"Chasing Ice" is a documentary about the planet's loss of ice due to global warming. Here's a trailer:
Friday, November 30, 2012
Dispersants Made Deep Water Horizon Spill 52 Times More Toxic
Based on rotifer studies, a common organism used to understand ecotoxicity.
The Economics Of Radwaste Disposal
General rule is cheaper is better as long as regulatory compliance is satisfactory.
Possible Sabotage At San Onofre
Coolant in emergency diesel generator oil reservoir - possible employee retaliation to impending layoffs.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Ice, Ice Baby
A new study shows that ice sheet loss at both poles is increasing.
But fear not, there's likely ice on Mercury.
Music please, Maestro (no, not Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby", rather Bowie/Queen's "Under Pressure" from which he stole the bass riff):
But fear not, there's likely ice on Mercury.
Music please, Maestro (no, not Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby", rather Bowie/Queen's "Under Pressure" from which he stole the bass riff):
CNN - How Old Is The Earth?
It's good that they had Bill Nye on to criticize the stupidity. But the caption shouldn't say "...debate over the age of the Earth...".
There is no debate.
There is no debate.
Does Ubiquitination Cause Cancer?
This study of the Ras gene sure makes it seem so. We've known gene mutations in Ras can lead to cancer, but ubiquitination is an epigenetic effect.
Does Genomic Instability Cause Cancer?
This has been a pretty old question. Cancer cells are notorious for having lost control of their genomes, but is this a symptom or a driver of cancer? A recent study with fruit flies indicates it's a driver.
Note that in addition to causing mutations in DNA in the "hit" cell, ionizing radiation also causes genomic instability whose effects include mutations, chromosome aberrations, aneuploidy and micronuclei, in cell daughters several generations after the "hit".
Note that in addition to causing mutations in DNA in the "hit" cell, ionizing radiation also causes genomic instability whose effects include mutations, chromosome aberrations, aneuploidy and micronuclei, in cell daughters several generations after the "hit".
Ted Rockwell's Ironic Plea
In the December issue of the Health Physics Society's Newsletter he asks for assistance from "radiological protection experts" to denounce the NYAS's Chernobyl book.
The editorial is titled, "The Responsibilities Of Being A Radiological Protection Expert".
The irony is that he co-chaired the 2012 ANS President's Special Session which was an overt attempt to deny the science of health physics.
So, being a responsible "radiological protection expert", I criticized that session (as I do the Chernobyl book).
See this earlier post on both attempts to politicalize health physics.
The editorial is titled, "The Responsibilities Of Being A Radiological Protection Expert".
The irony is that he co-chaired the 2012 ANS President's Special Session which was an overt attempt to deny the science of health physics.
So, being a responsible "radiological protection expert", I criticized that session (as I do the Chernobyl book).
See this earlier post on both attempts to politicalize health physics.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Closer Scrutiny Of CT Scan Exposures
Were recommended in the journal Radiology. This study may be relevant.
If The Last Post Didn't Hurt, This One Will
Wild animals at the usually animatronic "museum" devoted to willful ignorance:
More Anti-Science Propaganda By The Discovery Institute
This time with a documentary attempting to show that C.S. Lewis, who had warned how science could be twisted to attack religion and limit human freedom, was prophetic. Not that there hasn't been plenty of evidence of people using religion in order to limit human freedom! Nah!
How A Nuclear Power Plant Works
High quality video by a low quality group (The Heritage Foundation, which was mentioned in the article associated with an earlier post today). Other videos in their series, "Powering America" can be found at the link given at the end of this video (I've posted a few before, search "heritage").
Chernobyl Milestone (Improved)
Why Conservatives Turned Against Science
Because science exposed failures of the free market.
And not surprisingly. scientists have fled the Republican Party.
And not surprisingly. scientists have fled the Republican Party.
Global Warming - Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life
Some scientists are looking for ways we can use climate change to our advantage.
Music please, Maestro:
Music please, Maestro:
Court Room - Homeopathy vs. Medicine
Homeopathy found guilty of being stupid.
Medicine wins!
Remember kids, radiation hormesis was originally promoted by comparing it to homeopathy.
Of Course! This Is America!
