New nuclear fuel source would power human race until 5000AD
theregister.co.uk
New nuclear fuel source would power human race until 5000AD
1–10 of 114 posts
Re: New nuclear fuel source would power human race until 5000AD
#2The 5000AD date is admittedly just an estimate, but I am extremely sceptical of any such prediction. It just depends too much on what new uses for lots of energy we might come up with over the next thousand years. How many people will there be to use it? What standard of living will they demand? And that standard of living actually require more energy, or will other technological advances make us far more efficient with the power we generate?
The article even states that different groups estimates of how long Earth's uranium could last vary by more than a factor of 2.
Re: New nuclear fuel source would power human race until 5000AD
#3The 5000AD date is admittedly just an estimate, but I am extremely sceptical of any such prediction. It just depends too much on what new uses for lots of energy we might come up with over the next thousand years. How many people will there be to use it? What standard of living will they demand? And that standard of living actually require more energy, or will other technological advances make us far more efficient w…
I don't think it's an unfair way to express the estimate though. Sure, it might not really last until 5000 AD, but to me it simply implies 3000 "years of fuel", with a "year of fuel" being how we use fuel now. If energy consumption goes up or down it doesn't really matter - I still have a sense of how significant this energy source is.
Re: New nuclear fuel source would power human race until 5000AD
#4This idea only makes sense if the used-fuel disposal problem is resolved, and it is not at all resolved. It would be like claiming that the coal supply is unlimited, but without addressing the problem of emissions.
Re: New nuclear fuel source would power human race until 5000AD
#5I really thought this was going to be about Thorium. Surprise - its about extracting Uranium from seawater.
Re: New nuclear fuel source would power human race until 5000AD
#6This idea only makes sense if the used-fuel disposal problem is resolved, and it is not at all resolved. It would be like claiming that the coal supply is unlimited, but without addressing the problem of emissions.
The used-fuel problem is already solved. The solution is just effectively permanently blocked by NIMBY-ism.
Re: New nuclear fuel source would power human race until 5000AD
#7This idea only makes sense if the used-fuel disposal problem is resolved, and it is not at all resolved. It would be like claiming that the coal supply is unlimited, but without addressing the problem of emissions.
The journalist writes "we know that nuclear power is safe".
Re: New nuclear fuel source would power human race until 5000AD
#8I really thought this was going to be about Thorium. Surprise - its about extracting Uranium from seawater.
Was thinking the same. "Not again", but pleasantly surprised.
Re: New nuclear fuel source would power human race until 5000AD
#9"Since the Fukushima meltdown - as a result of which, not a single person is set to be measurably harmed by radiation - we know that nuclear power is safe."
It seems to me like the primary danger from radiation like that leaked from Fukushima would be an increase in cancer. I think it's a little early to be claiming that Fukushima will cause no increase harm to humans. There is already evidence that it caused harm to the surrounding environment, though butterflies are admittedly much more fragile than humans.
http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/14/13274288-study...
Re: New nuclear fuel source would power human race until 5000AD
#10I'm pro-nuclear, but I can't take this writer's hand-wavey dismissal of the risks seriously.