Scientists use NASA tech to detect radioactive areas in nuclear plant

German researchers led by nuclear physicist Thomas Siegert at Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg have adapted space telescope technology to improve detection of radioactive contamination in dismantled nuclear power plants. Their project, scintLaCHARM, funded with nearly USD 2.3 million by the German Federal Ministry of Research, developed a novel method using scintillation detectors—lightweight crystals traditionally used in orbiting instruments—to map radiation more quickly, precisely, and efficiently than conventional semiconductor detectors. These conventional detectors require cooling to extremely low temperatures and scan only small areas slowly, making the decommissioning process lengthy, costly, and hazardous. The new cameras employ multiple scintillation crystals that light up upon gamma radiation exposure, allowing determination of radiation direction and energy through analysis of crystal interactions. This data, processed by supercomputers, generates detailed 3D images pinpointing contamination locations and types, enabling reliable separation of contaminated from uncontaminated materials. The technology benefits from collaboration with experts involved in NASA’s COSI gamma-ray