About 64% of adult patients undergoing outpatient CT didn't know what radiologists do.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Arafat's Remains Exhumed To Check For Poisoning
Po-210 is one suspected agent, though Arafat's symptoms didn't really match those of Po-210 poisoning.
But then why were some of his personal articles contaminated years later (it has a half life of 138 days)?
But then why were some of his personal articles contaminated years later (it has a half life of 138 days)?
RealClearScience Asst. Editor, Doesn't Understand Science
Or at least the philosophy of the science. Ross Pomerey tries to support the claim that strict atheism is unscientific. His basic argument boils down to "you can't prove god doesn't exist!".
Of course, he fails to define "God". The reader is free to imagine any god he/she wants to and assume Pomerey is addressing that version. Maybe he is, maybe he isn't.
We can all imagine whatever we want exists, like unicorns, fairies, gods, etc.
Just because we can imagine it, is not a good reason to think they actually exist.
An existence claim of something not generally observed requires evidence, and an existence claim of something extraordinary, like gods, requires extraordinary evidence.
No such evidence exists, so there's no reason to believe in gods.
Of course, he fails to define "God". The reader is free to imagine any god he/she wants to and assume Pomerey is addressing that version. Maybe he is, maybe he isn't.
We can all imagine whatever we want exists, like unicorns, fairies, gods, etc.
Just because we can imagine it, is not a good reason to think they actually exist.
An existence claim of something not generally observed requires evidence, and an existence claim of something extraordinary, like gods, requires extraordinary evidence.
No such evidence exists, so there's no reason to believe in gods.
Entertainer Caldicott In Japan
Anti-nuclear entertainer Helen Caldicott was in Japan recently. I don't understand the questions, but I understand the answers. I do hope the audience isn't taking her seriously, but they probably are:
Climate Denial Groups Work To Reverse Renewable Energy Mandates
No, they're not climate skeptics...they're deniers. When groups deny the preponderance of the evidence then the actions that they undertake will not be reality-based.
U.S. Scientists Learn From Fukushima
Members of the National Academy of Sciences went to Japan to prepare for an upcoming report due to be released in 2014.
ANS & NYAS - Case Studies In HP Politicalization
I thought I'd take a moment to reflect on the similarities and differences between the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS) publication of the Chernobyl book, and the American Nuclear Society's (ANS) 2012 President's Special Session On Low Level Radiation & Its Implications For Fukushima Recovery.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Climate Change: From Biotic To Exotic
In a talk by Minda Berbeco, superhero (you'll understand if you watch it, and you should watch it with a glass of wine!):
Climate Change Evident Across Europe
According to a new, free online report published by the EU's European Environment Agency.
Errata - Earth Isn't Old
Post-Fukushima: "Coexisting With Nature"
I haven't seen David Suzuki in some time (he was the host of the long-running television science series, The Nature Of Things). Here he is in a NHK documentary about Japan, asserting the need for a change of direction in energy production:
U.N. Human Rights Rapporteur On Fukushima
A rapporteur is someone who is charged by an organization to develop a report on a particular subject and inform the organization of the results. In this case the organization is the U.N. Human Rights Committee, the subject is Fukushima, and the rapporteur is Anand Grover.
.
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WHO Draft Report Of Fukushima Health Effects
Apparently a draft of the report is available, though it's not on their website. As expected the predicted cancer risk increases are very low.
Poor Arnie! Will he pull a Pat or not?
Poor Arnie! Will he pull a Pat or not?
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Practicing This Is A Waste Of Time
Here's Pat Robertson explaining why, even though he had said god had revealed to him that Romney would win the last Presidential election, Obama won. He suggests practicing to try to hear voices in your head until you do. I suggest practicing just about anything else:
Here was his "revelation" from last January:
Here was his "revelation" from last January:
Britain To Encourage Nuclear & Wind Power
A bit of good news amidst a possible calamity (see previous post).
Global Warming Calamity Warnings
This article describes the international meeting going on in Doha, Qatar.
The snapshot of climate change numbers (at end of article) is troubling.
(I don't recall ever seeing the message of calamity associated with a photo of cooling towers, unless the message was anti-nuclear and the cooling towers belonged to a nuclear power plant.)
