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Re:Nuclear technology’s role in the world’s energy supply is... by chrisco255 on Tuesday March 09, 2021 @01:57PM (#26402332)
Why is it that one disaster every other decade for nuclear is enough to terminate progress and innovation altogether? It's unreasonable. When rockets explode or planes crash, even when people die during launches or takeoff, we don't stop trying to improve on them. We don't give up on the tech. Something about nuclear strikes irrational fear in the general public.
Re:Nuclear technology’s role in the world’s energy supply is... by arkitaip on Tuesday March 09, 2021 @02:04PM (#26402459)
Usually when a plane crashes there isn't a risk for a ecological disaster that could lasts centuries if not more.
Re:Nuclear technology’s role in the world’s energy supply is... by hinkley on Tuesday March 09, 2021 @02:10PM (#26402549)
Millennia. Epochs. Modern humans have been around for less time than some of this waste will still be hot.
Re:Nuclear technology’s role in the world’s energy supply is... by kvakkefly on Tuesday March 09, 2021 @03:15PM (#26403558)
If the half life is that long, it's not very dangerous as energy / time is very low.
Re:Nuclear technology’s role in the world’s energy supply is... by hinkley on Tuesday March 09, 2021 @05:09PM (#26405033)
Only if the decay product is not itself radioactive. I could alternate between alpha decay and something nastier. And if it’s radium then even alpha decay is a problem because it can be aspirated.
Re:Nuclear technology’s role in the world’s energy supply is... by orthecreedence on Tuesday March 09, 2021 @07:11PM (#26406219)
Like oil spills?
Re:Nuclear technology’s role in the world’s energy supply is... by wp381640 on Tuesday March 09, 2021 @02:02PM (#26402404)
Because when there’s a disaster they’re huge in cost to the point that you can’t even insure against them
Re:Nuclear technology’s role in the world’s energy supply is... by chrisco255 on Tuesday March 09, 2021 @04:06PM (#26404257)
How much did 9/11 cost? Did we ban airplane travel as a result?

This is completely comparable. The proper reaction to disaster is to reform, not to retreat.

Re:Nuclear technology’s role in the world’s energy supply is... by wp381640 on Tuesday March 09, 2021 @09:10PM (#26406952)
911 was about $30B. Fukushima was about $1T and counting.

We have alternatives to nuclear that don't make the state-backed insurance worthwhile, not so much to air travel - where state-backed last resort insurance is available.

Re:Nuclear technology’s role in the world’s energy supply is... by chrisco255 on Wednesday March 10, 2021 @12:21AM (#26408075)
I don't know where you're getting your estimates:

Reuters claimed in 2016 that Japan claimed a cost of $188B for Fukushima: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tepco-fukushima-costs-idU...

This NY Times article claims 9/11 total costs were $3.3 trillion, including $55B in physical damage, $123B in economic impact, $589B in Homeland security spending, $1.6T in war funding, $867B in veterans care and future costs associated:

https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011...

At any rate, Fukushima was caused by a tsunami. It's clearly not the same risk factor to place nuclear reactors in say, the deserts of Australia, Nevada, or New Mexico versus the shoreline of Japan. We don't launch rockets from heavily populated downtown areas either for the same reason. As an engineer, you gotta think in trade-offs and reality.

Nuclear is a truly unlimited energy source. As a species, we have to master this technology in a safe way if we ever want to advance to the next level. We're never going to be a space-faring species on wind and solar alone. Solar and wind are fair-weather friends.

Re:Nuclear technology’s role in the world’s energy supply is... by Daho0n on Tuesday March 09, 2021 @02:04PM (#26402437)
Who decides it is irrational? Also "Something about nuclear strikes....". Poor choice of words :)