Josephine - Thanks for the reference to science20 blog site. That is a great science entertainment read on a wide variety of topics. - Kurt ----- New thread topic While I hope that this thread will not turn into an acrimonious nuclear power debate, for me, the most significant issue coming up of the Japanese earthquake are not the failed reactors, but the breached and draining water pool on-site spent-fuel storage failure. More than one pool appears to have cracked and drained, resulting in the release of lethal levels of gamma radiation that temporarily drove the operator staff out of the control rooms of the complex. There are similar temporary water storage pools at all United States operating reactors. http://www.nrc.gov/waste/spent-fuel-storage/nuc-fuel-pool.html Clear Skies (Where is Spring?) - Kurt P.S. - I have made a donation for Japanese relief through http://www.globalgiving.org/ , principally because they accept PayPal transfers. If anyone else here is so moved, that is option for a donation root.