Thorium can give humanity clean, pollution free energy | Kirk Sorensen | TEDxColoradoSprings

TEDx Talks・2 minutes read

The universe's origins trace back to the Big Bang, with radioactive elements like thorium and uranium playing crucial roles in Earth's development and human history. Advancements in chemistry and technology, from Marie Curie's work on radioactivity to Glenn Seaborg's discoveries, have led to the potential for thorium reactors to provide cleaner and more efficient nuclear energy sources for the future.

Insights

  • Thorium and uranium, elements originating from supernovae, have significantly impacted Earth's development, with thorium's abundance in Idaho and uranium's historical relevance highlighting their importance in geological and human history.
  • The potential of thorium reactors, overlooked due to wartime priorities, offers a promising solution for sustainable nuclear energy, with fluoride salts enabling safe and cost-effective reactor designs that can efficiently utilize thorium, reduce waste, and generate electricity, emphasizing the critical need for cleaner and more efficient energy sources for the future.

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Recent questions

  • What event marked the beginning of the universe?

    The Big Bang 14 billion years ago initiated the universe.

  • What elements were incorporated into Earth from supernovae?

    Thorium and uranium were incorporated into Earth from supernovae.

  • Who discovered the element fluorine?

    The element fluorine was discovered in the 1700s.

  • What did Marie Curie's work focus on?

    Marie Curie's work focused on radioactivity and atomic structure.

  • What is the advantage of thorium reactors?

    Thorium reactors produce less long-lived nuclear waste.

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Summary

00:00

"Thorium, Uranium, and Fluorine: Elements of Progress"

  • The universe began with the Big Bang 14 billion years ago, leading to the formation of stars and galaxies that created new elements.
  • Thorium and uranium, radioactive elements from supernovae, were incorporated into our solar system and planet, contributing to Earth's magnetic field and geological processes.
  • Thorium, more abundant due to its longer half-life, is a key element found in Idaho, while uranium played a crucial role in early human history.
  • The discovery of elements like sodium, thorium, and uranium in the 1700s marked the beginning of modern chemistry and technology.
  • Fluorine, the most reactive element, enabled the synthesis of aluminum, crucial for modern technologies like airplanes and rockets.
  • Marie Curie's work on radioactivity led to the understanding of atomic structure and the significance of elements like thorium and uranium.
  • Uranium's fission discovery in 1938 by Otto Hahn and Lise Meitner paved the way for nuclear energy, with fluorine crucial in enriching uranium-235.
  • Glenn Seaborg's discoveries in the 1930s and 1940s, including neptunium, plutonium, and uranium-233, laid the foundation for nuclear energy sources.
  • Thorium's potential as a long-lasting nuclear fuel was overshadowed by the focus on nuclear weapons during World War II, leading to missed opportunities for energy development.
  • Despite successful experiments with thorium reactors in the 1960s, political decisions favored plutonium fast breeder reactors, hindering the progress of thorium-based nuclear energy.

12:22

"Thorium reactors with fluoride salts: cleaner energy"

  • Thorium reactors are advantageous due to their ability to produce less long-lived nuclear waste compared to uranium fuel cycle, as thorium starts from a different position on the periodic table, allowing for more efficient consumption of nuclear fuel and less waste production.
  • Fluoride salts are ideal for creating safe and cost-effective reactors that can efficiently utilize thorium, while also being capable of burning up existing nuclear waste, leading to lower costs and less environmental impact.
  • The speaker has been working on a design for a modular nuclear reactor based on thorium and fluoride salts, which not only generates electricity but also produces desalinated water and nuclear medicines, emphasizing the importance of pursuing cleaner and more efficient energy sources for the future.
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