China’s ambitious plan to dramatically pull back from fossil fuels is perhaps most evident in the explosive growth of its nuclear energy program. The latest news suggests China may be tantalizingly close to bringing self-cooling reactors to practical use—a development with profound safety implications.
In a statement earlier this week, the China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE) announced that it had recently concluded tests for a residual heat removal system for integral fast reactors (IFRs). The statement did not specify a date but noted that the breakthrough would effectively make China’s radioactive waste-recycling power plants meltdown-proof.
Specifically, the new technique prevents the reactor core from overheating through a mechanism that naturally cycles the coolant to dissipate unwanted, leftover heat.
“Removing residual heat from the reactor core is inherently critical to the safety of the reactor,” explained the CIAE. “This is the first proof-of-principle test in China for a new passive residual heat removal technology for [integral] fast reactors.”
The merits of a self-cooling fast reactor
To be clear, this is a separate result from a 2024 experiment that successfully tested a self-cooling, high-temperature reactor using a pebble-bed module. The new result is the proof-of-principle test for a self-cooling mechanism implemented into an IFR, which uses high-energy “fast” neutrons to cause and maintain fission chain reactions.
Unlike conventional reactors cooled by water, IFR coolants are often liquid metals, such as sodium or lead. Overall, this scheme enables IFRs to extract 100 times more energy than conventional reactors with a higher fuel efficiency. IFRs often operate on a closed-loop fuel cycle, meaning spent fuel can be recycled, which the Department of Energy explains could reduce nuclear waste by up to 90%.
The first concept and deployment of an IFR began at Argonne National Laboratory in the U.S., although the project was later canceled. As of now, the United States does not have a commercially active IFR.
China, on the other hand, expressed strong interest in expanding the use of IFRs in its nuclear energy program during a presentation to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Hot topic, cool implications
For the new result, researchers first simulated how their mechanism would unfold inside an actual reactor. Based on those simulations, they developed a test facility for “understanding the operating principles of the novel passive residual heat removal system for integral fast reactors,” according to the CIAE.
This technology has already been incorporated into the design of the CFR-1000, China’s next-generation gigawatt-level fast reactor, the agency said, adding, “Effectively implementing and verifying natural circulation in fast reactors is currently a hot topic and a challenge internationally.”
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![‘Project Hail Mary’ Won’t Be Coming to Streaming Any Time Soon
With all the excitement of movies to come this week thanks to CinemaCon, it was almost easy to forget that MGM provided an interesting update on one of our favorite movies of the year that’s already out: Project Hail Mary will head back to IMAX theaters this weekend for an extended theatrical run. But that extension also means one thing: you’ll have to wait to stream it at home for a good while longer. During its presentation at CinemaCon this week MGM confirmed that Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s sci-fi hit would make its return to IMAX screens for a limited-time, one-week run starting this weekend, a move that will likely inch Project Hail Mary ever closer to crossing the $600 million box office mark. But to put a finer point on the news, Miller took to Twitter yesterday to confirm specifically that the extension means you won’t be able to watch the film at home for the forseeable future.
We announced yesterday that MGM is extending the exclusive theatrical window for PROJECT HAIL MARY so it won’t be on streaming anytime soon. This is a movie that needs to be seen on a big screen – and w a full return to IMAX screens for 1 week only starting this weekend, make… https://t.co/suK8NYpgWM — Christopher Miller (@chrizmillr) April 16, 2026 “It won’t be on streaming any time soon,” Miller’s tweet reads in part. “This is a movie that needs to be seen on a big screen […] Bring friends and loved ones. It’s an experience to share with others.” Project Hail Mary launched on March 20, so it’s not too surprising that it’s not headed home just yet—it’s just shy of a month into its theatrical window, which has now been extended by at least another week with the return to IMAX. But as studios begin to try realigning towards more theatrical releases with longer exclusivity windows again (one of the lingering aftereffects of covid’s impact on movie theaters), we should probably expect some of the biggest films of the year and beyond to try and hold off of hitting streaming for as long as they can.
At least in Project Hail Mary‘s case, you can still go and see it somewhere, even if it’s not at home. Good things come to those who wait, but for now, you can head to a movie theater to get your fix again. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. #Project #Hail #Mary #Wont #Coming #Streaming #TimeAmazon MGM,Project Hail Mary,Streaming ‘Project Hail Mary’ Won’t Be Coming to Streaming Any Time Soon
With all the excitement of movies to come this week thanks to CinemaCon, it was almost easy to forget that MGM provided an interesting update on one of our favorite movies of the year that’s already out: Project Hail Mary will head back to IMAX theaters this weekend for an extended theatrical run. But that extension also means one thing: you’ll have to wait to stream it at home for a good while longer. During its presentation at CinemaCon this week MGM confirmed that Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s sci-fi hit would make its return to IMAX screens for a limited-time, one-week run starting this weekend, a move that will likely inch Project Hail Mary ever closer to crossing the $600 million box office mark. But to put a finer point on the news, Miller took to Twitter yesterday to confirm specifically that the extension means you won’t be able to watch the film at home for the forseeable future.
We announced yesterday that MGM is extending the exclusive theatrical window for PROJECT HAIL MARY so it won’t be on streaming anytime soon. This is a movie that needs to be seen on a big screen – and w a full return to IMAX screens for 1 week only starting this weekend, make… https://t.co/suK8NYpgWM — Christopher Miller (@chrizmillr) April 16, 2026 “It won’t be on streaming any time soon,” Miller’s tweet reads in part. “This is a movie that needs to be seen on a big screen […] Bring friends and loved ones. It’s an experience to share with others.” Project Hail Mary launched on March 20, so it’s not too surprising that it’s not headed home just yet—it’s just shy of a month into its theatrical window, which has now been extended by at least another week with the return to IMAX. But as studios begin to try realigning towards more theatrical releases with longer exclusivity windows again (one of the lingering aftereffects of covid’s impact on movie theaters), we should probably expect some of the biggest films of the year and beyond to try and hold off of hitting streaming for as long as they can.
At least in Project Hail Mary‘s case, you can still go and see it somewhere, even if it’s not at home. Good things come to those who wait, but for now, you can head to a movie theater to get your fix again. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. #Project #Hail #Mary #Wont #Coming #Streaming #TimeAmazon MGM,Project Hail Mary,Streaming](https://gizmodo.com/app/uploads/2026/04/project-hail-mary-ryan-gosling-1280x853.jpg)
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