The Latest Breaking News from ANSTO

Scientists discover radioactive stardust still falling on Earth from an ancient cosmic blast

Scientists often look to distant galaxies for answers, but sometimes those clues are hidden beneath Earth’s oceans. In a stunning discovery, researchers found radioactive stardust from an ancient cosmic explosion still reaching our planet today. Tiny traces of plutonium preserved in deep-sea crust reveal a story that began millions of…

The Economic Times · Jun 18

Cuts to key research facilities threaten Australia’s ability to be a global scientific leader

There has been much excitement since Australia signed a landmark agreement with the United States last month to expand cooperation on critical minerals and rare earth elements.

The Conversation · Nov 4, 2025

Billions in private cash is flooding into fusion power. Will it pay off?

Over the past five years, private-sector funding for fusion energy has exploded. The total invested is approaching US$10 billion (A$15 billion), from a combination of venture capital, deep-tech investors, energy corporations and sovereign governments.

The Conversation · Oct 16, 2025

Decades of less rainfall have cut replenishing of groundwater to 800-year low in WA

Groundwater is the world’s biggest source of easily accessible freshwater. Despite its importance, we know very little about how this resource is replenished over time. In a world-first study, we have used caves to show the decades-long decline in rainfall in south-west Australia has reduced the replenishment of groundwater in…

The Conversation · Jul 5, 2023

What happened to Synroc?

The technology is in the final fit-out stage at ANSTO's Lucas Heights site.

The Canberra Times · Apr 29, 2023

Greens attack Albanese government’s ‘deeply unsettling’ secrecy on submarine nuclear waste plans

Radiation Health and Safety Advisory Council also warned against cloak of national security to ‘mask inadequate radiation safety protection’

The Guardian - AU · Mar 23, 2023

Australia's getting nuclear subs with the AUKUS deal, but where will they be based?

Port Kembla, Newcastle and Brisbane are all shortlisted as possible east coast sites for a nuclear submarine base, but what are the pros and cons of each location?

ABC News · Mar 18, 2023

Australia faces looming nuclear skills challenge to support Aukus submarines

Pact with US and UK poses challenge to educate, train and recruit necessary personnel, experts say

The Guardian - AU · Mar 13, 2023

Australia may have to stop making key cancer medicine if it doesn’t build nuclear waste dump, peak body says

Ansto chief says it may not be able to keep producing nuclear medicine if it runs out of waste storage space at its Lucas Heights facility

The Guardian - AU · Nov 17, 2022

Extreme Miyake radiation events captured in tree rings stump scientists

Earth has been hit by radiation levels up to 100 times greater than the most intense solar storm ever recorded at least six times over the past 10,000 years, according to radiocarbon stored in tree rings.

ABC News · Oct 25, 2022