New Nuclear Fuel Source Could Power the Planet until 5000AD

[SaltwaterServr]

I'd like to add special emphasis to the first sentence and the fear mongering that was rampant in the media, and here, during the Fukushima incident. Secondarily, I'd like to point out the point made by the article that all nuclear power waste can BE RECYCLED and used over thereby reducing the waste production we have now.

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http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/08/22/oceanic_uranium_mining_tech/

Since the Fukushima meltdown - as a result of which, not a single person is set to be measurably harmed by radiation - we know that nuclear power is safe. New discoveries by US scientists have now shown it's sustainable as well.

That's because US government scientists have just announced research in which they've massively increased the efficiency of techniques for extracting uranium from the ocean - and that means that supplies of uranium are secure for the future even if the entire human race moves to fission power for all its energy needs.

 

[baj1dallas]

I'd like to add special emphasis to the first sentence and the fear mongering that was rampant in the media, and here, during the Fukushima incident. Secondarily, I'd like to point out the point made by the article that all nuclear power waste can BE RECYCLED and used over thereby reducing the waste production we have now.

----------------------------------------------

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/08/22/oceanic_uranium_mining_tech/

Since the Fukushima meltdown - as a result of which, not a single person is set to be measurably harmed by radiation - we know that nuclear power is safe. New discoveries by US scientists have now shown it's sustainable as well.

That's because US government scientists have just announced research in which they've massively increased the efficiency of techniques for extracting uranium from the ocean - and that means that supplies of uranium are secure for the future even if the entire human race moves to fission power for all its energy needs.

That's a biased way of describing the situation, and I think it's untrue as well. Elevated levels of radiation were found in nearby environments. The people on the emergency shutdown crews were exposed to radiation and while they may not have died or experienced immediate illness, I think there's definitely concern. To say that Fukishima proves that Nuclear power is safe in this case is quite a stretch. What it proves is that when funding for safety and maintenance is cut that existing plants become much more dangerous.

 

[jobberone]

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/08/2...ish-near-fukushima-plant/?hpt=hp_t3&hpt=wo_c2

Not good.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

That's a biased way of describing the situation, and I think it's untrue as well. Elevated levels of radiation were found in nearby environments. The people on the emergency shutdown crews were exposed to radiation and while they may not have died or experienced immediate illness, I think there's definitely concern. To say that Fukishima proves that Nuclear power is safe in this case is quite a stretch. What it proves is that when funding for safety and maintenance is cut that existing plants become much more dangerous.

Define elevated levels. Elevated has been described in the media as high as what you get from a watch with glow-in-the-dark hands.

Fukishima does indeed prove that nuclear power is safe. Nuclear power in Japan, since the 1990's alone, has survived fourteen 7.0+ earthquakes, three 8.0+, and then the 9.0+ in 2011.

Approximately 23,000 dead from earthquake related catastrophes, since 1993 only.

Number dead from nuclear power during the same period in Japan, earthquake related or day-to-day operations related, is a whopping 0.

 

[SweCowboy]

Define elevated levels. Elevated has been described in the media as high as what you get from a watch with glow-in-the-dark hands.

Fukishima does indeed prove that nuclear power is safe. Nuclear power in Japan, since the 1990's alone, has survived fourteen 7.0+ earthquakes, three 8.0+, and then the 9.0+ in 2011.

Approximately 23,000 dead from earthquake related catastrophes, since 1993 only.

Number dead from nuclear power during the same period in Japan, earthquake related or day-to-day operations related, is a whopping 0.

Allthough the reporting regarding the dangers due to radiation is generally exaggerated I'm pretty sure that there will be some elevated incidences of cancer in the Fukushima area. But in reality your probably at more risk if you work as a pilot och stewardess than from living in the Fukushima area.

I went to Chernobyl on Holliday two years ago with a few friends and we were exposed to more radiation on the 1,5 h flight than we were during our one day in the Chernobyl area. One of my friends has a Geiger counter and the radiation reading was higher at altitude than it was around 200 meters from the old reactor enclosure.

If I remember correctly however the radiation is higher in the immediate vicinity of Fukushima so it's to soon for a vacation there yet

 

[jobberone]

Did you guys read the link I posted?

 

[SaltwaterServr]

Did you guys read the link I posted?

Yes, they found two fish with highly elevated levels of cesium in a prohibited fishing area where the run-off from the water used to cool the reactors was discharged during the incident.

In other news, fish downstream of coal mines, paper and timber mills, industrial parks, and refineries have been found with highly elevated levels of arsenic, mercury, and other heavy metals. There's a bay down south of Victoria Texas where there's highly elevated levels of mercury in the water. Solution? Don't freaking eat the fish and shellfish there.

I wonder what we'd find in the water beside the refineries in Corpus and Houston?

Again, solution. Don't eat the freaking fish and shellfish there.

Then there's the issue of methylated mercury entering the fish and shellfish around offshore and inshore oil rigs whereby the mercury content was well above that of the recommended limits of the EPA. Solution? Double the minimum allowable limits of methyl-mercury compounds in fish and shellfish.

