# Still support nuke power plants? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 14, 2011, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/still-support-nuke-power-plants/574647 "2011-03-14T11:56:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 44
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/still-support-nuke-power-plants/574647/861 "2011-03-22T23:16:34Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > I will also note. once again, those limits are set for the most vulnerable - pregnant women and children. Also note that these limit levels are probably set for relatively frequent and or continous exposure, not short term exposure that happens once every 100 years or so when a scale 11 earthquake/tsunami occurs. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/still-support-nuke-power-plants/574647/862 "2011-03-22T23:22:34Z")
[QUOTE=Una Persson] I can’t comment on that, all I was saying is we don’t have easily wearable suits which protect us that much from gamma radiation. [/QUOTE] Ah…gotcha. I thought you were agreeing that the Japanese needed them and simply pointing out that they don’t exist at this time. -XT ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/still-support-nuke-power-plants/574647/863 "2011-03-22T23:35:57Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Not nearly to the extent \*\*FXMastermind \*\*thinks it does, of course. Now it’s your turn. You have any evidence that anyone anywhere has a remote controlled vehicle that can approach a strong gamma ray source? As in, get near enough to it to take some pictures? ---
**Author:** ![TravisFromOR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cc9497/32.png) [@TravisFromOR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TravisFromOR)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/still-support-nuke-power-plants/574647/864 "2011-03-22T23:39:36Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > Now it’s your turn. You have any evidence that anyone anywhere has a remote controlled vehicle that can approach a string gamma ray source? You have yet to take your turn in providing proof of all these dead and dieing people succumbing to radiation poisoning. (Or was that an untruth?) ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/still-support-nuke-power-plants/574647/865 "2011-03-22T23:46:22Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > You really don’t see how this makes you look like a total idiot? You know, I really fret about what anonymous cowards think of me on the internet. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/still-support-nuke-power-plants/574647/866 "2011-03-22T23:49:39Z")
The Russians used the same rovers they used to land on the moon at Chernobyl (though they had to build one specifically for use there, so they didn’t have it immediately). I think they eventually failed because of the high levels of radiation from the fully exposed core (they also had workers dying in droves by this point in their own crisis). I don’t know if anyone has a rover already built and ready to roll to go into the reactors in Japan though. I doubt it, since it would be a very specialized piece of equipment that would only be necessary on extremely rare occasions. -XT ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/still-support-nuke-power-plants/574647/867 "2011-03-22T23:52:33Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > The Russians used the same rovers they used to land on the moon at Chernobyl (though they had to build one specifically for use there, so they didn’t have it immediately). I think they eventually failed because of the high levels of radiation from the fully exposed core (they also had workers dying in droves by this point in their own crisis). > > I don’t know if anyone has a rover already built and ready to roll to go into the reactors in Japan though. I doubt it, since it would be a very specialized piece of equipment that would only be necessary on extremely rare occasions. > > -XT Well, if humans can’t go in and fix it, and robots can’t go in and fix it, I’m detecting a flaw in the plan… ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/still-support-nuke-power-plants/574647/868 "2011-03-22T23:56:21Z")
[QUOTE=levdrakon] Well, if humans can’t go in and fix it, and robots can’t go in and fix it, I’m detecting a flaw in the plan… [/QUOTE] The Russians simply sent in people to die until they managed to contain the problem (by this point in the Chernobyl incident there were several hundred dead Russians). If you mean the Japanese, they ARE sending in folks to repair the pump system…and, oddly enough, they aren’t dying in droves despite not having magical radiation protection. Why do you think that might be? -XT ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/still-support-nuke-power-plants/574647/869 "2011-03-22T23:59:32Z")
It’s magic! None of the workers are even seriously ill yet! Much less died or suffering from radiation! They have secret Japanese magic at work. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/still-support-nuke-power-plants/574647/870 "2011-03-23T00:00:49Z")
They must, since they are working in the area and you have yet to produce a cite showing they are dying in droves…and you have repeatedly made noises about how horrifically dangerous it is there. Can you explain this seeming contradiction? -XT ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/still-support-nuke-power-plants/574647/871 "2011-03-23T00:02:06Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Well, if humans can’t go in and fix it, and robots can’t go in and fix it, I’m detecting a flaw in the plan… Really? Gosh, just imagine if something were to really go wrong with a nuclear reactor? Or a pool of fuel rods? It might be a bad thing. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/still-support-nuke-power-plants/574647/872 "2011-03-23T00:04:34Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > Can you explain this seeming contradiction? Yes, but I actually can’t imagine the level of denial somebody lives in, to still believe that nobody has been killed, or even seriously injured, by the disaster at the plant. I keep thinking you are pullig my leg, and if I give you a serious answer you will then mock me. “Haha! FX is an idiot! He fell for it!” ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/still-support-nuke-power-plants/574647/873 "2011-03-23T00:11:41Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > Now it’s your turn. You have any evidence that anyone anywhere has a remote controlled vehicle that can approach a strong gamma ray source? As in, get near enough to it to take some pictures? There are several photos of Chernobyl’s “elephant foot” of corium on line. It’s an intense gamma ray source, among other types of radiation. Here, let me help you with a link:[link](http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_li03nsvTU51qcuammo1_500.jpg). The sparkly bits in the photo are the impact of radiation on the equipment. All photos of this object have them due to the quantity of radiation being put out. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/still-support-nuke-power-plants/574647/874 "2011-03-23T00:13:12Z")
