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Toshiba Builds Ultra-Small Nuclear Reactor

Posted by samzenpus on from the a-reactor-in-every-home dept.

DeusExCalamus writes "Toshiba has developed a new class of micro size Nuclear Reactors that is designed to power individual apartment buildings or city blocks. The new reactor, which is only 20 feet by 6 feet, could change everything for small remote communities, small businesses or even a group of neighbors who are fed up with the power companies and want more control over their energy needs."

33 of 683 comments (clear)

  1. A slogan by suso · · Score: 5, Funny

    Have a fallout, closer to home. Toshiba Micro Nuclear.

    1. Re:A slogan by bigjocker · · Score: 2, Funny

      A better slogan: The only reactor that lives in 2D space! You can paint it in the wall!

      The new reactor, which is only 20 feet by 6 feet

      --
      Life isn't like a box of chocolates. It's more like a jar of jalapenos. What you do today, might burn your ass tomorrow.
    2. Re:A slogan by Pollardito · · Score: 5, Funny

      I live in an area where that is not near any water, has only intermittent sun and wind so another power source is necessary. these problems are among many that go away when you move out of your parents' basement
    3. Re:A slogan by Duhavid · · Score: 3, Funny

      You insensitive clod, I *am* an air conditioner.
      And I didn't get turned on!

      --
      emt 377 emt 4
    4. Re:A slogan by masdog · · Score: 3, Funny

      Then you shouldn't be so frigid!

      --
      My Sysadmin Blog
    5. Re:A slogan by lymond01 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Sure, but there are plenty of areas where none of the above apply. I live in an area where that is not near any water, has only intermittent sun and wind so another power source is necessary. Geothermal looks great on paper but AFAIK there are still tech barriers involved.

      BUZZES IN: What is the planet Mercury?

    6. Re:A slogan by skabob · · Score: 2, Funny

      But will it supply 1.21 Jiggawatts?

  2. Someone should have told the students by LiquidCoooled · · Score: 5, Funny

    Someone should have told these students that they could get one of these and not have to peddle.

    --
    liqbase :: faster than paper
  3. Incredible. by Spazntwich · · Score: 5, Funny

    How did they manage to shrink a nuclear reactor to only two dimensions?

    1. Re:Incredible. by Broken+scope · · Score: 5, Funny

      Actually i think a few layers of lead paint on the sucker wouldn't be such a bad idea.

      --
      You mad
  4. this should be great news to MIT by Albert+Sandberg · · Score: 4, Funny

    now they don't have to rely on bicycles for the supercomputer energy needs!

  5. Good thing I am not a kid anymore by Kranfer · · Score: 1, Funny

    Growing up I always loved to take things apart. Everything... My Toys, my parent's stuff like the Kaypro we had, and the Apple II... After I saw this over at engadget earlier and now here, I must say I am glad I am not a kid anymore. I would have taken this sucker apart if we had one and probably set myself on a course to be my own nightlight. Although I do like the cost associated with these things, I always like lower electric bills. However, I fear the kid that wants to see how it works or the hick who decides to take it apart cause they "can fix anything!"

    --
    -- Josh
    "Whoopie! Man, that may have been a small one for Neil, but that's a long one for me!" - Pete Conrad
  6. This is heavy, Doc. by DJ+Katty · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'll wait for the eventual smaller form factor in a year though. Gives me time to save for a Delorian. Those flux capacitors don't seem so extraneous right now.

  7. Sony by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Have a fallout, closer to home. Toshiba Micro Nuclear. Hopefully Sony doesn't get into this business. If you thought exploding laptop batteries were bad, wait until you get a Sony exploding nuclear reactor.
    1. Re:Sony by Poltras · · Score: 5, Funny

      No, why should they be liable for the collateral damage? You get a new reactor, dammit, greedy bastards those customers... That's Mr. Mutant Customer to you, sir.
      --
      Of Code And Men
    2. Re:Sony by jcgf · · Score: 5, Funny

      Wuss.

    3. Re:Sony by Cheerio+Boy · · Score: 2, Funny

      Ah, screw political correctness. Back in my day, you'd have been called a freak, and rightfully so, and you had to come through snow this high just to hear that you're a freak, and you'd have been thankful for that...*muttermumblegrumblespoiledyoungones*. In MY day you'd walk 20 miles in the snow that's this high to BECOME a freak!

