Mechanical engineering

Nuclear waste: Leave well alone

The best thing to do with nuclear waste is to stash it away, not reprocess it(27)

Japan after the 3/11 disaster: The death of trust

Last year’s triple disaster—earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown—has shattered Japanese faith in many of the country’s institutions(21)

The prospects: Over the rainbow

If there are better ways to split atoms, they will be a long time coming(29)

French nuclear energy: Under pressure

France wants to export nuclear reactors. Who will buy them?(38)

High-altitude road trips: A motoring high

The motorcycle engineering in the high mountains(17)

Disaster in Japan: Plutonium and Mickey Mouse

Japan’s nuclear crisis drags on, exposing profound failures both at the company and in national energy policy(62)

Nuclear power: When the steam clears

The Fukushima crisis will slow the growth of nuclear power. Might it reverse it?(91)

Mini nuclear reactors: Thinking small

Nuclear power: Combining several small reactors based on simple, proven designs could be a better approach than building big ones(5)

Electric planes: High voltage

Transport: As electric cars make steady progress on land, battery- powered aircraft of various kinds are quietly taking to the air(3)

Nuclear power and new politics: Fissile

Plans for new nuclear power stations could split the government(9)

Electric supercars: Highly charged motoring

Fast cars will go even faster with electric power(27)

Inside story: Nuclear's next generation

Inside story: A group of six new blueprints for nuclear power stations promise advances in safety and efficiency. How do they differ from existing designs?(19)

Leaders: Wanted: green engineers

The world needs more of them, notes Oliver Morton(2)

Face value: Power struggle

Will Anne Lauvergeon, the nuclear-energy industry’s most tireless cheerleader, keep her job as boss of Areva?(9)

Nuclear power: The critical issue of safety

The much-heralded renaissance of nuclear power will fail unless the public can be convinced that all plants, worldwide, are safe(50)

Monitor: Fresher cookers

Technology and development: The humble cooking stove is being overhauled around the world with the help of “user focused” design(4)

Nuclear energy: Power struggle

Will France continue to lead the global revival of nuclear power?(30)