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the Chevy Volt (and other "plug-in" cars)

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ViolentDove:
Also, re: chernobyl, they found a fungus there that eats radiation.

IT EATS FUCKING RADIATION.

article here

nobo:
Well, the area has been reclaimed by nature, and there are no observable defects in the animals. They have lived there 22 generations since the accident and are doing just fine.  And the area wasn't unusable. In fact, the remaining reactors at Chernobyl kept running up until it was finally completely shut down in 2000. 

When it comes to electricity it breaks down as follows
Coal - 56%
Nuclear - 22%
Natural Gas - 9%
Hydroelectric - 9%
Oil - 3 %
Biodiesel < 1%
source

The U.S. has enormous coal reserves, so I don't see that going away as the chief source of electricity. Solar and wind power could potentially make up 10-20% of the grid eventually, but they can only give supplemental power. They can't be depended on for a base electrical output. Most of our oil goes towards transportation. Moving stuff by truck or boat burns a lot of oil.

To change the topic a bit.  Did you know they experimented with nuclear powered air planes? The main road block they ended up running into was that the amount of lead needed to protect the pilot from contamination weighed the plane down so it couldn't fly. If we can find a lighter lead substitute, we may get nuclear powered air travel.

Leinad:

--- Quote from: nobo on 11 Aug 2008, 19:49 --- nuclear powered air travel.

--- End quote ---

This is seriously hot right there.

Nodaisho:
I'm personally interested in fusion power, it seems to be about the closest thing we can get to an inexhaustible supply, unless we can convert stupidity to energy. Using two isotopes of hydrogen, the most plentiful element, this is what stars do, isn't it? I distinctly remember hearing that the sun burns hydrogen. The current problem is making a strong enough container.

The accidents in Japan largely consisted of the plants being run even after problems were found, or when problems weren't found because they didn't inspect everything as closely as they should. The earthquake is an exception, I would say that it would likely be better for plants to be built where there aren't likely natural disasters, or built to withstand those disasters without damaging the reactor.

I have heard that chernobyl was caused by an experiment, which for some reason involved removing all the safeguards, I haven't studied to find any confirmation, but it wouldn't surprise me.

Vendetagainst:
stars are basically just massive nuclear reactors, they don't actually "burn" hydrogen, they convert it into helium (and then into larger atoms) through nuclear fusion.

As for Chernobyl, this is a Wikipedia article but is quite thorough, considering.

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