The snapshot of climate change numbers (at end of article) is troubling.
(I don't recall ever seeing the message of calamity associated with a photo of cooling towers, unless the message was anti-nuclear and the cooling towers belonged to a nuclear power plant.)
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Fukushima & The ICRP
The International Commission On Radiological Protection (ICRP) formed a unique task group to understand the radiological issues associated with Fukushima so that the information could be assimilated within the ICRP's work of promulgating radiation protection recommendations.
The initial lessons learned by the task force can be found at the ICRP website (left hand side, under "News").
The initial lessons learned by the task force can be found at the ICRP website (left hand side, under "News").
PSR Plays The "Safe" Game
The Physicians For Social Responsibility (PSR) is an anti-nuclear group and it contains an Environmental Health Policy Institute. Their current topic is Radioactivity and Health.
Two of the papers deal with health physics and both play on the word "safe" ("Radiation's Risk To Public Health" & "An Overview Of Radiation and Health").
Those authors over-emphasize the absolute meaning of "safe"....that radiation exposure does increase the risk of cancer. That's true.
But there's also a relative meaning of "safe"....meaning that every endeavor involves some sort of risk so any radiation exposure (and any associated benefit) should be considered relative to other endeavors. So, we can compare the risk of an x-ray in order to diagnose a pain we're experiencing to an alternative of surgery which involves its own risk. Or we can forgo diagnosis, which also has its own risks.
We can compare the risk of radiation exposure from nuclear power to risks associated with other energy sources. Or we can forgo energy, which has its own risks. Energy is a benefit which powers hospitals, heating and cooling systems, etc. and therefore saves lives. Of course electricity itself also kills people, in addition to the byproducts of energy production.
If the PSR elaborated on relative safety, it would talk itself out of its agenda.
Two of the papers deal with health physics and both play on the word "safe" ("Radiation's Risk To Public Health" & "An Overview Of Radiation and Health").
Those authors over-emphasize the absolute meaning of "safe"....that radiation exposure does increase the risk of cancer. That's true.
But there's also a relative meaning of "safe"....meaning that every endeavor involves some sort of risk so any radiation exposure (and any associated benefit) should be considered relative to other endeavors. So, we can compare the risk of an x-ray in order to diagnose a pain we're experiencing to an alternative of surgery which involves its own risk. Or we can forgo diagnosis, which also has its own risks.
We can compare the risk of radiation exposure from nuclear power to risks associated with other energy sources. Or we can forgo energy, which has its own risks. Energy is a benefit which powers hospitals, heating and cooling systems, etc. and therefore saves lives. Of course electricity itself also kills people, in addition to the byproducts of energy production.
If the PSR elaborated on relative safety, it would talk itself out of its agenda.
Leukemia Risks Amongst French Nuclear Workers
The study, published in the recent Radiation Research journal (as was the study of the previous post), shows an increased risk.
Chernobyl Worker Thyroid Study
Shows increased thyroid cancer risk.
This follows on the heals of an earlier study on leukemia incidence among Chernobyl workers.
This follows on the heals of an earlier study on leukemia incidence among Chernobyl workers.
Physical Scientists Take On Cancer
Here's a free online supplement of Outlook courtesy of the journal Nature which has a wonderful collection of easy-to-read papers on the topic.
Climate Change News
The World Bank fears a 4C warming trend. "The time is very, very short."
Reduced Russian arctic ice.
Reduced Russian arctic ice.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Shooting ANS's "Nuclear News" P2
I mentioned yesterday in P1 that I would post pertinent parts of my email to the Nuclear News' Editor/Publisher.
Viola:
Viola:
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Carbon Capture Plants To Compete With Nuclear
In the next decade, in the U.K. if all goes as planned.
Shooting ANS's "Nuclear News" P1
As in "shooting the messenger". And I am, and maybe I'll hit the sender (American Nuclear Society) too.
I criticized Nuclear News' coverage of the 2012 ANS's President's Special Session here, after criticizing the meeting itself.
In November's Nuclear News (NN) there is an editorial titled "Don't shoot the messenger" in which the Editor & Publisher, Betsy Tompkins, defends the publication against the criticism it received. Ironically, the NN is shooting the messenger (me) who is delivering a message they don't seem to want to hear.
