Credit: Progress in Nuclear Energy (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.pnucene.2025.105889A new physics-based algorithm clears a path toward nuclear microreactors that can autonomously adjust power output based on need, according to a University of Michigan-led study published in Progress in Nuclear Energy. If integrated into an electrical grid, nuclear microreactors could provide stable, carbon-free energy, but they must be able to adjust power output to match shifting demand—a capability known as load following. This study focused on High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors (HTGR), advanced nuclear reactors that can scale from micro- to large-scale. More information: Sooyoung Choi et al, High-fidelity microreactor load follow simulations with model predictive control, Progress in Nuclear Energy (2025).