W.H. Hannum, G.E. Marsh, G.S. Stanford - Scientific American, 2005 December: Nuclear reactors that use a fast neutron spectrum, and pyrometallurgical processing to recycle fuel, are efficient.

Alain Michel - 2000: A discussion of people's lack of enthusiasm for nuclear energy and the need for emotional presentations to change this. This article points out how fiction influences people - often creating images such as mad scientists that affect real decisions about scientific projects and technology investment. For the nuclear industry this influence has been overhwlmingly negative. A more vigorous presentation of positive aspects of nuclear energy would probably be effective, and it is surprising that the industry leaders have not done this. This leads into a discussion of the general understanding of nuclear fission, and of the steps that could be taken to create fission applications that people like, instead of tolerate. Building new nuclear plants underground instead of in the middle of pristine agricultural land might help, and be well worth the small cost increase. A more confident, realistic, and people oriented approach to gaining public support and even enthusiasm seems to be possible.

UNSCEAR - 2000: Report to the General Assembly, Annex J. The most recent information about Chernobyl from the UNSCEAR 2000 report The United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) A full assessment of the Chernobyl accident is included in the UNSCEAR 2000 Report as Annex J "Exposures and effects of the Chernobyl accident". This web article reproduces that annex. The annex is well written and easy to read. But you will need some definitions, such as: t : metric tonne, 1000 kg GWd t-1 : gigawatt days per tonne, the amount of thermal energy produced from each tonne of nuclear reactor fuel PBq : peta becquerel, 10**15 becquerels um : micro meter, one millionth of a meter kBq m-2 : kilo becquerels per square meter MBq m-2 : mega becquerels per square meter Ci km-2 : curies per square kilometer Gy : gray Gy h-1 : grays per hour mSv : milli sieverts A "becquerel" (Bq) of radioactivity occurs if there is one nucleus decay event every second. So kBq indicates one thousand nucleus decay events every second, i.e. one thousand becquerels. MBq indicates one million becquerels. Associating this with a square meter gives a measure of the radioactivity of a land area. A "curie" (Ci) of radioactivity is 37 giga becquerels (GBq), i.e. 37,000,000,000 Bq. A "gray" (Gy) is a measure of an absorbed dose of radioactivity. A "sievert" (Sv) is a measure of a dose equivalent of radioactivity. A milli sievert is one thousandth of a sievert.

Dr. Jeremy Whitlock - 2000 Apr: The CANDU technology can extend fuel use, destroy military plutonium, and reuse spent fuel from other reactors, while producing inexpensive electricity. Canada has developed a significant means for producing electricity with its CANDU reactor, a system that consumes uranium oxide fuel. This fuel does not require enrichment, a complex procedure with militaristic overtones. The CANDU technology includes: pressure tube geometry, simple fuel design, a once-through fuel cycle, and on-line refuelling. These characteristics match the CANDU system to the Canadian industrial and political environment. The CANDU reactor has a high moderator to fuel ratio, and several means to control the fission rate. This allows many different types of fuel to be fissioned: natural uranum, weapons grade plutonium, and even spent fuel from other reactors. Thorium, which is more abundant than uranium, can also be used to fuel a CANDU plant. Given its relatively simpler design, and its versatility, along with its proliferation resistant fuel cycles, the CANDU technology is an ideal choice for extending the use of fission world-wide.

Dr. Jeremy Whitlock - updated regularly: A collection of notes about CANDU reactors. This site provides concise and accurate information answering the questions that people typically ask when being introduced to nuclear power. It has been maintained since 1996 and serves both general and specialized technical interests. The Table of Contents is organized as sets of questions grouped in subject areas, making it very easy to find your particular answer. The list of Relevant Links is amazing.

George S. Stanford - 2001 Dec: A question and answer review of fast reactor technology which promises much improved power yields and much less used fuel difficulty. The Fast Reactor is a more efficient user of uranium fuel, makes weapon proliferation more difficult, and reduces the difficulties associated with used fuel. It is a superior design for new reactors, but the needed research and development for it has been cancelled.

J. A. L. Roberston - web site: An overview of the CANDU technology by J.A.L. Robertson This web site provides authoritative descriptions of the issues, the solutions, and decision criteria used to advance the CANDU industry. It is very well written and easy to read.

David B. Barber - 2005 Mar 24: A review of the advantages of nuclear energy production and electrical energy distribution for the vehicle transportation system. Nuclear reactors can make electricity which can be carried to automobile users now through the grid. In the parking lot the electricity can charge the batteries of hybrid gasoline-battery vehicles. This approach is affordable, familiar, and solves the green house gas pollution problem.

John McCarthy - 2005 May: A solid and easily read explanation of nuclear power issues. A question and answer format is used to address the primary issues of nuclear power. The technical details of nuclear reactors are outlined in easily understood terms, with lots of links to other web pages for details. Weapons proliferation, accidents, and what to do with used once fuel are discussed in very practical terms. The page neglects recent findings about radiation hormesis, which results in some statements about the Chernobyl accident that I disagree with. Overall, this is one of the best summaries nuclear power that I have read. I highly recommend it.

John K. Sutherland - 2004 May 19: The used once fuel from nuclear reactors can be resued to produce a lot more power. Nuclear power reduces the risk of war by eliminating the need for conflict over scarce oil resources. The used fuel produced by nuclear reactors is more than 95% uranium. This, along with the depleted uranium left behind by the enrichment process, can be used to produce more electricity. If this potential energy was fully reused we would get more than one hundred times as much energy for each kilogram of mined uranium. Throwing this material away as waste is not reasonable. It is more valuabel than gold.