US teen designs compact nuclear reactor

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US teen designs compact nuclear reactor

Published: 1 Mar 2013 at 08.43
Online news: World

Eighteen-year-old Taylor Wilson has designed a compact nuclear reactor that could one day burn waste from old atomic weapons to power anything from homes and factories to space colonies.

Barrels containing high level radioactive nuclear waste is stored in a pool in North England on September 26, 2002. Eighteen-year-old Taylor Wilson has designed a compact nuclear reactor that could one day burn waste from old atomic weapons to power anything from homes and factories to space colonies.

The American teen, who gained fame four years ago after designing a fusion reactor he planned to build in the garage of his family's home, shared his latest endeavor at a TED Conference in southern California on Thursday.

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faranginkorat
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Discussion 3 : 02 Mar 2013 at 10.533
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A compact reactor is nothing new, and neither is molten salts.

There was a proto-type intercontinental bomber built over 30 years ago that was powered by a reactor.

It could stay aloft indefinately.

The weight was kept light by installing the reactor in the tail of the plane and then only using heavy radiation shielding installed near the axis of the plane to protect the crew who were forward.
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sirron
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Discussion 2 : 01 Mar 2013 at 14.032
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This youngster started inventing things having to do with radiation at age 14. Needless, to say, the schools he attended did not use rote teaching methods and teachers encouraged him to seek University level assistance (not attendance) for safety reasons. He's developed a radiation detector that uses water rather than an expensive gas. It costs hundreds of dollars rather tham hundreds of thousands. "It would scare my mom to know I'm in some hostile country, tracking down terrorists,”is a someday goal.
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barmine
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Discussion 1 : 01 Mar 2013 at 11.371
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I think an 18 year has much chance of getting weapons grade plutonium
as I have of going to the moon.
Does mom and dad know what he is doing in the garage?
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US teen designs compact nuclear reactor | Bangkok Post: news