TEDxNewEngland | 11/01/11 | The Future of Nuclear Power: Getting Rid of Nuclear Waste

For the first time in decades, there are an abundance of new designs for nuclear power reactors -- ones that are safer, more powerful, more portable, and even ones that produce hardly any nuclear waste. From the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Professor Dr. Richard Lester and Graduate Students Mark Massie and Leslie Dewan will talk about the evolution of nuclear power in the United States, and directions that the industry might take in the future. They will also describe new technology that solves two of the biggest problems with nuclear power -- Safety and Waste Disposal.


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Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• New England
• TEDxNewEngland
• USA
• English
• Nuclear Power
• Nuclear Waste
• Nuclear
• Dr. Richard Lester
• Mark Massie
• Leslie Dewan
• Transatomic Power
• WAMSR

[scepticsteve]

How was Fukushima a failure? It did exactly what a 40 year old nuclear plant with few upgrades had to do. Nobody died from radiation and few from other factors. That means it worked. It was a success overall with some things that could have been done better. Meanwhile, 14 people died from an exploding refinery in the area. Anyone calling that a failure of refinery technology?

Nobody accepts single fatalities from radiation.That means it's already the safest technology and has even more potential

[Scientist538]

We need these and we need LFTR's

[OfficeThug]

@zassounotsukushi Natural gas prices are extremely erratic, and unless Fracking becomes legal everywhere, gas prices are expected to rise again quite rapidly in the near future.

Nuclear, on the other hand, has tremendous potential. Its current fuel efficiencies are extremely low and we haven't moved into intrinsically safe nuclear systems yet, both of which make up over 85% of nuclear's costs. Yet it's still competitive with coal in many countries. Any improvement will be huge

[ProfessorFreaksworth]

I don't mean to be 'the smart guy' and I do certainly respect both the expertise and passion of these two people but this is not a new idea and I am a little disappointed they are calling it their invention.

I've been reading about LWR waste (and material from decommissioned nuclear weapons) used as fuel for MSRs since the early 90's. Many people, from all walks, have discussed and promoted this potential.

I hope with these two the idea matures and becomes a reality.

[zassounotsukushi]

4:33 Serious, Idealistic, and Practical group of people.

They are all of these, even if they contradict each other! I say this as one of those people who entered the field in the last 10 years :-P But really guys, we don't have this stuff figured out yet. The idealism has to comes face to face with Natural Gas prices someday.

[OfficeThug]

@flufster777 Why not push for both? The WAMSR could deal with nuclear waste and the uranium cycle, which the LFTR isn't too specialized in, while the LFTR could deal with the thorium cycle, which utilizes a more plentiful resource and produces more valuable products. The designs would be similar to boot. I'm sure both of these guys could exist in harmony. Besides, trace actinide extraction from rocks will yield both uranium and thorium, we shouldn't let either go to waste.

[OfficeThug]

@LuMagazine You, apparently. There hasn't been a single reported radiation-related fatality caused by the Fukushima accident. Google it, try to find a single reputable source that says there's been any radiation-related fatalities whatsoever caused by Fukushima. You won't find anything.

Strange huh? And on top of that, the radioactive fallout is quickly degrading into ground state through radioactivity, quickly lessening the potency of their danger. So maybe your idea of radiation is wrong?

[LuMagazine]

No nuclear related fatalities? Who is Professor Dr. Richard Lester kidding?

[clemrod3]

==> Hooray!! MIT grad students lead the way!!!