Here's one to gladden Steve's papyrophobe heart! From The Register
(www.theregister.co.uk):

"The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has begun an £8bn project to
dismantle 26 atomic reactors that had been used for research, and will
bury the waste in concrete bunkers. The project managers have come up with
an interesting way of making sure information about how to handle the
waste is left for future generations.

You certainly can't bury tons of plutonium and uranium without at least
leaving a note for future generations saying "Don't touch. This is
dangerous stuff. Really, we mean it". So what do you do?

Computer technology is notorious for being superceded rather quickly. Over
the millennia that the waste will need to be stored, it is reasonable to
assume that the software and hardware used to store any supporting
documentation will be out of date.

In the light of this, the UKAEA decided to ditch all the high tech
solutions and go for something that has a genuinely proven track record:
Papyrus. Or, the closest thing we've got that doesn't involve actual
reeds: so-called permanent paper. After all, if it worked for the Ancient
Egyptians, it should work for us.

Normal paper will not do for long-term storage. Its high acid content
means it will quickly break down and decompose. No such problems with
permanent paper. Like papyrus, it is acid free, so won't discolour, or rot
over the years.

The documents - 423 in all, printed on 11,718 sheets of paper - will be
kept in special copper-impregnated bags, and packed in long-life archive
boxes. The idea is to keep conditions as close to those in an Ancient
Egyptian tomb as possible.

When dealing with quantities of nuclear waste, it make sense to plan for
the long haul. For example, Cumbria's Windscale/Sellafield facility will
be completely decommissioned next year, and its intermediate level
radioactive waste has been sealed in concrete boxes for storage on site,
until someone comes up with a better idea.

Three sets of the documents have been prepared, and will be stored
separately."

Now, what will they do when the Sun goes nova?

Cheers

Glenn (I too hate paper)

Glenn Sanders MRMA
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[log in to unmask]
Australia

These views are mine alone. They may or may not be those of any
previous or present employers or clients. I don't know. If I'd asked
and they'd agreed, I would have signed it "Harry Peck and Co and
Glenn". Or whatever. But I haven't, so I didn't.



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