A United States national laboratory has used lasers and extreme heat to precisely map how neptunium behaves at atomic levels, a critical step in producing plutonium-238 (Pu-238)—the fuel used in deep-space missions. Pu-238 powers Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs), which provide long-lasting electricity for spacecraft operating far from the Sun. Missions such as Perseverance Rover rely on this nuclear fuel to survive years in harsh environments. Understanding neptunium’s properties en

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