How could I forget the Tsar Bomba?
-Oliver
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Force Majeure
OPERATION CHAGAI-I
OPERATION TRINITY
OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER
OPERATION WIGWAM
OPERATION PLUMBBOB: I II
OPERATION DOMONIC
***
SELECTED LISTENING: I II
-Oliver
OPERATION TRINITY
OPERATION TUMBLER-SNAPPER
OPERATION WIGWAM
OPERATION PLUMBBOB: I II
OPERATION DOMONIC
***
SELECTED LISTENING: I II
-Oliver
More nuclear power plants for Illinois?
(Image from Chicago Public Radio article, photo by Ryan Wakeley via Flickr)
Two pieces of interesting news about nuclear power plants in our region. First, the Illinois Senate has overturned a ban on building new power plants in our state. This could be the first step towards furthering Obama's goals for more nuclear power in our region (currently the main nuclear expansion efforts are in the Southeast). The bill still has to go through the Illinois House. Here's the news blurb.
The second interesting piece of news concerns a reactor in Ohio (my home state). Workers at the Davis-Besse power plant in Oak Harbor, Ohio have found more corrosion cracks in the reactor vessel. They had some serious problems with this back in 2002. So far, no leaks of radioactive material have occurred, but this highlights the fact that our current nuclear power infrastructure is not always as robust as we would like it to be. Here's the article.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Three articles:
1. "What is Causing Deformities in Fallujah's Children?"
http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2010/03/what-is-causing-deformities-in.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news
2. "Hybrid Fusion: The Third Nuclear Option"
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20527505.900-hybrid-fusion-the-third-nuclear-option.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news
3. "The US Lagging in Nuclear Reactor Technology"
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20527503.800-the-us-is-lagging-on-nuclear-reactor-technology.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news
Madeline Snively
1. "What is Causing Deformities in Fallujah's Children?"
http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2010/03/what-is-causing-deformities-in.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news
2. "Hybrid Fusion: The Third Nuclear Option"
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20527505.900-hybrid-fusion-the-third-nuclear-option.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news
3. "The US Lagging in Nuclear Reactor Technology"
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20527503.800-the-us-is-lagging-on-nuclear-reactor-technology.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news
Madeline Snively
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Three news stories to follow
This is an interesting spring to be learning about nuclear technology! There are three major nuclear news stories right now that I think we should all be following in detail. They all deal with nuclear weapons, which we will be covering in a lot more depth later in the semester. However, if needed I'll rearrange some of the in-class material to facilitate ongoing discussion of these topics. Browse the articles below (or any others you may find), keep your eyes and ears open for the latest updates, and collect any questions about these subjects so we can discuss them in class!
Topic 1: the U.S. Nuclear Posture Review:
Every four years or so, the U.S. government reviews its nuclear weapons policy. Even though we are well past the cold war era, there is a lot of subtlety and complexity to our policy for nuclear weapons development, strategy, and potential use. The 'posture review' discussion takes place between the administration and the Department of Defense, and the final document describing U.S. nuclear weapons policy is generally classified. However, a public version is usually released. We're anxiously awaiting the Obama administration's version, but it keeps getting delayed. Madeline posted one article a couple of days ago, and here are a couple of opinion/commentary pieces:
New York Times editorial on the Nuclear Posture Review
Foreign Policy's 'The Cable' blog posting on delays in the Nuclear Posture Review
Topic 2: Negotiations over the START Treaty with Russia:
For decades, the U.S. and Russia (or the Soviet Union previously) have written and signed treaties for mutual arms reduction (with some mixed success). The STrategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) was one of the more successful arms reduction efforts. However, it recently expired in December of 2009. Throughout the last year, the Obama administration and the Russian government have been attempting to negotiate a replacement treaty. While the public hasn't heard a lot about this, these debates have led to some pretty scary rhetoric and escalating tensions between the two nations at times. Supposedly, an agreement is right around the corner (although, that's been the case for months). Here are a few updates:
CNN article giving an update on the START negotiations
Reuters update
Topic 3: Iran's Nuclear Ambitions and the International Response
Last fall, secret nuclear facilities in Iran were revealed, sparking the beginning of a big international mess. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is solely intended to provide nuclear power (electricity). However, their infrastructure does not seem consistent with this, and most international observers believe there is ample evidence that Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons. Iran's internal political situation is fairly unstable, and the rhetoric coming out of the government is confusing and often confrontational. The Obama administration has been trying to get international support for sanctions against Iran, to force them to give up their nuclear technology program. A few recent updates:
Bloomberg News Agency Article on Iran sanctions
New York Times article highlighting another confusing move by Iran
Once again, you may find better articles in the coming days about each of these topics (please post if you do!)
