> CBFalc>>
> ... snip ...
>>
>>> Note that the raw physics hasn't changed appreciably
>>> in the last 60 odd years. This has to do with energy
>>> extracted from various fission reactions. Reversal of
>>> such requires reinsertion of the energy.
>>
>> Why would anyone _want_ to reverse those reactions?
>
> Because, without so doing, you still have the radioactive
> elements radiating. This is not chemistry. The materials
> remain dangerous for at least several half-lives of the
> substance.
Well, there are some alternatives to rewinding the materials back to their original state (which was also radioactive).
- Grind it all to dust, bin sort each atom (like they do to get U235) to get materials of interest.
- Toss it all into a pocket-sized black hole, which will let it all evaporate out as something more mundane (while likely spraying the area with hard radiation at infall).
- Bombard it with thermal neutrons until it gets really hot (make it into something with a shorter half-life).
- Grind it and bake it into big ceramic cakes, insert thermopiles, and generate electricity
- Let it sit and hope our children are smarter than we have been in the last 50 or so years.
- More?
David A. Smith