4/25/2011 PERMALINK
Is there an intrinsically safe nuclear power? Yes, say scientists. Kirk Sorensen tells TED attendees about the inherent safety of Thorium reactors. Kirk Sorensen is author of the blog 'Energy from Thorium.' He has helped grow an online community of thousands of technologists who support a renewed effort to develop thorium as an energy source. Thorium is more plentiful than uranium, and unlike the uranium designs we rely on today. If anything causes the reactor temperature to rise a little higher than normal, Tsunami, stupid operators, power failures, backup generator failures. Whatever the problem might be, a thorium reactor automatically shuts down, no electricity or human action required.