Slashdot Mirror
China Goes Nuclear
Rei writes "Wired reports that the People's Republic of China has announced plans to build 30 new nuclear reactors by the year 2020, and by 2050 have almost as much nuclear power as the entire world produces today. The reactors are to be pebble bed reactors, in which helium replaces radioactive, pressurized water. A Chinese research institution demonstrated the safety of their test reactor against meltdown by shutting off the coolant."
"That said, I'm all for research more efficient re-seeding nuclear fission plants. I'm not for nuclear fission as an end-all solution, rather a bridge between our current non-sustainable mode of energy production and whatever future technologies we figure out (fusion, hydrogren-based power infrastructure, etc). Keep in mind, nuclear fission is just as non-sustainable as coal, oil, or natural gas - there are finite supplies of fissionable material on earth."
That much we agree on. BTW Luddite is also a term used to denote some who rejects technology on the basis of preconceived notions. I stand by my usage. Wikipedia is a good resource but English is a living language. It changes, daily.
"It appears we have some of the stuff wrapped in aluminium foil and aren't entirely sure where it is."
Found it! It's in the back of my refrigerator.