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I would have thought that to an advanced civilization that a nuclear radioactive waste dump may well be of value. I do think worrying about radioactive waste g

I would have thought that to an advanced civilization that a nuclear radioactive waste dump may well be of value. I do think worrying about radioactive waste given how much carbon dioxide we have dumped into the atmosphere is a bit like bandaging a stubbed toe on an amputated leg.

manachar 10y ago
They're worried about people in the future who may not know about radioactive waste. This location will be dangerous for a very long time in a way that's invisible. Carbon dioxide is certainly a concern, but most of its problems will never produce a place that people shouldn't stumble or explore because of unseeable danger. I often think of the story of the Goiânia accident to be applicable. Four people ended up dead because two people stole something they thought might have value but was radioactive.[1] It is prudent to assume that dangerous waste should be disposed of in a way that assumes there won't always be guards. 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goi%C3%A2nia_accident https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goi%C3%A2nia_accident
- danieltillett 10y ago
  Understand the reason for the worry, but given the climate change that has been kicked off by the CO2 released to date I don’t think people are going to be worrying too much about tripping over a radioactive waste dump.
someguydave 10y ago
>to an advanced civilization that a nuclear radioactive waste dump may well be of value. Actually it has value to our civilization, because much of the low-grade uranium "waste" could be put into breeder reactors and turned into plutonium - and reused as nuclear fuel. Read about it here: https://www.withouthotair.com/c24/page_163.shtml https://www.withouthotair.com/c24/page_163.shtml
- greglindahl 10y ago
  It (this particular plutonium isotope) is also really useful for building bombs. (edit: made it more clear what I meant)
  - danieltillett 10y ago
    Yes. I would tend to suggest that it would be better to hide the waste very deep and destroy all knowledge of where it was buried.
    - someguydave 10y ago
      Do you really think that option is feasible? Even the ancient Romans were unsuccessful at damning the memories of their enemies.
      - danieltillett 10y ago
        How do you know this? We know almost nothing about anyone or anything that happened during Roman times - the fact that a few scraps have survived is hardly an indication that most knowledge deliberately destroyed managed to escape.
        someguydave 10y ago
        Well, there's this guy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domitian https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domitian re: damnatio memoriae "Yet the order of the Senate was only partially executed in Rome, and wholly disregarded in most of the provinces outside Italy." I think it's possible that a similar effect would happen with attempting the same thing to the knowledge of nuclear fission...
  - someguydave 10y ago
    Yes but is also could be used to supply the entire world with Western levels of electric power.

manachar 10y ago

They're worried about people in the future who may not know about radioactive waste. This location will be dangerous for a very long time in a way that's invisible. Carbon dioxide is certainly a concern, but most of its problems will never produce a place that people shouldn't stumble or explore because of unseeable danger. I often think of the story of the Goiânia accident to be applicable. Four people ended up dead because two people stole something they thought might have value but was radioactive.[1] It is prudent to assume that dangerous waste should be disposed of in a way that assumes there won't always be guards. 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goi%C3%A2nia_accident https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goi%C3%A2nia_accident

danieltillett 10y ago
Understand the reason for the worry, but given the climate change that has been kicked off by the CO2 released to date I don’t think people are going to be worrying too much about tripping over a radioactive waste dump.

someguydave 10y ago

>to an advanced civilization that a nuclear radioactive waste dump may well be of value. Actually it has value to our civilization, because much of the low-grade uranium "waste" could be put into breeder reactors and turned into plutonium - and reused as nuclear fuel. Read about it here: https://www.withouthotair.com/c24/page_163.shtml https://www.withouthotair.com/c24/page_163.shtml

greglindahl 10y ago
It (this particular plutonium isotope) is also really useful for building bombs. (edit: made it more clear what I meant)
- danieltillett 10y ago
  Yes. I would tend to suggest that it would be better to hide the waste very deep and destroy all knowledge of where it was buried.
  - someguydave 10y ago
    Do you really think that option is feasible? Even the ancient Romans were unsuccessful at damning the memories of their enemies.
    - danieltillett 10y ago
      How do you know this? We know almost nothing about anyone or anything that happened during Roman times - the fact that a few scraps have survived is hardly an indication that most knowledge deliberately destroyed managed to escape.
      - someguydave 10y ago
        Well, there's this guy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domitian https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domitian re: damnatio memoriae "Yet the order of the Senate was only partially executed in Rome, and wholly disregarded in most of the provinces outside Italy." I think it's possible that a similar effect would happen with attempting the same thing to the knowledge of nuclear fission...
- someguydave 10y ago
  Yes but is also could be used to supply the entire world with Western levels of electric power.