Future Tense Nuclear tombs and the distant discourse of danger
Feb 13, 2025
Shastra Deo, a nuclear semiotics expert from the University of Queensland, joins UK journalist Mark Piesing to explore the complexities of nuclear waste. They discuss the monumental task of constructing underground facilities to secure toxic materials for millennia, emphasizing the need for effective long-term communication of dangers. Innovative concepts like 'Raycats' are introduced as a way to warn future generations. The conversation also touches on climate change’s impact on migration and the emotional toll of environmental uncertainties.
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Visiting a Nuclear Waste Facility
- Mark Piesing visited a French test facility for nuclear waste disposal.
- It felt like ancient Egypt, with tunnels and security measures emphasizing the seriousness.
Timescale of Nuclear Waste Disposal
- Nuclear waste facilities take decades to build and are licensed for 10,000 years.
- Their intended lifespan, however, is 100,000 years, highlighting the long-term nature of the challenge.
Nuclear Semiotics Challenge
- Nuclear semiotics aims to warn future generations about nuclear waste for 10,000 years.
- Language evolution makes communication over such timescales difficult, given English is only ~800 years old.