Video of the explosion itself:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12720219

Now, to my untrained eye, the explosion was 'shaped'. It clearly has an upward blast, with some lateral blasts. But not a lot of diagonal blast. My uneducated guess there is that it was an air-mix explosion, contained within the rectangular building. That would explain the shape and resultant destruction of the building. If it had been a core explosion, I would expect a more uniform shape? (Reactors are domes usually?). You can see the panels of the building flying off in specific directions.

Don't worry I'm sure we are all familiar with MCB units around these parts... :03:

Looks like there are several agencies in the US and around the world trying to help. The American Red Cross is involved; others are, too. A quick Google search turns up a ton of links. I found this one via the Red Cross' site: LINK

I would stick with the Red Cross, or another organization you KNOW is over there helping. Too many chances to get scammed.

From Reuters an hour ago:
Now another reactors cooling system fails........:o

My God! They are about to Nuke themselves!
Who would have imagined.

Anybody know the population density around these plants? They rural?

The good news is, the prevailing winds will take most of this to sea....

I have not been able to find out if these specific reactors incorporated a dispersal design in the containment vessel in case of a fuel rod melt down. I hope so. The news is not reporting the important stuff, as usual they are focusing on the emotional stuff. :damn:

The Japanese take their nuclear safety pretty carefully.

A very bad thing is happening. :nope:

I always wondered if it really is a good idea to have around 60 nuclear plants in the one place on earth that tectonically is more active than any other region the world. Four continental plates meet below Japan.

It was just a question of time, I think.

And then to build them so close to the ocean shoreline. Haven't they never had Tsunamis before...?

The storage problem with nuclear waste is still unsolved, and these events now shpow us that man's ingenuity is no match for Mother Nature if she decides to really let the dogs off the chain.

No matter how thick the concrete is that you build with.

Very bad indeed.

But I have to wonder, if that carefulness was just lip service. I doubt that though due to the nature of their culture, but you never know. I just wonder if there was something going on behind the scenes that we'll hear about years from now, that is allowing this to happen.

Then again, sometimes **** just happens, and there's nothing we can do to stop it.

I wonder how this will afect reactor designs in the fututre.... if this allows for a future for Nuclear reactors at all.

I grew up in the shadow of a nuc plant, and still live within 20 miles of it. They always said perry was super safe, but I'm having my doubts now. Course the worst quake we've ever had was like a 3 something...

All valid points. :yep:

In my opinion, the future of nuclear reactors is to build more reactors but smaller reactors. Underground reactors are still a good idea as long as the design is correct. One of the advantages of underground reactors is that it is easier to design in external dispersement mechanisms in case of a meltdown.

I have even seen plans for underwater nuclear reactors which is not as crazy an idea as it first appears.

But in any case, smaller reactors, if they have an accident, will be easier to contain as opposed to the more common mega-reactors. Smaller reactors will be more expensive (as you need more), but I think the extra cost will be justified by the lowering of the risk in case of an accident.

Nuclear power is not the ultimate power source, but it can serve as an excellent transition power source until we can come up with something better.

Yea, and if Perry goes?
I'm close enuff to worry myself!
(Didn't realize your that close to me Mate!)

If perry goes, I die, a few weeks from now. My family goes that day.

I step back into my old medic role and do what I can till my time's up.


Of course... Niagara Falls will have a different glow at night now.....

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...wWQMsiOdO0BeY-

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...7tDLxVUasz4mq2



And heck... I've had my loc posted over there (<----) since I've joined. :D

Google Maps says your near Manila!
:har:

Japanese Government Confirms Meltdown

March 12, 2011 | 2148 GMT

Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) said March 12 that the explosion at the Fukushima Daiichi No. 1 nuclear plant could only have been caused by a meltdown of the reactor core, Japanese daily Nikkei reported. This statement seemed somewhat at odds with Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano’s comments earlier March 12, in which he said “the walls of the building containing the reactor were destroyed, meaning that the metal container encasing the reactor did not explode.”

http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/201...f992d0e3cf4458