Plastic-eating fungus in Amazon...

http://www.fastcoexist.com/1679201/fungi-discovered-in-the-amazon-will-eat-your-plastic

mysterious ability and wisdom of Nature..

can this be an option for radioactive waste problem?



I really enjoyed this class..

This class help me getting some clear idea of science and beyond..

-Mosey

The Early Days of Nuclear Science

For the last class I wanted to post something that underlined the sort of thing that seemed like a good idea at the time in the nuclear history of the world. First, a story about radium's popularity due to it's faint blue glow. Before the dangers of radiation were understood, radium was used in a variety of consumer products, at a huge danger to everyone involved.

The link to a New York Times article on that.

Another good example is the x-ray shoe fitting device popular up to the 1960's. Few people experienced serious effects from this, but the idea seems completely surreal to me knowing what I do about radiation.

Here's the link to a summation of the history of these devices.

I guess that's it. Have a nice vacation everyone!

Ben

Algae for fuel in Japan

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2013/11/22/scientist-says-he-can-end-japans-energy-woes-by-turning-algae-into-fuel/

I just thought this was interesting, since it also reminded me of the previous post about the algae energy house too.

-Maria

Energy Dept. Is Told to Stop Collecting Fee for Nuclear Waste Disposal

Energy Dept. Is Told to Stop Collecting Fee for Nuclear Waste Disposal

"A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that the Energy Department must stop collecting fees of about $750 million a year that are paid by consumers and intended to fund a program for the disposal of nuclear waste. The reason, the court said, is that there is no such program."  

 Article dealing with nuclear waste/ Yucca mountain .   

-Marianne

Nuclear disarmament at the touch of a few buttons

In the film G.I. Joe: Retaliation, the president of the United States demonstrates the solution to all of our nuclear weapon problems in a few short minutes. Here's the clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzvnDaL8bnc

Ridiculous, but humorous.

-MIles Worthington

Wind Power in Japan

http://japandailypress.com/japan-wind-power-has-capacity-to-replace-nuclear-floating-turbines-tested-near-fukushima-0939244/

I found this tiny, but interesting article about the capability of of wind power in Japan.

-Maria 

Final paper resources

I posted a bunch of general resources to this blog for last year's class that are still mostly quite useful, so I suggest browsing that post:
http://theunstablenucleus.blogspot.com/2012/11/extra-resources-on-nuclear-weapons.html
It contains links to key policy documents, anti-nuclear organizations, and an article on why nuclear weapons should be given the Nobel Peace Prize.  Lots of good stuff!

For this semester, here are a few additional interesting starting points for final paper issues/topics:

1) Recent book on the safety of nuclear weapons:  Eric Schlosser has written a book called "Command and Control:  Nuclear Weapons, the Damascus Accident, and the Illusion of Safety."
There have been loads of interviews with him and articles about the book and related topics, so even if you don't read the whole book you can track down some interesting commentaries just by finding some of those articles.

2)  The Union of Concerned Scientists has a fact sheet on nuclear weapons facilities in the U.S.
Start here to find out what they are and where they are, but then look at news sources to see what current economic/social/political issues might surround these facilities and their work.

3) Articles on a few random specific topics:
A thought-provoking analysis of the situation with Iran from the Economist
Washington Post on the ending of an agreement between the U.S. and Russia for recycling bomb-grade uranium
National Journal piece on U.S. missile defense and related issues with Russia

Happy paper writing!