Nuclear Power and Japan's Fukushima Daiichi Plant

Burtletoy · March 2011

Is this helpful?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorium_fuel_cycle

Syrdon · March 2011

Assuming I'm reading the Wikipedia article correctly, it looks like thorium in and of itself is likely to be less radioactive but that the fuel process inside the reactor and during reprocessing is going to be more radioactive (but that can be fixed with robots). Do I have that about right (if vastly simplified)?

DivideByZero · March 2011

Morninglord wrote: »

Fartacus_the_Mighty wrote: »

Found this on CNN.com's front page. Hopefully the other news organizations will do something like this, preferably on the nightly news.

That is one cool dude.

First thought: "When did CNN give Willem DaFoe his own segment?"

Second thought: "Why can't all news media be this guy!"

Tofystedeth · March 2011

Mei Hikari wrote: »

My own mother (whom I consider pretty reasonable) has been pestering me about getting iodine supplements because I live in San Francisco. I keep telling her that I wouldn't get iodine even if the powerplant in Diablo Canyon suffered a meltdown...

It's been 50 years and people still regard radiation as this magical death ray.

My wife was talking to her mom, who lives in Hong Kong the other day. Her mom was complaining about how she has to keep reminding her brother to try and pick up some salt. My wife goes "Mom, you don't really believe in that stuff* do you?" Her mom goes "No! We're just out of salt and none of the stores have any because of the hoarders."

*there's apparently a rumor going around HK that they won't be able to make salt for a long time because the seawater is contaminated.

Morninglord · March 2011

My girlfriend got a call from her mother telling her not to eat food from japan. She tried to tell her it was sillyness but her mother said it was a "new thing, check the news". We had a laugh and ignored it completely.

captaink · March 2011

One of my co-workers said her pregnant daughter in law was told not to eat spinach or milk by her doctor. In America.

HappylilElf · March 2011

I need to stop reading this thread. For me the misinformation that's floating around out there is going from facepalm while chuckling territory to rage inducing >_<

Tofystedeth · March 2011

Morninglord wrote: »

My girlfriend got a call from her mother telling her not to eat food from japan. She tried to tell her it was sillyness but her mother said it was a "new thing, check the news". We had a laugh and ignored it completely.

Wait. So, that imported ramen we got last week that was packaged a couple months ago is contaminated? Oh nooooo.

tinwhiskers · March 2011

Tofystedeth wrote: »

Morninglord wrote: »

My girlfriend got a call from her mother telling her not to eat food from japan. She tried to tell her it was sillyness but her mother said it was a "new thing, check the news". We had a laugh and ignored it completely.

Wait. So, that imported ramen we got last week that was packaged a couple months ago is contaminated? Oh nooooo.

No new ramen has been produced since 1979, which is dumb because gen 4 RAMEN from Canada is apparently the greatest thing ever invented.

quovadis13 · March 2011

Something to ponder:

What is really worse for the enviornment? Or more particular, the environment in North America. One nuclear plant in Japan potentially releasing a small amount of radiation, or the over 2000 nuclear bombs that were tested all over the world in the past 60 years, of which 900 were tested in Nevada!!! If all that stuff didnt destroy the environment for generations, I dont understand why this will.

This is kind of funny though

Wikipedia wrote:

During the 1950s, the mushroom cloud from these tests could be seen for almost 100 mi (160 km) in either direction, including the city of Las Vegas, where the tests became tourist attractions. Americans headed for Las Vegas to witness the distant mushroom clouds that could be seen from the downtown hotels.

Houn · March 2011

tinwhiskers wrote: »

Tofystedeth wrote: »

Morninglord wrote: »

My girlfriend got a call from her mother telling her not to eat food from japan. She tried to tell her it was sillyness but her mother said it was a "new thing, check the news". We had a laugh and ignored it completely.

Wait. So, that imported ramen we got last week that was packaged a couple months ago is contaminated? Oh nooooo.

No new ramen has been produced since 1979, which is dumb because gen 4 RAMEN from Canada is apparently the greatest thing ever invented.

I'd report this for awesome if it didn't require so much context. Brilliant post.

darkphoenix22 · March 2011

Houn wrote: »

tinwhiskers wrote: »

No new ramen has been produced since 1979, which is dumb because gen 4 RAMEN from Canada is apparently the greatest thing ever invented.

