For over a century, humanity has generated radioactive waste, necessitating ingenious and sometimes unconventional storage solutions. From spent nuclear fuel rods cooling in deep swimming pools to hazardous liquids being turned into solid glass for millennia, the methods are diverse. This exploration delves into the surprising science behind managing hazardous waste from power plants, hospitals, and even the world’s largest particle accelerator.
Storing Radioactive Waste Is Weirder Than You Think
From deep underwater pools and solid glass cakes to simple empty rooms in hospitals, the ways we store radioactive waste are far weirder than you might imagine.
Related Posts
When Greenland was green: Ancient soil from beneath a mile of ice offers warnings for the future
Water and sediment pour off the melting margin of the Greenland ice sheet. Jason Edwards/Photodisc via Getty Images…
July 31, 2023
From cod logs to frog bogs: we catalogued 400 ways to help species survive a warmer world
‘Cod logs’ placed in the Mary River can give fish a safe place to shelter. © Caitlin Jones,…
January 30, 2025
Earth is bombarded with rocks from space – but who gets to keep these ultimate antiques?
Shutterstock/KV4000 Anna Marie Brennan, University of Waikato Every day, about 48.5 tonnes of space rock hurtle towards Earth.…
February 5, 2025
New Data from James Webb Space Telescope Settles Disagreement on Universe’s Expansion Rate
New simulations reveal that black holes absorb most gravitational wave energy, with only up to 20% scattering back, offering fresh insights into how spacetime resists deformation.
June 11, 2025
