The short answer to your question is “no,” radioactive things do not glow in the dark – not by themselves anyway. Radiation emitted by radioactive materials is not visible to the human eye. … Many substances will emit visible light if “stimulated” by the ionizing radiation from radioactive material. HowRead More →
Fast-neutron reactors, of which there are a handful operating today with a half dozen under construction, can use reactor-grade plutonium fuel as a means to reduce the transuranium content of spent nuclear fuel/nuclear waste. … Is plutonium better than uranium? Plutonium-239, the isotope found in the spent MOX fuel, isRead More →
U-235 and U-238 occur naturally in nearly all rock, soil, and water. U-238 is the most abundant form in the environment. U-235 can be concentrated in a process called “enrichment,” making it suitable for use in nuclear reactors or weapons. Which uranium is used in nuclear reactor in India? UnderRead More →
If an old ICBM, for example, is retired, the nuclear explosive becomes obsolete. So, it is retired, and there is very little one can do with it while it awaits dismantlement. The older systems are generally not interchangeable with something new so they really are obsolete. What happens to unusedRead More →
Breeder reactors can power all of humanity for more than 4 billion years. By any reasonable definition, nuclear breeder reactors are indeed renewable. However, billion-year sustainability does require advances in seawater uranium extraction, reactor construction performance, and public acceptance. How many nuclear power plants would it take to power theRead More →
Uranium is the preferred fuel for nuclear fission in nuclear power plants. … Uranium is a very common metal in the world, but the required isotope is comparatively rare to find, making it a non-renewable fuel for the renewable energy it produces. Why nuclear is renewable? Nuclear is a zero-emissionRead More →
But they’ve only ever been used twice in history – against Japan in 1945 during World War Two where they caused huge devastation and enormous loss of life. The radiation from the bomb dropped on the city of Hiroshima lasted several months and killed an estimated 80,000 people. Has anyoneRead More →
Since uranium is radioactive, so are its ore wastes. So also are all the processes of refining the ore, enriching the uranium, turning it into fuel for reactors, transportation, burning it in nuclear power stations, processing the used fuel, and its handling and storage. Why uranium 235 and uranium 238Read More →
GET INSIDE Get inside the nearest building to avoid radiation. … Remove contaminated clothing and wipe off or wash unprotected skin if you were outside after the fallout arrived. … Go to the basement or middle of the building. … Stay inside for 24 hours unless local authorities provide otherRead More →
Nuclear weapons emit large amounts of thermal radiation as visible, infrared, and ultraviolet light, to which the atmosphere is largely transparent. This is known as “Flash”. The chief hazards are burns and eye injuries. On clear days, these injuries can occur well beyond blast ranges, depending on weapon yield. HowRead More →