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Author Topic: US particle accelerators turn nuclear waste into electricity, cut radioactive life by 99.7%  (Read 136 times)

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Offline bigheadfred

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US particle accelerators turn nuclear waste into electricity, cut radioactive life by 99.7%
« on: February 21, 2026, 04:35:42 pm »
The system uses a particle accelerator to fire high-energy protons at a target, such as liquid mercury, to trigger spallation.

Researchers at the DOE’s Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility are advancing two high-stakes projects aimed at optimizing Accelerator-Driven Systems (ADS).

The initiative focuses on a dual-purpose breakthrough: generating additional carbon-free electricity from spent nuclear fuel while drastically reducing its radioactive lifespan.

The projects are supported by $8.17 million in grants from the Department of Energy’s NEWTON (Nuclear Energy Waste Transmutation Optimized Now) program and represent a shift from treating used nuclear fuel as a permanent liability to viewing it as a recyclable fuel source.

More at link

https://t.co/ETQnEiJlPT
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Offline Smokin Joe

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Re: US particle accelerators turn nuclear waste into electricity, cut radioactive life by 99.7%
« Reply #1 on: February 21, 2026, 09:08:43 pm »
How long until someone adapts this technology to a truck mounted system, figures out how to collect the neutrons emitted into a coherent beam, and makes a portable death ray?
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Seventeen Techniques for Truth Suppression

Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.

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Offline Free Vulcan

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Re: US particle accelerators turn nuclear waste into electricity, cut radioactive life by 99.7%
« Reply #2 on: February 22, 2026, 12:40:28 am »
Quote from: Smokin Joe on February 21, 2026, 09:08:43 pm
How long until someone adapts this technology to a truck mounted system, figures out how to collect the neutrons emitted into a coherent beam, and makes a portable death ray?

Pew pew!
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Online roamer_1

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Re: US particle accelerators turn nuclear waste into electricity, cut radioactive life by 99.7%
« Reply #3 on: February 22, 2026, 12:42:42 am »
Quote from: Smokin Joe on February 21, 2026, 09:08:43 pm
How long until someone adapts this technology to a truck mounted system, figures out how to collect the neutrons emitted into a coherent beam, and makes a portable death ray?

Or better yet, something the size of a suitcase generator that will run your whole house for the rest of your life...

My only complaint wrt nuclear energy is the waste - I don't think we should use a thing that the waste from it has a potential to pollute for a thousand years...

Now if only they can figure out how to handle the pollution from a catastrophic event, maybe I will come onboard.  :beer:
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Offline Smokin Joe

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Re: US particle accelerators turn nuclear waste into electricity, cut radioactive life by 99.7%
« Reply #4 on: February 22, 2026, 03:10:58 am »
Quote from: roamer_1 on February 22, 2026, 12:42:42 am
Or better yet, something the size of a suitcase generator that will run your whole house for the rest of your life...

My only complaint wrt nuclear energy is the waste - I don't think we should use a thing that the waste from it has a potential to pollute for a thousand years...

Now if only they can figure out how to handle the pollution from a catastrophic event, maybe I will come onboard.  :beer:
The idea here is to fuel it with waste from more conventional reactors.

Just watch, some kid will build one out of old smoke detectors in the garage..
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How God must weep at humans' folly! Stand fast! God knows what he is doing!
Seventeen Techniques for Truth Suppression

Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.

C S Lewis
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