This month's issue looks at nuclear energy. Feature contributors explore the Swedish KBS-3 model for geological disposal of spent fuel, assess the durability of graphite for longer life reactors, examine ways of creating a passive and safe waste form to immobilise the UK’s surplus plutonium and see how surface and particulate engineering solutions will play a pivotal role in fulfilling the needs of the nuclear power sector. The Q&A is with Professor Christophe Poinssot from the French Atomic Energy Commission who talks about the reasons behind nuclear disasters including Fukushima.

In news, we consider autonomous emergency braking systems in vehicles, report on a conference on energy harvesting devices, and also see how a novel photodiode that splits hydrogen and oxygen could help create energy harvesting devices that are emission-free. We see how the Materials KTN is helping the Home Office set a standard for safer drinking vessels, visit Europe's first mixed plastics packaging recycling at Biffa Polymers in Redcar, UK, and investigate how ceramic coatings are being used to negate the impact of volcanic ash on aeroplanes.

Our minerals and mining features focus on exploration in Sierra Leone, the areas mining companies need to consider before investing abroad, and the challenges for oil sand mines in Alberta, Canada.

Books on composite materials machining and crystal growth processes are reviewed, and in Material Matters our regular columnist considers whether natural gas is our best energy source.