Belgium's SCK-CEN has awarded a €24 million ($32 million) contract for front-end engineering design for the Myrrha accelerator-driven research reactor to a multinational consortium led by Areva.

A hand-held laser for use in the dismantling of metallic infrastructures during the decommissioning of nuclear facilities has been developed by the UK's TWI.

Research teams at two US national laboratories have found that irradiated carbon-coated Triso fuel particles are even more resistant to extreme temperatures than previously thought, offering potential benefits for reactor safety.

Russia and the USA have agreed to cooperate on a range of nuclear-related research areas such as safeguards, security, fast reactors - and "defence from asteroids."

The UK has opened a new £20 million ($31 million) facility that aims to deliver world-leading nuclear research and transfer that knowledge to industry.

Russia is funding a new technology centre in Vietnam and cooperating with an Argentine university, helping develop the skills needed for nuclear programs in those countries. Meanwhile, Rosatom claims more than 15,000 jobs could be created if South Africa proceeds with its nuclear energy expansion plans.

A novel consortium has announced participation in the American funding contest for new small reactor designs. Proposing a high-temperature helium cooled reactor, the group features strong support from the state of New York.

A new virtual control room at the Idaho National Laboratory will help utilities convert old nuclear power plant control rooms running on analogue systems to digital ones.

Japan has established a new research body which it hopes will bring together international experience in the decommissioning of nuclear power plants. Plans call for the institute to set up a research facility near the damaged Fukushima Daiichi plant.

Initial success in demonstrating the feasibility of "space batteries" has led to the UK's National Nuclear Laboratory being awarded further developmental work by the European Space Agency.

A new nuclear cooperation agreement struck between South Africa and the European Union (EU) will support joint nuclear research and could help open access to South Africa's uranium resources.

A modular snake robot has performed well in trials where it crawled distances of up to 18 metres through pipework at the Zwentendorf training centre.