How Japan's Atomic Emergency Should Inform Our Nuclear-Powered Future
by: fast company, 2011-03-11 22:44:42 UTC
The 8.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Japan this week didn't just trigger a massive tsunami. It also caused an atomic-power emergency at the the Fukushima No. 1 plant in Fukushima Prefecture, where 3,000 people in a two-mile radius around the plant were forced to evacuate due to an overheated reactor. It's a black mark for nuclear-power advocates the world over--and confirmation to the anti-nuclear camp that nuclear energy can be a dangerous beast. The question is: Can we prevent this kind of disaster from happening again?
The problem with the Fukushima plant is the direct result of a 40-year-old, poorly designed nuclear core containment device, claims Kevin Kamps, a radioactive waste expert at Beyond Nuclear, an anti-nuclear group. The Japanese did retrofit the containment structures with ventilation systems to
prevent pressure buildup, but when the vents release steam and pressure, they also release radioactivity. This is happening now, according to the Los Angeles Times, as Japan releases what it calls "slightly radioactive" vapor from the plant. Japan's nuclear safety agency has said it won't cause a threat to people's health.
It is possible to design earthquake-proof nuclear plants--for a price. New reactors in the U.S cost upwards of $15 billion, and adding the thick concrete and strong rebar necessary to withstand an 8.9-plus magnitude earthquake could tack on at least another billion dollars, estimates Kamps.
It's hard to say if any currently operating nuclear plants--or even plants in the pipeline--could buck disaster in a scenario like Japan's. The most popular new reactor design in the U.S, the Toshiba Westinghouse AP1000, is supposed to be able to withstand earthquakes, tornadoes, and even crashing airliners. But John S. Ma, a member of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), suggests that may not be the case because materials used in construction are too brittle. "It has not been demonstrated that the building can absorb and dissipate
energy imparted on the structure by an impact or a seismic event," he claimed in a statement. Nevertheless, the design is moving toward NRC approval, and 24 units have been ordered already in the U.S.
The Japan disaster might hamper Congress's rumored plans in the days and weeks to come to launch a nuclear power push. "It's ironic timing," says Kamps. At the very least, Japan's disaster should serve as a warning: natural disasters cannot be underestimated when designing nuclear structures.
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Follow Fast Company on Twitter. Ariel Schwartz can be reached by email.
The Cooling Effect Gets Fancy
by: Yanko Design, 2011-03-11 08:02:18 UTC
Global warming or not, inevitably every season in my city seems like summer! It’s great to see how designers are trying to evolve the air con by making it blend into the home environment, just like another piece of furniture. Here are two projects: the Eco Shelf Zenstyle & the Natural Pot. The former is a wall mounted shelf cabinet and the latter a flowerpot. Both feature green patches to nurture plants that are fed off the excess water discharged by the AC unit! Clever, real clever!
Eco Shelf Designers: Seung-Hyun Yoon, Seol-hee Son & Jo Chal-youn
Natural Pot Designer: Seung-Hyun Yoon
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Bring Luck
by: Yanko Design, 2011-03-11 08:02:23 UTC
There are bowls that cannot be used because of small defects. And there are people around us that need these bowls. Bring Luck was made to make these bowls usable for people who need them, with a little birdie. By sticking the product onto the cracked areas, the bowls can be used even more usefully than new ones.
Designers: Huh Ka-young & Choi Jin-ah
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Yanko Design
Timeless Designs - Explore wonderful concepts from around the world!
Yanko Design Store - We are about more than just concepts. See what's hot at the YD Store!
What Is The Future Of The Office? Can Boomers and Millenials Mix?
by: TreeHugger Design, 2011-03-11 20:11:41 UTC
Image credit Lloyd Alter
It has taken me a while to prepare this post about my interview of Ginny Baxter of Herman Miller; there was so much to take in. The
website says "Ginny is a member of Herman Miller's Applied Knowledge team. She is intrigued by the nature of the individual at work and impact of the generations." That is an understatement; she is obsessed. She says:
When you take members of different generations, blend them together,and ask them to work side by side, you have both an opportunity and a challenge: the opportuni... Read the full story on TreeHugger
onitsuka tiger: the aisen range - dip dyed indigo
by: Designboom - Weblog, 2011-03-09 10:26:00 UTC
the new line of shoes and apparel are made from natural materials, dip-dyed by hand in pigments extracted from indigo plants and manufactured according to
traditional japanese methods.
read more
tata: pixel at geneva motor show 2011
by: Designboom - Weblog, 2011-03-09 12:37:00 UTC
tata's supercompact 4-seater 'pixel' is optimized for everyday urban use, offering high fuel efficiency, 'zero turn technology' for an incredibly close turning radius, built-in integration with tablets and smartphones, and innovative door design.
read more
grove + mapleXO: skateboard iPhone 4 case
by: Designboom - Weblog, 2011-03-09 21:00:00 UTC
a collaboration between mapleXO and grove, the 50-piece limited edition series of cases for iPhone 4 is created from old skateboard decks.
read more
ron van der ende: bas-relief in reclaimed wood
by: Designboom - Weblog, 2011-03-10 07:48:00 UTC
the sculptures utilize the original colors and textures of the reclaimed wood, arranged to create photo realistic bas-relief mosaics.
read more
volkswagen: bulli at geneva motor show 2011
by: Designboom - Weblog, 2011-03-10 11:45:00 UTC
the zero-emissions, six-seater electric compact van offers some of the camper capability and classic touches of 1950's volkswagen buses, alongside modern features like an iPad-based control console.
read more
EVs Gain Traction as Toyota Prius Sales Hit 3 Million
by: fast company, 2011-03-09 22:59:39 UTC
Toyota announced this week that the Prius, the first (and perhaps most beloved) mass-produced hybrid vehicle, passed 3 million sales worldwide in February. This isn't just a boon for Toyota; it's a big deal for the entire car industry.
In 2007, the Prius made headlines when it hit the one million vehicle sale mark just a decade after the vehicle went on sale in Japan, and six years after it hit car dealerships in the U.S. The next million vehicles took two years and eight months--and the million after that sold in just 18 months. The U.S. is now the most popular market.
Hybrid vehicle technology has finally hit the mainstream vehicle market, and Toyota isn't letting that go unnoticed. The company's latest press release extols its accomplishment:
Positioning response to environmental issues as a management priority
and based on its belief that environment-considerate vehicles contribute
only through their widespread use, TMC has endeavored to achieve the
widespread use of hybrid vehicles. With global cumulative sales of its
hybrid vehicles passing the 3-million mark, TMC believes that such
vehicles are starting to enter the mainstream.When the Prius was first unveiled, it was a novelty vehicle. Now, it's the standard that other hybrid automakers hold themselves up to--and it's still the most popular hybrid. Now, as Toyota prepares to roll out a Prius minivan, a smaller Prius for citygoers, and a plug-in Prius, the automaker is set to expand the Prius's appeal even further. If the Prius can do for the nascent plug-in electric vehicle market what it has done for the hybrid market, plug-ins might have a bright future.
Follow Fast Company on Twitter. Ariel Schwartz can be reached by email.
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