Nuclear Semiotics: Communicating Danger Across Time

Nuclear semiotics is a specialized field focused on creating signs that effectively communicate the dangers of toxic radioactive waste to future generations. This discipline confronts the challenge of conveying a warning that remains understandable over immense time spans, such as 10,000 years, with some materials posing risks for as long as 4.5 billion years. The task is made more complex by the need to consider evolving languages and symbols, as evidenced by the inadequacy of the widely recognized trefoil symbol for nuclear waste, which many people do not comprehend. The concept extends beyond communication to include physical representations of danger, including designs that induce fear and warning, all aimed at deterring human interaction with hazardous materials in the future.