Nuclear Inspections of Iran

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443696604577647860298054608.html

The U.N. Security Council is stating that Iran must allow inspections of its nuclear sites.  If Iran does not obeying the order, it would be a violation of a treaty, which could weaken its international relations.

Nick K.

Readings for next week - Ionizing Radiation Doses

For next week, there are just two short readings I'd like you to look at.  Both deal with describing "ionizing radiation" sources, and introduce the concept of a "radiation dose."  Both are also "propaganda" in the sense of being educational materials produced by the nuclear industry.  As you read them, do you see any places where the authors are trying to persuade you of anything?

1)  Radiation dose chart and information brochure from the American Nuclear Society

2) Ionizing Radiation brochure from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization

Note that there are special units for measuring ionizing radiation doses, and that these two publications use different versions of them.  The ANS brochure uses "millirem" and the ANSTO brochure uses "microseiverts."  We will untangle these terms in class, but they are two units for measuring the same thing, much like how feet and meters are both units for length. 

how to buy nukes on the black market

Returning To Fukushima Area

http://world-nuclear-news.org/RS-Restoration_plans_for_Fukushima_area-0409124.html

According to World Nuclear News, Japan’s Reconstruction Agency stated that those who lived in parts of Fukushima may be allowed to return in two years, with jobs in decontamination. The article also states that the people of Naraha can return home during the day, but it does not explain why they can’t return home at night.  What makes this town safe in the day, but dangerous at night, if there is not much radioactive contamination?

Nick

Debunking the whole "cell phones and popcorn" thing

Well, OK... so, it's true that cell phones operate on microwaves...

And, it's true that microwaves (in microwave ovens) can internally heat up popcorn enough that it pops. 

However... it's not the case that you can use a set of cell phones to pop popcorn.  There seems to be a history of viral videos claiming to show this, and there is actually a claim that these were made or promoted by a company marketing cell-phone headsets.  I don't know?

Here are a few websites debunking this whole idea:

http://www.wired.com/underwire/2008/06/cellphones-cant/
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/16/cellphones-cant-really-pop-popcorn/
http://www.snopes.com/science/cookegg.asp

The last one also debunks a similar hoax involving cooking eggs. I'm not really sure what to make of this whole phenomenon... I guess people enjoy tricking other people with videos? 

Cell Phone Radiation//Popcorn

If nothing else, I think this is a pretty good visual.. although not completely sure how accurate the experiment is.

-Emily

http://xkcd.com/radiation/

Chart on the amounts of ionizing radiation a person can absorb from various sources.


http://www.terrapower.com/Technology/TravelingWaveReactor.aspx

Traveling Wave Reactor:  A reactor that uses the uranium waste from other reactors, and can go 50-60 years before needing to be refueled.


-Anne