NationStates Jolt Archive

Scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico are unsure about what happened to over 600 pounds of plutonium:eek:

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/11/30/BAGGQFVT7J1.DTL

Out of curiousity, how can one lose sight of 660 pounds of very dense and heavy Plutonium...

You know...the kind that makes BOMBS...

They'll find it one way or another...

Out of curiousity, how can one lose sight of 660 pounds of very dense and heavy Plutonium...

You know...the kind that makes BOMBS...

If someone can lose their penis in mounds of fat, they can lose 661 pounds of radioactive plutonium.

dont panic yet, they are always losing stuff at los alamos that turns out to never have really existed.

If someone can lose their penis in mounds of fat, they can lose 661 pounds of radioactive plutonium.
You see, its when someone instantly makes mental connections between two things like that, that you start to worry about them. You are now on the list of people whom I worry about South Islands, congratulations.

Homer Simpson took it to grow tomacco. It's true!

You see, its when someone instantly makes mental connections between two things like that, that you start to worry about them. You are now on the list of people whom I worry about South Islands, congratulations.
Woooooo!

I needed it to power my DeLorean.

dont panic yet, they are always losing stuff at los alamos that turns out to never have really existed.


What other stuff have they lost but never really existed. Are scientists really that bad at math, organization and the like?

What other stuff have they lost but never really existed. Are scientists really that bad at math, organization and the like?
Maybe they just have really sucky handwriting?

If someone can lose their penis in mounds of fat, they can lose 661 pounds of radioactive plutonium.

Thank you for that image my friend...I really appriciate it...

Ouugh...

What other stuff have they lost but never really existed. Are scientists really that bad at math, organization and the like?
there was a real big scandal last year or the year before over a missing hard drive that supposedly held some sensitive information. after a thorough investigation it was shown to have never existed.

then there was that whole wen ho lee thing that went from smoking gun to utterly unfounded.

Thank you for that image my friend...I really appriciate it...

Ouugh...

I aim to please.

Well, I imagine many of them do have crappy writing. Doctors are infamous for it, and I have bad writing... ergo, it's a sign of intelligence.

About the actual topic: with how much is floating around in ex-Soviet bloc countries, 600 pounds from you guys is nothing.

Well, I imagine many of them do have crappy writing. Doctors are infamous for it, and I have bad writing... ergo, it's a sign of intelligence.

About the actual topic: with how much is floating around in ex-Soviet bloc countries, 600 pounds from you guys is nothing.

I guess its not that big of a deal only enouph plutonium for about 51 Nagasaki Atomic bombs thats only 51 major cities that could be wiped off the face of the earth!!! I guess its not that big of a deal:confused:

I guess its not that big of a deal only enouph plutonium for about 51 Nagasaki Atomic bombs thats only 51 major cities that could be wiped off the face of the earth!!! I guess its not that big of a deal:confused:
yeah but you also have to consider how toxic plutonium is. its also hazardous even if it never gets sold to someone who would want to make it into a bomb.

I guess its not that big of a deal only enouph plutonium for about 51 Nagasaki Atomic bombs thats only 51 major cities that could be wiped off the face of the earth!!! I guess its not that big of a deal:confused:


but WHICH cities to pick? it might work to our advantage if they pick the right ones. Is wahington DC a city?

yeah but you also have to consider how toxic plutonium is. its also hazardous even if it never gets sold to someone who would want to make it into a bomb.
Wait, you mean that stuff is bad for you? No wonder I've been going bald since I got this plutonium paperweight.
You jsut can't trust people who run their businesses out of the backs of their trucks anymore, can you?

Wait, you mean that stuff is bad for you? No wonder I've been going bald since I got this plutonium paperweight.
You jsut can't trust people who run their businesses out of the backs of their trucks anymore, can you?

but you must at least appreciate the weight loss. what a great new diet plan! maybe we'll see it promoted on TV soon

when is a diet pill worth $100k/bottle? when its plutonium!

but you must at least appreciate the weight loss. what a great new diet plan! maybe we'll see it promoted on TV soon
It only weighs half a pound, and so it is easy to carry around and set up at your place of employment, the gym, or in the local water supply.
The guy said he had 1361 more of them, and was offering them cheap this month.

...Lovely image there, South Islands. Don't worry, it's not like we'd judge you for being the one to bring penises into this discussion... :P

Hmm.

*Choo Choo*

Here comes the rational thought train. All aboard!

Mkay, let's count how many of those claims are made by activist groups. As in, the kind of activist groups opposed to nuclear research. Hmm. Kind of weird that there is no evidence of theft, and yet the only claims are coming from an organization that has a strict anti-proliferation, anti-nuclear-research agenda... did anyone even think about that? Doesn't sound like it.

