BREAKING NEWS: Second explosion at Japanese nuclear power plant

[QUOTE="Person0"][QUOTE="GabuEx"]

If "this" happened - what is "this"? An ancient nuclear reactor withstanding an extremely strong earthquake and tsunami with only minimal radiation leak that is insufficient to cause a danger to public health and safety? If that's our nuclear reactor doomsday scenario, then I'd say we're doing pretty darn good as far as nuclear power is concerned.

GabuEx

Incidentally, the final death toll from Chernobyl was... 50, give or take.

I would also note that Chernobyl=/=a normalnuclear power plants. Chernobyl had no containment building sheilding it reactor and they were running sometype of experimental procedure on the reactor (not anytype of similation). The USSR isn't really known for it safety starndards.

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

[QUOTE="Locutus_Picard"] Maybe it's time to revise security protocols and securty implementations regarding nucelar power. And no, people against nuclear energy are not hippies...they at least understand the risks associated with nuclear energy. You don't and therefore denounce them as hippies.Locutus_Picard

Inventing ridiculous doomsday scenarios that are literally impossible does not count as "understanding the risks".

The death total from Chernobyl was 50.

I will repeat that.

The death total from Chernobyl, which used an outdated and inherently dangerous design, which suffered from complete and utter denial on the part of the Soviet Union, and which everyone points to as an example of the extreme dangers of nuclear power... was 50.

50 whole deaths have been attributed to the fallout from the accident at Chernobyl, which has become the worldwide nuclear boogeyman.

In contrast, over 6,000 coal miners died in China just in 2004.

Nuclear power is literally the safest form of energy in the world in terms of the number of deaths related to the acquisition of the fuel and to the operation of the power plant and the accidents therein.

[QUOTE="Locutus_Picard"][QUOTE="GabuEx"]

Inventing ridiculous doomsday scenarios that are literally impossible does not count as "understanding the risks".

GabuEx

The death total from Chernobyl was 50.

I will repeat that.

The death total from Chernobyl, which used an outdated and inherently dangerous design, which suffered from complete and utter denial on the part of the Soviet Union, and which everyone points to as an example of the extreme dangers of nuclear power... was 50.

Nuclear power is literally the safest form of energy in the world in terms of the number of deaths related to the acquisition of the fuel and to the operation of the power plant.

[QUOTE="Locutus_Picard"][QUOTE="GabuEx"]

Inventing ridiculous doomsday scenarios that are literally impossible does not count as "understanding the risks".

GabuEx

The death total from Chernobyl was 50.

I will repeat that.

The death total from Chernobyl, which used an outdated and inherently dangerous design, which suffered from complete and utter denial on the part of the Soviet Union, and which everyone points to as an example of the extreme dangers of nuclear power... was 50.

50 whole deaths have been attributed to the fallout from the accident at Chernobyl, which has become the worldwide nuclear boogeyman.

Nuclear power is literally the safest form of energy in the world in terms of the number of deaths related to the acquisition of the fuel and to the operation of the power plant.

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

[QUOTE="Locutus_Picard"] So the current explosions at nuclear powerplant aren't possible hazards? Guess you really need to see some radioactive fallout before you believe the hazards... Just think about it, even if the nuclear/radioactive waste/cores/energy is contained...there can always be leakage due to unexpected circumstances. This earthquake was unexpected and they're worried about the cooling in a damn sea...guess that shows how dangereous nuclear energy can be while there are far safer forms of energy resources.sonicare

The death total from Chernobyl was 50.

I will repeat that.

The death total from Chernobyl, which used an outdated and inherently dangerous design, which suffered from complete and utter denial on the part of the Soviet Union, and which everyone points to as an example of the extreme dangers of nuclear power... was 50.

Nuclear power is literally the safest form of energy in the world in terms of the number of deaths related to the acquisition of the fuel and to the operation of the power plant.

No, that's the total death toll as of 2005. Around 4,000 people could potentially die, but thus far the survival rate of Chernobyl-related cancers is around 99%.

Even if all 4,000 of those people died, however, that would still be less than the 6,000 coal miners who died in China just in 2004. Why is nobody rushing to ban all coal mining? After the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, why is nobody rushing to ban oil drilling? The extent to which people are unjustifiably afraid of nuclear power is really quite staggering.

