Valar Atomics says it’s the first startup in DOE’s new fast-track reactor pilot to reach criticality, using a zero-power chain reaction to prove its core physics before moving toward a full prototype. (Wired)
The company hit the milestone with a NOVA test assembly built alongside Los Alamos, a key advantage under the pilot program that lets early-stage reactors run physics validations without waiting years for full NRC licensing.
Cold criticality doesn’t generate heat or electricity, but it confirms the fuel design and reactor geometry behave as modeled—an especially important check for Valar, whose fuel type has had limited real-world testing.