Latest news with #PeteBryant
ABC News
22-06-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Iran's nuclear sites have been 'obliterated'. This is how dangerous that could be
A 13 tonne bomb — yes, you read that right — being dropped on a nuclear site so sensitive it was embedded almost 100 metres inside a mountain. When you put it like that, it's no surprise Sunday's US attacks on Iran put much of the world on edge. US President Donald Trump hailed the mission, which involved stealth bombers launching strikes on three uranium enrichment facilities, as a huge success. The targets at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan had been "totally obliterated" he said. While devastating consequences are associated with any act of war, words like "nuclear" and "radioactive" can trigger extra concerns. Let's unpack them. The first thing Pete Bryant, from the University of Liverpool, wants you to do, is get high-profile nuclear disasters like Chernobyl and Fukushima out of your mind. "It's important to distinguish between nuclear power plants and uranium enrichment facilities, as they are fundamentally different in function, design, and risk," he said. The sites targeted in Iran — Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow — are uranium enrichment facilities, that handle "low-level radioactive material", said Professor Bryant, a leading radiation protection professional and scientist. That's in complete contrast to nuclear power plants like Ukraine's Chernobyl, which was the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster, and Japan's Fukushima, which sustained major damage in a 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Power plants contain things like nuclear reactor cores, spent fuel and high-level radioactive waste, which make them much more dangerous. "Iran's uranium enrichment facilities are not reactors, do not have comparable inventories of radioactive material, and cannot experience similar failures," Professor Bryant said. "So while comparisons are often made due to the use of the term 'nuclear', the facilities involved in the current situation are nothing like Chernobyl or Fukushima in design, function, or risk profile." Just because the Iranian facilities targeted by the US aren't capable of causing a nuclear meltdown, that doesn't mean there aren't dangers. After all, the US used the world's largest non-nuclear bombs in the attack. Professor Bryant said the uranium isotopes found at Iran's Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan facilities emitted alpha particles which "are stopped by a few centimetres of air, cannot penetrate skin, and pose a risk only if inhaled or ingested". In other words, these substances pose little radiological risk. But there are chemical concerns. He said the uranium gas used in these facilities formed the toxic substances of Uranyl Fluoride and Hydrofluoric Acid when exposed to air and moisture. The latter is "corrosive and dangerous upon inhalation", Professor Bryant said. "Even in the unlikely event of an internal release, any contamination would remain largely confined within the structure, especially in underground sites like Fordow, which is protected by 80-90 metres of reinforced rock," he said. While not necessarily the case in Iran right now, Timothy Mousseau — an internationally recognised authority on the effects of radiation on natural systems — said the blasts could affect the natural environment. "Large explosions at nuclear enrichment sites or spent fuel storage sites are potentially of very large environmental impacts," Professor Mousseau said. On Sunday, Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency — an international organisation that promotes the safe and peaceful use of nuclear technologies — said Iranian authorities had reported no increase in off-site radiation levels after the US attacks. Given radiation is easy to detect, even at low levels, that announcement will have allayed global concerns about an environmental catastrophe. Although as Professor Mousseau, from the University of South Carolina, pointed out: "Nuclear fuel for bombs and reactors is both radioactive and chemical toxic and their dispersal can have profound environmental impacts for decades, centuries and even millennia given that the half-life of uranium-235, the main active ingredient for nuclear reactors, is over 700 million years, and the half-life of plutonium-239, the main ingredient of an atomic bomb, is more 24,000 years."
The National
22-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Gulf countries and Iraq on alert for radiation levels as Israel-Iran war rages
Gulf countries and Iraq are monitoring radiation levels in the region as US and Israel strike nuclear sites in Iran, although experts say there was no contamination fears so far. The US military bombed three nuclear sites in Iran, President Donald Trump said on Saturday night, calling the attacks a "spectacular military success". "Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated," he said. While there have been growing concerns about radiation, experts stressed that the risk of contamination from the strikes so far remains minimal. To date, the facilities targeted have been those associated with potential weapons-related nuclear activity, said Pete Bryant, honorary professor in physics at the University of Liverpool. This includes sites producing centrifuge components (non-nuclear materials), the Arak research reactor (under construction, no nuclear material), the Natanz uranium enrichment facility, the Isfahan site, which handles both enrichment and uranium conversion, and the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, reportedly attacked, but with no confirmed damage. "It's important to begin by emphasising that a release of radiation from these enrichment facilities is highly unlikely," he told The National. "While there may be localised internal contamination, there is no risk to the public or environment outside the facility, and certainly no current risk to neighbouring Gulf countries." James Acton, co-director of nuclear policy programme at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, also said the risks of radiological contamination from a strike on the Fordow plant are "extremely slight". "The uranium present in enrichments plants is barely radioactive and significant off-site spread is unlikely," he said. However, if Israel were to attack Iran's operational Bushehr nuclear power plant, "there would be very real risk of a radiological catastrophe", Mr Acton added. Since the beginning of the conflict on June 13, Israel has attacked nuclear sites inside Iran, including Natanz, Arak and Isfahan. Israel has said its attacks on Iran are aimed at preventing it from acquiring a nuclear weapon. There was confusion this week over whether Israel attacked Bushehr, Iran's only functioning nuclear power plant. An Israeli military official said on Thursday that an earlier statement saying a strike had been carried out on Bushehr was a 'mistake'. Such an attack could have serious consequences, with the need to monitor radiation levels for several hundreds of kilometres, the UN nuclear watchdog has said. 