NPR: Nuclear Waste: A Warning Sign to Last 10,000 Years

Nuclear Waste: A Warning Sign to Last 10,000 Years

Nukes here. Stay away.

Brandon Alms

Those cute bunnies on the left are meant to warn future people -- really future people -- away from a nuclear waste dump. Created by Brandon Alms, the artwork was a winning entry in the Desert Space Foundation's contest to design a universal warning sign for a radioactive repository planned for Yucca Mountain.

As part of our series on the renaissance of nuclear power, we're looking at the problem of nuclear waste.

One challenge: What kind of warning sign would still say "stay away" to humans living 10,000 years from now? Host Alison Stewart suggested something in red, to which I would counter, "Christmas." You?

Laura Conaway

7:35 AM ET | 10-25-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Let's hear from the experts instead of former junkies on this crucial topic. Spending half of an adult life shooting dope is far from a qualification for developing an intelligent opinion on nuclear power, or much of anything except shooting dope. Isn't that pretty clear?

Sent by C.Grach | 10:04 AM ET | 10-25-2007

Skeletons. When not wearing top hats and performing comical tap dances, skeletons are just automatically bad juju, a response that seems hardwired enough that it'll still be there 10,000 years from now.

Sent by Stewart | 11:47 AM ET | 10-25-2007

This idea is unoriginal but the standard trefoil should suffice. Instead of making some new esoteric symbol we should be using one that is used the world over, across many cultures. As we see with many ancient symbols, long after the culture is gone the symbol is meaningless. Why not use something that future peoples may have a chance of deciphering its meaning in other places?

Sent by Petro | 6:18 PM ET | 10-25-2007

I agree with Stewart. Although skeletons -- that can last millions of years -- are morbid, they do convey a strong message.

Sent by Steve Petersen | 6:22 PM ET | 10-25-2007

I remember hearing a while ago that they considered putting a picture of a screaming person on a sign. The big question though is what do you make the sign out of? It is suppose to last 10,000 years after all.

Permanent marker and plastic, anyone?

Sent by Will G | 11:40 PM ET | 10-25-2007

Sorry, but there is NO sign to warn of nuclear waste, well amybe a "DUNCE CAP" to show what a folly nuclear power is when we have the ability to use WIND TURBINE and SOLAR PANELS to make FREE electricity with no waste. THERE IS NO NEED FOR NUCLEAR WASTE -NO NUKES!!!!

Sent by Bobbi A. | 11:22 AM ET | 05-06-2008

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