From June 9 to June 13, 2024, members of Anthropocene Institute’s Solid State Fusion (SSF) team participated in the American Nuclear Society (ANS) meeting held in Las Vegas. The American Nuclear Society (ANS) was founded in 1954, and the ANS meetings have been held regularly since then. The ANS Annual and Winter Meetings are some of the society's most prominent events, with a long history of bringing together professionals, researchers, and academics in the nuclear field to discuss advancements, research, and policy. These meetings have been a critical platform for the exchange of ideas and collaboration in the nuclear science and engineering community for decades. This year’s conference included a session dedicated to Low-Energy Nuclear Reactions (LENR), where Solid State Fusion research took center stage.

The LENR session, held on June 11, featured presentations from five research groups, including groups affiliated with Tohoku University, National Taiwan University, National Taiwan Normal University, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, and the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
One of the presentations came from National Taiwan Normal University, which had a paper titled "Peculiar Phenomena Observed in Low-Energy Nuclear Reactors." This study explored the unconventional energy dynamics in LENR systems, presenting evidence of abnormal temperature rises in reactor components. The findings suggest the presence of LENR-induced excess heat, emphasizing the need for further investigation into these systems’ peculiarities.

Another significant contribution from Taiwan was the paper "Linear Flow Network Analysis of Resonator in Low-Energy Nuclear Reactor." This study utilized a linear flow network model to analyze the performance of flow resonators in LENR systems. The insights gained from this research could enhance the efficiency of LENR reactors, as it provides a tool for designing reactors that can maximize energy output through controlled resonant frequencies.

Researchers from Tohoku University and Clean Planet Japan presented their work on "Material Analysis of Anomalous Heat Experiments using Hydrogen-filled Nanometallic Composites." This paper focused on the material science aspects of LENR, focusing on the role of nanostructured materials in facilitating anomalous heat production. Their research highlights the importance of understanding the material properties that contribute to LENR phenomena.

The group affiliated with NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center also focused on material science. They presented their research on "Hot Hydrogen Testing of Uranium Nitride Cermet for Nuclear Thermal Propulsion.” They investigated the performance of uranium nitride cermet under hot hydrogen conditions, specifically focusing on its potential application in nuclear thermal propulsion systems, which are relevant for space exploration and understanding nuclear reactions in solid materials.

The session also featured a paper from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur titled "Low Energy Nuclear Reactions in Highly Driven Light Water Electrolysis: From Circumstantial Evidence to Unambiguous Nuclear Signatures." This research provided evidence of nuclear activity on the cathode surface during electrolysis experiments, including particle emissions and isotopic shifts.

The session underscored the growing interest in Solid State Fusion, particularly as an alternative to conventional nuclear fusion methods, which require extreme temperatures and pressures. Unlike these traditional approaches, SSF operates under more accessible conditions, making it a promising area for further exploration and potential commercialization.

By engaging with experts in the field, the SSF team continues to support the development of robust and sustainable energy solutions that could one day play a crucial role in meeting global energy demands.