'Countries of the region have reached out directly to me over the past few hours to express their concerns, and I want to make it absolutely and completely clear: in case of an attack on the Bushehr nuclear power plant, a direct hit could result in a very high release of radioactivity to the environment,' the International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi told the UN Security Council on Friday. He warned that should Israel attack power lines supplying electricity to the plant, the consequences could be 'severe' for Iran and beyond. Residents may be required to take iodine tablets and could face food and water shortages. Andrea Stricker, deputy director and research fellow at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies, said a strike on the Bushehr plant "would cause a radiological disaster". "The only concern about radiation comes from a strike on the Bushehr nuclear power plant," she explained. "There is no reason Israel will have the plant on its target list, since a strike would cause a radiological disaster." Authorities in Gulf states and Iraq have used monitoring systems and international data to assess radiation levels since the start of the conflict. Here is what they have said: Saudi Arabia The kingdom's Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission said it had not detected concerning radiation levels since the conflict began. In a post on X, it added that radiation levels across the kingdom are normal and the environment is safe. Oman Oman is also monitoring its atmosphere and did not report any abnormal radiation levels. It is also analysing data from the early warning radiation monitoring system used across the country, as well as data issued by regional and international monitoring centre, the Oman News Agency quoted the Environment Authority as saying. Oman has urged citizens and residents to obtain information from official sources and not to circulate rumours or unverified information. Qatar Qatar launched an advanced national radiation monitoring network, which operates around the clock to assess radiation levels in the country. The network aims to provide early detection of radiation levels that exceed normal limits and ensure 'the highest levels of radiation and nuclear safety at the regional and global levels", Qatar News Agency reported last week, quoting a statement from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. Radiation levels in the air and Qatari waters are currently 'within normal limits", the authorities said. Bahrain Bahrain also said no abnormal levels of radiation had been recorded in the kingdom and it continues to monitor the situation. The Supreme Council for Environment said results were being updated regularly through monitoring stations and the country was maintaining 'co-ordination and readiness' under emergency plans to monitor radiation levels, the Bahrain News Agency reported. Iraq Iraq, which shares a border with Iran, said it has not recorded an increase in radiation levels across the country, the Iraq News Agency said. On Thursday, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani held a meeting to review the national plan for dealing with radiation and nuclear accidents. The talks also aimed to assess preparations for potential emergencies. The Central Operations Room for Radiation and Nuclear Emergencies also confirmed response teams were ready to tackle emergency situations.
Associated Press
13-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Steller Launches Connected Content Solution for DMOs
KIRKLAND, Wash., March 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Steller, a video-based, travel planning platform that allows travelers to discover, connect and book based on experiences shared by creators, has launched Steller Connect, a tool enabling Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) to connect influencer content directly to planning tools and marketing automation that moves travelers through the booking journey. Steller Connect allows destinations to integrate Trips by Steller™ itineraries and video into their website. The detailed itineraries are infused with influencer or traveler UGC video of each stop. Each stop includes vital travel information and is geotagged to an interactive map available on both web and mobile app. The viewer can switch between 3 views, list, map, and video allowing them to fully explore the destination. The most valuable Steller Connect feature for DMOs is the connection to trip planning tools and marketing automation that truly makes a difference in getting people to their destination. The multi-channel journey retargets users through email and push notification to help them continue planning their own trip to the destination and booking it when it's time. Transforming DMOs' Digital Strategy Historically, DMOs have struggled to link influencer marketing efforts to measurable results. With Steller Connect, destinations can now: Extend the lifespan of influencer content, keeping high performing content in front of prospective travelers for a year. Connect short form video content and influencer recommendations to trip planning tools and retargeting automation. Prove marketing ROI by tracking itinerary engagement, planned trips, and completed bookings. 'Measuring the true impact of travel influencer marketing has always been a challenge. Impressions and likes don't translate directly into booked hotel nights, and with the rising cost of influencer content, destinations are paying more for less visibility. Steller Connect keeps high-performing content in front of travelers for a full year and connects it to a booking journey. With built-in planning tools and detailed reporting, DMOs can finally see the real ROI of their influencer marketing efforts.' – Pete Bryant, CEO of Steller. Early Adoption and Proven Success Six destinations, including three international and three domestic, participated in the Steller Connect beta and saw impressive results. Discover Puerto Rico implemented the tool in late October, embedding high performing influencer content and Trips by Steller™ itineraries into eight pages of their website. Seventy trips were planned through Steller Connect, with travel occurring within the first 90 days after the campaign concluded. 'We are extremely pleased with the results delivered by both campaigns we executed in partnership with Steller. A key component of these campaigns was Steller Connect, which Discover Puerto Rico integrated across eight landing pages on our website, including the homepage. We first added Video, followed a month later by Trips by Steller itineraries. This feature allows travelers to explore influencer-generated content, create personalized itineraries, and seamlessly book stays and experiences—driving economic impact for our destination. Pages featuring Steller Connect saw increases in Average Session Duration, indicating better engagement after its addition. With interactive maps, descriptions, and traveler reviews, it truly makes influencer marketing actionable and bookable' said Astrid Emmanuelli, Senior Social Media Manager of Discover Puerto Rico. A Fully Connected Travel Planning Experience The human experience is the most important part of the travel planning journey. People want to see themselves reflected in your content to feel comfortable enough to book a trip. With Steller Connect, DMOs can connect powerful stories from relatable influencers to an actionable, engaging, and measurable trip-planning experience. Visit to learn more.
