Researchers have managed to peer into a nuclear reactor to track the amount of plutonium inside – without needing access to data from the control room. Although the technology is still at an early stage, it could open up new ways of keeping tabs on whether reactors are being used to make material for nuclear weapons.
Earlier this year, Iran agreed to a deal with major world powers to limit its nuclear activities. Iran has promised it will allow monitors from the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect its plants and ensure they are being used strictly for peaceful purposes.
The deal is built on fragile trust – Iran doesn’t want to reveal any more of its nuclear secrets than it has to. A magic box that could monitor reactors from a distance, without the need for foreign inspectors to visit, would smooth the way such deals are implemented.
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As it turns out, we have a way to build one. Specialised detectors can pick up particles called antineutrinos, produced by nuclear reactions. They barely interact with ordinary matter, so stream away from reactors and can be picked up far away with a suitable instrument.
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