Uh-oh, Japan, this is bad

**Husar** · 03-17-2011, 12:20

Well, now I read that they have already flown over the plant with helicopters to drop tons of water onto the plant and have positioned water cannons as well to cool the reactors and spent fuel down, next up is a power line to a generator that they want to connect today to get the cooling systems up and running again.

Sounds like a very close call that could end either way.

**Greyblades** · 03-17-2011, 12:25

Maybe we should be hoping for another tsunami, 'should easily cool it down. Allthough isnt the main fear that it will get to a point where pouring water will just make it worse; water turned to steam so fast that it explodes, etc?

**Shibumi** · 03-17-2011, 12:35

Originally Posted by Husar

Well, now I read that they have already flown over the plant with helicopters to drop tons of water onto the plant and have positioned water cannons as well to cool the reactors and spent fuel down, next up is a power line to a generator that they want to connect today to get the cooling systems up and running again.

Sounds like a very close call that could end either way.

They needed about 200 airdrops, 2 have been successful. Radiation has made the rest fail.

Firetrucks are held back because of radiation.

The skeleton crew are as-we-speak trying to clear a road for the fire engines.

Might come to the point where people get more or less ordered to sacrifice their lives.

<- This just in Swedish media.

**** me.

**Shaka_Khan** · 03-17-2011, 12:44

**Shibumi** · 03-17-2011, 12:49

I must say I have the deepest respect for the skeleton crew remaining.

I have donned a NBC suit myself, and let me tell you - it is not very pleasant. It weights down on you and the easiest task becomes a heavy burden. The goggles fogs up as you start to sweat and since the sweat has nowhere to go you will bath in it inside the suit within minutes.

Now add complete darkness and heavy radiation. Fires and hard labour.

That is seriously living hell.

If you believe in some God, pray. If not, let your thoughts go out to these heroes. And if you happen to have a chance to help - do not hesitate.

**Scienter** · 03-17-2011, 16:00

Originally Posted by Shibumi

Might come to the point where people get more or less ordered to sacrifice their lives.

I thought exactly that when I was reading BBC News this morning.

It makes me so sad that some people may have to knowingly walk to their deaths. I don't have that kind of bravery.

**Lemur** · 03-17-2011, 19:40

An interesting contrast from those cable news shows I don't watch. MSNBC's pet lesbian does a pretty good job of explaining nuclear reactors for dummies:

Contrast and compare with the crazy fellow on Fox using M&Ms:

**HoreTore** · 03-17-2011, 22:03

Energy conservation and networking is the way forward.

A passive house can be heated just by turning on the telly, even if its freezing outside.

And no, electric cars and such do not pose an energy problem, as it will reduce the total ammount of energy required. The combustion engine in a car only utilizes around 15% of the energy in gas, the rest is simply wasted. A power plant, on the other hand, utilizes around 95% of the energy in that very same gas.

If we were to switch all cars to electric cars now, the energy savings would be a number bigger than what I can write.

**lars573** · 03-17-2011, 22:32

But try getting North Americans to give up a go anywhere anytime vehicle. I think hybrids will be the better solution short term. And if/when electric car tech evolves to a point where it can be go anywhere anytime use them exclusively. I do agree about the rest, using less energy can be as good as switching to less polluting ways of producing said energy.

**Lemur** · 03-18-2011, 00:33

Originally Posted by HoreTore

If we were to switch all cars to electric cars now, the energy savings would be a number bigger than what I can write.

Surely a joke, with battery technology where it is right now. I believe there's a serious question as to whether or not there is enough lithium on the planet to accomplish your wish.

**Greyblades** · 03-18-2011, 02:07

Also the cost to pay for the amount of fossil fuel we'd have to burn to create the neccissary electricity for those cars would make up for those savings, seeing as there's no way nuclear energy will ever be trusted again.

**Philippus Flavius Homovallumus** · 03-18-2011, 13:01

Originally Posted by Lemur

Surely a joke, with battery technology where it is right now. I believe there's a serious question as to whether or not there is enough lithium on the planet to accomplish your wish.

Not to mention the environmental damage from extracting all those minerals, and the toxic by-products.