Radioactive Wasp Nest Found at Former U.S. Nuclear Site
A radioactive wasp nest was discovered on July 3, 2025, at the Savannah River Site (SRS) in South Carolina—a former U.S. nuclear weapons production facility now focused on nuclear fuel manufacturing and environmental cleanup. Workers found the nest attached to a stanchion near tanks storing liquid nuclear waste, with radiation levels measured at ten times above federal safety limits. Authorities confirmed there was no leak from the tanks, and the contamination was attributed to legacy radioactive material remaining on-site. The nest was safely neutralized (no live wasps were present), bagged, and discarded as radiological waste. Officials stated the surrounding grounds and operations were unaffected and the public was not at risk. However, watchdog groups like Savannah River Site Watch criticized the report for lacking details about the contamination source and raised concerns about transparency.