Friday, February 6




Nuclear meltdown in California’s two nuclear plants unlikely because of safeguards

In the wake of a partial meltdown at Japan's Fukushima Dai-ichi plant, debate has emerged about whether California's nuclear reactors put the earthquake-prone state similarly at risk. California has two nuclear reactors in San Luis Obispo and near San Clemente that together produced 15.5 percent of the state's energy in 2009, according to the Nuclear Energy Institute. A request to extend the lifetime of the Diablo Canyon reactor by 20 years has been postponed because of the events in Japan. Both Sen. Read more...


Small UCLA reactor used by students shut down in 1984 because of potential safety hazards, declining use

More than a quarter of a century ago, in the northwest corner of Boelter Hall, there was a powerful device guarded by large concrete walls that were off-limits to most students and faculty.
From 1959 until 1984, UCLA had its very own nuclear reactor, which was housed in the engineering building and utilized by various South Campus departments for research and business. Read more...

Photo:

Thomas E. Hicks (right), engineering professor and then-chief supervisor of the UCLA reactor, and Ronald MacLain, his chief assistant, stand on top of the newly built reactor in December 1960. The nuclear reactor, which had the power of 100 toasters, was small and used mostly for research purposes.

CREDIT: UCLA ARCHIVES



Binge as well as social drinking can lead to blackouts

A UCLA student woke up at 6 a.m. after a long night of drinking to discover drawings all over his body. Puzzled, he made it to his 9 a.m. class with artwork still on him and no recollection of how it had gotten there.
"I was at a party, and everyone was drinking. It was like a competition," said the student, who wishes to remain anonymous.
"The last thing I remember is dancing on top of a table." Read more...



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