An explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant on 26 April 1986 spread a radioactive cloud over large parts of the Soviet Union, now the territories of Belarus, Ukraine and the Russian Federation. Nearly 8.4 million people were exposed to the radiation. Since then, international cooperation in nuclear safety has significantly intensified, but the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, has warned that the world is dangerously close to a nuclear accident. Recent developments at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine highlight the need to minimize risks.

The International Atomic Energy Agency launched its first scientific research expedition to investigate the presence of microplastics in Antarctica as part of efforts to combat this growing environmental problem, even in the planet’s most remote areas.

While nuclear technology has numerous peaceful applications, such as in medicine, agriculture, and energy production, it also casts challenges that transcend national boundaries, and global cooperation is often necessary to address them effectively.

The 67th Regular Session (25 - 29 September 2023, Vienna) of the IAEA General Conference presents an opportunity for world leaders to engage in open dialogue, transparency and foster cooperation in the peaceful and responsible use of nuclear technology while ensuring global security.

In the latest IAEA Bulletin, Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi talks about the role of nuclear power in meeting global emissions targets.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi explains how the Agency is monitoring the discharges of treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan into the ocean. "Credibility, reliability depend on availability of information. And this is what the dedicated monitoring webpage of the IAEA will give."

The IAEA Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme (MSCFP) seeks to inspire young women to pursue a career in the nuclear field through scholarships for students studying nuclear related subjects as well as internship opportunities.

IAEA safety review has concluded that Japan’s plans to release treated water stored at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station into the sea are consistent with IAEA Safety Standards.

As AI technologies become increasingly sophisticated, they will transform industries, streamline processes and may even impact how we live our lives including the nuclear sector. AI has shown its potential to benefit people who use nuclear technology for peaceful ends. It will not replace the workforce but rather it will establish resources and insights that will make early detection and response in computer security realistically achievable. IAEA highlights how to adopt AI technologies effectively and proactively by embracing the benefits while addressing its risks.

A recent IAEA Bulletin features the valuable lessons to be learned from completed and ongoing decommissioning projects - the final stage in the lifecycle of any nuclear and radiological facility.

The IAEA brings together experts to verify that nuclear material and technology are only used for peaceful purposes - including the collection and analysis of samples from nuclear and other sites.

Youth around the world are invited to create a paper or digital illustration to portray one of the six main steps of the seeds’ journey to the International Space Station (ISS), and what happens when they arrive back on Earth.

The IAEA launches its new professional development programme to boost women’s careers in the nuclear field: the IAEA Lise Meitner Programme

The story behind a painting typically starts with identifying the artist and when the work was produced. Truth be told, there are some allegedly prized paintings that tell a story of criminal deception. Art forgery can be lucrative and often go undetected, but analysis techniques, including radiocarbon dating using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), can reveal the fakes.

How? All living things, including a painting’s canvas (made of natural fibres) or frame (made of wood), absorb carbon from the atmosphere, including carbon-14. Carbon-14 is an unstable isotope that decays at a known rate. When plants or animals die, they cease to absorb carbon, and the radioactive carbon already accumulated decays. Thus, the age of material can be determined by the amount of carbon-14 present, using AMS to measure the ratio of carbon isotopes.

A new nuclear application to predict the future of glaciers offers a more precise method that can help glaciologists more accurately model glaciers’ behaviour and predict their future.

IAEA presents the global nuclear agenda for 2023. Events include a conference to share experiences on improving the effectiveness of nuclear and radiation regulatory systems; the review of the legally binding international treaty to address the safety of nuclear installations and their safe operation in a well-regulated and environmentally sound manner; a forum for scientists and other professionals working in the field of radioisotope and radiopharmaceutical production; as well as the return to Earth of seeds launched into space to be exposed to radiation, among other activities.