Well, I imagine many of them do have crappy writing. Doctors are infamous for it, and I have bad writing... ergo, it's a sign of intelligence.

About the actual topic: with how much is floating around in ex-Soviet bloc countries, 600 pounds from you guys is nothing.
Of course ... lets just forget about it:rolleyes:

Mkay, let's count how many of those claims are made by activist groups. As in, the kind of activist groups opposed to nuclear research. Hmm. Kind of weird that there is no evidence of theft or disappearance, and yet the only claims are coming from an organization that has a strict anti-proliferation, anti-nuclear-research agenda... did anyone even think about that? Doesn't sound like it.
Think, goodsir? Surely you jest, goodsir?
Is this not NS, goodsir? At what point did thought come into it?

...Lovely image there, South Islands. Don't worry, it's not like we'd judge you for being the one to bring penises into this discussion... :P

Hmm.



Good sir, I know very well where my Penis is, thank you very much!

Of course ... lets just forget about it:rolleyes:
really i wouldnt lose any sleep over it. its very likely to be a clerical error rather than an actual theft.

...Lovely image there, South Islands. Don't worry, it's not like we'd judge you for being the one to bring penises into this discussion... :P

Hmm.

*Choo Choo*

Here comes the rational thought train. All aboard!

Mkay, let's count how many of those claims are made by activist groups. As in, the kind of activist groups opposed to nuclear research. Hmm. Kind of weird that there is no evidence of theft, and yet the only claims are coming from an organization that has a strict anti-proliferation, anti-nuclear-research agenda... did anyone even think about that? Doesn't sound like it.

Why has the government not denied it?

Good sir, I know very well where my Penis is, thank you very much!

Are you certain...?

If you watch Futurama, then you'd know that other species prize the "lower horn" as an aphrodisiac.

Be careful...

Good sir, I know very well where my Penis is, thank you very much!
It is times like this that my status as a Z0MB13 really becomes a pain in the ass. That is the most siggable thing I have seen in weeks, and I have no sig in which to store it! DAMNATION!

Are you certain...?

If you watch Futurama, then you'd know that other species prize the "lower horn" as an aphrodisiac.

Be careful...

Yes, it's rights here....

Errr...ok. My penis seems to be on holiday at the moment.

I'll be right back.

*goes to find vacationing penis*

It is times like this that my status as a Z0MB13 really becomes a pain in the ass. That is the most siggable thing I have seen in weeks, and I have no sig in which to store it! DAMNATION!

Yeah, whats up with that?

Why has the government not denied it?
Because the government has learned that denying things only makes the conspiracy theorists go batshit crazy. ;)

I don't remember if the government denied Roswell... they most likely did, and conspiracy theorists went nuts. Hell, if the government didn't even mention it, it probably would have slipped under the radar. I think.

really i wouldnt lose any sleep over it. its very likely to be a clerical error rather than an actual theft.
That also does not inspire confidence in their ability to properly manage this toxic and potentialy dangerous material

Because the government has learned that denying things only makes the conspiracy theorists go batshit crazy. ;)

I don't remember if the government denied Roswell... they most likely did, and conspiracy theorists went nuts. Hell, if the government didn't even mention it, it probably would have slipped under the radar. I think.

They came up with this report from reviewing the governments own documents.

It's not missing! It's right here next to me. I'll take pictures!

*readies the google image site in the next window*

Out of curiousity, how can one lose sight of 660 pounds of very dense and heavy Plutonium....
Some fat American probably thought they rods were cheezels and ate them.

I guess its not that big of a deal only enouph plutonium for about 51 Nagasaki Atomic bombs thats only 51 major cities that could be wiped off the face of the earth!!! I guess its not that big of a deal:confused:

This stuff is just an addition to an already-looming threat.

I certainly agree that it's a big deal. What I meant is that there is already a great deal of nuclear material left over from the collapse of the soviet union, much of it under terrible security with incomplete records about it's existence. Not to mention that it already comes in convenient bomb or missile form.

Plutonium is:

1.) Heavy

2.) Exposure to it makes one ill.

3.) Dangerous to the U.S. if it circulates freely.

Found it!

Oh wait, that's just Rush Limbaugh.

You know...the kind that makes BOMBS...
Somebody set up us the bomb :eek:

Plutonium is:

1.) Heavy

2.) Exposure to it makes one ill.

3.) Dangerous to the U.S. if it circulates freely.

Found it!

Oh wait, that's just Rush Limbaugh.
Nice, going out of your way to make this a republican-bashing thread? Lovely.

