Natural Nuclear Reactor

The region of uranium mines in Oklo, Gabon West Africa is examined in detail and shown that a natural nuclear reactor operated there 2 billion years ago. How this was possible is explained in terms of the different half-lives and the presence of an underground river. What this means for nuclear waste storage and its long-term effects.

[connor]

It’s cool how Mister Manticore can use the most unassuming things and edit them into something truly terrifying

[Alexfilms_]

I love how half the people here are science people and the other half are Trinity Desk Project fans (like me)

[electric]

Hi I'm one of the dorks who came here because of the analog horror video series but I did watch the whole thing and it was really cool and informative. Thank you!

[RegaDega]

1:54 for certified Mister Manticore classic

[tjzambonischwartz]

I'm glad I'm not the only Mister Manticore fan who recognized this.

[talon]

this is a certified natural nuclear reactor moment

[FRT_TRF.]

This is definitely a Natural Nuclear Reactor

[sergioescobar]

Imagine after three years, the uploader comes back only to find out that 1:54 was memed to oblivion by a bunch weirdos talking about invisible humans.

[m_g_khatravinsky]

Love how the comments exploded right after the Trinity Desk reference

[reedr]

I took trade classes in welding and heavy equipment operation. This guy is so fascinating to listen to, I totally would have taken his classes as electives if it was an option.

[tweer]

I guess everyone searched up "This was a natural nuclear reactor" after the mister manticore video.

[dustymiller]

Some more detail on this can be found in James Mahaffey's excellent book _Atomic Awakening:_



The uranium had been sitting there for billions of years when something changed and groundwater started leaking into the underground deposit. The water acted as a moderator, slowing neutrons down to fission-producing energies, and the reactors fired up. The reactors operated in pulse mode, with the water being heated to a few hundred degrees Celsius, boiling away, and temporarily shutting down for cool-off. The operating interval was about 2 hours and 30 minutes. The power production continued for a few hundred thousand years, which, needless to say, is an admirable and unprecedented working life for a nuclear machine. They produced power at a rate of 100 kilowatts in the form of heat, made 11, 907 pounds of radioactive waste, and 3, 307 pounds of plutonium.

The water-logged, sandstone/shale structure of the Oklo mines is hardly an ideal geologic depository for nuclear waste. We would never consider using such a place for long-term storage of radioactive fission by-products. Yet, in 1.5 billion years the toxic remnants of the Oklo reactor operations had barely migrated a few centimeters. Nothing poisonous had made its way into the ground-water, there was no evidence of biological harm, and the highly radioactive fission products had remained in place until they decayed into stable end-products. Mother Nature had effectively built a power-reactor cluster, pulled the controls, and ran the thing for a long time without causing any harm.

[cruisemissle]

"Now don't think an underground river is like some amusement park ride...", when I was thinking exactly that 😂

[dontgetmadgetwise]

A concise and melodrama-free presentation of the findings. I appreciate your effort. Thank you.

[Smart-Skippy]

Dear
Illinois EnergyProf, Thank you for these videos. I love the balance of Expert Vs Novice level you achieve and your engaging presentation I have enjoyed on all of your videos, that I have watched.

[catinamask]

This is truly, a natural nuclear reactor

[Freeknickers]

Yep the next time my neighbor complains about my reactor in the back yard I'm going to tell him oklo.

[railleyandrewdeguzman]

Ronoake Colony was found abandoned in 1590
The residents didnt disappear they we’re turned invisible by a natural nuclear reactor

[PottedPlant]

THIS... was a natural... nuclear reactor.

[Ag_]

1:54
This was a natural nuclear reactor