Jeez, 2011's been one SOB.

All thoughts go to Japan, heal soon, great country-san!

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

[QUOTE="Locutus_Picard"] Maybe it's time to revise security protocols and securty implementations regarding nucelar power. And no, people against nuclear energy are not hippies...they at least understand the risks associated with nuclear energy. You don't and therefore denounce them as hippies.Locutus_Picard

Inventing ridiculous doomsday scenarios that are literally impossible does not count as "understanding the risks".

yup, bbc is saying another explosion has been heard.

It didn't go nuclear so thats a relief.

Earthquake swarm

8.9 to a 9.0

Tsunami

Partial Meltdown of one reactor

Volcano

Two more reactors leak..One explodes

The coast of Japan shifts 8 feet

The earth Axis shifts 4 inches

Kcube

[QUOTE="Kcube"]

It didn't go nuclear so thats a relief.

Earthquake swarm

8.9 to a 9.0

Tsunami

Partial Meltdown of one reactor

Volcano

Two more reactors leak..One explodes

The coast of Japan shifts 8 feet

The earth Axis shifts 4 inches

ToastRider11

Of course not! That's just nature trolling

yea this is getting horrible by day.

Yep, reactor 2 just exploded as well. That is three now, but hey, everything is under control.;)

Yep, reactor 2 just exploded as well. That is three now, but hey, everything is under control.;)

ironcreed

The explosions are from superheated water molecules being separated into hydrogen and oxygen and then reacting together. The explosions are damaging the outer walls of the building, but their only function is to keep the weather out, not to keep the radioactive material in. The actual containment units are made of thick, reinforced materials, and are intact.

[QUOTE="ironcreed"]

Yep, reactor 2 just exploded as well. That is three now, but hey, everything is under control.;)

GabuEx

The explosions are from superheated water molecules being separated into hydrogen and oxygen and then reacting together. The explosions are damaging the outer walls of the building, but their only function is to keep the weather out, not to keep the radioactive material in. The actual containment units are made of thick, reinforced materials, and are intact.

LOL, I guess that is why they evacuated the building now as well, right? They just reported that the water levels were evaporated TWICE today and the rods were exposed... then there was another explosion. Turn it on CNN right now, they are talking about it. They are not claiming that this one is from hydrogen. But hey, if you want to believe that, then I have some beach front property I would like to sell you in South Dakota.

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

[QUOTE="ironcreed"]

Yep, reactor 2 just exploded as well. That is three now, but hey, everything is under control.;)

ironcreed

The explosions are from superheated water molecules being separated into hydrogen and oxygen and then reacting together. The explosions are damaging the outer walls of the building, but their only function is to keep the weather out, not to keep the radioactive material in. The actual containment units are made of thick, reinforced materials, and are intact.

LOL, I guess that is why they evacuated the building now as well, right? They just reported that the water levels were evaporated TWICE today and the rods were exposed... then there was another explosion. Turn it on CNN right now, they are talking about it. They are not claiming that this one is from hydrogen. But hey, if you want to believe that, then I have some beach front property I would like to sell you in South Dakota.

[QUOTE="ironcreed"]

Yep, reactor 2 just exploded as well. That is three now, but hey, everything is under control.;)

GabuEx

The explosions are from superheated water molecules being separated into hydrogen and oxygen and then reacting together. The explosions are damaging the outer walls of the building, but their only function is to keep the weather out, not to keep the radioactive material in. The actual containment units are made of thick, reinforced materials, and are intact.

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

[QUOTE="ironcreed"]

Yep, reactor 2 just exploded as well. That is three now, but hey, everything is under control.;)

ironcreed

The explosions are from superheated water molecules being separated into hydrogen and oxygen and then reacting together. The explosions are damaging the outer walls of the building, but their only function is to keep the weather out, not to keep the radioactive material in. The actual containment units are made of thick, reinforced materials, and are intact.

