{
  "id": 12578880,
  "title": "Polytechnique looks to revive nuclear studies as Quebec’s only reactor turns 50",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/polytechnique-looks-to-revive-nuclear-studies-as-quebecs-only-reactor",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-07T08:00:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/sci-tech/2026/10/07/polytechnique-looks-to-revive-nuclear-studies-as-quebecs-only-reactor-turns-50"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "MONTREAL - Slowpoke is the nickname given to Quebec's sole operational nuclear reactor, which turns 50 this year. The reactor, known as Safe Low-Power Kritical Experiment (Slowpoke), produces around 20 kilowatts of thermal energy, enough to power six or seven toasters. Despite its modest output, Slowpoke remains a vital resource for nuclear research and training at Polytechnique Montréal, a leading engineering school in the province.\n\nFor over five decades, Slowpoke has been a cornerstone of nuclear engineering education, having trained numerous engineers and contributed to Canada's early leadership in the field. However, as the original researchers responsible for this expertise now retire, Polytechnique Montréal is taking steps to revitalize its nuclear studies. A $1-million donation from engineering firm AtkinsRéalis over five years will fund a new nuclear engineering research chair, and the university hopes to attract more industry partners to support the cause.\n\nBeyond its role in training future scientists, Slowpoke also serves practical purposes. The reactor, described as a \"sealed-container in-pool type research reactor,\" is used for quality assurance and neutron activation analysis, a process that helps identify elements in various materials. This capability has diverse applications, from detecting arsenic in recycled plastics to assessing critical minerals in mining samples.\n\nAs Canada looks to embrace nuclear energy to meet growing energy demands and climate targets, Polytechnique Montréal and Slowpoke play a crucial role in preparing the next generation of engineers to meet these challenges.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}