      And be thankful for the privilege!

      Get off my lawn ya whippersnapper! ;-)
      --

      "Bah!" - Dogbert
    4. Re:Sony by sqldr · · Score: 2, Funny

      i guess it would make a good chatup line.

      --
      I wrote my first program at the age of six, and I still can't work out how this website works.
    5. Re:Sony by smittyoneeach · · Score: 2, Funny

      Single digit months, and a three digit year?
      Such an old fellow, for such a high user ID...

      --
      Get thee glass eyes, and, like a scurvy politician, seem to see things thou dost not.--King Lear
    6. Re:Sony by sqldr · · Score: 4, Funny

      It's not the size, it's the giger that counts!

      I'll get my coat.

      --
      I wrote my first program at the age of six, and I still can't work out how this website works.
    7. Re:Sony by A+nonymous+Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      But your snow fell out of the sky, right? Back in MYYY day, we had to smash oxygen and hydrogen together with rocks to make snow, and carry it with us when we walked to school so we could throw it in front of us, then pick it up from behind us because we couldn't carry enough for the whole walk. That snow was in terrible condition by the time we got to school.

      --
      Infuriate left and right
    8. Re:Sony by A+nonymous+Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      I will not ask how you managed to ski downhill, either.

      Duhhhh. It was uphill both ways.

      --
      Infuriate left and right
    9. Re:Sony by Opportunist · · Score: 2, Funny

      You had a box? YOU HAD A BOX? Boy, that was after the war, we'd have traded our beloved granny for a box! But we didn't even have our beloved granny!

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    10. Re:Sony by YU+Nicks+NE+Way · · Score: 2, Funny

      Well, we had a box. We dug up our beloved granny's casket, and reused it.

  8. ominous by mincognito · · Score: 4, Funny

    The new reactor, which is only 20 feet by 6 feet, could change everything for small remote communities, small businesses or even a group of neighbors
    I think that's the worry.
    --

    Ludwig Wittgenstein
  9. Re:Liquid Li? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I can't wait for the lithium to leak into groundwater... no more bipolar disordered people!

  10. What's on the inside? by rhyre417 · · Score: 2, Funny

    If you take it apart, does that void the warranty? As usual, I'll wait until I can read the reviews on amazon.com Someone needs to tell me if it comes with a cheap plastic housing.

    1. Re:What's on the inside? by Megane · · Score: 2, Funny

      If you take it apart, I think it voids your warranty. (No Soviet Russia necessary here!)

      --
      #naabhaprzrag, #sverubfr-000, #agi-fcbafberq, negvpyr[pynff*=' negvpyr-ary-'] { qvfcynl: abar !vzcbegnag; }
  11. Warning... by Pedrito · · Score: 5, Funny

    I got one of these and, honestly, it only puts out about 180 kilowatts out of the box. I managed to overclock it to 250 kilowatts, however. I just finished the case mod. I'm using plexiglass so you can see what's going on inside. It also weighs a lot less without all the lead, which was pretty unattractive. But now Toshiba is saying I voided my warranty and won't give me tech support. I just want to find out why my dog started glowing in the dark...

  12. And but? by TheeBlueRoom · · Score: 2, Funny

    Will it blend?

    --
    I wish I was clever!
  13. Re:Where we live ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Guess where that CO2 came from.

    Carbon credits?

  14. Instruction manual by sinktank · · Score: 5, Funny

    I can just imagine the operating manaul:

    "Thank you to use Nuclear-Friend. The main characteristic in machine of control rod moves in with slim middle, can nimble neutron dependable work send, of via sea warmness thusly turbine twist out machine-wind.

    ALERTNESS, magnet-imprison with ionisation threatening badass. Fleeting bioluminescence in bird appendage observation, conjunction Cherenkov neon likeness, linking chain of no command (barking!) to blinking indications. Personages of vicinity ascending fucking with sparks! Ability detriment remove with "fast-neutron-sheilding-blanket" (slowly neutrons with alacrity) to mammalian sex babylove machine faulty. As packing box inside includes dosimeter for life-spirit guard dog is. Un-normal witness with e=mc2 of cloudy fungus c.10km bigness, warranty glue not connected."

  15. That's an easy answer... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I just want to find out why my dog started glowing in the dark...

    He ate the neighbor's Korean genetically-engineered mutant cat.