She provides two key arguments:
1. Her reporters reported what was said, which as non-critical reporters they are supposed to do.
2. Opinions expressed within the publication are not necessarily those of anyone else, including the American Nuclear Society.
I criticized Nuclear News' coverage of the 2012 ANS's President's Special Session here, after criticizing the meeting itself.
In November's Nuclear News (NN) there is an editorial titled "Don't shoot the messenger" in which the Editor & Publisher, Betsy Tompkins, defends the publication against the criticism it received. Ironically, the NN is shooting the messenger (me) who is delivering a message they don't seem to want to hear.
She provides two key arguments:
1. Her reporters reported what was said, which as non-critical reporters they are supposed to do.
2. Opinions expressed within the publication are not necessarily those of anyone else, including the American Nuclear Society.
Irrational Factors Drive End Of Life Rad Treatments
Interesting article about radiation treatments delivered to terminal cancer patients to help relieve some of their symptoms.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Swiss Rx Shuts Down, Makes News
Don't ask me why.
Well, since you've asked...any unusual event at a nuclear reactor is seen as news by some because it infers human weakness regarding a technology. That promotes fear-mongering and helps to attract readers/viewers/listeners to the media that is being peddled.
Well, since you've asked...any unusual event at a nuclear reactor is seen as news by some because it infers human weakness regarding a technology. That promotes fear-mongering and helps to attract readers/viewers/listeners to the media that is being peddled.
Christian Worldview Necessary For Rise Of Science???
According to James Hannam it was. I say Bullshit, BioLogos. In case you don't know, Biologos promotes the idea that evolutionary biology is true, but that God (Jesus, not Thor, Yahweh, Mithra, or any of the other thousands of gods) is behind it.
He mentions that we recognize the contributions of the Greeks and Muslims, which we do. But he says they were often wrong. Okay, so were many Christians of the period. In fact, some Christians today perform faith healing which doesn't work, while others perform exorcisms. We can discuss Galen of Pergamum, but we need not go back that far in history. Open thine eyes, imbecile.
No educated person thinks that "religion held back science at every opportunity". That's absurd. But religion is not science and it's not history. So it doesn't help those pursuits which are based on facts.
Some Christians pursued science, others fought it. Those who pursued it, could have done so without any knowledge of Christianity, and those who fought it largely did so due to religious bias, though other factors could contribute like power.
People in that part of the world traveled and spread word of what was going on in each region. Science evolved as each group learned from another.
The early scientists were natural philosophers who decided to understand the world by studying nature. Most of those folks were originally religious and used their sacred texts to guide their studies. If the sacred texts had sufficient information in them, there would be no need to study nature. It soon became apparent though that nature didn't agree with the sacred texts. The guides weren't guiding, they were misleading. It wasn't long before it was obvious that they were wrong.
A religion based on the sacred texts (Christianity for example) is wrong.
He mentions that we recognize the contributions of the Greeks and Muslims, which we do. But he says they were often wrong. Okay, so were many Christians of the period. In fact, some Christians today perform faith healing which doesn't work, while others perform exorcisms. We can discuss Galen of Pergamum, but we need not go back that far in history. Open thine eyes, imbecile.
No educated person thinks that "religion held back science at every opportunity". That's absurd. But religion is not science and it's not history. So it doesn't help those pursuits which are based on facts.
Some Christians pursued science, others fought it. Those who pursued it, could have done so without any knowledge of Christianity, and those who fought it largely did so due to religious bias, though other factors could contribute like power.
People in that part of the world traveled and spread word of what was going on in each region. Science evolved as each group learned from another.
The early scientists were natural philosophers who decided to understand the world by studying nature. Most of those folks were originally religious and used their sacred texts to guide their studies. If the sacred texts had sufficient information in them, there would be no need to study nature. It soon became apparent though that nature didn't agree with the sacred texts. The guides weren't guiding, they were misleading. It wasn't long before it was obvious that they were wrong.
A religion based on the sacred texts (Christianity for example) is wrong.
German Report On Fukushima Thyroid Exams
Click the "CC" button if you don't see English subtitles. As I mentioned yesterday, whether or not 40% or so of the kids have thyroid abnormalities is actually unusual or not depends on the background incidence. That is what the Nagasaki study is going to give some sense of.