I'd report this for awesome if it didn't require so much context. Brilliant post.

I concur. Thank you for supporting Canadian ramen. You are saving our starving children.

Spoiler:

South host · March 2011

quovadis13 wrote: »

Something to ponder:

What is really worse for the enviornment? Or more particular, the environment in North America. One nuclear plant in Japan potentially releasing a small amount of radiation, or the over 2000 nuclear bombs that were tested all over the world in the past 60 years, of which 900 were tested in Nevada!!! If all that stuff didnt destroy the environment for generations, I dont understand why this will.

This is kind of funny though

Wikipedia wrote:

During the 1950s, the mushroom cloud from these tests could be seen for almost 100 mi (160 km) in either direction, including the city of Las Vegas, where the tests became tourist attractions. Americans headed for Las Vegas to witness the distant mushroom clouds that could be seen from the downtown hotels.

I would go to see nuclear weapon tests.

Garthor · March 2011

South host wrote: »

quovadis13 wrote: »

Something to ponder:

What is really worse for the enviornment? Or more particular, the environment in North America. One nuclear plant in Japan potentially releasing a small amount of radiation, or the over 2000 nuclear bombs that were tested all over the world in the past 60 years, of which 900 were tested in Nevada!!! If all that stuff didnt destroy the environment for generations, I dont understand why this will.

This is kind of funny though

Wikipedia wrote:

During the 1950s, the mushroom cloud from these tests could be seen for almost 100 mi (160 km) in either direction, including the city of Las Vegas, where the tests became tourist attractions. Americans headed for Las Vegas to witness the distant mushroom clouds that could be seen from the downtown hotels.

I would go to see nuclear weapon tests.

Just keep in mind, the "front-row seats" are a scam.

tbloxham · March 2011

Houn wrote: »

tinwhiskers wrote: »

Tofystedeth wrote: »

Morninglord wrote: »

My girlfriend got a call from her mother telling her not to eat food from japan. She tried to tell her it was sillyness but her mother said it was a "new thing, check the news". We had a laugh and ignored it completely.

Wait. So, that imported ramen we got last week that was packaged a couple months ago is contaminated? Oh nooooo.

No new ramen has been produced since 1979, which is dumb because gen 4 RAMEN from Canada is apparently the greatest thing ever invented.

I'd report this for awesome if it didn't require so much context. Brilliant post.

If the spinach in japan was brazil nuts or bananas, it wouldn't even be classified as excessively radioactive!

Aridhol · March 2011

Garthor wrote: »

South host wrote: »

quovadis13 wrote: »

Something to ponder:

What is really worse for the enviornment? Or more particular, the environment in North America. One nuclear plant in Japan potentially releasing a small amount of radiation, or the over 2000 nuclear bombs that were tested all over the world in the past 60 years, of which 900 were tested in Nevada!!! If all that stuff didnt destroy the environment for generations, I dont understand why this will.

This is kind of funny though

Wikipedia wrote:

During the 1950s, the mushroom cloud from these tests could be seen for almost 100 mi (160 km) in either direction, including the city of Las Vegas, where the tests became tourist attractions. Americans headed for Las Vegas to witness the distant mushroom clouds that could be seen from the downtown hotels.

I would go to see nuclear weapon tests.

Just keep in mind, the "front-row seats" are a scam.

I hear the show will blow you away [/deadjoke]

L|ama · March 2011

I wonder how the global increase in radioisotopes from nuclear testing compares to local effects of fukushima. I know we got detectable (but still negligible) amounts of activity in our milk here in new zealand at one point thanks to nuke testing in the pacific.

Yogo · March 2011

So what's the lastest news on the plant? I keep hearing how it is going badly for them in the local news, but seeing the lack of news in this thread, I am wondering what is true.

