Why Fukushima Daiichi Won’t Be Another Chernobyl
Six days after the earthquake that rocked Japan and left thousands dead, the nation is now struggling to avert disaster at its Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Events have moved fast and risks are hard to assess. The worst nuclear accident in history was the Chernobyl explosion of 1986 in what is now Ukraine. Nuclear…
Is it Possible to Build a Disaster-Proof Nuclear Power Plant?
Nobody wants a radioactive plume dispersing killer particles across the globe. It happened once (Chernobyl) and people are freaked that it’s gonna happen again in Japan. Since the deadly Soviet bungle, reactors have gotten safer—but are they safe enough? Yes, the situation in Fukushima is dire and always seems like it’s getting worse, but those…
The Devastating Health Impacts of a Nuclear Crisis
The Japanese authorities have announced that radiation levels surrounding the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant are increasing to potentially harmful levels. New Scientist investigates the health risks associated with nuclear power plant explosions. How do nuclear accidents impact health? Apart from the damage caused by fires and explosions, accidents also release radioactive materials which can…