Helen Caldicott In Japan
Spewing her fear-mongering.
Fetuses are not thousands of times more sensitive to radiation. Cancer isn't "incubated", that refers to viruses or bacteria. No one knows what the background level is of thyroid abnormalities is in Japan, that's why the government is currently studying far away thyroid abnormalities in Nagasaki for comparison. There are regulations about radioactive food being consumed in Japan, the limit is 100 Bq/kg.
No, we shouldn't make personnel medical records public. And no, the #4 spent fuel pool won't catch fire.
Clueless in Japan.
Fetuses are not thousands of times more sensitive to radiation. Cancer isn't "incubated", that refers to viruses or bacteria. No one knows what the background level is of thyroid abnormalities is in Japan, that's why the government is currently studying far away thyroid abnormalities in Nagasaki for comparison. There are regulations about radioactive food being consumed in Japan, the limit is 100 Bq/kg.
No, we shouldn't make personnel medical records public. And no, the #4 spent fuel pool won't catch fire.
Clueless in Japan.
Global Warming Targets Further Out Of Reach
At the rate greenhouse gases are accumulating, this will be catastrophic. Ironically, the global economic slowdown also helped slow down the rise in greenhouse gases.
Wild Mushrooms Far From Fukushima Have High Rad Levels
Cesium. Presumably from rain-out off of trees and shrubs.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Another Radiation Book Advocates Hormesis
I'm not surprised based on its title, "Understanding Radiation: A Common Sense Approach". There's no such thing as common sense. Following one's intuitions (which is what is meant by the term "common sense") frequently leads to the wrong conclusions.
The book was reviewed in the December, 2012 Health Physics Journal and the reviewer, Matt Grypp, was disappointed with it mostly due to the book's "advocating hormesis".
It's like the author is trying to be an American version of Wade Allison (who has a book titled"Radiation and Reason", which also promotes hormesis).
Don't waste your money on either one.
The book was reviewed in the December, 2012 Health Physics Journal and the reviewer, Matt Grypp, was disappointed with it mostly due to the book's "advocating hormesis".
It's like the author is trying to be an American version of Wade Allison (who has a book titled"Radiation and Reason", which also promotes hormesis).
Don't waste your money on either one.
Japan Doing Epidemiology On Kid's Thyroid Symptoms
Comparing kids in Nagasaki (control cohort) to those around Fukushima (exposed cohort).
The Pope's Circular "Logic"
From the article on his book about Jesus' childhood:
"Catholics should see belief in the virgin
birth and the resurrection of Jesus from the dead as "cornerstones of faith"
because they are undeniable signs of God's creative power.
"If God does not also have power over
matter, then he simply is not God," Benedict writes. "But he does have this
power, and through the conception and resurrection of Jesus Christ he has
ushered in a new creation.""
In other words, believe in the virgin birth and resurrection in order to convince yourself of god's power. That's circular logic - no thank you.
Show me evidence of virgin births and resurrections and based on the strength of the evidence I may believe you.
Stories are not evidence.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Rubio Is A Creationist
As the Republicans struggle to attract Latino voters, one prospect is FL Senator Marco Rubio, since he is a Latino himself. But he's an ignorant creationist!
Solar Power To Eclipse Nuke Power In Romania
By 2016 if current pace of photovoltaic investment continues.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Breast "Brachytherapy"
Well, it's not really brachytherapy because the radioactive seed isn't being used to treat the tumor, it's being used as a signalling device so the surgeon can locate the tumor.
Republicans - The Stupid Party
Here's an op-ed in the Washington Post regarding LA Governor Bobby Jindal's recent remarks on the subject.
Friday, November 16, 2012
Chernobyl's Babushkas
From last week....obviously a bit of exaggerating on radiation's toxicity. At the end of the article it says that the author is making a documentary. We urgently need that! HA!
The Myth Of The Radiation: No-Safe-Level Myth
I've just come across a website called The Hiroshima Syndrome. That syndrome supposedly consists of 3 elements, one of which is the "no safe level of radiation myth".
