Nuclear scare

The situation at Fukushima Nuclear Plant #1 seems to be getting out of control. The release of radioactive materials by venting, followed by hydrogen bursts in reactors 1 and 3, seemed tame. But then a fire started in reactor 4, which should have been stopped for maintenance; and this morning the suppression pool (a doughnut-shaped coolant part, under the core) exploded in reactor 2, causing a large amount of radioactive materials to be released. This is the story that was (quite well) explained on TV.

This is not far from the truth; it cannot be. But how dangerous it is for the people around, the people in Tokyo, or even the people close to other plants in other countries, this is where the media and the authorities go astray and spread some scare. Not that they can help it, because under-estimating will cost them their jobs; while over-estimating only brings a few critics.

The right attitude in this situation is to stay away from mail chains, twits, cable channels... and ask someone you trust to get the real information. There are sources all over the net but often too technical to be understood without a scientific background. And don't spread info without its source!

This is also true outside Japan. And whatever the topic.