Energy Department teams up with Bill Gates to move mini-nuclear plants to market

Re:Energy Department teams up with Bill Gates to move mini-n... by aidenn0 on Saturday August 25, 2018 @11:04PM (#17843986)

Most modern designs are specifically designed to not create materials that are easily weaponizable, which reduces the value of them (and thus theft). Accidents are an issue, and what do do with the waste is a huge question that will decide whether or not nuclear plants are economically feasible moving forward.

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Re:Energy Department teams up with Bill Gates to move mini-n... by bayesian_horse on Sunday August 26, 2018 @05:58AM (#17845153)

Radioactivity is invisible, and not detectable short of a Geiger counter. It doesn't even hurt at a dose that would eventually kill people. Also, depending on the radiation, radioactivity can make other materials dangerous.

And yes, the fuel they are talking about is a lot more radioactive than a banana or whatever.

I just worry that somebody with ill will or even just bad luck will defeat security measures "en detail", if the material is moving around in smaller parcels. Also, more people "legitimately" possessing a reactor and radioactive material will hardly decrease the risk of intentional abuse.

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Re:Energy Department teams up with Bill Gates to move mini-n... by basicplus2 on Sunday August 26, 2018 @12:37AM (#17844280)

Just because one cant make a nuclear bomb from the material does not mean it cannot be weaponised.. Anything radioactive that can be spread into the food chain is an issue.

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Re:Energy Department teams up with Bill Gates to move mini-n... by lallysingh on Sunday August 26, 2018 @12:45AM (#17844300)

There's a lot there that depends on the specifics of the substances. Radioactivity doesn't mean dangerous or weaponizable. Bananas are radioactive. Granite countertops are radioactive.

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Re:Energy Department teams up with Bill Gates to move mini-n... by bayesian_horse on Sunday August 26, 2018 @05:59AM (#17845157)

I assume they are not fueling nuclear plants with bananas and granite.

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Re:Energy Department teams up with Bill Gates to move mini-n... by onetimemanytime on Sunday August 26, 2018 @01:53AM (#17844500)

Anything radioactive that can be spread into the food chain is an issue.

or mixed with a suicide belt's "materials"

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Re:Energy Department teams up with Bill Gates to move mini-n... by DennisP on Sunday August 26, 2018 @11:38AM (#17846370)

If Terrapower or other molten chloride fast reactors work out, then waste is a solved problem.

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