MIT's nuclear reactor

Few outside of the area of Mass. Ave. and Albany St. realize the presence of a 5-megawatt nuclear reactor in the midst of Cambridge. Despite some local fear over its presence, MIT is trying to educate residents about the great unlikelihood that anything should happen with the teaching facility. Following 9/11, MIT eliminated its storage of highly enriched uranium, David Moncton, director of the nuclear reactor laboratory, recently told the Globe. Now, the uranium kept in the facility is 'about one-10th what you would need to make a bomb.'
Few outside of the area of Mass. Ave. and Albany St. realize the presence of a 5-megawatt nuclear reactor in the midst of Cambridge. Despite some local fear over its presence, MIT is trying to educate residents about the great unlikelihood that anything should happen with the teaching facility. Following 9/11, MIT eliminated its storage of highly enriched uranium, David Moncton, director of the nuclear reactor laboratory, recently told the Globe. Now, the uranium kept in the facility is "about one-10th what you would need to make a bomb."
(Photo: Dominic Chavez, Globe Staff; Text: Eric Wilbur/Boston.com Staff)

About the book

Boston's Secret Spaces offers tantalizing peeks into places ordinary mortals rarely see. Published in partnership with The Boston Globe and based on the exceedingly popular Boston.com feature (3.7 million page views and counting), the book takes readers behind the scenes at several sports hot spots, historical landmarks, and offbeat Beantown locales.