LOL, I guess that is why they evacuated the building now as well, right? They just reported that the water levels were evaporated TWICE today and the rods were exposed... then there was another explosion. Turn it on CNN right now, they are talking about it. They are not claiming that this one is from hydrogen. But hey, if you want to believe that, then I have some beach front property I would like to sell you in South Dakota.

Clearly, the logical response is to laugh at me, because that will fix matters, and is a logical response to what I said.

I'm curious: what do you think the explosion was? A nuclear explosion?

[QUOTE="ironcreed"]

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

The explosions are from superheated water molecules being separated into hydrogen and oxygen and then reacting together. The explosions are damaging the outer walls of the building, but their only function is to keep the weather out, not to keep the radioactive material in. The actual containment units are made of thick, reinforced materials, and are intact.

RandoIph

LOL, I guess that is why they evacuated the building now as well, right? They just reported that the water levels were evaporated TWICE today and the rods were exposed... then there was another explosion. Turn it on CNN right now, they are talking about it. They are not claiming that this one is from hydrogen. But hey, if you want to believe that, then I have some beach front property I would like to sell you in South Dakota.

No it's not. I just don't have my head in the sand, sir. There was a 9.0 earthquake, a tsunami and nuclear reactors have been without power for days and are blowing up. According to the news that is on right now, this latest explosion may have been in the bottom of the containment chamber and they are evacuating the plant. I am merely concerned about what is going on and am reporting what I just heard. No fear mongering to it. This is simply what is going on. If you want to act like it is no big deal, then that is your affair.

[QUOTE="ironcreed"]

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

The explosions are from superheated water molecules being separated into hydrogen and oxygen and then reacting together. The explosions are damaging the outer walls of the building, but their only function is to keep the weather out, not to keep the radioactive material in. The actual containment units are made of thick, reinforced materials, and are intact.

GabuEx

LOL, I guess that is why they evacuated the building now as well, right? They just reported that the water levels were evaporated TWICE today and the rods were exposed... then there was another explosion. Turn it on CNN right now, they are talking about it. They are not claiming that this one is from hydrogen. But hey, if you want to believe that, then I have some beach front property I would like to sell you in South Dakota.

Clearly, the logical response is to laugh at me, because that will fix matters, and is a logical response to what I said.

I'm curious: what do you think the explosion was? A nuclear explosion?

Look, I am merely reporting what I heard on the news just now. They just said that all indications are that this is much different than what went down with the other two explosions, in that it may have came from inside the containment chamber. Maybe you should go educate CNN on what is really taking place.

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

[QUOTE="ironcreed"]

LOL, I guess that is why they evacuated the building now as well, right? They just reported that the water levels were evaporated TWICE today and the rods were exposed... then there was another explosion. Turn it on CNN right now, they are talking about it. They are not claiming that this one is from hydrogen. But hey, if you want to believe that, then I have some beach front property I would like to sell you in South Dakota.

ironcreed

Clearly, the logical response is to laugh at me, because that will fix matters, and is a logical response to what I said.

I'm curious: what do you think the explosion was? A nuclear explosion?

Look, I am merely reporting what I heard on the news just now. They just said that all indications are that this is much different than what went down with the other two explosions, in that it may have came from inside the containment chamber. Maybe you should go educate CNN on what is really taking place.

Then why is the LA Times reporting that "a hydrogen explosion Tuesday morning destroyed the outer building of a quake-damaged Unit 2 nuclear reactor at the Fukushima No. 1 power plant" and that "there is no evidence so far to suggest the vessel of no. 2 had been damaged either"?

There's obviously reason to be concerned, but I'm getting a little tired of people acting as though this still has the capacity to be Chernobyl 2.0. It just simply doesn't; the design in the reactors is too different. Panic is not going to do anyone any favors.

[QUOTE="ironcreed"]

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

Clearly, the logical response is to laugh at me, because that will fix matters, and is a logical response to what I said.

I'm curious: what do you think the explosion was? A nuclear explosion?

GabuEx

Look, I am merely reporting what I heard on the news just now. They just said that all indications are that this is much different than what went down with the other two explosions, in that it may have came from inside the containment chamber. Maybe you should go educate CNN on what is really taking place.

