Source: CBS
While conditions have substantially improved at Fukushima’s Daiichi reactors, which were damaged by Japan’s recent earthquake and tsunami, crucial questions and dangers persist. As power is being restored to the nuclear reactors, it remains unclear if the cooling pumps, needed to prevent overheating in the reactor cores, have become unusable. Some have begun arguing that it is time to entomb the reactors in concrete to prevent further radiation leaks, effectively abandoning the reactors, but in an interview with CBS’ Early Show, Carnegie’s James Acton argued that there is still time to stabilize and finish the cooling process. The dangers at the Fukushima plants are serious, but have receded, Acton said, although there is the potential for further degradation of nuclear materials. In particular, reactor unit three has been emitting smoke inexplicably, which is causing increasing concern. Nonetheless, Acton expressed cautious optimistic about progress at the reactor site.