Nanda Devi, CIA, nuclear device, Seattle climber

[Buckaroo]

interesting story about a nuclear powered surveillance device on Nanda Devi, the CIA and a local climber who claims the first solo ascent.

 

CLICKY

[Weekend_Climberz]

There was an article that Pete Takeda wrote recently in R&I. Kind of eery that they found higher than normal radiation levels in the Ganges

[billcoe]

So much for the dudes vow of secrecy. Tom Frost rules.

[Alpine_Tom]

There was some discussion of this in the Willi Unsoeld book that came out a couple years ago. At the time I thought it was a too "cloak-and-dagger" to be completely accurate, but perhaps not.

[catbirdseat]

There was an article that Pete Takeda wrote recently in R&I. Kind of eery that they found higher than normal radiation levels in the Ganges

If there is higher radiation levels in the Ganges, I doubt it would be from the plutonium reactor buried in the Nanda Devi glacier. The huge dilutions involved would reduce radiation to background. More likely radiation would be as a result of mining activity.

 

The article did say that plutonium 239 was detected with 95% certainty in coarse sediments from the waters of the Sanctuary. Likely ICP-MS was used for this test. It is extremely sensitive.

[jon]

Picked up the only copy of the book at the UW bookstore, so don't go there

[catbirdseat]

So much for the dudes vow of secrecy. Tom Frost rules.

Secrecy is important, if there is a good reason for it. There is no longer a reason to protect those old secrets. In fact, it does more harm than good. There needs to be a public discussion about whether steps are needed to protect the Ganges from plutonium.

[kevino]

Good read. Kind of reminds me about the book, 'Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.'

[still_climbin]

The radioisotope thermalectectric generators (RTGs) use to power spy devices used plutonium 238, not plutonium 239. Pu-238 is a non-fissile isotope that produces strong alpha radiation and large amounts of heat. A walnut-sized sphere of Pu-238 oxide glows red hot, putting out about 60 watts of thermal energy, and can do so for a long time (still puts out 30 watts after 35 years). Unfortunately, Pu-238 is an extremely proficient cancer producer if inhaled. Its considered on of the top ten most lethal substances known.

 

The Pu-239 that was measured in the river was likely the result of atmospheric bomb testing in the 1950s. That fallout is still being detected.

[catbirdseat]

The article did say that the generator was composed of a mixture of the two isotopes 238 and 239.

[Mr_Phil]

The article was written by a journalist. Go back and reread the article on Colin for a few laughs.

[catbirdseat]

Those two isotopes exist. Both are man-made. Pu(238) is the preferred isotope for generators. Pu(239) is used in weapons. Pu(244) is the naturally occurring isotope with an 80 million year half-life.

 

 

I fell in to a ring of fire...

I fell in to a burning ring of fire

I went down, down, down

And the flames went higher.

And it burns, burns, burns

The ring of fire

The ring of fire.