Generating nuclear power takes a lot of energy—extreme heat, pressure, and radiation—that every part of a reactor must withstand each time. Naturally, engineering the perfect apparatus is a difficult task, but researchers continue to discover astonishing ways to advance nuclear technology, the latest of which involves a tiny chip with not-so-tiny performance.

In a recent release , University of Maine researchers announced new microelectronic sensors that tolerate both the radiation levels and extreme temperatures of a nuclear reactor’s core. At the same time, the sensor captures real-time operational data, giving engineers and operators invaluable insight into the reactor’s activity.

“Since many advanced reactors currently under development operate at these temperatures, there is a hig

See Full Page