The origins of the International Nuclear Information System (INIS) date to 1966 when consultants from the former USSR and USA outlined a scheme for an international information system. The birth of such a globally oriented nuclear information system, however, was some years in the making. Between the late 1940's and into the middle of the 1960's, a number of countries established national information activities in the nuclear area. Duplication of efforts and incomplete coverage of all …showed first 75 words of 400 total…

…showed last 75 words of 400 total…an experimental basis in 1977 and on a regular basis in 1985 and on the Internet using a Web-based retrieval software in October 1998; introduction of an expert system for quality control in 1989; availability of the Database on CD-ROM in 1991; expansion of the subject scope to include the environmental and economic aspects of non-nuclear energy sources in 1992; and routine receipt of input to the system by electronic mail in 1993; availability of full text non-conventional literature on CD-ROM in 1997.