Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 exptools 1/6/84; site ihuxi.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!mgnetp!ihnp4!ihuxi!snafu From: snafu@ihuxi.UUCP (Dave Wallis) Newsgroups: net.followup,net.politics Subject: Re: alternate, hopefully safe, energy sources Message-ID: <1009@ihuxi.UUCP> Date: Fri, 3-Aug-84 14:45:43 EDT Article-I.D.: ihuxi.1009 Posted: Fri Aug 3 14:45:43 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 4-Aug-84 03:31:59 EDT References: <798@ihuxx.UUCP> <9368@gatech.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Network Systems, Inc., Naperville Il. Lines: 23 > The "best" new power source that should be developed is Fusion Energy. > Fusion should be able to supply all the "high-grade" energy needed for > heavy industry, and at the same time be "clean". I.e. fusion power > doesn't leave lots of nuclear waste materials lying around. While fusion is somewhat cleaner than fission, it is by no means free from waste. The primary result of a hydrogen fusion reaction is helium, which is only mildly radioactive. However, another bi-product of the reaction is very high energy neutrons. After several years in a reactor being bombarded by the neutrins, the reactor containment walls become extrememly radioactive. These materials have quite a long half-life, and are as difficult to dispose of as the waste from a fission reactor. Scientific American had an article describing these problems sometime in early 1984, if you are intersted. -- Dave Wallis ihnp4!ihuxi!snafu AT&T Network Systems, Inc. (312) 979-5894