Why Canadian Trash Costs $30,000 per Gram

Companies around the world are fighting to buy a rare radioactive substance, despite its $30,000-per-gram price tag. This substance powers emergency exit signs that can stay bright for two decades without power, glow-in-the-dark keychains, and might one day unlock the holy grail of clean energy. What is this mystery substance? Join George as he discovers one of the world’s most expensive materials.

#Tritium
#FusionEnergy
#FusionPower
#NuclearPower
#NuclearScience
#Radioactive
#GlowInTheDark
#ExitSigns
#RareIsotopes
#Science
#Radiation
#EnergyFuture
#NuclearReactors
#RadioactiveWaste
#HeavyWater
#Deuterium
#IsotopeScience
#NuclearTech
#Chemistry
#RenewableEnergy

Credits:
Executive Producer:
Matthew Radcliff

Producers:
Andrew Sobey
Elaine Seward
Darren Weaver

Writers:
George Zaidan

Hosts:
George Zaidan

Scientific Consultants:
Brianne Raccor, Ph.D.
Michelle Boucher, Ph.D.
Bill Garland, Ph.D.
Ben Forget, Ph.D.

Executive in Charge for PBS: Maribel Lopez
Director of Programming for PBS: Gabrielle Ewing
Assistant Director of Programming for PBS: John Campbell

Reactions is a production of the American Chemical Society.
© 2024 American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.

Sources:

The Essential CANDU

Radionuclide Basics: Tritium | US EPA

U.S. to Put a Civilian Reactor to Military Use - The New York Times

Commentary: The looming crisis for US tritium production

UK and Canada partner to advance tritium management - Power Engineering International

AVAILABLITY & SUPPLY OF KEY RESOURCES & TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE REALISATION OF A FUSION PILOT PLANT

How a Nuclear Reactor Works | Canadian Nuclear Association

Fusion power may run out of fuel before it even gets started | Science | AAAS

Tritium in Exit Signs | US EPA

A New Full 3‐D Model of Cosmogenic Tritium 3H Production in the Atmosphere (CRAC:3H) - Poluianov - 2020 - Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres - Wiley Online Library

U.S. Civilian Reactor Produces Tritium | Arms Control Association

Deuterium oxide, for NMR, 99.8 atom % D, Thermo Scientific Chemicals, Quantity: 10 mL | Fisher Scientific

Tritium Self Luminous Exit Signs | SL-Tritium | Exit Light Co.

Fact Sheet: Tritium Production.

Physics of Uranium and Nuclear Energy - World Nuclear Association

How a Nuclear Reactor Works | Canadian Nuclear Association

Advanced Fusion Reactors for Space Propulsion and Power Systems

Fusion Conditions - EUROfusion

FIA–2023-FINAL.pdf

[ACSReactions]

And yes, we're aware that many electrically powered exit signs have battery backups that have to be regularly replaced. But if you were using JUST batteries, rather than battery backup, that would be a lot of work. So much work that you might consider dropping ~$300 on a tritium exit sign that lasts 20 years.

[carpemkarzi]

As a Canadian I can confirm. We also use the T2O to make the coffee at Timmie’s stronger. A double double is not two milk two sugar but D2O and T2O

[DH-bfxb]

Canada sold those reactors to other countries, partly because you could sell them a reactor without the enriched uranium they might have other plans for. It was a very Canadian solution in that way. I wonder if those other countries are now capturing the tritium in the way Canada is.

[revcrussell]

As a Canadian nuclear engineer I had about 1 mSv pass through my bladder as a free gift from my employer.

[LanceMcCarthy]

Loving the storytelling and editing for your videos lately.

[EmilNicolaiePerhinschi]

Nuclearelectrica of Romania and KHNP of South Korea are building a tritium removal plant near the CANDU reactor in Cernavoda.

[krabkit]

stars ARE hot, but not nearly hot enough for they type of fusion we do down on earth. stars rely on much higher pressures and larger volumes to produce the fusion. we have to do it a lot faster if we want to produce any meaningful power. for example, you sitting in your chair produce more heat per second than the same amount of sun material does.

[DukeBG]

George, just wanted you to know that I appreciate all the transitions/cuts in this and previous videos.

[ronblack]

as an intern at ontario hydro in 1982 i went on a field trip with my supervisors to pickering nuclear plant where we had a tour to check on the progress of adding 4 more reactors. i think we toured unit 6 or 7 extensively. i got to walk across the top of the reactor inside it's containment capsule . had to put on tyvek booties. never saw more pipes and heavy rebar in my life. it was fun.

[dagordon]

We bought those tritium-fluoresced exit signs for a building that handles flammable liquids, which was less expensive than having explosion-proof exit lights (not sure intrinsically safe was available at the time). With a tritium half life of 33 years, the signs were good for 20 years

[ptredhead]

If that's true, then I'm worth about 6 billion.

[Naedlus]

Gods, I really wish we as a country didn't sell off the rights to Candu reactors to a private interest, rather than taking the time and money to make use of them as a source of energy rather than relying on our tar sands.

[Chainsaw-ASMR]

According to NFPA code, ALL exit signs in the US must have at least 90 minute battery backup built in.

These backup batteries are required to be tested regularly and replaced as needed. Proper record keeping of monthly tests is important, not only for safety of the occupants, also as a requirement to obtain insurance and for meeting audit standards.

[JWentu]

Always love the way you present stuff, and the editing here is the work of a comedic genius.
Plus, this time I really had no idea of this, thanks!

[tristanridley]

OK, your scene cuts are *excellent*. Love.

[Kokally]

I mean, this is great and all but we already knew about this in the 1960s. We *stopped* using tritium mostly because American Atomics poisoned the entire city of Tucson with it.

[dj_laundry_list]

Gasoline was originally a byproduct as well, right?

[TheThagenesis]

this Video begs a totally unrelated question. why are there red exit signs in the US - and some green ones wheres every exit sign I encountered here in Europe was always green(which seems reasonable to have a common standard)?

[jaymayhoi]

just wanna say I always hated Chemistry at school but these vids are so fun easy and enjoyable to watch, thanks team

[mmelt]

Might have to watch this twice... zoned out marvelling at the long-sleeved t-shirt!