The Diplomat (Tokyo, June 16) -- The U.S. Department of Energy has increased its funding to develop more robust protective casings for nuclear fuel since the meltdown in Japan in 2011. U. of I. nuclear engineering professor Brent Heuser is working to “develop coatings that could be applied to existing cladding to prevent the chemical reaction that produces hydrogen, heat and weakens the cladding.” Also: Penn Energy (from The Associated Press; Tulsa, Okla., June 18), Tribune Live (Pittsburgh, PA, from The Associated Press, June 14), ASEE FirstBell (June 19).