reactor
Could Small American Nuclear Reactors Alleviate Future Medical Isotope Shortages?
OSU’s TRIGA Mark II nuclear reactor is capable of producing small amounts of medical radioisotopes. These radioisotopes are incredibly important in millions of diagnostic and therapeutic medical procedures annually. The world experienced a massive shortage of such radioisotopes in 2009-2010 when 2/5 of the world’s reactors supplying the isotopes became inactive for an extended period of time. This strongly affected the US because one of the inactive reactors previously supplied much of the US. Currently, the world requires better contingencies for these inevitable situations. While the US currently supplies none of the world’s radioisotopes (the US government, unlike in other countries, does not subsidize the production of medical isotopes), our small reactors (such as the one at OSU) may be helpful in abating future shortages. Read More
3 mins read
Got Nuke…? State of the OSU Reactor
Oregon doesn’t have the best track record for nuclear reactors. The only nuclear power plant in the state, the Trojan Nuclear Power Plant in Rainier, was shut down after it started leaking radioactive gas in 1992, only 16 years after it was built. Read More
4 mins read