China prepares to test thorium-fuelled nuclear reactor

If China’s experimental reactor is a success it could lead to commercialization and help the nation meet its climate goals.
By
  1. Smriti Mallapaty
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed  Google Scholar

Access through your institution
Buy or subscribe

Scientists are excited about an experimental nuclear reactor using thorium as fuel, which is about to begin tests in China. Although this radioactive element has been trialled in reactors before, experts say that China is the first to have a shot at commercializing the technology.

Access options

Access through your institution

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Nature 597, 311-312 (2021)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-02459-w

Updates & Corrections

  • Correction 10 September 2021: An earlier version of this story referred to reactors cooled by lead and sodium gases, while they are in fact liquids. It was also published with a different primary image, which was incorrectly captioned as a nuclear power plant. The story has been updated.

Subjects

Latest on:

Nature Careers

Jobs

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing