U.S. Labs Look to New Materials to Close China's Nuclear Lead

The United States is racing to reestablish itself as a frontrunner in the global nuclear energy sector. While the country still maintains its status as the world's largest nuclear power producer, it likely won't be able to hold onto that accolade for long. China has vastly outspent the United States on nuclear power research and development for years now.

As a result, its sector is younger, more advanced, and growing at a fast clip while the American fleet stagnates and its reactors age out. Moreover, China is pushing the envelope on next-gen nuclear technologies like small modular reactors and molten salt reactors, giving Beijing a great degree of control in the sector's future direction.