ANS Nuclear Cafe

The first of a series on people and events at the 2012 American Nuclear Society Winter Meeting

I want to welcome everyone to the American Nuclear Society 2012 Winter Meeting in San Diego, California. This is a great time to be a part of the nuclear science and technology industry and I'm so glad you're here.

What will be the future influence of women in nuclear science and technology What can be done to encourage more women and girls to enter nuclear science and energy fields-and to stay in the "technical track"? How important are role models?

WHO:   Anyone with an interest in use of social media

American Nuclear Society President-elect Donald Hoffman recently visited the ANS Student Section at Chattanooga State Community College. Hoffman thanked the students for their outstanding participation at the recent Department of Energy public hearing on proposed mixed oxide fuel technologies for Tennessee Valley Authority nuclear plants, and laid out a vision for the future for ANS, in a presentation before a large audience of 60-70 attendees.

The November 2012 edition of the technical journal Nuclear Science and Engineering (NSE) is available electronically and in hard copy for American Nuclear Society member subscribers and others.  Non-subscribers click here to  subscribe to NSE and other ANS titles.

The 129th weekly Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers is up at Next Big Future.

Albert Einstein's famous equation E=mc² explains, of course, why a nuclear power reactor can generate so much electricity in such a relatively tiny space, while using such a relatively tiny amount of fuel. Electricity from other forms of energy, say tidal or wind motion, sunlight, chemical bonds (burning things)... well, nuclear fission and fusion, thanks to E=mc², are definitely in their very own league.

Southern California Edison submits a plan to the NRC for Unit 2

Nuclear Nonproliferation, International Safeguards, and Nuclear Security Challenges in the Middle East

As the Eastern half of the United States falls under siege by Hurricane Sandy and combined weather fronts-which together are being termed "Frankenstorm"-the nuclear community is targeted by nuclear opponents keen on capitalizing on this severe weather event. A recent piece quoting Arnold Gundersen asserts that Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station is facing serious problems should it lose offsite power, saying essentially that the plant will be unable to provide cooling for the spent fuel in its spent fuel pool.

Scroll down to hurricane graphic for resources and links.

The Davis-Besse nuclear power plant, operated by FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company, is located on the shores of Lake Erie about 20 miles east of Toledo, Ohio. The 908-MWe pressurized water reactor came online on July 31, 1978.

The ANS Nuclear Cafe Matinee presents loyal readers-and loyal viewers-with an all-time great video: "Large Hadron Rap"!

Recently, Dr. Nicole Stricker of the Idaho National Laboratory sent a link for the following video to members of the ANS Social Media list.

I recently had the good fortune to visit Vogtle nuclear power plant, in Georgia, to see the ongoing construction of Units 3 and 4. The only comparable experience I've had was the first time I saw the Pyramid of the Moon at Teotihuacan, Mexico. It made me think long and hard about how much planning, cooperation, and hard work we humans are capable of doing. You can't build a pyramid, or a cooling tower for that matter, without a lot of help.

There's a gap in Vermont's electrical supply. Or rather, there's a gap in Vermont's "committed electric resources"-that is, electricity contracts in place for Vermont utilities.

As I discussed in a June 20 ANS Nuclear Cafe post, a federal appeals court rejected the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's new nuclear Waste Confidence rule, and ordered the NRC to perform a more thorough evaluation that addresses potential risks and health and environmental impacts of very long term storage of nuclear waste at nuclear sites (until a final disposal option is developed).

Sunday, October 21, 2012 finds the 127th edition of the Carnival of Nuclear Bloggers hosted again here at the American Nuclear Society's ANS Nuclear Cafe blog.  The Carnival is a rotating weekly feature among the pro-nuclear blogs and presents the best and most important posts of the week.