X-Message-Number: 15040 From: Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 09:31:53 EST Subject: plutonium "problem", asteroids >We also have a large amount of weapon quality plutonium handing around for the next 10,000 years and no known way to store it safely for that long and a lot of near earth asteriods etc. Why would anyone "store" fission fuel? Why not use it up... maybe diverting those near-earth asteroids? Or just dilute it into 3% fuel rods so it isn't "weapon-grade" anymore. But if you do want to "store" valuable radioactive materials so that future generations can marvel at our superstitions, you can dilute it with a suitable molten substrate {borosilicate glass has been tested for some reactor products} let it cool into blocks which have whatever radioactivity level you want, and use it as a water heater, oops, I mean bury it in an expensive storage facility patrolled by genetically engineered guard poodles. (I would have more sympathy for anti-fission politicians if it weren't for the fact that coal plants release 100-400 times more radiation per kw-hr than nuclear plants... I just have to suspect there are demogogue motivations here, rather than any sincere green concern.) Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=15040