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Out of all major energy sources, nuclear is the safest

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Re: Out of all major energy sources, nuclear is the safest

#21

Post by beders »

Ah, nuclear fans downvoting again. Can't stomach simple facts.

Chernobyl: 56 direct deaths, estimated 4000 killed by cancer caused by it, economic damage: $235b Radiation of the disaster still detectable all over Europe. Fukushima: 6 dead, estimate of 1600 more people killed indirectly, economic damage so far: between $10b and $100b Radiation detectable on California beaches. No solution for the radioactive waste (other than dumping it into the pacific where it can mingle with the Great Pacific Garbage patch)

Re: Out of all major energy sources, nuclear is the safest

#23

Post by Fej »

abritinthebay wrote: post #6

This has been known for a long time in informed circles. The problems with nuclear are waste and that we use vastly outdated designs and fuel sources. Nuclear is not perfect, but we should not buy into a perfection fallacy when looking to get away from fossil fuels. Solar is a better long term bet but a good progressive nuclear strategy that added a handful of small modern reactors could be massively complementary to…

Waste is a miniscule problem. Put it in the ground. Or, perhaps, in the side of a mountain...

The only reason waste is an issue in the United States is that the Congress decided that nuclear waste repositories have to last for 10,000 years uninterrupted. As far as we know this is just about impossible. 10 millenia ago we were in the caves.

Placed at the bottom of a pool, it's perfectly safe. This is a solved problem. The issue is political (especially from uneducated NIMBYs) rather than technical.

https://what-if.xkcd.com/29/

Re: Out of all major energy sources, nuclear is the safest

#24

Post by simias »

xg15 wrote: post #12

Can anyone explain to me why "deaths/tWh" is even a meaningful measure? Of course nuclear energy has one of the highest Wh outputs, no-one is disputing that. However, what does that have to do with the risk of use? That seems like a measure very skewed to make arguments in favour of nuclear power. I might as well argue that car drivers are safer than pedestrians because the average deaths/horse power is vastly lower.…

Well because in the end the amount of power is what matters? I'm not sure I understand your point.

If you replace nuclear with renewable (or the other way around) you'll have to produce the same amount of power, all other things being equal.

Re: Out of all major energy sources, nuclear is the safest

#25

Post by uoaei »

FussyZeus wrote: post #2

The brain is not designed to understand statistics. Nuclear accidents are theatrical and fun, and therefore get a lot of play on the media when they happen. Look no further than the media circus surrounding Fukushima to confirm. Everybody is scared to death of Sharks, yet sharks killed only 1 person in the US last year. Cows killed 20, 75% of which were deliberate attacks, but almost no one is afraid of a Cow. Meanwh…

People and their egos crave control. With something like driving, you feel at least somewhat in control of your own destiny. Coming face to face with a shark does not afford the same sense, same with an unstoppable chain reaction occurring deep in a nuclear reactor and the ensuing fallout.

Re: Out of all major energy sources, nuclear is the safest

#26

Post by DangerousPie »

xg15 wrote: post #12

Can anyone explain to me why "deaths/tWh" is even a meaningful measure? Of course nuclear energy has one of the highest Wh outputs, no-one is disputing that. However, what does that have to do with the risk of use? That seems like a measure very skewed to make arguments in favour of nuclear power. I might as well argue that car drivers are safer than pedestrians because the average deaths/horse power is vastly lower.…

Why do you think it's not meaningful? What would be the alternative?

Re: Out of all major energy sources, nuclear is the safest

#28

Post by tathougies »

FussyZeus wrote: post #2

The brain is not designed to understand statistics. Nuclear accidents are theatrical and fun, and therefore get a lot of play on the media when they happen. Look no further than the media circus surrounding Fukushima to confirm. Everybody is scared to death of Sharks, yet sharks killed only 1 person in the US last year. Cows killed 20, 75% of which were deliberate attacks, but almost no one is afraid of a Cow. Meanwh…

1,700,000% more likely actually :)
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