We can solve 10 issues with one simple solution

[Wanderer0327]

Uranium-235 is the standard fuel for commercial reactors at the moment. I like the idea of thorium-based systems, but to my knowledge they aren't a proven tech yet. Plutonium-239 is the primary fuel for nuclear weaponry.

ADDED: I am a proponent though of thorium-based reactor research.

 

[Que]

Backgrounder on Plutonium

Printable Version

Plutonium is a radioactive, metallic element with the atomic number 94. Created when uranium atoms absorb neutrons, it was discovered in 1940 at the University of California, Berkeley. Plutonium was made during World War II for use in atomic bombs. It can also fuel nuclear reactors.
Nearly all plutonium is man-made. It does occur naturally in very small amounts in a type of ore called pitchblende. Once the main source of uranium and radium, pitchblende contains one part per trillion of natural plutonium.
Plutonium predominantly emits alpha particles—a type of radiation that does not penetrate and has a short range so it is easy to contain. But plutonium can be long-lived. It can deposit in the bones and lungs, and could increase an individual’s cancer risk. Therefore, exposure limits are set very low.
In spite of its potential dangers, plutonium has several unique properties that make it useful. It gives off heat and has been used in generators that power space program instruments and heart pacemakers.

Bonus!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbyr7jZOllI
(Start at 2:15 asshole)

There is a Tony Hillerman Novel. I forget the title, but an early one...

In it there is a hit-man, out to eliminate the last survivors of a drilling rig that accidentally found Pitchblende in NM. The irony was the last guy was about to die anyway. He had put a piece in his medicine pouch.

The reactor in Springfield is powered by Pu-239. You can tell 'cause it is green and it glows. It might be 36Kr, though.

 

[Sean Renaud]

Fiction is filled with stories about villains who would have won if they'd simply decided to stay home and ignore the thing that couldn't possibly hurt them.

 

[girlsmiley]

America needs more nuclear power plants. What good is an electric car when the electricity is generated by Coal, Gas, or Oil? Seems to be counter productive...

'Greener' energy! Recycle the spent nuclear product. Not saying lets cut out wind or solar but I find it funny that Germany shut down their nuclear power plants to go great (which didn't work) so they are buying energy from Chernobyl, hum....interesting

One of the biggest solutions Nuclear power will give America...wait for it... we get out of the middle east and let them duke take care of themselves.

Nuclear is the way to go.

The morans destroyed your thread. Which sucks really because I was quite interested in what else you had to say.

Fucking n00bs.