Topic: A need for new nukes? "Modular reactors" for energy attract interest

[sam]

The entire budget of the U.S. Department of Energy branch that covers today's energy mix—from cleaning up energy generation's environmental aftermath to energy efficiency programs and renewable energy development—is $10 billion. That's enough to "either build one supercollider on the basic end or one nuclear power plant on the applied end," said Kristina Johnson, the undersecretary in charge of the branch, at the ARPA-E conference on March 3. In other words, nuclear power ain't cheap.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=a-need-for-new-nukes-modular-reacto-2010-03-05

[Simon]

I wonder if we'll ever see nuclear power in the home?  Or is that a stupid question?

[sam]

its not a stupid question... but I don't think you will ever find nuclear generators that small in your house.

However, technically you already have nuclear power in your house - its called the mains...

That and of course you do have radioactive material doing a great job in your house - your fire alarm.

[Clive]

Why are they so difficult to open when you need to change the battery?   

[Simon]

Oh, I've just had one 'chirping' from about 6am this morning.  It's a mains powered smoke alarm, but with a backup battery, and, of course, you've never got a spare one when you need it. 

[sam]

Oh, I've just had one 'chirping' from about 6am this morning.  It's a mains powered smoke alarm, but with a backup battery, and, of course, you've never got a spare one when you need it. 

indeed, its probably one of those chunky types too?

[Simon]

PP3, I believe.  Yes, the little square ones.

[Clive]

Even when you disconnect it from the mains it still chirps away until you replace the battery.  Those things will still be chirping long after our planet is enveloped by the Sun in 5 billion years time.   

[Rik]

They won't Clive, they'll have gone into full alarm mode.

[Clive]

It will pierce our eardrums!   

[Rik]

Will we have any by then?

[Clive]

We had better check with Sam.   

[Simon]

It stops chirping if you remove the battery, Clive.  I guess that's what it calls self preservation.

[Rik]

Is that something like a jam? 

[Simon]

Something like not bring thrown in a skip.