Proliferation Breakthrough

Australia Broadcasting Science:

Israeli scientists have devised a technique to prevent plutonium produced in nuclear power plants from being used in nuclear bombs.

Adding the element americium, a synthetic compound used in commercial smoke detectors and industrial gauges, to nuclear power plant fuel generates higher-than-normal concentrations of a particular plutonium isotope, rendering it useless for armaments without additional processing.

You know what? This makes the sale of nuclear power easier, but it’s good news nevertheless.