5 ms·

I really hope this unlocks a class of superconductors and isn't a bizarre oneoff compound, because the EPA of 2023 is not going to let us wire the country with

I really hope this unlocks a class of superconductors and isn't a bizarre oneoff compound, because the EPA of 2023 is not going to let us wire the country with thousands of miles of lead-based ceramic wire.

abtinf 3y ago
If this material works out and EPA takes that stance, it will be the end of EPA. So they won’t take that stance.
- jychang 3y ago
  If this material works out and also turns to be massively toxic, then people thinking the way you do is going to cause a lot of lead poisoning. Not fun.
  - abtinf 3y ago
    I have not stated a view on whether the hypothetical material of unknown toxicity should be used or not. I am making a political claim that bureaucrats will behave in certain, highly predictable ways. If the material proves to be what it claims to be, it will not be banned. At most, it will be highly regulated, as that will preserve and expand government power.
  - woeirua 3y ago
    There is no way that miles of sheathed superconducting material would be more toxic than burning leaded fuel for decades.
bigmattystyles 3y ago
Isn’t lead ok as long as it’s not airborne/ ingested?
- justrealist 3y ago
  https://www.wsj.com/articles/lead-cables-telecoms-att-toxic-5b34408b https://www.wsj.com/articles/lead-cables-telecoms-att-toxic-... Once the cable is laid, it's a liability.
M3L0NM4N 3y ago
Wouldn't the insulation/shielding also contain the lead?
- soligern 3y ago
  It’s going to be in everything if it’s what they say it is. Landfills are going to be full of lead.
  - j16sdiz 3y ago
    It is still too early to tell. We don't have reliable process to produce them in large quantity
j16sdiz 3y ago
Lead based materials are still in production . It just needs proper handling and isolation.
amluto 3y ago
We have an entire class of amazing fluorocarbon materials, and the EPA didn’t do anything about it. And now it appears that may have been somewhat of a mistake.

abtinf 3y ago

If this material works out and EPA takes that stance, it will be the end of EPA. So they won’t take that stance.

jychang 3y ago
If this material works out and also turns to be massively toxic, then people thinking the way you do is going to cause a lot of lead poisoning. Not fun.
- abtinf 3y ago
  I have not stated a view on whether the hypothetical material of unknown toxicity should be used or not. I am making a political claim that bureaucrats will behave in certain, highly predictable ways. If the material proves to be what it claims to be, it will not be banned. At most, it will be highly regulated, as that will preserve and expand government power.
- woeirua 3y ago
  There is no way that miles of sheathed superconducting material would be more toxic than burning leaded fuel for decades.

bigmattystyles 3y ago

Isn’t lead ok as long as it’s not airborne/ ingested?

justrealist 3y ago
https://www.wsj.com/articles/lead-cables-telecoms-att-toxic-5b34408b https://www.wsj.com/articles/lead-cables-telecoms-att-toxic-... Once the cable is laid, it's a liability.

M3L0NM4N 3y ago

Wouldn't the insulation/shielding also contain the lead?

soligern 3y ago
It’s going to be in everything if it’s what they say it is. Landfills are going to be full of lead.
- j16sdiz 3y ago
  It is still too early to tell. We don't have reliable process to produce them in large quantity

j16sdiz 3y ago

Lead based materials are still in production . It just needs proper handling and isolation.

amluto 3y ago

We have an entire class of amazing fluorocarbon materials, and the EPA didn’t do anything about it. And now it appears that may have been somewhat of a mistake.