Slashdot Mirror


Fusion-Fission System Burns Hot Radioactive Waste

An anonymous reader writes "A hybrid fission-fusion process has been developed that can be used in some traditional fission reactors to process radioactive waste and reduce the amount of waste produced by 99%. This process uses magnetic bottle techniques developed from fusion research. This seems like the first viable solution to the radioactive waste problem of traditional nuclear reactors. This could be a big breakthrough in the search for environmentally friendly energy sources. Lots of work remains to take the concept to an engineering prototype and then to a production reactor."

4 of 432 comments (clear)

  1. Missing link.. by conureman · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    from fantasy to reality. Perhaps there could be a technological solution to the coming extinction epoch.

    --
    The cost of that cleanup, of course, will be borne by taxpayers, not industry.
  2. The man works fast by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I gotta hand it to Obama... I was skeptical that electing him would really solve our energy problems -- but he's been in office only ten days, and already you can see the practical results!

  3. Re:Weapons Grade Production? by cjonslashdot · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    This is different. Cannons are not nuclear weapons. As a former nuclear engineer, I am well aware of the immense energy in nuclear material. We do NOT want to encourage the establishment of a nuclear infrastructure in commercial hands. It will make us all very unsafe. I am therefore not in favor of the use of nuclear energy for commercial energy production. I am only in favor of it as a possible means of future space propulsion, but only under extremely strict control and oversight. For commercial energy production, we do not NEED nuclear energy. There are safer alternatives. It is a needless risk.

  4. Re:Weapons Grade Production? by MightyYar · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I think we mostly agree - but without the high-tech plants I am against reprocessing. Reprocessing France-style is not my cup-of-tea.

    --
    W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.