Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has officially reviewed data for the one billionth item scanned for radiation, marking a significant milestone in the global fight against nuclear material smuggling. The achievement underscores the scale of international cooperation in the detection and prevention of illicit radioactive material, with over 90 countries contributing to the effort, as per the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Amid concerns over nuclear security post-Soviet Union collapse, the initiative is spearheaded by the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration's Office of Nuclear Smuggling Detection and Deterrence, having been launched in 1998. For nearly three decades, radiation detectors have been deployed at various checkpoints across the globe, creating a dense network of vigilance. Around half of the participating nations send their radiation detection data to ORNL for analysis and maintenance insights.
In a notable development, the one billionth scan termed an "occupancy," took place at Jordan's Port of Aqaba – an early adopter of the radiation detection equipment. The Department of Energy recognized Jordan for its commitment and cooperation, with Alexander Enders, a nonproliferation program manager at ORNL, highlighting the efforts of numerous nations. "We have received data from more than 40 countries from well over 1,000 different radiation portal monitors," Enders told ORNL.
Data aggregation and analysis take time, evidenced by the July 23, commemoratory presentation of a plaque to the Jordanian site that recorded the key occupancy, despite the scan occurring months prior. The plaque, crafted from components of gamma radiation detectors, carries a symbolic significance – glowing purple in sunlight, much like its counterparts when detecting radioactive material. ORNL cherishes its status as the steward of the world's largest database of occupancies to improve detection methods. "Collecting this amount of data over the past 16 years gives ORNL unparalleled insight into the behavior of radiation detection systems in the stream of commerce," said Enders, as stated by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. For more details, information is available on the Office of Science's website.
