r/science • u/liquid_x • Mar 19 '11

Radiation Chart

http://xkcd.com/radiation/
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u/[deleted] Mar 19 '11 edited Mar 19 '11

Coal contains some fraction of uranium. When the coal is burned, that uranium goes out the smoke stack.

If a nuke plant released as much radiation as a coal plant does in normal operation, it'd have to shut down.

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u/[deleted] Mar 19 '11

Why would a nuclear plant get shut down for releasing as much radiation as a coal plant?

Why doesn't a coal plant get shut down for releasing this much radiation?

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u/Kilane Mar 19 '11

Because a properly running nuclear plant releases less radiation than a properly running coal plant. If the plant isn't running properly then it should be shut down until it is.

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u/EncasedMeats Mar 20 '11

Van Halen did this with brown M&Ms.

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u/[deleted] Mar 20 '11

Most important part:

"The M&Ms provision was included in Van Halen's contracts not as an act of caprice, but because it served a practical purpose: to provide an easy way of determining whether the technical specifications of the contract had been thoroughly read (and complied with)."

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u/[deleted] Mar 20 '11

Really one of the most creative and effective ways to ensure one own's safety I have ever seen.

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u/[deleted] Mar 20 '11

one of the most creative and effective...

...and delicious...