Thorium and the Future of Nuclear Energy

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Energy too cheap to meter - that was the promise of nuclear power in the 1950s, at least according to Lewis Strauss chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. That promise has not come to pass - but with some incredible new technologies, perhaps it still could. The question is - should it?

Hosted by Matt O'Dowd
Written by Matt O'Dowd
Graphics by Leonardo Scholzer
Directed by Andrew Kornhaber
Produced By: Kornhaber Brown

If we want to convert mass into energy, fission gives the most bang for our buck. Unfortunately that “bang” can be literal. Use of nuclear energy may risk the proliferation of nuclear weaponry, and there’s also the problem of nuclear waste, and the specter of horrible accidents. This last one was painted in terrifying detail in the recent dramatization of the Chernobyl disaster. Nuclear reactors sound scary because the disasters are pretty epic. However the reality is that far, far more people die from straight up air pollution due to coal-fired power plants than ever died in a nuclear reactor accident. In fact the radioactivity around coal-fired plants is also higher due to the trace but completely uncontained radioactive products of coal burning.

But the most compelling attraction is that nuclear power doesn’t directly produce carbon emissions. In fact nuclear power may be our most sure path to reducing carbon emissions and halting climate change. But can we do nuclear power safely enough? There are modern ideas – including the much-hyped thorium reactor – that suggest maybe we can. Before we can understand those we’ll need to review how nuclear reactors work.

Big Bang Supporters:

Anton Lifshits
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Quasar Supporters:

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kkm
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Matthew
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سلطان الخليفي

[Eamenic]

I've never understood the "Nuclear OR Renewables" argument. We should be using both.

[Radiotomb]

FINALLY! A mainstream video for molten salt reactors. Thank you, Space Time!

[levmatta]

A shout-out to Kirk Sorensen for making his life mission to educate and advance molten salt and thorium. We are discussing this because of him. Thanks!

[EdricLysharae]

The question is no longer, "Should we?" but rather, "How long can we afford not to?"

[donniewatson]

You said, "should we?" Yes, we should. Molten salt reactors are the best choice.

[Inesophet]

I Love it, i have been a huge proponent of generation 4 Nuclear Reactors for years now. Generally you cant have a conversation with it about people because it instantly becomes emotional. One fun fact about Thorium is that if we where to switch to a Thorium Fuel cycle and powered the entire world with it. It would last for 2 Billion (yes thats a B) Years. Making it in essence renewable.


With Nuclear power we can generate Hydrogen cheaply aswell. With that we have a brilliant storage medium for energy, since a fuel cell will combine it with oxygen, create electricity and the waste product is water. This is a closed Cycle! I could literally (and i often do) go on for hours.


But i am very happy that i have a great video to share now that nutshells at least some of my points in a very nice way. Thanks for doing this.

[Jackal_Blitz]

It's unfortunate that public perception has such a huge influence on progress. Nuclear reactors seem doomed to the same fate as airplanes: The accident involving them get sensationalized, and people's fear grows disproportionally. And, even though the accidents *can* occur, they're extremely unlikely, and you would do much better to be concerned with more immediate threats like people who text and drive.

[HarrySerpanos]

Thorium reactors could also be used to burn off our current global nuclear waste.

[pilotavery]

It's ironic that a coal power plant releases more radiation than a nuclear plant.

[nathancochran]

"It is the invisible dance that powers entire cities without smoke or flame. It is really quite beautiful."-Chernobyl Miniseries
Nuclear Power is the true path to zero carbon emissions, and I would also claim that it is humanities path to the stars as well.

[robertgoff]

Correction: every accident has been in a pressurized light water thermal reactor. The pressure (and loss thereof) is the weakness. The American nuclear power industry was financed by the US military, whose focus was a reactor that could be deployed on a ship; the industry outside the US has been much more innovative. Also, the first molten salt thorium fuel cycle reactor was brought to criticality in the early fifties in Oak Ridge; it's not new at all, it was just ignored because it wasn't useful for weapons production.

[DavidEvans_dle]

The relatively small size of Thorium Reactors also allows for "Power at Point of Use", cutting down on electricity transmission losses.
Of course the additional reactors would be a security use.

[jackielinde]

I've been a fan of the Thorium Molten Salt reactors for a long time. One of the benefits is that it uses up any Pu that it makes.

[lordkekz]

I think we'll need Thorium or fusion reactors to replace coal as renewables won't provide enough energy soon enough.They'd also be useful on spaceships.

[Chris-jwvm]

Skip to 11:34 if you know how nuclear reactors work and just want to get to the bit about thorium.

[MrSperoni]

The music of Space Time is highly underrated and I would love a list of the songs played in each video, if possible.

[AL_O]

6:32 thank you for actually putting an image of Fukushima, every other video that mentioned it showed photos of an old refinery that doesn’t have anything to do with Fukushima

[dolicbw]

Kirk Sorensen has been at LIFTR for a long time ~ glad that it's finally getting more attention!

[PetoBewise]

It sounds to me like someone tried too much getting rid of reverb and cut too much of the decibels. Be careful with that next time.

[madsmadsoleh]

Western world: Should we be doing this nuclear thing?

China: We're gonna go ahead and do this nuclear thing while you search your feelings, mkay?