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I was thinking you could take unwanted nuclear waste material and encapsulate it in the center of a solid glass sphere or spheroid. Each sphere would have a random splattering of materials that would fluoresce from the decay of the nuclear material. As the ionizing particles hit the fluorescent particles
randomly, there would be a random scinillation within it. The glass would be heavily leaded to prevent the escape of radiation. The scintillation of the random particles would create a unique artform, and lock away some of our country's nuclear waste. To prevent accidental cracking of the glass, you could have a stand/base that would help absorb the shock of a fall or similar event.
Atomic Kitchen
http://youtube.com/...T0g&feature=related
Let's see Johnny Red cook like that! [Amos Kito, Apr 17 2008]
Uranium Glass
http://en.wikipedia.../wiki/Uranium_Glass
People weren't always scared of it... [Srimech, Apr 17 2008]
[link]
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Will leaded glass be too opaque? |
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Doesn't the nuclear industry work with nuclear materials inside of clear leaded glass enclosures (or am I just imagining this from the movie Silkwood)? |
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//random scinillation//
Perhaps you meant "scintillation". All ionizing and shimmering, nuclear waste must be a lot of fun! From little necklace beads to glass wall blocks... imagine the spectacular lighting possibilities. |
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Even despite the leaded glass, there will still be a negative public backlash from the association with radioactive waste. In the public's mind anything "radioactive" is dangerous -- it simply has been ingrained into the public psyche. |
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... but this would be dangerous. Very dangerous. |
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I have a glass paperweight given to me by
a university in Malaysia. Over 99% of its
weight is nuclei. I will accept offers. |
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The public will indeed be terrified of this. I know many people who are afraid of glow in the dark toys, because radioactive things glow in the dark, and therefore glow in the dark toys must be radioactive cancer-causing chemicals... Flawed logic, but very common. |
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Here's a question though: The scintillation is caused by the radiation... Are you sure the leaded glass will not shield the scintillation as well? |
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Pity about those pesky federal regulations which mean that all radioactive byproducts of nuclear power plants have to be dumped in Yucca Mountain or similar. Blame President Carter. Although 95% of it is U-238 which isn't really radioactive. |
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//In the public's mind anything "radioactive" is dangerous// - except Cornwall, curiously. |
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...or Aberdeen. Now that *is* dangerous, though not because it is radioactive. |
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<aside>A friend of mine, a geologist in the oil business, took a colleague to Aberdeen. The colleague said "The buildings are pretty; they sparkle in the streetlights". My friend replied "They sparkle in the Geiger counter too; the mica's radioactive".</aside> |
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// To prevent accidental cracking of the glass // - but how do you prevent intentional cracking? I thought we didn't want this waste to fall into the wrong hands. |
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