Then why is the LA Times reporting that "a hydrogen explosion Tuesday morning destroyed the outer building of a quake-damaged Unit 2 nuclear reactor at the Fukushima No. 1 power plant" and that "there is no evidence so far to suggest the vessel of no. 2 had been damaged either"?

There's obviously reason to be concerned, but I'm getting a little tired of people acting as though this still has the capacity to be Chernobyl 2.0. It just simply doesn't; the design in the reactors is too different. Panic is not going to do anyone any favors.

Oh my god we're all going to die! Stop your ignorant and unproven reasoning!

[QUOTE="ironcreed"]

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

Clearly, the logical response is to laugh at me, because that will fix matters, and is a logical response to what I said.

I'm curious: what do you think the explosion was? A nuclear explosion?

GabuEx

Look, I am merely reporting what I heard on the news just now. They just said that all indications are that this is much different than what went down with the other two explosions, in that it may have came from inside the containment chamber. Maybe you should go educate CNN on what is really taking place.

Then why is the LA Times reporting that "a hydrogen explosion Tuesday morning destroyed the outer building of a quake-damaged Unit 2 nuclear reactor at the Fukushima No. 1 power plant" and that "there is no evidence so far to suggest the vessel of no. 2 had been damaged either"?

There's obviously reason to be concerned, but I'm getting a little tired of people acting as though this still has the capacity to be Chernobyl 2.0. It just simply doesn't; the design in the reactors is too different. Panic is not going to do anyone any favors.

Don't ask me. I am talking about the explosion in reactor 2 that just happened. I am only repeating what I heard on CNN. They even interviewed one of the directors at the plant and he even confirmed that this explosion occurred at the containment pool and that the plant is being evacuated, except for essential personal. I have been sitting here listening to it while we have been discussing this. Just reporting the news, not trying to incite panic.

There's obviously reason to be concerned, but I'm getting a little tired of people acting as though this still has the capacity to be Chernobyl 2.0. It just simply doesn't; the design in the reactors is too different. Panic is not going to do anyone any favors.

GabuEx

On the one hand, yes the power plant is far better designed, maintained and run than Chernobyl was and so it will take far more for a catastrophic chain of events to lead to anything like the Chernobyl disaster; at the same time though we are talking about a very on-the-edge operation to stop a similar disaster from happening, which means that it is still extremely dangerous.

That said ... things like this, if they cool it all down and fix it up by next week people will be forgetting all about it as some other celebrity does something stupid. We're not aid or emegency workers and we're not in Japan so I don't think worrying about it does anyone any good until there is a catastrophic event.

Edit: That is assuming that any catastrophic event can occur from a modern reactor like this ...

Then why is the LA Times reporting that "a hydrogen explosion Tuesday morning destroyed the outer building of a quake-damaged Unit 2 nuclear reactor at the Fukushima No. 1 power plant" and that "there is no evidence so far to suggest the vessel of no. 2 had been damaged either"?

There's obviously reason to be concerned, but I'm getting a little tired of people acting as though this still has the capacity to be Chernobyl 2.0. It just simply doesn't; the design in the reactors is too different. Panic is not going to do anyone any favors.

GabuEx

To be fair, the CBC is reporting it came from the supression pool (but that there hasn't been any serious increase in radiation levels), which -- at least based on my very limited understanding -- would suggest something different than the previous explosions at reactors 1 and 3.

That said, I wouldn't trust a damn thing CNN says. I watched it for about five minutes on the weekend when I wanted to check on the situation and the CBC's news channel was showing non-news programming, and I swear their correspondent's explanation of plate tectonics knocked 5 points off my IQ.

[QUOTE="surrealnumber5"]cant wait for hippies to use this event to denounce nuclear power, as if 8.9 earthquakes are a regular occurrenceLocutus_Picard

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

[QUOTE="ironcreed"]

Look, I am merely reporting what I heard on the news just now. They just said that all indications are that this is much different than what went down with the other two explosions, in that it may have came from inside the containment chamber. Maybe you should go educate CNN on what is really taking place.

DucksBrains

Then why is the LA Times reporting that "a hydrogen explosion Tuesday morning destroyed the outer building of a quake-damaged Unit 2 nuclear reactor at the Fukushima No. 1 power plant" and that "there is no evidence so far to suggest the vessel of no. 2 had been damaged either"?