But the author is engaged in mythology too by trying to sell the hocus-pocus of hormesis (see the right hand side of this webpage for other pages on hormesis or just use the search function).
It is true, relatively, that there is a myth that no safe level of radiation exists. No one who flies on airplanes thinks the additional radiation is "unsafe", or they wouldn't fly. And those who avoid airplanes out of fear, are fearful of crashing, not radiation.
But in an absolute sense, there is no safe level of radiation...a single photon can damage DNA, and DNA cannot repair itself perfectly (thankfully). It is not a myth.
But the author is engaged in mythology too by trying to sell the hocus-pocus of hormesis (see the right hand side of this webpage for other pages on hormesis or just use the search function).
It is true, relatively, that there is a myth that no safe level of radiation exists. No one who flies on airplanes thinks the additional radiation is "unsafe", or they wouldn't fly. And those who avoid airplanes out of fear, are fearful of crashing, not radiation.
But in an absolute sense, there is no safe level of radiation...a single photon can damage DNA, and DNA cannot repair itself perfectly (thankfully). It is not a myth.
Homeopathic "Logic"
Dr. Steve Novella discusses the medical silliness known as homeopathy. Recall that homeopathy was used as a "logical" basis for comparison for radiation hormesis by T.D. Luckey.
ANS Special Committee On Fukushima
This was uploaded last month, I'm not sure when the conference actually occurred. Health physics is discussed at 14:15 and the fact that any excess cancers would not expect to be seen this early is not mentioned:
ND Landfill Increases Fines For Rad Waste
The existing $1,000 fine wasn't enough to prevent oil companies from trying to dispose of naturally occurring radioactive material waste. So they've increased the fine to $10,000.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Decontamination - Losing The Sheltering Trees
An NHK documentary about the removal of contaminated trees and other decontamination efforts from Fukushima:
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Radiation - No Dose Threshold
Duh! As long as one photon can cause DNA damage and DNA repair is imperfect, there will always be a non-zero cancer risk or genetic risk associated with the photon.
Frequently, not-so-bright people arguing for a threshold point to areas where the natural radioactivity is higher than average. They claim living there is "safe" because...people live there. Or something. Usually it involves the ecologic fallacy.
Recently, two scientists did a meta-analysis of other studies involving this subject and concluded no dose threshold.
Of course, there will be those folks who will see what the lowest radiation level was in that study, and then they'll claim that there is a threshold for doses below that level.
Frequently, not-so-bright people arguing for a threshold point to areas where the natural radioactivity is higher than average. They claim living there is "safe" because...people live there. Or something. Usually it involves the ecologic fallacy.
Recently, two scientists did a meta-analysis of other studies involving this subject and concluded no dose threshold.
Of course, there will be those folks who will see what the lowest radiation level was in that study, and then they'll claim that there is a threshold for doses below that level.
Targeting Protein To Prevent Cancer Metastasis
It's called Cdc42 and it helps cancer cells attach to endothelial cells of blood vessels so they can mobilize to other areas of the body.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
I'll Drink To That!
Alcohol lowers risk of certain lymphomas, though the study depended on questionnaires.
Monday, November 12, 2012
One Way Chronic Inflammation Can Cause Cancer
The body releases interleukin-5 (IL-5, a hormone like substance) to stimulate the propagation of natural killer cells following a virus infection. The IL-5 can cause another type of immune cell, large granular lymphocytes, to become cancerous.
Climate Change Report Outlines Security Perils
Climate change will "will create more frequent but unpredictable crises in water supplies, food markets, energy supply chains and public health systems."
Radon - Blame It On Glaciers
Here's a good article from Sioux City, Iowa about their high radon levels, which are thought to be due to glacial advances and retreats years ago, which produced loose soil today. The loose soil allows radon to escape more easily.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Last Post For A Few Days
I'll be traveling this weekend with no computer. I'll get back to posting as soon as I can.
The Fox News Bubble
You only have to watch Fox News for a few minutes to understand that they don't do journalism. They do current events mixed in with right-wing propaganda. Yet, Republicans turn to them time and time again to get their "information".
Chernobyl Worker Leukemia Study
A sound nested case control study of some Chernobyl workers has been completed. Most interesting is that it shows an increased risk of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, which didn't show up in the Japanese A-bomb study. This highlights the importance of understanding that different populations have different genetic backgrounds and environmental conditions and these factors can change the radiation risk between different populations.
