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ANSTO

Nuclear science and technology for the benefit of all Australians ANSTO is the home of Australia's nuclear science expertise.

OPAL, Australia's multi-purpose reactor produces nuclear medicine and facilitates collaborative scientific research to benefit human, health, the environment and industry.

04/06/2026

World Environment Day 2026 is about the signals the Earth is sending us: rising seas, melting glaciers, fires, heatwaves. ANSTO's environmental scientists read and interpret those signals.

A cave stalagmite carries a thousand years of bushfire history in its growth bands. A coral core records ocean temperature from five centuries ago. An aquifer's water can be dated to the year. At Cape Grim on the northwest coast of Tasmania, the most sensitive radon detector in the world tracks the movement of greenhouse gases across continents.

The fieldwork has been continuous since 1960. Measurements are made with nuclear and isotopic instruments The data contributes to our scientific knowledge base about the state of our planet and the impacts of climate change.

See link in comments for more.

04/06/2026

What an incredible day of innovation, collaboration and creativity at the 2026 ANSTO Science and Engineering Challenge! 💡

Last week, more than 500 students came together to tackle a range of hands-on STEM challenges, pushing their problem-solving skills and working as teams to think like real engineers.

From building and designing to testing and refining solutions, it was fantastic to see such enthusiasm, resilience and creativity on display throughout the day. 👏

Congratulations to the two winning schools:
🏆 Danebank Anglican School for Girls
🏆 Woolooware High School

A big thank you to our amazing volunteers, staff, local Rotary groups and school communities for helping bring this event to life. We’re also proud to partner with The University of Newcastle, Australia to deliver this inspiring program.

We can’t wait to see where these future engineers and innovators go next! 🚀

16/05/2026

Special Event Panel: OPAL | Past, Present, and Future ✨

Are you curious about how Australia’s world class research reactor is shaping healthcare, industry and scientific discovery?

In celebration of OPAL’s 20-year anniversary, join us for an engaging panel discussion exploring OPAL’s legacy, current impact and future potential. Hear from leading experts who have played key roles in its development and learn how this unique facility supports national capabilities and the next generation of scientists.

📅 Tuesday, 16 June 2026
📍 AINSE Theatre, Lucas Heights (Sydney)
💻 Online option available for 7–8pm seminar

Program highlights:
🔹5:30–6:30pm | Optional OPAL Reactor Tour (in-person)
🔹7:00–8:00pm | Panel Seminar (in-person + online stream)
🔹From 8:30pm | Optional dinner at Rocksalt Menai ($65pp)

✔ Suitable for a general audience, no technical background required.

Delivered in association with the Royal Australian Chemical Institute NSW, Australian Institute of Physics NSW and Royal Society NSW.

👉 Register through the links in the comments.

14/05/2026

What does Radioactive Emergency, Netflix new drama series, get right about radiation incidents?

An ANSTO health physicist has reviewed the series, which is based on the real world 1987 Goiânia accident in Brazil – one of the most severe radiological events in history.

The review unpacks the science behind the story, from the behaviour of caesium 137 to the realities of contamination, cleanup and emergency response, and explores where the series stays true to the facts while still delivering compelling TV.

An insightful behind the scenes look at radiation, preparedness, safety and scientific accuracy on screen.

👉 Read the full review: https://ansto.info/4npzNtU

11/05/2026

We were delighted to welcome the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Madeleine King MP, to our Lucas Heights campus to open two new critical minerals facilities.

These new facilities will support the push to refine more minerals in Australia, essential for renewable energy technology and defence applications.

One facility will process clay-hosted rare earth deposits, while the other, a high temperature chlorination facility, will produce high-purity quartz, a crucial input for semiconductors, solar panels, telecommunications, medical and defence equipment.

The Australian Critical Minerals R&D Hub supported the building of these facilities. The Hub brings together expertise from ANSTO, CSIRO and Geoscience Australia to address technical challenges and deliver practical solutions aligned with the Australian Government’s Critical Minerals Strategy.

Read more: https://www.ansto.gov.au/news/australian-first-facility-to-back-critical-minerals

Department of Industry, Science and Resources

02/05/2026

The ANSTO team are at Sutherland Shire Relay For Life today, a powerful 24-hour community event raising funds and awareness for Cancer Council NSW.

If you are here today, step off track and into AI at ANSTO’s AI photobooth. Become a scientist, try an AI X-ray to see your skeleton, and take home your own photo memento.

Our team is also on hand to help you explore how nuclear science at ANSTO supports cancer diagnosis, treatment and innovation through world-leading research and nuclear medicine production.

Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back. 💜💛

23/04/2026

An international research team has uncovered the oldest known mummified remains of a terrestrial vertebrate, revealing how some of Earth’s earliest reptiles breathed and moved on land.

Using neutron imaging at ANSTO, our scientists helped visualise exceptionally delicate soft tissues including skin, cartilage and remnants of proteins in the reptile Captorhinus, preserved inside limestone for nearly 300 million years.

These findings, published in Nature, provide rare insight into the evolution of muscle-powered breathing and shoulder mobility that underpin how reptiles, birds and mammals move today.

The research demonstrates clearly how world leading nuclear science capabilities support global collaborations and enable insights across diverse fields of research.

https://ansto.info/42fDY1J

22/04/2026

Antarctica can feel like another world, but what happens there gives us an indication of what is happening to our climate.

This Earth Day, we're recognising the science that helps us make sense of a changing planet. ANSTO researchers work alongside Antarctic partners, including the Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future program, to analyse air, ice, water and sediment samples. Nuclear and isotopic techniques help piece together records of climate and environmental change stretching back thousands of years.

The samples are collected in some of the most challenging conditions on the planet. The analysis happens in our labs in Australia. Together, they help build the evidence base for a more resilient future.

See the link in the comments for more.

EarthDay.org

19/04/2026

Think Science! 2026 is on now

Teachers, now’s the perfect time for your students to start their science investigation and plan their creative video entry.

✅ Open to Years 3-10 across Australia
✅ Share a science investigation in a creative video for a chance to win prizes!

👉 To learn more and get started, visit the link in the comments.

16/04/2026

This year’s Sutherland Shire Relay For Life, celebrating 25 years of an amazing community coming together to support people affected by cancer.

Over this time, the event has raised almost $8 million for Cancer Council NSW, making it one of the largest and most successful Relay for Life events in Australia. To mark this milestone, a commemorative plaque will be installed at Don Lucas Reserve to recognise the dedication of the committee and the impact of this relay.

At ANSTO, supporting people affected by cancer extends beyond this local collaboration. Through the production of nuclear medicine, we provide radioisotopes that enable around 10,000 to 12,000 nuclear medicine procedures across Australia every week. These medicines are distributed to more than 250 hospitals and clinics nationwide, helping support the diagnosis and treatment of cancer every day.

We are proud to support the Relay for Life community and the important work of NSW Cancer Council.

📅 Saturday 2 May to Sunday 3 May 2026

📍 Don Lucas Reserve, Wanda Beach, Cronulla

Join us on the track, every step you take will make a difference.

Address

New Illawarra Road
Lucas Heights, NSW
2234

Opening Hours

Monday	7am - 5pm
Tuesday	7am - 5pm
Wednesday	7am - 5pm
Thursday	7am - 5pm
Friday	7am - 5pm

Telephone

+61297173111

Website

https://www.ansto.gov.au/social-media-terms-of-engagement, https://www.ansto.gov.au/

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