[QUOTE=FXMastermind] Yes, but I actually can’t imagine the level of denial somebody lives in, to still believe that nobody has been killed, or even seriously injured, by the disaster at the plant. I keep thinking you are pullig my leg, and if I give you a serious answer you will then mock me. [/QUOTE] I never said anything about injury…that’s YOUR strawman. I pointed out that Japanese workers are in fact working on site at the nuclear reactor. They have restored power to several reactors and run power lead to others. They are currently working on the pump systems that are down. They aren’t dying in droves. You have yet to give a serious answer as to why this is the case. They aren’t wearing any more protection than the workers at Chernobyl, yet hundred of Russian WORKERS died. Many thousands were injured. Why is this different? What’s your ‘serious’ answer to this? > [@](#): > > “Haha! FX is an idiot! He fell for it!” Enough people think this without calling yourself names. I never called you an idiot, so, again this is YOUR strawman. If you would like to try and give a ‘serious’ answer, feel free. It would be a refreshing change. -XT ---
**Author:** ![Hank\_Beecher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hank_beecher/32/7275_2.png) [@Hank\_Beecher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hank_Beecher)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/still-support-nuke-power-plants/574647/875 "2011-03-23T00:28:49Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > Yes, but I actually can’t imagine the level of denial somebody lives in, to still believe that nobody has been killed, or even seriously injured, by the disaster at the plant. I keep thinking you are pullig my leg, and if I give you a serious answer you will then mock me. > > “Haha! FX is an idiot! He fell for it!” So far there is the guy that fell off the crane. If you know of other deaths please share your sources. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/still-support-nuke-power-plants/574647/876 "2011-03-23T00:36:17Z")
Deaths? Nobody is even in the hospital. This proves how safe nuclear power actually is. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/still-support-nuke-power-plants/574647/877 "2011-03-23T00:39:13Z")
How do we know the workers aren’t all dying? I mean, they’re wearing suits so who would know? They could blame all the disappearances on the tsunami. OMG! ---
**Author:** ![matt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@matt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/still-support-nuke-power-plants/574647/878 "2011-03-23T00:40:30Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > Yes, but I actually can’t imagine the level of denial somebody lives in, to still believe that nobody has been killed, or even seriously injured, by the disaster at the plant. I keep thinking you are pullig my leg, and if I give you a serious answer you will then mock me. > > “Haha! FX is an idiot! He fell for it!” You did not say that you thought it _very likely_ or _virtually certain_ that that there has been or will be radiation deaths. You said there were images coming out of Japan showing people sick and dead from radiation. You did not provide a link or an offline source. You have been challenged on it several times, and have ignored that, and now you are being evasive, something you accuse others of doing rather frequently. Is it so hard to say you were mistaken about the images (or just that you don’t have an online source) but it is your opinion that there have been radiation deaths already? You may well be right that someone has died from radiation poisoning due to this incident, or you could be completely wrong. But you have a habit of posting your own mental constructions as if they were facts and shifting the goalposts or changing the subject whenever you are challenged. You find a cite that US drones have been surveying the area and leap to the conclusion that drone footage is being concealed from the public for nefarious reasons. Did it not occur to you that perhaps the US military wants to keep the drone’s imaging capabilities secret? You assume that the penetrating ability of gamma means that there are gamma-ray images of the insides of the reactors, that again are being suppressed by the powers of evil. You are simply wrong. You can’t image with gamma that easily - you can’t focus it so you need a small collimated source and a film right against the thing you’re trying to image. (Right now I’m sitting 5 yards away from our radiography bay that uses small isotope sources to check welds in pipes. I have first-hand experience.) You have posted contentious claims and incorrect claims and been entirely non-responsive when called on them. You can’t even relay information from a news broadcast reliably, and you just change the subject and post about a different aspect of the situation when challenged on anything. Why should anyone trouble themselves to attempt to engage with you any further? ---
**Author:** ![Hank\_Beecher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hank_beecher/32/7275_2.png) [@Hank\_Beecher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hank_Beecher)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/still-support-nuke-power-plants/574647/879 "2011-03-23T00:41:01Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > Deaths? Nobody is even in the hospital. This proves how safe nuclear power actually is. Yep. Safer than a beach house or a car. Except for people who get their ideas about nuclear power from comic books. They might get stressed from watching CNN and stroke out. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/still-support-nuke-power-plants/574647/880 "2011-03-23T00:50:10Z")
[QUOTE=levdrakon] How do we know the workers aren’t all dying? I mean, they’re wearing suits so who would know? They could blame all the disappearances on the tsunami. [/QUOTE] Hopefully the ‘OMG!’ signifies you don’t take the above seriously. [QUOTE=FXMastermind] Deaths? Nobody is even in the hospital. This proves how safe nuclear power actually is. [/QUOTE] I guess that means, no…you don’t have a serious answer. Or any sort of answer at all. Perhaps when come back will have pie… -XT [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/still-support-nuke-power-plants/574647.md?page=43) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/still-support-nuke-power-plants/574647.md?page=45)