Local news: shutting down reactors in illinois?

Illinois has the most nuclear reactors of any state in the U.S.  Until recently, that meant at least half of the electricity that we use here was nuclear.  But in the last couple of years, cheap electricity produced by natural gas as well as the rise of wind power in the midwest has made it less cost-effective to run the nuclear power plants.  So, the company that runs them (Exelon) is considering shutting a couple of them down. 

Here is an article that discussed the economic impact this might have on Illinois.

Right now, Illinois is trying to figure out how to meet EPA greenhouse-gas reduction targets, and nuclear energy has the advantage of being (nearly) 'carbon-free'.  If the economic situation shifted, for example through the implementation of a carbon tax, the picture would look different for the future of nuclear energy here.  Exelon is in fact arguing for a carbon tax, as discussed here.  

This is an example of a relevant local issue that would make a great topic for your first paper!

John Oliver on Our Nuclear Incompetence

John Oliver has a meltdown about how incredibly flawed our nuclear system is, has been, and apparently always will be.

There is way too much craziness here. I would definitely say that America is failing to prove it's worthy of having such power.

-Connie W.

Demon Core

It's mostly the name, but still...

-Dylan

Building New Bombs

This is an interesting New York Times article from a week ago about the fact that the U.S. is currently ramping up nuclear weapons "modernization" efforts.  While Obama took a strong anti-nuclear-weapons stance early in his presidency, somehow we are now spending huge amounts of money on upgrading our nuclear arsenal.

Here's the article if you want to learn more: 
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/22/us/us-ramping-up-major-renewal-in-nuclear-arms.html

STRANGE CHARM: A Song About Quarks

From Hank Green: A charming song about charms... and other quarks...

Also, it 's super catchy.

-Connie

Colm

Paintings Made by Hiroshima Survivors

Masahiko Nakata - Bloated Bodies in the River Over Yokogawa Bridge. 1973-4.

Satoshi Yoshimoto - Black Rain: Something Slimy Covered My Body. 1973-4.

The BBC wrote a very short article on an upcoming show in Manchester that will be featuring several pieces made by Hiroshima survivors. These were created about thirty years after the day the bomb was dropped (August 6th, 1945), in the mid 1970's. I think it's really interesting that the artists made them at a much later date- I wonder how having more time to process what happened may have influenced their depiction.

Full article:
http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-29235538

-Ava Threlkel