There's obviously reason to be concerned, but I'm getting a little tired of people acting as though this still has the capacity to be Chernobyl 2.0. It just simply doesn't; the design in the reactors is too different. Panic is not going to do anyone any favors.

Oh my god we're all going to die! Stop your ignorant and unproven reasoning!

I am not trying to create panic, OK? I am merely reporting what CNN is saying right now and all indications are that this one is different than the hydrogen explosions at the other two reactors. They even reported that the rods have been exposed earlier and that this explosion may have came from the containment pool. I guess they are just making all of this up as they go along, no worries.

really a shame whats happening around the world. 2011 has been horrible , Libya, Queensland floods, Japan EQcampzor

[QUOTE="On3ShotOneKill"][QUOTE="GabuEx"]

The rallying cry of people who keep hoping that this time the disaster will be world-ending. :P

GabuEx

Not really. I do get a little confused though when people respond to official reports saying "d00dz, ****'s fine, stop worrying" with suspicion and doubt; sometimes I start to suspect that they were really wanting a more spectacular disaster.

No, I'm just staying that there are no certainties, even though a meltdown and another Chernobyl are far from likely.

side note: shocked that some of OT's ULTRA LEFTISTS are backing nuclear power. i wont say there is hope but this aint a bad startsurrealnumber5

If you're talking about me, I've always been a proponent of nuclear energy, so it shouldn't be a big surprise. It's a lot like airplane travel; statistically speaking, it's way, way safer than driving, but because people have this mental picture of a spectacular death when something goes wrong, all the statistics goes out the window in lieu of "I DON'T WANNA DIEEE". :P

Just for clarification, here is what I am talking about:

"The "explosive impact" took place shortly after 6 a.m. Tuesday (5 p.m. Monday ET) inside the housing of the plant's No. 2 reactor, and pressure readings indicated some damage to the reactor's containment structure, officials of the Tokyo Electric Power Company reported at a news conference. No further details were immediately released, but TEPCO said some of its workers were evacuated following the blast due to elevated radiation levels."

"Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said Tuesday that up to 2.7 meters (8.8 feet) of the No. 2 reactor's control rods -- about half -- have been uncovered. And Yukio Edano, Japan's chief Cabinet secretary, said he could not rule out the possibility of a meltdown at all three troubled reactors at the plant."

"While sea water was being pumped into the reactors in an effort to prevent further damage, "It cannot necessarily be called a stable situation," Edano said early Tuesday.

"The buildup of hydrogen in the reactor vessels is "the first sign that things are going haywire," said Kenneth Bergeron, a physicist who used to work at the Energy Department's Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico. The release of radioactive material such as cesium, a reactor byproduct that has been detected outside the Fukushima Daiichi plant, is another", he said.

"What is fairly clear, from the release of hydrogen and the fission products, is that all of these reactors have probably had fuel rods exposed for significant periods of time over a portion of their length," Bergeron told CNN.

Just reporting the latest, not trying to incite panic. Make of it what you will. Regardless, the situation is clearly not good. That is all I am saying. Here is the link to the full article for those who care.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/14/japan.nuclear.reactors/index.html?hpt=T1

side note: shocked that some of OT's ULTRA LEFTISTS are backing nuclear power. i wont say there is hope but this aint a bad startsurrealnumber5

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

There's obviously reason to be concerned, but I'm getting a little tired of people acting as though this still has the capacity to be Chernobyl 2.0. It just simply doesn't; the design in the reactors is too different. Panic is not going to do anyone any favors.

DigitalExile

On the one hand, yes the power plant is far better designed, maintained and run than Chernobyl was and so it will take far more for a catastrophic chain of events to lead to anything like the Chernobyl disaster; at the same time though we are talking about a very on-the-edge operation to stop a similar disaster from happening, which means that it is still extremely dangerous.

That said ... things like this, if they cool it all down and fix it up by next week people will be forgetting all about it as some other celebrity does something stupid. We're not aid or emegency workers and we're not in Japan so I don't think worrying about it does anyone any good until there is a catastrophic event.

