST Upgrade without impacting the performance or density of the plasma in the main chamber of the tokamak. MAST Upgrade also set a record for power injected into its plasma, reaching 3.8 megawatts using neutral beam heating. UKAEA said this milestone supports higher performance plasma scenarios and contributes to the development of power plant-relevant conditions. Andrew Grove has resigned as Managing Director and CEO of Aura Energy with immediate effect. Executive Chair Philip Mitchell will "assume accountability for day-to-day operational management thereby ensuring continuity, specifically regarding critical current workflows including funding discussions with the US International Development Finance Corporation and potential strategic partners", the company said, with Grove providing "support" to the company for the next six months. Aura's projects include the fully permitted Tiris Uranium Project in Mauritania and the Häggån Polymetallic Project in Sweden, and the company has said it plans to transition from a uranium explorer to a uranium producer.