Chernobyl: Concern over ‘smoldering nuclear reactions’ at plant

Thirty-five years after the Chernobyl nuclear explosion, the nuclear “coals” that remain buried inside the plant and which “Burn like embers on a barbecue” cause concern to scientists.

According to Science magazine, in an article entitled “Like embers on a barbecue”. “Nuclear reactions are smoldering again at Chernobyl.” Ukrainian scientists have recently realized that fuel caused by uranium nuclear fission begins to react again in an “inaccessible chamber” inside a damaged area of ​​the closed factory.

Scientists have found increase in neutron activity measurements, which is a measurable by-product of uranium nuclear fission, according to the Institute for Nuclear Safety Problems (ISPNPP) in Kiev, Ukraine.

“There is a lot of uncertainty,” said Maxim Saveliev of ISPNPP “We can not rule out the possibility of an accident.”

Ukrainian scientists are trying to determine if the reactions will go away on their own or if intervention is needed to prevent another accident.

Neutron counts are rising slowly, Saveliev said, suggesting leaders have a few more years to decide how to solve the problem to avert the threat.

The Chernobyl nuclear power plant is surrounded by a vast infrastructure called the Chernobyl New Safe Confinement (NSC), in which there are zones that are completely sealed. In one of them which has the form of a dome and is called “Shelter”, Scientists have observed increased neutron activity.

There is no possibility of a repeat of 1986, but such a small-scale nuclear activity could destroy some unstable parts of the Shelter, which is 34 years old and “forgotten”.

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