Edit: That is assuming that any catastrophic event can occur from a modern reactor like this ...

Melt downs can still happen from reactors like this because this isn't a modern reactor. If research into modern molten salt reactors is finally given funding after this fiasco and there will be no chance of melt downs in the future.

[QUOTE="surrealnumber5"]side note: shocked that some of OT's ULTRA LEFTISTS are backing nuclear power. i wont say there is hope but this aint a bad startAce6301

There's also the issue that the plant in question has some fundamental design flaws as well that new reactors address; it was only intended to withstand the fallout of earthquakes up to magnitude 8.2, when officials said that the possibility of a larger earthquake was minimum but present; and the circulation of its coolant system requires electrical power to function. Since this earthquakes was magnitude 9.0 and since it completely knocked out both the main power and the backup power in the plant, we now have the crisis that requires seawater to be pumped in manually since the cooling systems are completely offline. State of the art reactors do not require electrical power for their cooling units to function, and as such are not vulnerable to what lead to this crisis.

Nuclear power has always struck me as an oddity, really. Any time anything causes deaths, you don't go "OMG STOP ALL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IT'S TOO DANGEROUS"; rather, you figure out what went wrong and fix it so it doesn't happen next time. Nuclear power is literally the only area I can think of where accidents lead everyone to call for a total and immediate abandonment of the entire thing. It's bizarre and illogical.

[QUOTE="Locutus_Picard"][QUOTE="GabuEx"]

Inventing ridiculous doomsday scenarios that are literally impossible does not count as "understanding the risks".

Person0

[QUOTE="Person0"][QUOTE="Locutus_Picard"] So the current explosions at nuclear powerplant aren't possible hazards? Guess you really need to see some radioactive fallout before you believe the hazards... Just think about it, even if the nuclear/radioactive waste/cores/energy is contained...there can always be leakage due to unexpected circumstances. This earthquake was unexpected and they're worried about the cooling in a damn sea...guess that shows how dangereous nuclear energy can be while there are far safer forms of energy resources.Locutus_Picard

Neither solar energy nor wind energy are remotely viable as methods by which to meet all the world's energy needs. Their outputs are heavily subject to weather variations and even at full capacity they just don't produce enough energy per square patch of land occupied.

[QUOTE="surrealnumber5"]side note: shocked that some of OT's ULTRA LEFTISTS are backing nuclear power. i wont say there is hope but this aint a bad startGabuEx

If you're talking about me, I've always been a proponent of nuclear energy, so it shouldn't be a big surprise. It's a lot like airplane travel; statistically speaking, it's way, way safer than driving, but because people have this mental picture of a spectacular death when something goes wrong, all the statistics goes out the window in lieu of "I DON'T WANNA DIEEE". :P

side note: shocked that some of OT's ULTRA LEFTISTS are backing nuclear power. i wont say there is hope but this aint a bad startsurrealnumber5

I'm as far left as it gets and i dont support nuclear power:|

The explosions are not accidents or unintended. The engineers know when they vent the gas it will contain hydrogen and explode. The media is making this out to mean the reactor blew up, it did not. The gas is purged from the reactor and again from the containment structure. It then explodes hurting only the flimsy sheetmetal building.

The containment structures are practically military grade bunkers. They are designed to survive missile strikes. It will take much more than some hydrogen gas to breach the structure.

I'll say it again, the biggest detriment to Japan with these nuclear power plants is the economic damage not the death toll.

Also, nuclear explosives us upwards of 93% U-235 enrichment, these plants use 3-5%. There is no way it can "go nuclear."

[QUOTE="Ace6301"][QUOTE="surrealnumber5"]side note: shocked that some of OT's ULTRA LEFTISTS are backing nuclear power. i wont say there is hope but this aint a bad startGabuEx

There's also the issue that the plant in question has some fundamental design flaws as well that new reactors address; it was only intended to withstand the fallout of earthquakes up to magnitude 8.2, when officials said that the possibility of a larger earthquake was minimum but present; and the circulation of its coolant system requires electrical power to function. Since this earthquakes was magnitude 9.0 and since it completely knocked out both the main power and the backup power in the plant, we now have the crisis that requires seawater to be pumped in manually since the cooling systems are completely offline. State of the art reactors do not require electrical power for their cooling units to function, and as such are not vulnerable to what lead to this crisis.