Topic 1: the U.S. Nuclear Posture Review:
Every four years or so, the U.S. government reviews its nuclear weapons policy. Even though we are well past the cold war era, there is a lot of subtlety and complexity to our policy for nuclear weapons development, strategy, and potential use. The 'posture review' discussion takes place between the administration and the Department of Defense, and the final document describing U.S. nuclear weapons policy is generally classified. However, a public version is usually released. We're anxiously awaiting the Obama administration's version, but it keeps getting delayed. Madeline posted one article a couple of days ago, and here are a couple of opinion/commentary pieces:
New York Times editorial on the Nuclear Posture Review
Foreign Policy's 'The Cable' blog posting on delays in the Nuclear Posture Review
Topic 2: Negotiations over the START Treaty with Russia:
For decades, the U.S. and Russia (or the Soviet Union previously) have written and signed treaties for mutual arms reduction (with some mixed success). The STrategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) was one of the more successful arms reduction efforts. However, it recently expired in December of 2009. Throughout the last year, the Obama administration and the Russian government have been attempting to negotiate a replacement treaty. While the public hasn't heard a lot about this, these debates have led to some pretty scary rhetoric and escalating tensions between the two nations at times. Supposedly, an agreement is right around the corner (although, that's been the case for months). Here are a few updates:
CNN article giving an update on the START negotiations
Reuters update
Topic 3: Iran's Nuclear Ambitions and the International Response
Last fall, secret nuclear facilities in Iran were revealed, sparking the beginning of a big international mess. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is solely intended to provide nuclear power (electricity). However, their infrastructure does not seem consistent with this, and most international observers believe there is ample evidence that Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons. Iran's internal political situation is fairly unstable, and the rhetoric coming out of the government is confusing and often confrontational. The Obama administration has been trying to get international support for sanctions against Iran, to force them to give up their nuclear technology program. A few recent updates:
Bloomberg News Agency Article on Iran sanctions
New York Times article highlighting another confusing move by Iran
Once again, you may find better articles in the coming days about each of these topics (please post if you do!)
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
WWII Letter on Atomic Energy (By my Grandpa)
This is a transcribed letter my aunt sent me, from my grandpa, Jerry, to my grandma Doris.
* * *
July 6, 1945
My Dearest Sweetheart,
Did you hear the big news today about those atomic bombs and the production of atomic power? Wow, but the future is catching up with us fast. I have known for some time that the production of atomic power was possible. In fact, it has been accomplished on a small scale. The trouble was that it was terribly expensive and the material from which it was produced was very rare. It was produced first from the element uranium-235, the number 235 is to distinguish it from several other isotopes of uranium which have different atomic weights. But in the whole world there wasn’t much more uranium-235 than there was radium, so it was impossible to produce much atomic power. For myself I’m wondering just how they have accomplished this recent miracle. I wonder if they have found methods for transmuting other elements into uranium-235 or have they approached the problem from another direction such as using Munroe hollow charges of explosive to create pressure and temperatures high enough to crush the atoms. You see, if explosives are shaped like this [drawing] the power of the explosive is focused into a small jet, which has terrific speed and power. It can punch holes in armor plate like it was wax. That’s the secret of the bazooka shell, which is able to smack out all but the heaviest tanks. If a large number of these hollow charges were focused on a single small point they might be able to crush the atom.
I think they have used uranium, though, because that was by far the most promising method, and now that we have atomic power there are ever so many things we can do that weren’t possible before, such as flight through space. We may be reading before long about trips to Mars or Venus or the moon. You may remember I wrote about that just a few days ago. Most important of all though, I hope it will give the Japs some incentive to give up.
P.S. Sorry this is another academic letter, but I have to talk to someone.
With all my love,
Jerry
* * *
-Grace Claiborn
* * *
July 6, 1945
My Dearest Sweetheart,
Did you hear the big news today about those atomic bombs and the production of atomic power? Wow, but the future is catching up with us fast. I have known for some time that the production of atomic power was possible. In fact, it has been accomplished on a small scale. The trouble was that it was terribly expensive and the material from which it was produced was very rare. It was produced first from the element uranium-235, the number 235 is to distinguish it from several other isotopes of uranium which have different atomic weights. But in the whole world there wasn’t much more uranium-235 than there was radium, so it was impossible to produce much atomic power. For myself I’m wondering just how they have accomplished this recent miracle. I wonder if they have found methods for transmuting other elements into uranium-235 or have they approached the problem from another direction such as using Munroe hollow charges of explosive to create pressure and temperatures high enough to crush the atoms. You see, if explosives are shaped like this [drawing] the power of the explosive is focused into a small jet, which has terrific speed and power. It can punch holes in armor plate like it was wax. That’s the secret of the bazooka shell, which is able to smack out all but the heaviest tanks. If a large number of these hollow charges were focused on a single small point they might be able to crush the atom.
I think they have used uranium, though, because that was by far the most promising method, and now that we have atomic power there are ever so many things we can do that weren’t possible before, such as flight through space. We may be reading before long about trips to Mars or Venus or the moon. You may remember I wrote about that just a few days ago. Most important of all though, I hope it will give the Japs some incentive to give up.
P.S. Sorry this is another academic letter, but I have to talk to someone.
With all my love,
Jerry
* * *
-Grace Claiborn
Monday, March 1, 2010
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