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On the world stage, this is not even a small blip. But the fear of radiation is a deep seated one, cultivated over the last 80 years by constant bombardment (p
by MrDresden 4y ago
On the world stage, this is not even a small blip.
But the fear of radiation is a deep seated one, cultivated over the last 80 years by constant bombardment (pun intended) of information and media showing the dangers and hazards of runaway nuclear fission.
- flangola7 4y agoYou have a point but orphan sources are pretty legitimately scary, and have historically caused many horrible deaths and even more (survivable) suffering, often with the victims having no idea what is happening to them. Radiological dangers are uniquely hazardous - bacteria and viruses dry out and die, poisons and acids can be neutralized. Almost every other hazard on Earth can be eradicated with nothing more than a good hot fire. But unstable isotopes answer to no one but time.
- MrDresden 4y agoIt may have come accross as I was belittling the seriousness or danger that the capsule poses to those who come into contact with it. That was not my intention. The capsule is incredibly dangerous to anyones health. My point was simply that, from my vantage point, the media coverage and attention that this incident has received is out of proportion to the likely impact that it will have (i.e the danger it poses to people on the world stage, or even on the national stage in Australia). As an example, and again only from my vantage point, the situation with the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station received less direct news coverage focusing on the dangers it would have posed to the whole European continent than it seems this single capsule is receiving. Again, not saying the capsule is not a danger to people. Just agreeing that the attention is out of proportions.