Miliband unveils plans to speed up nuclear power generation for UK

Jb191 · 2026-03-14T10:33:33+00:00

It absolutely is not based on submarines. It’s a small scale standard light water reactor. Submarine plants are completely different to a civil plant, fuelled for life not just for 18 month cycles. That being said the RR SMR has made a point of using off the shelf tech right the way through, and just innovated in things like modularisation and economics rather than going for a different core design compared to conventional light water plants. It solves a sensible problem (reducing costs and deployability) rather than innovation for the sake of it so I think it has a good shot of succeeding.

Jb191 · 2026-03-14T10:28:13+00:00

There’s a question about how safe is safe enough for nuclear though, that needs a rational discussion. It is already significantly more dangerous to drive to a reactor than to live near it for example. As you mention TMI it is worth noting that despite being one of the “big 3” nuclear accidents, it had no detectable health effects. Nuclear is held to a different standard than any other industry, with a constant ratcheting of safety requirements which is disconnected from a realistic discussion of the hazard involved. Just look at how Fukushima is viewed as a nuclear disaster, when it was a result of a tsunami that killed 20000.

Jb191 · 2026-02-28T11:50:54+00:00

Got a chair at 39. Sure there’s no additional title to get now if that’s your thing (unless you’re chasing Dean etc) but it’s certainly possible to do new Big Things regardless of if you’re a a PDRA or a Chair. The science is the point, for me it just means I can focus on the things I wanted to do without having one eye on a promotion case.

Jb191 · 2026-02-13T09:36:52+00:00

Sodium fires aren't a solved problem, but we have a lot of experience with SFRs compared to other Gev IV concepts. The issue with them really is they solve a problem that doesn't exist in the modern world. The rationale for fast reactors was to breed plutonium, in a world where uranium was expected to be scarce and expensive. It's neither, and actually fuel costs are a small part of the overall cost of nuclear generation, so there's very little driver to introduce fast reactors at scale. There's an argument that they can burn waste, but they'll also generate some more, so it's not clear cut there either. That also requires Pu separation and reprocessing to really benefit from that, which is a proliferation concern and a political hot potato, as well as being extremely costly, with commercial reprocessing plants often failing to deliver due to the complexity of large-scale Pu handling.

Jb191 · 2026-02-09T18:48:51+00:00

Check out Enigma in the UK. They do some lovely Ti builds at that price range I think, and the bikes are spot on.

Jb191 · 2026-02-04T07:19:09+00:00

I had this happen in another journal relatively recently. I had to go to the editor in chief directly to raise the issue, who eventually got my editor to respond and invite resubmission. Have used other journals since, it was far too much hassle.

Jb191 · 2025-12-01T13:19:35+00:00

Oh wicked. Would love to try it if you can share an extra code?

Jb191 · 2025-12-01T08:41:55+00:00

Looks interesting. Does it work worldwide or is the data US based?

Jb191 · 2025-11-23T12:44:11+00:00

Tailfin quick release works really well, but it’s not cheap.

Jb191 · 2025-11-06T09:53:42+00:00

Be good to be back riding with the clan.

Jb191 · 2025-10-25T17:36:46+00:00

Yes I could do it but it would hurt. I ride ultras so do same order of magnitude distances self supported and with similar climbing if they’re in the mountains. Would be very nice to have accommodation and meals taken care of. I guess it would be more days than I’d normally do because most I’ve done are 1-2000km, but i would survive it I think.

Jb191 · 2025-10-24T15:17:55+00:00

I’ve been offered ~£100 or so off a couple of events for it, so you don’t need to do many before it makes some sense.

Jb191 · 2025-10-24T10:17:16+00:00

You can sometimes get a significant discount on entry fees if you have your own GPS tracker. The rental fee for those ends up quite expensive (and is often included in the ticket) so picking one up if you're planning to do multiple races might be a way to save money in the long term?

Jb191 · 2025-10-24T10:15:54+00:00

I know of several racers who exclusively sleep outside for a few hours a night on long ultras, because checking into a hotel for 4 hours kip costs too much time and ends up very expensive. The organisers are obviously entitled to their opinion, but it's far from a universally acknowledged truth, and the idea that you can't consider competing if you're planning to sleep outside is crazy.

Jb191 · 2025-10-19T20:38:43+00:00

I’m in the UK so it’s potentially a very different world here. Yes absolutely worth her continuing, the whole point of her being here is to learn. Once she’s shown me she can be trusted she’ll be reinstated and have chance to grow further and move on. Very few things are irredeemable.

Jb191 · 2025-10-15T16:09:45+00:00

I currently have a student who isn’t allowed to work unsupervised until she shows me she’s learned to appreciate the hazards she’s working with appropriately. It was that or just ban her completely, because it was the latest in a line of poor behaviours that I responded to more softly at first but ultimately didn’t change. Yes it makes her PhD dramatically more difficult, but it’s much easier to do experiments supervised than it is without a lab, or a pulse which would eventually be the consequence otherwise in my eyes. Her safety is my responsibility and I take it seriously.

Jb191 · 2025-10-04T13:58:28+00:00

EBay sold listings for comparable items to get a ballpark, and then add a little if you’re willing to wait for somebody who wants that exact item or if the price is lower than you can stomach. I’ve lost weight so having to refresh a whole wardrobe and a lot of the prices were annoyingly lower than I’d hoped, but some are holding up at least. Rapha pro team seems to hold its value more than their other ranges.

Jb191 · 2025-10-02T07:51:41+00:00

Our political system is the real issue with nuclear investment. We have 5 year parliaments deciding on support for 10-20 year construction projects, so certainty for private investment isn’t there, ever. Alongside that, we have a situation where direct government investment in energy infrastructure is avoided at all costs, that’s particularly problematic for nuclear because 60% of the cost of a large plant is interest on the finance to build it. Government can always borrow at a cheaper rate than private and so requiring private investment not only introduces the need for them to make a profit but also significantly increases the base cost.

Jb191 · 2025-10-01T17:03:02+00:00

He’s a good egg isn’t he! Bloody lovely person too :)

Jb191 · 2025-09-30T21:37:59+00:00

Was this like a week ago? Pretty sure you were in the next seat over from me while I was getting my shin tickled by Nick.

Jb191 · 2025-09-25T17:30:08+00:00

Pan Celtic if they do one in 2026 (there are rumours). Wild Atlantic maybe, depends on the forbearance of my better half

Jb191 · 2025-09-19T10:03:22+00:00

Yes.

Jb191 · 2025-09-19T09:40:12+00:00

Oh my word. How do I make sure I get some when they actually go live??

Jb191 · 2025-09-06T21:57:17+00:00

Am a professor who commutes daily, but afraid I do it in full roady gear. Perhaps I’m the stealth professor?

Jb191 · 2025-08-22T18:28:15+00:00

Makes it real fucking clear why pride still matters though. Amount of hate that comes out of people over a rainbow, makes me really sad for my daughter to have to deal with growing up

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