Toshiba Builds Ultra-Small Nuclear Reactor

DeusExCalamus writes "Toshiba has developed a new class of micro size Nuclear Reactors that is designed to power individual apartment buildings or city blocks. The new reactor, which is only 20 feet by 6 feet, could change everything for small remote communities, small businesses or even a group of neighbors who are fed up with the power companies and want more control over their energy needs."

A slogan

[suso]

Have a fallout, closer to home. Toshiba Micro Nuclear.

Someone should have told the students

[LiquidCoooled]

Someone should have told these [computerworld.com.au] students that they could get one of these and not have to peddle.

Incredible.

[Spazntwich]

How did they manage to shrink a nuclear reactor to only two dimensions?

this should be great news to MIT

[Albert Sandberg]

now they don't have to rely on bicycles for the supercomputer energy needs!

Good thing I am not a kid anymore

[Kranfer]

Growing up I always loved to take things apart. Everything... My Toys, my parent's stuff like the Kaypro we had, and the Apple II... After I saw this over at engadget earlier and now here, I must say I am glad I am not a kid anymore. I would have taken this sucker apart if we had one and probably set myself on a course to be my own nightlight. Although I do like the cost associated with these things, I always like lower electric bills. However, I fear the kid that wants to see how it works or the hick who decides to take it apart cause they "can fix anything!"

This is heavy, Doc.

[DJ Katty]

I'll wait for the eventual smaller form factor in a year though. Gives me time to save for a Delorian. Those flux capacitors [shopneo.co.uk] don't seem so extraneous right now.

Sony

[Anonymous Coward]

Have a fallout, closer to home. Toshiba Micro Nuclear.

Hopefully Sony doesn't get into this business. If you thought exploding laptop batteries were bad, wait until you get a Sony exploding nuclear reactor.

ominous

[mincognito]

The new reactor, which is only 20 feet by 6 feet, could change everything for small remote communities, small businesses or even a group of neighbors

I think that's the worry.

Re:Liquid Li?

[Anonymous Coward]

I can't wait for the lithium to leak into groundwater... no more bipolar disordered people!

What's on the inside?

[rhyre417]

If you take it apart, does that void the warranty? As usual, I'll wait until I can read the reviews on amazon.com Someone needs to tell me if it comes with a cheap plastic housing.

Re:Sony

[Poltras]

No, why should they be liable for the collateral damage? You get a new reactor, dammit, greedy bastards those customers...

That's Mr. Mutant Customer to you, sir.

Re:Incredible.

[Broken scope]

Actually i think a few layers of lead paint on the sucker wouldn't be such a bad idea.

Warning...

[Pedrito]

I got one of these and, honestly, it only puts out about 180 kilowatts out of the box. I managed to overclock it to 250 kilowatts, however. I just finished the case mod. I'm using plexiglass so you can see what's going on inside. It also weighs a lot less without all the lead, which was pretty unattractive. But now Toshiba is saying I voided my warranty and won't give me tech support. I just want to find out why my dog started glowing in the dark...

And but?

[TheeBlueRoom]

Will it blend?

Re:What's on the inside?

[Megane]

If you take it apart, I think it voids your warranty. (No Soviet Russia necessary here!)

Re:Sony

[jcgf]

Wuss.

Re:Sony

[Cheerio Boy]

Ah, screw political correctness. Back in my day, you'd have been called a freak, and rightfully so, and you had to come through snow this high just to hear that you're a freak, and you'd have been thankful for that...*muttermumblegrumblespoiledyoungones*.

In MY day you'd walk 20 miles in the snow that's this high to BECOME a freak!

And be thankful for the privilege!

Get off my lawn ya whippersnapper! ;-)

Re:Sony

[sqldr]

i guess it would make a good chatup line.

Re:A slogan

[bigjocker]

A better slogan: The only reactor that lives in 2D space! You can paint it in the wall!

The new reactor, which is only 20 feet by 6 feet

Re:Where we live ...

[Anonymous Coward]

Guess where that CO2 came from.

Carbon credits?

Re:A slogan

[Pollardito]

I live in an area where that is not near any water, has only intermittent sun and wind so another power source is necessary.

these problems are among many that go away when you move out of your parents' basement

Re:Sony

[smittyoneeach]

Single digit months, and a three digit year?
Such an old fellow, for such a high user ID...

Re:Sony

[sqldr]

It's not the size, it's the giger that counts!

I'll get my coat.

Re:A slogan

[Duhavid]

You insensitive clod, I *am* an air conditioner.
And I didn't get turned on!

Re:A slogan

[masdog]

Then you shouldn't be so frigid!

Re:Sony

[A nonymous Coward]

But your snow fell out of the sky, right? Back in MYYY day, we had to smash oxygen and hydrogen together with rocks to make snow, and carry it with us when we walked to school so we could throw it in front of us, then pick it up from behind us because we couldn't carry enough for the whole walk. That snow was in terrible condition by the time we got to school.

Instruction manual

[sinktank]

I can just imagine the operating manaul:

"Thank you to use Nuclear-Friend. The main characteristic in machine of control rod moves in with slim middle, can nimble neutron dependable work send, of via sea warmness thusly turbine twist out machine-wind.

ALERTNESS, magnet-imprison with ionisation threatening badass. Fleeting bioluminescence in bird appendage observation, conjunction Cherenkov neon likeness, linking chain of no command (barking!) to blinking indications. Personages of vicinity ascending fucking with sparks! Ability detriment remove with "fast-neutron-sheilding-blanket" (slowly neutrons with alacrity) to mammalian sex babylove machine faulty. As packing box inside includes dosimeter for life-spirit guard dog is. Un-normal witness with e=mc2 of cloudy fungus c.10km bigness, warranty glue not connected."

Re:A slogan

[lymond01]

Sure, but there are plenty of areas where none of the above apply. I live in an area where that is not near any water, has only intermittent sun and wind so another power source is necessary. Geothermal looks great on paper but AFAIK there are still tech barriers involved.

BUZZES IN: What is the planet Mercury?

Re:Sony

[A nonymous Coward]

I will not ask how you managed to ski downhill, either.

Duhhhh. It was uphill both ways.

That's an easy answer...

[Anonymous Coward]

I just want to find out why my dog started glowing in the dark...

He ate the neighbor's Korean genetically-engineered mutant cat.

Re:A slogan

[skabob]

But will it supply 1.21 Jiggawatts?

Re:Sony

[Opportunist]

You had a box? YOU HAD A BOX? Boy, that was after the war, we'd have traded our beloved granny for a box! But we didn't even have our beloved granny!

Re:Sony

[YU Nicks NE Way]

Well, we had a box. We dug up our beloved granny's casket, and reused it.