# Nuclear meltdown! Holy Godzilla NOOOO!!! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 12, 2011, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389 "2011-03-12T08:19:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/41 "2011-03-12T15:44:36Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > This is probably obvious, but I’ll ask anyway: Just because the reactor core has been damaged does not mean that radiation will necessarily be released to the environment, right? That would require a breach of the containment vessel, which has not happened? Exactly right, and exactly the reason the containment vessel is there. The concern regarding a meltdown has always been the possibility that containment will be breached, and that the material in the core will escape to the environment outside of the containment. (The “China syndrome” scenario.) The reactor vessel, which is the container that directly holds the fissionable material and control rod assembly on the core, seems to have ruptured. But the containment vessel, which is a metal container enclosing the reactor vessel, does not appear to have ruptured, and continues to contain the reactor material. My guess is that since the containment vessel held up to the earthquake and whatever event caused the rupture of the reactor vessel, it will continue to hold. ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/42 "2011-03-12T15:48:01Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > I feel the possibility of a Godzilla-like mutation outweighs any fears regarding nuclear safety I wouldn’t expect anyone with your username to actually _fear_ that occurence… ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/43 "2011-03-12T15:50:27Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Is it not perhaps worth mentioning that the reactor has not actually suffered a meltdown? Probably not. Note that the spectre of Three Mile Island has already been brought up. A nuclear disaster that resulted in… umm, well, no deaths or injuries. But people get it mixed up with the movie “The China Syndrome” and hey, when you’re just wigging out and fearful, fact and fiction are all the same. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/44 "2011-03-12T15:52:46Z")
> [@xenophon41](#): > > I… It’ll be interesting to compare the bottom line at Fukushima with the damage at other conventional plants on the east coast of Japan. Thanks xenophon, nice to get some technical input and I agree, the comparison will be illuminating. In a world where data mattered and critical analysis was taken seriously, this incident should act as an endorsement of nuclear power. Multiple cataclysmic natural disasters and the worst that happens is a handful of casualties and release of short-lived isotopes. I’m not negating the individual tragedy of those deaths but when weighed against the doom-mongers scenarios it isn’t judgement day. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/45 "2011-03-12T16:03:40Z")
Okay, so… what we have here is the most complicated, expensive, safest most secure form of energy immaginable in the whole history of humankind and we have to sit back and wait from a safe distance while the experts make guesses as to what might be going on inside. “Hmm,” makes ya go. Everyone here forgotten Hiroshima & Nagasaki? Ooh, I’ll never understand why people get so worked up about nuclear explosions. Don’t they understand how safe they are??? Here in the US we live in a country where you can’t be president if you’re not a very strong God believer and church goer. Not only that, you have to be the right religion. No Catholics, Jews, Muslims need apply and atheist? Ha, ha, ha! And you’re depressed because your brethren don’t understand nuclear physics? Did I mention the experts themselves are keeping a safe distance and don’t know what’s actually going on inside their own creation? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/46 "2011-03-12T16:06:28Z")
> [@gravitycrash](#): > > Fuck, so much for nuclear power making a comeback in the US. Bring on the goddamn windmills and solar panels! > > Man, the enviro-pussies won’t allow a shovel of dirt being moved in preparation for a new plant for the next 20 years if ever. Fuck. This will be the most devastating fallout. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/47 "2011-03-12T16:08:13Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Okay, so… what we have here is the most complicated, expensive, safest most secure form of energy immaginable in the whole history of humankind and we have to sit back and wait from a safe distance while the experts make guesses as to what might be going on inside. > > “Hmm,” makes ya go. Right. The last thing we want to do in a situation like this is be prudent. And how do you know that there aren’t experts close by? > [@](#): > > Everyone here forgotten Hiroshima & Nagasaki? Ooh, I’ll never understand why people get so worked up about nuclear explosions. Don’t they understand how safe they are??? This wasn’t a nuclear explosion, dumbass. > [@](#): > > Here in the US we live in a country where you can’t be president if you’re not a very strong God believer and church goer. Not only that, you have to be the right religion. No Catholics, Jews, Muslims need apply and atheist? Ha, ha, ha! > > And you’re depressed because your brethren don’t understand nuclear physics? Did I mention the experts themselves are keeping a safe distance and don’t know what’s actually going on inside their own creation? What the fuck does any of this have to do with anything and what makes you think that there isn’t anyone up close checking things out? ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/48 "2011-03-12T16:08:38Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Okay, so… what we have here is the most complicated, expensive, safest most secure form of energy immaginable in the whole history of humankind and we have to sit back and wait from a safe distance while the experts make guesses as to what might be going on inside. A) You don’t take unnecessary risks with nuclear power B) You start imagining the worst and dial back the restrictions as more info becomes available (the opposite of 3 mile island) C) “guess” has a variable value depending on who makes it E) what happened to D? D) ah, there it is. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/49 "2011-03-12T16:14:18Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Okay, so… what we have here is the most complicated, expensive, safest most secure form of energy immaginable in the whole history of humankind and we have to sit back and wait from a safe distance while the experts make guesses as to what might be going on inside. > > “Hmm,” makes ya go. > > Everyone here forgotten Hiroshima & Nagasaki? Ooh, I’ll never understand why people get so worked up about nuclear explosions. Don’t they understand how safe they are??? > > Here in the US we live in a country where you can’t be president if you’re not a very strong God believer and church goer. Not only that, you have to be the right religion. No Catholics, Jews, Muslims need apply and atheist? Ha, ha, ha! > > And you’re depressed because your brethren don’t understand nuclear physics? Did I mention the experts themselves are keeping a safe distance and don’t know what’s actually going on inside their own creation? You know what else contains the power of the atomic nucleus? YOUR OWN BODY! AAGGGHHHHHHH RUN AND PANIC! ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/50 "2011-03-12T16:15:27Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > This will be the most devastating fallout. ☹ I think so too. However, it might be the nuclear power industries Apollo 13. Lets say nothing further bad happens. No major radiation leak. Damage isnt as bad as it appears it could possibly be. Yeah, the wackos will still raise hell. But, hey, they never stopped did they? But many middle of the road people might think “Jesus, if an 8.9 AND a big ass Tsunami at the same time can’t cause a serious nuclear accident, maybe these modern designs ARE pretty durn safe”. I doubt it, but you never know. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/51 "2011-03-12T16:16:38Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > You know what else contains the power of the atomic nucleus? YOUR OWN BODY! Minor nitpick. Technically its your precious bodily fluids that contain that power. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/52 "2011-03-12T16:21:23Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Okay, so… what we have here is the most complicated, expensive, safest most secure form of energy immaginable in the whole history of humankind and we have to sit back and wait from a safe distance while the experts make guesses as to what might be going on inside. > > “Hmm,” makes ya go. > > Everyone here forgotten Hiroshima & Nagasaki? Ooh, I’ll never understand why people get so worked up about nuclear explosions. Don’t they understand how safe they are??? > > Here in the US we live in a country where you can’t be president if you’re not a very strong God believer and church goer. Not only that, you have to be the right religion. No Catholics, Jews, Muslims need apply and atheist? Ha, ha, ha! > > And you’re depressed because your brethren don’t understand nuclear physics? Did I mention the experts themselves are keeping a safe distance and don’t know what’s actually going on inside their own creation? You are one stupid motherfucker. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/53 "2011-03-12T16:31:27Z")
Hey, we don’t evacuate cities when the local wind farm threatens to… um… not sure. Stop working? Kill a couple Starlings? Look, I’m with you all on most things but don’t be naive. The local cops are dressed [like this.](http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/03/12/134486565/at-crippled-japanese-nuclear-plant-last-ditch-effort-to-prevent-meltdown) Stay calm, just a precaution! Get out of your homes! Now! Heh, heh. Just a precaution. 🙂 Oh course, in this instance everyone was probably already evacuated anyway. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/54 "2011-03-12T16:34:04Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Hey, we don’t evacuate cities when the local wind farm threatens to… um… not sure. Stop working? Kill a couple Starlings? [Oh Jesus! Look out! This could happen to any windmill at any minute! Evacuate the area! These things are INHERENTLY UNSAFE!!!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3FZtmlHwcA) ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/55 "2011-03-12T16:35:27Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Hey, we don’t evacuate cities when the local wind farm threatens to… um… not sure. Stop working? Kill a couple Starlings? > > Look, I’m with you all on most things but don’t be naive. The local cops are dressed [like this.](http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/03/12/134486565/at-crippled-japanese-nuclear-plant-last-ditch-effort-to-prevent-meltdown) > > Stay calm, just a precaution! Get out of your homes! Now! > > Heh, heh. Just a precaution. 🙂 > > Oh course, in this instance everyone was probably already evacuated anyway. I prefer [natural gas](http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=/c/a/2011/03/07/MNDF1I5JA3.DTL). ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/56 "2011-03-12T16:36:18Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > [Oh Jesus! Look out! This could happen to any windmill at any minute! Evacuate the area! These things are INHERENTLY UNSAFE!!!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3FZtmlHwcA) Cool! Now go film a reactor doing the same thing, from the same distance. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/57 "2011-03-12T16:38:15Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Look, I’m with you all on most things but don’t be naive. The local cops are dressed [like this.](http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/03/12/134486565/at-crippled-japanese-nuclear-plant-last-ditch-effort-to-prevent-meltdown) They are wearing _dust masks_ with their faces exposed? You think that this is evidence of people trying to protect themselves from nuclear radiation? Do you have some kind of brain damage? ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/58 "2011-03-12T16:41:12Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > They are wearing _dust masks_ with their faces exposed? You think that this is evidence of people trying to protect themselves from nuclear radiation? Do you have some kind of brain damage? Ha! I didn’t even follow the link earlier because I was working under the (perhaps incorrect) assumption that **levdrakon** is not in fact brain-damaged and had linked to people wearing actual radiation protection gear. That’s classic. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/59 "2011-03-12T16:43:15Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > They are wearing _dust masks_ with their faces exposed? You think that this is evidence of people trying to protect themselves from nuclear radiation? Do you have some kind of brain damage? The sad part is that NPR is under the same impression. Either that, or they’re trying to add some sensationalism to the story. ---
**Author:** ![Zany\_Zeolite\_Zipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zany\_Zeolite\_Zipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zany_Zeolite_Zipper)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/60 "2011-03-12T16:52:20Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Cool! Now go film a reactor doing the same thing, from the same distance. Ok, I’ll run off and do that but first you need to get a video of a hydro damn bursting from that close downstream [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389.md?page=4)