Nice, going out of your way to make this a republican-bashing thread? Lovely.

What else did you expect from him?

That also does not inspire confidence in their ability to properly manage this toxic and potentialy dangerous material
yeah i know what you mean but..

1) los alamos is run by the university of california <somewhere>

2) its los alamos, they have been dealing with plutonium since before the first bomb was detonated. (not surprising since they built it) 660 lbs is probably a tiny fraction of what they have used over the years and, if lost, it was lost in bits and pieces over the last 60 years. meaning its most likely just contaminating the town of los alamos.

3) the loss was calculated out of public documents. they arent likely to hold the full story of plutonium handling at los alamos.

Nice, going out of your way to make this a republican-bashing thread? Lovely.
get a sense of humor, that was funny.

Nice, going out of your way to make this a republican-bashing thread? Lovely.

A joke about Rush Limbaugh != Republican Bashing.

Feel free to make as many Michael Moore fat jokes and Clinton BJ/cigar jokes as you'd like, because I find those funny too.

Grow a sense of humor, Rocky Dennis!

I feel a little worried now.

I feel a little worried now.
I've lost track by now, but didn't you swear to leave forever and ever?

I've lost track by now, but didn't you swear to leave forever and ever?I did, but that thread got deleted. So technically I never said I was going to leave.

Wen Ho Lee stuffed them all down his pants and walked out with them.

dont panic yet, they are always losing stuff at los alamos that turns out to never have really existed.

LOL. If that was sarcasm, that was brilliant.

Wen Ho Lee stuffed them all down his pants and walked out with them.

He ain't having kids!

He ain't having kids!

Actually, the radiation from pure plutonium won't penetrate your skin. It won't hurt you unless you eat it or breathe it in.

Actually, the radiation from pure plutonium won't penetrate your skin. It won't hurt you unless you eat it or breathe it in.

Source? Link? I'm not saying I disbelieve you, but I haven't heard this before, and I'm curious as to why the radiation doesn't penetrate.

Actually, the radiation from pure plutonium won't penetrate your skin. It won't hurt you unless you eat it or breathe it in.
Mmmmh... plutonium latkes....

Source? Link? I'm not saying I disbelieve you, but I haven't heard this before, and I'm curious as to why the radiation doesn't penetrate.

Sure, no problem.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plutonium

To summarise; when plutonium undergoes radioactive decay, it emits a certain type of radiation; alpha particles. They have a lot of energy, making them extremely dangerous if ingested, but they can't penetrate a sheet of paper or more than a few centimeters of air. If you look inside smoke detectors, you will see radiation warnings, as they contain Americium. But as it's also an alpha emitter, and it can't penetrate past the smoke detector, it poses no risk.

That's natural decay, though...not manmade nuclear fission. You want to be as far away from that as possible. ;)

dont panic yet, they are always losing stuff at los alamos that turns out to never have really existed.

They had this problem at Rocky Flats in the 1960s. They eventually figured out that the plutonium dust from milling operations had ended up coating miles of special ducts.

Ducts that now cannot be removed easily, as they are extremely radioactive.

Between accounting errors, and incorrect assumptions about what's left after one operation or another, I'm not surprised.

Remember these are the same people who lost some removable hard drives, and found them much later behind a copy machine.

They had this problem at Rocky Flats in the 1960s. They eventually figured out that the plutonium dust from milling operations had ended up coating miles of special ducts.

Ducts that now cannot be removed easily, as they are extremely radioactive.

Between accounting errors, and incorrect assumptions about what's left after one operation or another, I'm not surprised.

Remember these are the same people who lost some removable hard drives, and found them much later behind a copy machine.

The Plutonium is probably somewhere in the coffee machine :p

The Plutonium is probably somewhere in the coffee machine :p

I think its more likely they were turned into commemorative paperweights for the staff, ironically shaped in the universal symbol for nuclear energy. :P

I think its more likely they were turned into commemorative paperweights for the staff, ironically shaped in the universal symbol for nuclear energy. :P

"Hey lookee, my paperweight is glowing" :)

here's a picture of just how seriously the original los alamos crew took the whole plutonium radiation threat

http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Tests/Trlehrcore.jpg


Sgt. Herbert Lehr delivering the plutonium core (or more probably half of it) for the Gadget in its shock-mounted carrying case to the assembly room in the McDonald Ranch farmhouse [at trinity site where they detonated the first atomic bomb in '45]

there are a bunch of other interesting photos at http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Tests/Trinity.html

"Hey lookee, my paperweight is glowing" :)

"Lets bring all our paperweights together and compare them"

*Boom*