 

[Denim Chicken]

The Japanese government is covering-up the seriousness of the Fukishima disaster. I'm sure they'll be low birth rates and defects in the immediate area just like their is from using DU in Fallujah. The Japanese people themselves have been protesting for the government to abandon nuclear power. There is no way that the disaster proves nuclear power is safe.

 

[burmafrd]

The Japanese government is covering-up the seriousness of the Fukishima disaster. I'm sure they'll be low birth rates and defects in the immediate area just like their is from using DU in Fallujah. The Japanese people themselves have been protesting for the government to abandon nuclear power. There is no way that the disaster proves nuclear power is safe.

There is no way it proves its unsafe either. Keep trying; this one was funny.

 

[jobberone]

Yes, they found two fish with highly elevated levels of cesium in a prohibited fishing area where the run-off from the water used to cool the reactors was discharged during the incident.

In other news, fish downstream of coal mines, paper and timber mills, industrial parks, and refineries have been found with highly elevated levels of arsenic, mercury, and other heavy metals. There's a bay down south of Victoria Texas where there's highly elevated levels of mercury in the water. Solution? Don't freaking eat the fish and shellfish there.

I wonder what we'd find in the water beside the refineries in Corpus and Houston?

Again, solution. Don't eat the freaking fish and shellfish there.

Then there's the issue of methylated mercury entering the fish and shellfish around offshore and inshore oil rigs whereby the mercury content was well above that of the recommended limits of the EPA. Solution? Double the minimum allowable limits of methyl-mercury compounds in fish and shellfish.

What does all that have to do with nuclear safety. My personal views are its relatively safe if the necessary safeguards are in place and there is a plan to get rid of the waste products properly. It's a big deal and expensive when done properly.

And when two fish with that much cesium are found then there is a problem. How bad? Don't know but it needs resources thrown at it to figure out the extent of the problem. It's naive to think there were or are going to be no consequences from this. It's also not productive for the world to dismiss the benefits of nuclear energy at the present time with the caveat it be done as safely as can be. You just can't take shortcuts with it.

 

[jobberone]

There is no way it proves its unsafe either. Keep trying; this one was funny.

It proves its unsafe when plants aren't built properly and shortcuts are taken.

 

[NorthTexan95]

It's my understanding that these plants were older styles that require power to keep them cool. New types, such as the ones being planned for the US, would not have failed in this type of situation. That's not to say they can't explode but new designs are much safer than the ones in Japan that failed.

 

[burmafrd]

It proves its unsafe when plants aren't built properly and shortcuts are taken.

which was not what happened in Japan

The plant survived almost simultaneously a tsunami and a major earthquake

What failed was not the plant but the emergency procedures

Why in the world they could not get portable diesel generators to the plant in time to keep it from happening is beyond belief. The US offered to fly some in from Korea; but they turned the offer down. To me is it truly amazing that they could not get some in in time. They had 3 days after power was lost to get some in; and failed to.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

maybe we will have finally won our 6th SB by the year 5000AD

 

[jobberone]

which was not what happened in Japan

The plant survived almost simultaneously a tsunami and a major earthquake

What failed was not the plant but the emergency procedures

Why in the world they could not get portable diesel generators to the plant in time to keep it from happening is beyond belief. The US offered to fly some in from Korea; but they turned the offer down. To me is it truly amazing that they could not get some in in time. They had 3 days after power was lost to get some in; and failed to.

No it's not. While the earthquake and tsunami initiated and played a major role in the problems it was primarily safety issues which were the lead causes for the failures.

 

[arglebargle]

which was not what happened in Japan

The plant survived almost simultaneously a tsunami and a major earthquake

What failed was not the plant but the emergency procedures

Why in the world they could not get portable diesel generators to the plant in time to keep it from happening is beyond belief. The US offered to fly some in from Korea; but they turned the offer down. To me is it truly amazing that they could not get some in in time. They had 3 days after power was lost to get some in; and failed to.

It wasn't that they couldn't get generators in. The got some in real quickly. The plant was so old that the connectors were no longer compatible.

The older generation of nuclear power plants are only so so. The newer ones seem to have dealt with a lot of the problems though.

 

[Biggems]

maybe we will have finally won our 6th SB by the year 5000AD

Old Mr. Burns........I mean Jerrah will be there clinching the Lombardi, smiling, and winking at the camera.

 

[DallasCowpoke]

New Nuclear Fuel Source Could Power the Planet until 5000AD

"Waste of time!"
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[JBond]

It's my understanding that these plants were older styles that require power to keep them cool. New types, such as the ones being planned for the US, would not have failed in this type of situation. That's not to say they can't explode but new designs are much safer than the ones in Japan that failed.

They were all GE designed plants that were poorly planned. Black&Veatch designed plants had no issues at all.

 

[burmafrd]

No it's not. While the earthquake and tsunami initiated and played a major role in the problems it was primarily safety issues which were the lead causes for the failures.

show me any plant in the world that would not have had major problems when hit by two major events at the same time?