Atomic Bomb Residue Confirms Adults Make New Brain Cells

Source: Medical Daily

Researchers have found that our brains make about 1,400 new neurons a day, in a new study that used leftover radiation from 1960s nuclear testing to track the lives of neurons. The new technique for dating neurons could provide insight into psychiatric disorders like depression. For decades, scientists believed that we were born with a finite number of neurons, and although we might make a few more during childhood, we had a limited and dwindling supply as adults. In the 1960s, a heated controversy began after a few scientists found evidence for the creation of new neurons — known as 'neurogenesis' — in adult rats.

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"We provide the first evidence that there is substantial neurogenesis in the human hippocampus throughout life, suggesting that the new neurons may contribute to human brain function," said senior study author Jonas Frisén of the Karolinska Institute, Sweden.

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The introduction of massive quantities of carbon-14 during the Cold War followed by its sudden decline essentially provided a timescale with which to measure the age of cells. The researchers guessed that people who lived through the Cold War should have higher amounts of carbon-14 in their cells and that the levels should decline in individuals born after 1963.

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The researchers found tremendous amounts of neurogenesis in the hippocampus, the brain's memory center, with at least one-third of the cells being renewed during a lifetime.

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"It has long been suspected that depression is related to reduced hippocampal neurogenesis," concluded Frisén. "And our findings suggest that new and more effective antidepressants could potentially be developed to target this process."

Source: Spalding KL, Bergmann O, Alkass K, et al. Dynamics of Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Adult Humans. Cell. 2013.

Read more: http://www.medicaldaily.com/articles/16273/20130606/nuclear-testing-study-atomic-bomb-neuron-creation-hippocampal-neurogenesis-alzheimers-disease.htm

NRC Issues Order Designating 10 Facilities Eligible for Weapons Pre-Emption Authority

Source: NUCPROS

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission today issued an Order designating 10 nuclear facilities in New York, Maryland, Virginia and California as eligible to apply for authority to permit their security forces to possess and use firearms and related devices despite local, state or federal laws and regulations restricting their use.

The designated facilities are the Indian Point, James A. FitzPatrick, Nine Mile Point and R.E. Ginna nuclear power plants in New York; the San Onofre and Diablo Canyon nuclear power plants in California; the Calvert Cliffs nuclear power plant in Maryland; and the Babcock & Wilcox nuclear fuel fabrication facility in Virginia. The spent fuel storage installations at Diablo Canyon and Calvert Cliffs, which are licensed separately, are also included.

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 gave the NRC authority to permit security forces at NRC-licensed facilities to possess and use firearms, ammunition and large-capacity ammunition feeding devices in the performance of their official duties regardless of local, state or federal restrictions on their use. This “pre-emption authority” became effective with the 2009 publication of guidelines on the use of firearms at NRC-licensed facilities, which were approved by the NRC and the Department of Justice.

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Read more: http://nucpros.com/content/nrc-issues-order-designating-10-facilities-eligible-weapons-pre-emption-authority

San Onofre security demands video be deleted

Source: ABC 10 News San Diego

An incident involving Team 10 has the National Press Photographers Association demanding an apology from the California State Parks Commission and the owners of the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant.

In late April, Team 10 was working on a series of stories involving the nuclear facility and its management. Team 10 was shooting video of the facility from a public state beach when police and San Onofre staff demanded the video be deleted before Team 10 be allowed to leave the public park.

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Warman called for back up when he was informed of the public's right to record video from public property.

"Right now, turn the camera off," California state park police officer Ennio Rocca said when he arrived on the beach. Team 10 confirmed he was responding the Warman's request for back up.

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Read more: http://www.10news.com/news/investigations/san-onofre-security-and-state-parks-police-detain-team-10-crew-and-demand-video-shot-on-public-property-be-deleted-060513

Lessons from Fukushima for San Onofre

Source: KPBS - Aired 6/5/13

The former head of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said Southern California Edison’s plans to restart San Onofre at 70 percent power do not inspire him with confidence. Gregory Jaczko and former Japanese prime minister Naoto Kan spoke in San Diego at a seminar called “Lessons from Fukushima."

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Jaczko said the cost benefit approach that says it is not worth investing in something that is unlikely to happen means the nuclear industry is chronically underprepared for accidents. He said he learned from Fukushima that the industry and regulators have to pay much more attention to the economic and personal consequences of an accident.

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Kan said he believes society needs to work toward phasing out nuclear power and cited the example of Germany. He called for groups who have questions about nuclear power to form an international network to stand up to the powerful interests that are promoting the industry.

Arnie Gundersen, a consultant with the group Friends of the Earth said the probability of a nuclear power plant accident is in fact much higher than estimates, becuase five units have melted down in the past 35 years: one at Three Mile Island, one at Chernobyl and three at Fukushima.

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Peter Bradford, a commissioner with the NRC at the time of the Three Mile Island accident, said the regulatory agency pledged to become more transparent but in fact the opposite has happened. He pointed out little was done after Fukushima to improve safety at U.S. power plants, whereas there was heightened security after the Boston bombings.

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Read more: http://oceanside-camppendleton.patch.com/groups/business-news/p/lessons-from-fukushima-for-san-onofre

Susan Rice on Nuclear Weapons

Japan soon to be largest solar market

Source: Bloomberg

Japan is set to overtake Germany as the world’s largest solar market by annual installations this year as government incentives to encourage clean energy in light of the Fukushima nuclear crisis attract investment.