Medical Isotope Plant On Track
The company is called SHINE and it produces the very popular medical isotope, Mo-99 (popular for diagnostic imaging thanks to its decay product Tc-99m). Historically, this isotope has been generated by nuclear reactors, but due to proliferation concerns, the U.S. government is providing financial to companies that use alternative technologies.
SHINE's technology uses a low energy neutron source and specific targets to form the Mo-99.
SHINE's technology uses a low energy neutron source and specific targets to form the Mo-99.
It Applies To The Nuclide!
The Air Force has some instruments and dust that they want to dispose of as waste, but the instruments have dials which glow in the dark, thanks to radium paint (also in the dust).
So here's an article about the disposition of the waste. The article says the AF classified the waste as naturally occurring.
Well in a very broad sense all waste is naturally occurring (it's not supernatural!).
But what "naturally occurring" refers to in this case is the nuclide. If the nuclide was formed by natural processes it is naturally occurring. In the case of radium it is formed by the decay of uranium and thorium which were incorporated into the Earth as it evolved into a planet. So this nuclide, and therefore the waste is properly classified as naturally occurring (or Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material, NORM sometimes called TENORM when the NORM has been technically enhanced or concentrated by humans).
Contrast with cesium-137 which is formed by the fission of uranium in a man-made reactor. The cesium-137 is not naturally occurring (though if some natural uranium in the ground were to concentrate and fission without any human interaction, the cesium-137 formed would be naturally occurring).
So here's an article about the disposition of the waste. The article says the AF classified the waste as naturally occurring.
Well in a very broad sense all waste is naturally occurring (it's not supernatural!).
But what "naturally occurring" refers to in this case is the nuclide. If the nuclide was formed by natural processes it is naturally occurring. In the case of radium it is formed by the decay of uranium and thorium which were incorporated into the Earth as it evolved into a planet. So this nuclide, and therefore the waste is properly classified as naturally occurring (or Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material, NORM sometimes called TENORM when the NORM has been technically enhanced or concentrated by humans).
Contrast with cesium-137 which is formed by the fission of uranium in a man-made reactor. The cesium-137 is not naturally occurring (though if some natural uranium in the ground were to concentrate and fission without any human interaction, the cesium-137 formed would be naturally occurring).
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Religidiot vs. Religidiot
Sit back and enjoy the fun...have some popcorn or a cold beer. This is funny stuff.
I have written a few posts on the Discovery Institute. They try to advance the concept of Intelligent Design (those who fall for it are IDiots). In other words, evolutionary biology is all wrong, there is actually an intelligent designer (pssst....Jesus, not Thor, Zeus, or Yahweh).
Then we have Biologos. They believe in Jesus outright AND evolutionary biology.
So it's really funny to see them attack the IDiots.
I have written a few posts on the Discovery Institute. They try to advance the concept of Intelligent Design (those who fall for it are IDiots). In other words, evolutionary biology is all wrong, there is actually an intelligent designer (pssst....Jesus, not Thor, Zeus, or Yahweh).
Then we have Biologos. They believe in Jesus outright AND evolutionary biology.
So it's really funny to see them attack the IDiots.
Nuke Sub Fire Set To Get Out Of Work
And now the arsonist has pleaded guilty and may get 15-19 years.
DOE Asks For INL Cleanup Extension
What choice does Idaho have? They'll have to allow the extension, it's really about whether they impose fines or not.
Truth
A good article describing the differences between subjectivity, deductive logic, and inductive logic.
"Many people would sooner die than think; In fact, they do so."
Bertrand Russell
"Many people would sooner die than think; In fact, they do so."
Bertrand Russell
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Next IPCC Climate Report Will Be Shocking
According to an insider.
"It's a bit like being shocked into stopping smoking when you've been told you've got terminal cancer."
"It's a bit like being shocked into stopping smoking when you've been told you've got terminal cancer."
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Stupid Palisades Headline
Entergy Palisades plant leak contained radiation.
Everytime I take a leak it contains radiation too.