L|ama · March 2011

news got bored, moved on to libya, people here went "heh the news got bored and moved on to libya how typical" and then moved on to libya

12gauge · March 2011

So, Fukushima is getting evacuated again (link is the first reliable english source I can find):
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/tokyo-tap-water-tests-higher-for-radiation-smoke-prompts-new-evacuation-of-leaking-nuke-plant/2011/03/22/ABhMk3EB_story.html

Also, in other news, apparently the radiation was strongly increased outside of the security zone (30 km) for short amount of time - up to 100 Millisievert/h (no english source I could find quickly).

electricitylikesme · March 2011

God I wish the media would exercise some basic responsibility in reporting things. I mean, the nuclear case annoys me because I have some sense about it, but it's widened to a general failure to provide useful information as opposed to embellished bullshit which boils down to "this thing happened/was said".

Example: radiation in Tokyo water is something you should take very seriously, since internalizing radioactive materials is a very serious business. Twice the safe level for infants though in the water means...what exactly though?

Well, the safe limit is 100 becquerals. The measured level in the water was 210 becquerals. Iodine-131 was a half-life of 8 days, and presuming we're not releasing any more that means in 8-days the levels will be back to safe, and probably way the fuck lower after a month.

But what does "for babies" mean and how does it relate to other human health?

Thyroid dose from ingestion of I-131 can be 10 times higher for newborns than for adults.
Thyroid dose from inhalation of I-131 can be two times higher for infants than for adults.
Thyroid dose can be 15-20 times higher than the overall dose to the rest of the body.

So if you're an adult, the dose in the Tokyo water for you is negligible. For children it is probably negligible. It is relevant to infants because their bodymass is so small, and they are growing - rapidly dividing cells.

Is it something to be concerned about? Hell yes. If Iodine-131 is getting into the water supply we need to stop that from happening. But you don't need to panic about it right now, and if you are concerned then reducing intake for 1 week or more, presuming the worst exposure has passed, should reduce levels back to negligible.

And for the love of god, don't try to use iodized table salt as a makeshift iodine tablet.

Tofystedeth · March 2011

electricitylikesme wrote: »

And for the love of god, don't try to use iodized table salt as a makeshift iodine tablet.

No see it works great. Except that it makes you thirsty. Fortunately, there's all this high quality tap water at hand.

electricitylikesme · March 2011

Now there's a question I have - would desalinization plants reduce the level of contamination appreciably? It's essentially salt contamination - could you get the level low enough to effect it?

poshniallo · March 2011

electricitylikesme wrote: »

Now there's a question I have - would desalinization plants reduce the level of contamination appreciably? It's essentially salt contamination - could you get the level low enough to effect it?

How do they define 'infant' in this? I have friends in Tokyo with young kids, and I have a 2-year-old in Kanagawa.

Tofystedeth · March 2011

The news report I heard mentioned that infants who drink only formula are the most at risk, I'm guessing they meant 0 - 2 probably.

electricitylikesme · March 2011

The website I'm looking at isn't too specific about that, though it seems to imply that the effect tapers as you approach adult weight. I can't find any (easy) information about development - at what point does it reach adult weight etc.

emp123 · March 2011

This is either hilarious or terrible, depending on your current mood.

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/crime/2011/03/21/ng.japan.radiation.hln

Warning: This involves Nancy Grace.

Paragon · March 2011

emp123 wrote: »

This is either hilarious or terrible, depending on your current mood.

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/crime/2011/03/21/ng.japan.radiation.hln

Warning: This involves Nancy Grace.

Why do you let so many idiots on TV over there? I will never understand this, ever. She even admits she doesn't know what the fuck she's talking about.

God damn fearmongering is ruining the world.

Tofystedeth · March 2011

Transcript/awdw*?

*At work didn't watch.

quovadis13 · March 2011

Tofystedeth wrote: »

Transcript/awdw*?

*At work didn't watch.

Meteorologist: We are detecting very small amounts of radiation in the US, but it poses no health risk to anyone here whatsoever.

Nancy Grace: I refuse to let your logic and common sense trump my ridiculous hysteria. RADIATION IS GONNA GET YOU CALIFORNIA!!! WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!!!

Johnny Chopsocky · March 2011

emp123 wrote: »

This is either hilarious or terrible, depending on your current mood.

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/crime/2011/03/21/ng.japan.radiation.hln

Warning: This involves Nancy Grace.

I really really hate Nancy Grace.

Then again, I hate anyone who builds their entire careers off of falsifying the details of someone they know who was murdered.

