I think the dangers of nuclear power are overstated and I've alluded to this in the past (especially the potential for a terrorist attack).

Yeah, as I stated above - those are two very unlikely problems and people tend to overstate them because they remember 3 Mile Island and Chernobyl.

 

We have the brains and ability to run a safe reactor and dispose of the waste.

If the FRENCH can do it anyone can, right? :mischief

 

I don't think you can overstate the importance of finding a safe and cost effective way of disposing of radioactive waste. Do some research on a company [now defunct] called Molten Metal Technology. They promised to treat radioactive waste by placing it in a catalytic bath and extracting non radioactive byproducts from the other end. There were, to say the least, some complications - but they came close. I still think that this type of technology needs to be developed because burying the waste isn't a very good solution.

 

As for compressed air, I'm not so sure that will catch on due to the smaller, fibre-glass skeleton. Personally, I think of everything still on the table, the electric car is still the most realistic option.

I also agree that everything is on the table. If they can develop a better battery technology [a major scientific hurdle] I would JUMP on the e-car bandwagon.

 

I readily admit the air car does have some weight limitations, however a lot of this will be resolved by other emerging technologies. If we can ever nail down the "fabrication" of carbon nanotubes [tensil strength of 63 GPa vs. 1.2 GPa for high-carbon steel and a specific strength of 48,462 kN?m/kg vs. 154 kN?m/kg for high-carbon steel], we will have super light alloys that are WAY stronger than steel. Clearly, this isn't going to happen tomorrow, however the technology is much closer that the "super battery."

 

Unfortunately, due to misconceptions and coolness factor, I think you'll see hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicles becoming the big emerging research thrust.

A fully loaded 747 wouldn't get through the containment buildings of most nuclear reactors.

Speaking of coolness factor, would you drive this electric car? :mis2

 

 

I'm all for Nuclear Power. People forget to disassociate the bomb with the energy. Nuclear power is clean, safe and can be disposed of safely.

 

3 Mile island is really blown out of proportion. As there have been no injuries or deaths as a result.

3 Mile island is really blown out of proportion. As there have been no injuries or deaths as a result.

Yeah - but it was one of those "what if" scenarios that scared the crap out of everyone. That really knocked the flower off of the nuclear power movement in the US.

 

The only disagreement I have is that there really isn't a very safe method of disposing of nuclear waste. Currently, they bury it in a lined bunker for hundreds of years - not a great solution but better than the alternative.

and another thing...for those who believe global warming is a figment of environmentalist's imagination...A. it hasnt raining here in mass in 3 weeks...which is leading to the start of the foliage a month early...thats right...the leaves are leaving us...but hey...since it'll be 80 in february...at least they will come back early!...MOST OBVIOUS PROBLEM IN HUMAN HISTORY...just in case you all werent paying attention

3 Mile island is really blown out of proportion. As there have been no injuries or deaths as a result.

 

From what I've read, the rate of various cancers around the area spiked dramatically after that incident.

 

That said, I am in favor of using more nuclear energy.

3 Mile island is really blown out of proportion. As there have been no injuries or deaths as a result.

 

From what I've read, the rate of various cancers around the area spiked dramatically after that incident.

 

That said, I am in favor of using more nuclear energy.

 

Then you've been reading bulls***.

and another thing...for those who believe global warming is a figment of environmentalist's imagination...A. it hasnt raining here in mass in 3 weeks...which is leading to the start of the foliage a month early...thats right...the leaves are leaving us...but hey...since it'll be 80 in february...at least they will come back early!...MOST OBVIOUS PROBLEM IN HUMAN HISTORY...just in case you all werent paying attention

Even if every unusual weather phenomenom we think we observed can be attributed to climate change (temperature increase), there is no substantial or verifiable evidence that humans are to blame.

 

You are making far too many assumptions to be taken seriously.

if you really believe that than this is a useless discussion...there is mountains of evidence out there proving that humans most especially since the dawn of the industrial age have participated greatly to global warming...and these arent assumptions...polar ice caps are melting-fact, hole in o-zone layer is getting bigger-fact, temperatures across the world are rising-fact...what more do you need? humanity wiping itself out? would that be enough proof for you?

if you really believe that than this is a useless discussion...there is mountains of evidence out there proving that humans most especially since the dawn of the industrial age have participated greatly to global warming...and these arent assumptions...polar ice caps are melting-fact, hole in o-zone layer is getting bigger-fact, temperatures across the world are rising-fact...what more do you need? humanity wiping itself out? would that be enough proof for you?

 

I admit, yes, that would be enough proof for me! :lol :lol :lol

and another thing...for those who believe global warming is a figment of environmentalist's imagination...A. it hasnt raining here in mass in 3 weeks...which is leading to the start of the foliage a month early...thats right...the leaves are leaving us...but hey...since it'll be 80 in february...at least they will come back early!...MOST OBVIOUS PROBLEM IN HUMAN HISTORY...just in case you all werent paying attention

Even if every unusual weather phenomenom we think we observed can be attributed to climate change (temperature increase), there is no substantial or verifiable evidence that humans are to blame.

 

You are making far too many assumptions to be taken seriously.

if you really believe that than this is a useless discussion...there is mountains of evidence out there proving that humans most especially since the dawn of the industrial age have participated greatly to global warming...and these arent assumptions...polar ice caps are melting-fact, hole in o-zone layer is getting bigger-fact, temperatures across the world are rising-fact...what more do you need? humanity wiping itself out? would that be enough proof for you?

 

Correlation does not equal causation.

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/science...=nyt-classifier

http://www.nrdc.org/globalWarming/

http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/

http://www.aip.org/history/climate/

 

take a gander at these...then use some common sense...or look at temperatures in various locations all over the world and see how they have risen over the last 100 years...its pretty obvious to me that something other than a natural warming trend is going on...actually...its pretty obvious to 98% of all people...and id provide some good qoutes from these links...but its been rehashed so many times that explaining it again is like banging my head into wall repeatedly...but you live on the east coast right? well if global warming continues at the rate it is now...nebraska is going to have a amazing ocean view soon enough and we did nothing to stop it

and another thing...for those who believe global warming is a figment of environmentalist's imagination...A. it hasnt raining here in mass in 3 weeks...which is leading to the start of the foliage a month early...thats right...the leaves are leaving us...but hey...since it'll be 80 in february...at least they will come back early!...MOST OBVIOUS PROBLEM IN HUMAN HISTORY...just in case you all werent paying attention

Even if every unusual weather phenomenom we think we observed can be attributed to climate change (temperature increase), there is no substantial or verifiable evidence that humans are to blame.

 

You are making far too many assumptions to be taken seriously.

if you really believe that than this is a useless discussion...there is mountains of evidence out there proving that humans most especially since the dawn of the industrial age have participated greatly to global warming...and these arent assumptions...polar ice caps are melting-fact, hole in o-zone layer is getting bigger-fact, temperatures across the world are rising-fact...what more do you need? humanity wiping itself out? would that be enough proof for you?

 

Correlation does not equal causation.

ok...say you are right...does that mean we should just ignore it like we are now?

ok...say you are right...does that mean we should just ignore it like we are now?

 

I have no opinion one way or the other, as it seems pretty obvious to me that most scientists don't know one way or the other. I'm just saying just because a warming trend began at the time of the industrial revolution doesn't mean it was caused by it.

 

I think it's pretty amazing that we understand more about the inside of the sun than we do about our own planet's weather systems.