Nuclear power has always struck me as an oddity, really. Any time anything causes deaths, you don't go "OMG STOP ALL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IT'S TOO DANGEROUS"; rather, you figure out what went wrong and fix it so it doesn't happen next time. Nuclear power is literally the only area I can think of where accidents lead everyone to call for a total and immediate abandonment of the entire thing. It's bizarre and illogical.

The explosions are not accidents or unintended. The engineers know when they vent the gas it will contain hydrogen and explode. The media is making this out to mean the reactor blew up, it did not. The gas is purged from the reactor and again from the containment structure. It then explodes hurting only the flimsy sheetmetal building.

The containment structures are practically military grade bunkers. They are designed to survive missile strikes. It will take much more than some hydrogen gas to breach the structure.

I'll say it again, the biggest detriment to Japan with these nuclear power plants is the economic damage not the death toll.

Also, nuclear explosives us upwards of 93% U-235 enrichment, these plants use 3-5%. There is no way it can "go nuclear."

subyman

But there was an explosion!! Chernobyl 2.0.

[QUOTE="Locutus_Picard"][QUOTE="GabuEx"]

Inventing ridiculous doomsday scenarios that are literally impossible does not count as "understanding the risks".

GabuEx

The death total from Chernobyl was 50.

I will repeat that.

The death total from Chernobyl, which used an outdated and inherently dangerous design, which suffered from complete and utter denial on the part of the Soviet Union, and which everyone points to as an example of the extreme dangers of nuclear power... was 50.

50 whole deaths have been attributed to the fallout from the accident at Chernobyl, which has become the worldwide nuclear boogeyman.

In contrast, over 6,000 coal miners died in China just in 2004.

Nuclear power is literally the safest form of energy in the world in terms of the number of deaths related to the acquisition of the fuel and to the operation of the power plant and the accidents therein.

[QUOTE="surrealnumber5"]side note: shocked that some of OT's ULTRA LEFTISTS are backing nuclear power. i wont say there is hope but this aint a bad startDroidPhysX

I'm as far left as it gets and i dont support nuclear power:|

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

[QUOTE="Locutus_Picard"] So the current explosions at nuclear powerplant aren't possible hazards? Guess you really need to see some radioactive fallout before you believe the hazards... Just think about it, even if the nuclear/radioactive waste/cores/energy is contained...there can always be leakage due to unexpected circumstances. This earthquake was unexpected and they're worried about the cooling in a damn sea...guess that shows how dangereous nuclear energy can be while there are far safer forms of energy resources.comp_atkins

The death total from Chernobyl was 50.

I will repeat that.

The death total from Chernobyl, which used an outdated and inherently dangerous design, which suffered from complete and utter denial on the part of the Soviet Union, and which everyone points to as an example of the extreme dangers of nuclear power... was 50.

50 whole deaths have been attributed to the fallout from the accident at Chernobyl, which has become the worldwide nuclear boogeyman.

In contrast, over 6,000 coal miners died in China just in 2004.

Nuclear power is literally the safest form of energy in the world in terms of the number of deaths related to the acquisition of the fuel and to the operation of the power plant and the accidents therein.

50? The head of the Soviets overviewing the disaster @ the IAEA conference in the 80s said it would be 40,000. But then the west got scared and bottled it down to 4000. Which still triumphs over the 50.

They're wasting time at this point. Instead of trying to cool the reactors, they should be trying perma-seal them.

It's impossible to cool them now. The rodsprobably flash boil the water they contact and the coolant itself will become radioactive waste once it's spent... what the hell are they going to with that stuff then?

They should just assume Chernobly with ALL of the damaged reactors and perma-seal them. Wait 50 years and then get in there and clean up the mess then.

Otherwise they're going to contaminate the whole island and then nobody will be able to live within 20 miles or more of those plants in any direction for decades.

Netherscourge

Sealing them will cause the reactors to get hotter which would cause another explosion. Thats how chernobyl nearly suffered a 3 megaton explosion