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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