Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) researchers have used supercomputers to simulate how common ceramics could repair themselves after radiation-induced damages. This is an important discovery because ‘materials that can resist radiation damage are needed to expand the use of nuclear energy.’ These ceramics, which are able to handle high-radiation doses, could improve the durability of nuclear power plants. They also might help to solve the problem of nuclear waste storage.

“‘If you want a material to withstand radiation over millennia, you can’t expect it to just sit there and take it. There must be a mechanism for self-healing,’ said Devanathan.