The hidden danger still lurking at Chernobyl: Scientists discover radioactive fuel fragments have barely changed in 40 years

Four decades after the world’s worst nuclear disaster, scientists have uncovered a chilling reminder that Chernobyl's radioactive legacy is far from over. Researchers studying microscopic fragments of nuclear fuel blasted out of the reactor during the 1986 explosion found that some have remained remarkably unchanged. This defies the expectation that they would have gradually broken down over time. And the team says it could have significant implications for understanding the long-term health risks posed by the radioactive contamination. ‘Our findings demonstrate that Chernobyl fuel particles act as remarkably persistent reservoirs of fission products and actinides in the environment,’ the team...