Developers may install 6.9 gigawatts to 9.4 gigawatts of solar in 2013, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Germany led solar installations in 2012 with 7.6 gigawatts of capacity.

The outlook from Bloomberg New Energy Finance revises the lower end of a forecast by the London-based researcher, which earlier called for Japan to install 6.1 gigawatts to 9.4 gigawatts of capacity. Based on the most conservative estimates, BNEF previously said China would edge out Japan as the world’s largest market this year.

The change comes after the Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association announced that domestic shipments of solar modules rose 73 percent in the first three months of the year compared with the previous quarter, according to the report.

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Read more: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/06/05/business/japan-soon-to-be-largest-solar-market/#.Ua4QwEDVArU

Naoto Kan, Gregory Jaczko, Arnie Gundersen, Peter Bradford, Dave Roberts streaming live in San Diego

Today, June 4, 8:30-noon
Live stream: http://av4b.com/live/

Former Japanese Prime Minister And Ex-Head Of U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission To Discuss Fukushima's Lessons For Southern California

*** Webcast Available to Media Outside of San Diego ***,

Against Backdrop of Debate About Fate of Troubled San Onofre Reactor, Two Public Officials Who Led During Time of Japanese Reactor Crisis Appearing Together for First Time.

SAN DIEGO, June 3, 2013 -- /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Two public figures who led the response in Japan and the United States to the Fukushima reactor crisis will appear together Tuesday for the first time to outline the lessons of Fukushima for Southern California, which now awaits the decision on whether or not the crippled San Onofre reactors near San Diego will be restarted.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan will discuss his concerns about the inherent dangers posed by nuclear reactors. He will be joined by former U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chair Gregory Jaczko, who has emerged as a leading critic of safety at U.S. nuclear power plants.

The Friends of the Earth event will be available live both to reporters in San Diego and via Webcast to members of the news media elsewhere in the U.S.

News event speakers will be:

• The Honorable Naoto Kan, former Prime Minister of Japan from June 2010 to August 2011;
  
  
• Gregory Jaczko, former chair of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission from May 2009 to July 2012;
  
  
• Peter A. Bradford, adjunct professor at the Vermont Law School, a former member of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and a former utility commission chair in New York and Maine;
  
  
• Arnold "Arnie" Gundersen, chief engineer of the energy consulting company Fairewinds Associates, and a former nuclear power industry executive; and
  
  
• Dave Roberts, County Board of Supervisors, San Diego.
  

Fukushima Ongoing Lessons For California - Live Stream - Naoto Kan and others in San Diego now

June 4, 8:30-noon
Live stream: http://av4b.com/live/
LBN press release yesterday: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014499471

TEPCO finds groundwater contaminated with radioactive cesium

Source: Kyodo

Tokyo Electric Power Co. said Monday that it has detected radioactive cesium in groundwater samples taken from the premises of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear complex, reversing an earlier announcement that any contamination was negligible.

The announcement came as TEPCO is trying to secure the understanding of local fishermen over the dumping in the Pacific Ocean of groundwater that has been pumped out from wells at the site, saying it has confirmed that concentrations of radioactive substances are sufficiently low.

TEPCO had said radioactive cesium in the groundwater was at a level that could not be detected by an instrument at the Fukushima Daiichi complex. But the same sample was found to contain 0.22 becquerel of cesium-134 and 0.39 becquerel of cesium-137 per liter when checked at the Fukushima Daini plant, where radiation levels are lower.

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Read more: http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2013/06/228399.html

Former Japanese Prime Minister And Ex-Head Of U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission To Discuss Fukushim

Source: Friends of the Earth

Former Japanese Prime Minister And Ex-Head Of U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission To Discuss Fukushima's Lessons For Southern California

*** Webcast Available to Media Outside of San Diego ***,

Against Backdrop of Debate About Fate of Troubled San Onofre Reactor, Two Public Officials Who Led During Time of Japanese Reactor Crisis Appearing Together for First Time.

SAN DIEGO, June 3, 2013 -- /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Two public figures who led the response in Japan and the United States to the Fukushima reactor crisis will appear together Tuesday for the first time to outline the lessons of Fukushima for Southern California, which now awaits the decision on whether or not the crippled San Onofre reactors near San Diego will be restarted.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan will discuss his concerns about the inherent dangers posed by nuclear reactors. He will be joined by former U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chair Gregory Jaczko, who has emerged as a leading critic of safety at U.S. nuclear power plants.

The Friends of the Earth event will be available live both to reporters in San Diego and via Webcast to members of the news media elsewhere in the U.S.

News event speakers will be:

• The Honorable Naoto Kan, former Prime Minister of Japan from June 2010 to August 2011;
  
  
• Gregory Jaczko, former chair of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission from May 2009 to July 2012;
  
  
• Peter A. Bradford, adjunct professor at the Vermont Law School, a former member of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and a former utility commission chair in New York and Maine;
  
  
• Arnold "Arnie" Gundersen, chief engineer of the energy consulting company Fairewinds Associates, and a former nuclear power industry executive; and
  
  
• Dave Roberts, County Board of Supervisors, San Diego.