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> Is there any progress in design of nuclear fission power plants regarding safety? > Fukushima... You mean, hit by the most powerful earthquake recorded in J

> Is there any progress in design of nuclear fission power plants regarding safety? > Fukushima... You mean, hit by the most powerful earthquake recorded in Japan, flooded by a tsunami with 13-14 meter-high waves, evacuated, failed to shutdown, had three core meltdowns and several explosions, and resulted in... 1 death from radiation, 2000 deaths from evacuation and 45 radiation-resulted injuries. I'd say even this outdated design was very, very, very safe.

pfdietz 4y ago
> 1 death from radiation So far. The population dose will likely cause many more fatal cancers than that (maybe 200?). That those will be impossible to detect above the normal cancer background doesn't mean we can pretend they aren't there.
- dmitriid 4y ago
  So, after a full-scale catastrophe it's still significantly fewer casualties than from normal operation of coal, for example.
  - pfdietz 4y ago
    "Cleaner/safer than coal" is damning with faint praise.
    - nopzor 4y ago
      true, but for the pro-nuclear folk who are frustrated by the “fear factor”, it’s a really important point.
      - pfdietz 4y ago
        Nuclear fans focus on the "fear factor" so they can pretend that's what's holding back nuclear.
zigzag312 4y ago
Our seismological record-keeping is still very young so, most powerful in recorded history of Japan sounds more impressive that it probably is. I know that current statistics regarding nuclear power safety are very good. The reason I am asking is because I often see comparisons between latest or even future renewables technology and decades old nuclear and I am wondering if progress on nuclear has already peaked/stalled.