Smaller reactors bring nuclear power closer to fulfilling its promise

Nature, Published online: 26 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02506-4Shadowed by past disasters, nuclear engineers are developing different types of reactor, fuel, coolant and material that could help to make fission the zero-carbon…

Nature, Published online: 26 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02506-4

Shadowed by past disasters, nuclear engineers are developing different types of reactor, fuel, coolant and material that could help to make fission the zero-carbon energy technology of choice.

The 46 companies scrambling to commercialize fusion for energy

Nature, Published online: 26 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02513-5Whether the billions of dollars of investment will lead to an inexhaustible source of clean electrical power is not yet known.

Nature, Published online: 26 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02513-5

Whether the billions of dollars of investment will lead to an inexhaustible source of clean electrical power is not yet known.

Vaporization trick enables ‘tandem’ solar cells to be made at lower temperatures

Nature, Published online: 26 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02469-6A clever approach for evaporating a compound used to make perovskite semiconductors tackles a vexing challenge in scaling up next-generation solar cells.

Nature, Published online: 26 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02469-6

A clever approach for evaporating a compound used to make perovskite semiconductors tackles a vexing challenge in scaling up next-generation solar cells.

A raft of start-up firms is betting on nuclear fusion

Nature, Published online: 26 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02511-7The phenomenon that makes stars shine and hydrogen bombs explode has yet to be reliably tamed for energy generation. But that isn’t stopping companies from trying.

Nature, Published online: 26 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02511-7

The phenomenon that makes stars shine and hydrogen bombs explode has yet to be reliably tamed for energy generation. But that isn’t stopping companies from trying.

Harnessing nuclear power for a clean-energy future

Nature, Published online: 26 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02505-5Generating electricity using fission has a chequered past. New approaches such as smaller reactors could transform the technology into a more nimble source of alwa…

Nature, Published online: 26 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02505-5

Generating electricity using fission has a chequered past. New approaches such as smaller reactors could transform the technology into a more nimble source of always-on, carbon-free power.

The push to clear nuclear power’s waste-disposal hurdle

Nature, Published online: 26 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02507-3The technical issues have mostly been solved, but the long-term potential peril of radioactive material has made it difficult to find politically acceptable sites.

Nature, Published online: 26 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02507-3

The technical issues have mostly been solved, but the long-term potential peril of radioactive material has made it difficult to find politically acceptable sites.

Daily briefing: Celebrating Dolly Parton’s contributions to science

Nature, Published online: 26 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02719-7Parton helped to fund Moderna’s early-stage vaccine research, among other philanthropic projects. Plus, causes and treatments for depression, and how AI-detection …

Nature, Published online: 26 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02719-7

Parton helped to fund Moderna’s early-stage vaccine research, among other philanthropic projects. Plus, causes and treatments for depression, and how AI-detection tools are pushing back against slop.