ANS 2015 Plenary Talks – Part 1 Introduction

Everyone I spoke to about the opening plenary session of the American Nuclear Society annual meeting on June 8, 2015 told me they were impressed. I agree; it was one of the most interesting set of talks that I’ve ever heard in one place at one time. Dr. Dale Klein, who has had a distinguished…

Romance of Radium – How did our relationship with radioactive material sour?

Romance of Radium – How did our relationship with radioactive material sour?

Note – This post was initially published on February 23, 2013. After attending the ANS President’s Special Session about the way we should communicate about radiation, I thought it would be worth repeating. Sometimes, we need to look outside of our immediate time and place to find “best practices” that we should emulate. Hitting road…

Musings from San Antonio, site of 2015 ANS meeting

This post brought to you by the generous readers who provided support for my travel and lodging in San Antonio. I hope you enjoy the resulting reports. My first observation is to note that Texans drive fast. The Texas segment of I-10 between the eastern border and San Antonio is the first road I’ve been…

Stanford climate scientists promote 100% renewable revolution using natural gas money

We’ve been repeatedly told that 97% of climate scientists agree that CO2 emissions from human activity are a major cause of climate change. Scientists who question that assertion are villified as “climate change deniers” and marginalized as representing a fringe point of view. They’re frequently accused of being paid by fossil fuel interests. Politicians, journalists…

Following the money: who’s funding Stanford’s Natural Gas Initative

A few days ago, I wrote about Stanford University’s new Natural Gas Initiative (NGI) and described why I thought the existence of that program helped to explain why some prominent Stanford professors — like Mark Z. Jacobson — actively promote an unrealistic energy supply system dependent on 100% renewable energy. It’s my contention that the…

Nuclear – An essential part of the solution

In just a few days, nuclear scientists, engineers and technologists will begin arriving in San Antonio, Texas for the 2015 annual meeting of the American Nuclear Society. The theme for this year’s meeting is Nuclear Technology: An Essential Part of the Solution. Dr. Dale Klein, a former Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and currently…

Hero worship of a corporate welfare king – Elon Musk

A May 30, 2015 story in the Los Angeles Times titled Elon Musk’s growing empire is fueled by $4.9 billion in government subsidies provides an enlightening look at the basis for Musk’s recent business success. His visionary — and generously subsidized — enterprises including Tesla, Solar City and SpaceX have resulted in his elevation to…