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
15% of global population lives within a few miles of a coast − and the number is growing rapidly
Large parts of Mumbai face increasing flood risks from storms and sea-level rise. AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool Arthur Cosby,…
Human‑made chemicals are harming seals at the molecular level
Anaïs Remili, Simon Fraser University and Tanya Brown, Simon Fraser University Ringed seals are among the most common…
Why fusion ignition is being hailed as a major breakthrough in fusion – a nuclear physicist explains
The target chamber at the National Ignition Facility has been the site of a number of breakthroughs in…
Humans generate 62 million tonnes of e-waste each year. Here’s what happens when it’s recycled
Huguette Roe/Shutterstock Sukhbir Sandhu, University of South Australia In 2022, humans generated roughly 62 million tonnes of electronic…
