For a complete list of our coverage, see our In-Depth Report "The Japan Earthquake, Tsunami and Nuclear Crisis"
The Main Points
Key Developments to Know about the Japan Nuclear Crisis [Updated]
Confused by the fast-changing pace of events? Here are the bullet points to know
By The Editors | April 5, 2011
Reactor Status
Nuclear Experts Explain Worst-Case Scenario at Fukushima Power Plant
By Steve Mirsky | March 12, 2011
What Happens During a Nuclear Meltdown?
By John Matson | March 15, 2011
By David Biello | March 11, 2011
Nuclear Accident Is Long-Feared "Station Blackout" [Podcast]
By Steve Mirsky | March 14, 2011
How Much Spent Nuclear Fuel Does the Fukushima Daiichi Facility Hold?
By Katherine Harmon | March 17, 2011
Is Seawater a Last Resort to Cooling Japan's Nuclear Reactors?
By Larry Greenemeier | March 15, 2011
Fate of Nuclear Plant in Japan Hangs in the Balance as Melting Continues
By David Biello | March 18, 2011
Is Fukushima really as bad as Chernobyl?
By David Biello | Apr 12, 2011
Radiation and Health
Fast Facts about Radiation from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Reactors
By John Matson | March 16, 2011How Radiation Threatens Health
By Nina Bai | March 15, 2011
Does Potassium Iodide Protect People from Radiation Leaks?
By Larry Greenemeier | March 15, 2011
How Far from Fukushima Will Fallout Pose a Health Risk?
By John Matson | Mar 18, 2011
Radiation's Complications: Pinning Health Problems on a Nuclear Disaster Isn't So Easy
By Charles Q. Choi | March 16, 2011
Radioactive Omission: Where Are the Anti-Radiation Drugs?
By Katherine Harmon and Francie Diep | April 4, 2011
See what we're tweeting about
8 Comments
Add CommentPlease add to the excellent list above this practical radiation protection:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAntinuclear Nutrition: Background and principles for reducing the internal radiation dose after nuclear contamination or nuclear disaster
By Karl Simanonok, Ph.D.
http://AntinuclearNutrition.com
can we go back in time boldly and make use of animal instincts in detecting shake-ups ...now that we are loosing trust in exclusive techno-backed devices...would,nt a Animal instinct and human brain merged bring about a solution.?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHow to shut down the explosive potential of the Fukushima containment domes and also eliminate the contamination of water used to cool the cores: Flood the containment domes with highly refrigerated nitrogen gas. The nitrogen will force out any hydrogen or oxygen, reducing their explosive potential. At the same time, the highly refrigerated nitrogen will provide a steady chilling component, much colder than water, that will gradually cool and stabilize the core. It will eliminate the need for the creation of more irradiated water that will only contaminate either ground water or the ocean.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisafter every natural disater that takes away life,s the whole world is invovled in most dramatic discussions..... critical analysis.....exibitions of knowledge in all relevant subjects.... we leave out the most important....."the ignorance of detecting the next one"which in all possibilities can even take away one third of the planets life forms..it happened once twice...... and certainly could happen again......we take comfort in what we know of...and in what we dont know and cannot comprehend with our primitive dull faculties which we term "paranormal" in ignorance........is not listed in the agenda.........ooooooops anything can happen...at any moment... no one knows.......is,nt this the height of ignorance.....
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWitnesses at Chernobyl reported a laser-like blue light coming out of the reactor core. Nothing near this bad has happened at Fukushima Daiichi. If Tokyo becomes a wasteland like Chernobyl, then we will know it is really bad.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThis is the second thread I have looked at today, which has been invaded with totally irrelevant commercial junk. It's quite enough that we have to endure it thrusting it's way into our TV viewing, without encountering it on a scientific forum.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHave you ever seen what happens when you drop a frozen turkey into oil heated to 400 degrees? The ice flashes into steam, the steam expands to several times it's original volume and proceeds to throw the almost boiling oil out of it's container in a manner akin to Old Faithful. What do you suppose will happen when a highly condensed liquified gas that boils at -195 Centigrade comes into contact with the semi-melted core of the reactor that is somewhere around 700 - 1000 Centigrade? The liquid nitrogen will flash off to a gas that is something like 120 times the liquid volume, creating it's own version of a geyser that will be made up not only of a cryogenic liquid and plumes of gas that can be lethal, but also of highly radioactive debris ranging in size from microscopic particles up to pieces weighing several grams or more, and unless some provision is made for the release of pressure, the expanding gas will cause a catastrophic failure of the containment much like the hydrogen gas explosions, only without the fire.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe other problem with this idea is that, even if it would work, where are you going to get the 300,000,000 or so liters of liquid nitrogen that it will take for each reactor, and how would you introduce it into and contain it in said reactors?
“"...At this time of horrific disaster, the great people of Japan still peacefully endure. Riots, looting, or gouging of prices are nonexistent. This truly is a testament to honor and civilized behavior. With that said, I must also ponder upon another lesson learned, and that's the lack of nuclear preparedness by the Japanese government and International community. It's shocking that a power outage caused the current nuclear crisis. If we are to use this form of energy, let it be safe at all times. We must now continue to love and show the people of Japan that we are as one with them in this time of sorrow. Let us collectively learn from our mistakes, never to repeat them."
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this- Johnny Luckett”