Talks to Watch

These tunnels are designed for 100,000 years

4.3M views · Sep 30, 2019 · 6:09 · 2 HN recommenders · 5 mentions · discussed 2021–2024

Tom Scott visits Onkalo in Finland, the planned deep geologic repository for high-level nuclear waste intended to be sealed for 100,000 years.

Why Hacker News points people here: Recommended in nuclear waste threads as a short, clear look at a real long-term storage solution.

“Tom Scott has a great video[0] about the Onkalo spent nuclear fuel repository in Finland[1]”HN comment, 2022

What Hacker News said 5

RecommendscaddywompusJun 2021

“this is the coolest solution I've seen so far”

Presents a cool long-term nuclear waste disposal solution.

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Yes, I was really disheartened when I learned that my city only recycles a few types of plastic, and most of it just goes to the landfill. And now its being theorized that oil industries encouraged recycling as a solution, even knowing its deficiencies, so that plastics would be more readily accepted. Regarding nuclear waste disposal, this is the coolest solution I've seen so far: - this video

in “Portable nuclear reactor program sparks controversy” · view on HN
RecommendsNannooskeeskaAug 2022

“Tom Scott has a great video[0] about the Onkalo spent nuclear fuel repository in Finland[1]”

Explains Onkalo repository and why the site was chosen

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Tom Scott has a great video[0] about the Onkalo spent nuclear fuel repository in Finland[1], in which he talks about one of the reasons that they decided on the particular area - why would anyone dig there? Skip to 4:29 in the video for the relevant info. [0]: this video [1]: link

in “The messages that survived civilisation's collapse” · view on HN
Cites itzeotrophJan 2022

“6m Tom Scott video”

Short Tom Scott video on Finland's long-term storage.

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In Finland they are already filling up a 100k year long term storage mine [1]. Will every country with nuclear power have to find and dig (and counter-NIMBY) their own mines or could those with more favorable geological features offer theirs to others? Earthquake-prone Japan might have a hard time finding an appropriate location. 1: 6m Tom Scott video this video

in “Sweden approves plan to bury spent nuclear fuel for 100k years” · view on HN
Cites itCaligatioAug 2023

Tom Scott's video on the same long-term repository project

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I've been binge watching Tom Scott videos after finding out he's quasi-retiring soon and just happened to have watched his video of the exact same project last night: this video

in “The place where no humans will tread for 100k years” · view on HN
Cites itesskayNov 2024

Shows existing solutions for storing spent nuclear fuel

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Solutions are already being made for spent nuclear fuel, no reason why that wouldn't apply in this scenario. In fact its massive overkill for this particular situation but still an option if its needed: this video

in “The race to commercialise nuclear-powered batteries” · view on HN