Mei Hikari · March 2011

emp123 wrote: »

This is either hilarious or terrible, depending on your current mood.

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/crime/2011/03/21/ng.japan.radiation.hln

WARNING: Video contains high readings of nancy grace. Side effects include: headaches, nausea, depression, cognitive dissonance, and loss of faith in humanity.

Fixed that for you.

ArbitraryDescriptor · March 2011

Paragon wrote: »

Why do you let so many idiots on TV over there?

24 hour news network times 4. (CNN, CNN:HLN, FoxNews, MSNBC)

People who are not fear mongering idiots will be a drag on your ratings on a slow news days.

Syrdon · March 2011

Mei Hikari wrote: »

emp123 wrote: »

This is either hilarious or terrible, depending on your current mood.

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/crime/2011/03/21/ng.japan.radiation.hln

WARNING: Video contains high readings of nancy grace. Side effects include: headaches, nausea, depression, cognitive dissonance, and loss of faith in humanity.

Fixed that for you.

You missed heavy drinking, although if you haven't been doing that since the ABC announcement a few days back about the apocalypse then you'll probably be ok.

edit: I'm slowly becoming convinced that 24 hours news networks chasing ratings are the death of an informed populace. There's only so many times you can repeat that problem x is being fixed and that no one needs to worry before people switch channels, so its always problem x will kill you and your children and everyone everywhere so cover you windows in duct tape.

Also, now with 100% more reference to the comment I was responding to!

Feral · March 2011

Syrdon wrote: »

I'm slowly becoming convinced that 24 hours news networks chasing ratings are the death of an informed populace. There's only so many times you can repeat that problem x is being fixed and that no one needs to worry before people switch channels, so its always problem x will kill you and your children and everyone everywhere so cover you windows in duct tape.

There's also the "I want to hear the bastard deny it" effect.

Don't think of an elephant.

Don't think of an elephant molesting your kids.

Don't even think of a nuclear elephant molesting your kids and giving them autism!

captaink · March 2011

Bad reporting, not just for america:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Screen-hardware-from-Japan/articleshow/7777115.cms

So, should India — which is screening foodstuff imports from Japan for radioactive contamination — be also checking imports of hardware like autos, auto parts, electronics goods, computer chips, etc? It would if it shared the same concern as showed by the US and China.

No, no, no.

ArbitraryDescriptor · March 2011

Feral wrote: »

Syrdon wrote: »

I'm slowly becoming convinced that 24 hours news networks chasing ratings are the death of an informed populace. There's only so many times you can repeat that problem x is being fixed and that no one needs to worry before people switch channels, so its always problem x will kill you and your children and everyone everywhere so cover you windows in duct tape.

There's also the "I want to hear the bastard deny it" effect.

Don't think of an elephant.

Don't think of an elephant molesting your kids.

Don't even think of a nuclear elephant molesting your kids and giving them autism!

Wait, when did they start letting radioactive, elephant sex-offenders vaccinate our children?

Jealous Deva · March 2011

captaink wrote: »

Bad reporting, not just for america:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Screen-hardware-from-Japan/articleshow/7777115.cms

So, should India — which is screening foodstuff imports from Japan for radioactive contamination — be also checking imports of hardware like autos, auto parts, electronics goods, computer chips, etc? It would if it shared the same concern as showed by the US and China.

No, no, no.

Maybe they don't realize that you aren't supposed to eat the computer chips.

Morninglord · March 2011

Feral wrote: »

Syrdon wrote: »

I'm slowly becoming convinced that 24 hours news networks chasing ratings are the death of an informed populace. There's only so many times you can repeat that problem x is being fixed and that no one needs to worry before people switch channels, so its always problem x will kill you and your children and everyone everywhere so cover you windows in duct tape.

There's also the "I want to hear the bastard deny it" effect.

Don't think of an elephant.

Don't think of an elephant molesting your kids.

Don't even think of a nuclear elephant molesting your kids and giving them autism!

:lol:

Heir · March 2011

I literally have no idea where else to post this (maybe the Fallout thread in G&T)...but:

http://money.cnn.com/2011/03/22/real_estate/doomsday_bunkers/index.htm

Vault-tec is just around the corner.

Penny Arcade

Nuclear Power and Japan's Fukushima Daiichi Plant

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