Jun 15, 2022
“Night with the Experts” features Dr. Gordon Edwards’ presentation entitled “Uranium – The Deadliest Shape Shifter”, hosted by the Chicago-based group NEIS (Nuclear Energy Information Services). This 50 minute video was recorded on January 27 2022. Uranium undergoes three spectacular shape-shifting exercises which Dr. Edwards calls (1) Metamorphosis (producing the natural “decay products” of uranium); (2) Fragmentation (producing the multitudinous “fission products” from nuclear reactors and bombs); and (3) Impregnation (producing the weapons–usable “transuranics elements” such as plutonium. The opening sequence discussed the status of the nuclear industry and the reasons why Small Modular Nuclear Reactors are not a suitable strategy for dealing with the climate emergency — they are too slow, too costly, too dubious, and will indirectly exacerbate the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Luckily, the alternatives are much faster, much cheaper, and much more reliable.