Everytime I take a leak it contains radiation too.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Hurricane Sandy's Double Whammy
A new Climate Denial Crock of the Week video by Peter Sinclair. Most of his videos are more science based than this one, this latest one includes a bit of humor:
The Evolution Of Creationism
Young Earth Creationists don't read the Geological Society of America's Today journal, so I'm not sure Dr. Montgomery's article will have much impact.
Fukushima Documentary - "Their Fate In Their Hands"
This one is actually pretty good. It's focused on the lack of preparedness and training for potassium iodide distribution in the town of Miharu:
Unprecedented Global Carbon Cuts Needed
Carbon emissions need to be cut by 5% per year in order to prevent a 2C temperature rise by 2050.
Good luck.
Good luck.
The War On Science
With Greg Laden (first few seconds of audio are missing, don't be alarmed). Of course he doesn't get into the war on health physics, which most people aren't even aware of, but he discusses evolution, global warming, vaccines and food supply:
S/G Shipment From CA To UT
A retired steam generator was scheduled to ship from San Onofre to EnergySolutions last night.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
In The Beginning: Science, Origins, & Religion
Here's Genie Scott speaking at Westminster College in September on the subject. The audio could be better:
Brain Differences Between Republicans & Democrats
Neuroscience is providing some insights. Here are some snippets of Romney supporters (of course only showing the ones they want to show).
Very different brains:
Very different brains:
Saturday, November 3, 2012
The Pentagon Is Going Green
Less fuel means less fuel convoys, which means fewer targets for the enemy. Also makes the forces more flexible with enhanced choices of fuel sources.
Hanford Advisory Board Recommends New Tanks
An abrupt shift in thinking from getting the waste treated, due to an existing leaking tank.
Meet A Climate Denier Propagandist
Who employs his craft on Wikipedia, specifically on the article on Hurricane Sandy.
Friday, November 2, 2012
Biology Deniers Are Funny
I guess Dr. Gauger doesn't understand cancer, which results from the accumulation of mutations over time. It doesn't take 6 million years for a mutation in a DNA binding site to arise! Go to any cancer wing in a hospital. Of course, cancer involves mutations in somatic cells. There are many more of them than sex cells, and sex cell mutations rarely "make it"...meaning the cell dies before conception or their is a miscarriage. Even for mutations that do make it, they may not result in any obvious changes to the individual. So we have to look back into history to see how we've changed.
So take a look. We can even look into our DNA and see that some of our ancestors did the wild thing with Neanderthals.
Busby Provided "Expertise" On Oyster Creek
If "expertise" means "propaganda" then he sure did. That committee he belongs to is the anti-nuclear one he established:
Shinichi vs TEPCO P2
I had a post on this yesterday, here is some video. The worker says he wants higher safety standards put in place, but they're already in place, they were violated. It seems to me that TEPCO didn't realize there would be water when planning the job. When the worker encountered the water he says he knew that water would be highly radioactive. Yet he went ahead and completed his tasks anyway. If he did this on his own, then the fault is his.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
When A mrem Is A mg
In an article about some contamination in New York. The body receives "1 mg a day from natural sources".
Oy vey.
Oy vey.
German Nuclear Exit Delivers Environmental & Economic Benefits
According to this article describing two Bulletin Of Atomic Scientists papers. The first, "From Brokdorf to Fukushima: The long journey to nuclear phase-out", is basically a historical paper by a Princeton researcher. The second, "The German nuclear exit: Introduction", is by the deputy editor of the Bulletin, which is anti-nuclear power. It simply describes other papers in the current Bulletin (including the first mentioned here), which of course, are cherry-picked to meet the Bulletin's anti-nuclear agenda.
Speaking Of Dice & Climate Change
See my previous post. But here's another analogy with James Hansen from last August (prior to Hurricane Sandy):
Hurricane Sandy - Are Humans To Blame?
The inference is as a result of climate change. But that view is too simplistic. Climate change is like weighting the dice. The attributes of climate change make more intense storms more likely. We'll never be able to say with certainty that a pair of dice weighted slightly for sixes, was the sole cause of throwing sixes on a single throw. One might have thrown sixes on that throw even if the dice were fair. But compared with fair dice, repeated numbers of throws of weighted dice will have more sixes.
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