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Concerns Over Taishan Nuclear Plant Highlight Official Secrecy
Posted by Joseph Brouwer | Jun 16, 2021
A radioactive gas leak at a nuclear power plant in southern China has been described by experts as a mundane issue with the cladding on fuel rods in one of the plant’s reactors. The episode has nevertheless highlighted the Chinese government’s culture of opacity, which can help fuel fears of a crisis even where none exists. At CNN, Zachary Cohen broke the news about troublesome reactor in the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant, which only came to light after the leak of a letter sent to the United States Department of Energy by the French company that partly owns and operates the nuclear plant:
FAIRFIELD-SUISUN, CALIFORNIA
Earth s rotation speed slowed ever-so-slightly in recent decades, but the trend is now spinning in the other direction. (Dreamstime/TNS)
Earth’s spin is believed to be speeding up
As Earth’s rotation speed slowed ever-so-slightly in recent decades, leap seconds were added intermittently to keep clocks up to date.
But if a new trend holds, time might need to be turned in the other direction some day soon.
Earlier this month, The Daily Telegraph reported that Earth has reached its quickest spin speeds in the past half-century.
“It’s quite possible that a negative leap second will be needed if Earth’s rotation rate increases further,” said Peter Whibberley, a senior research scientist with Britain’s National Physical Laboratory, according to The Daily Telegraph.
As Earthâs rotation speed slowed ever-so-slightly in recent decades, leap seconds were added intermittently to keep clocks up to date.
But if a new trend holds, time might need to be turned in the other direction some day soon.
Earlier this month, The Daily Telegraph reported that Earth has reached its quickest spin speeds in the past half-century.
âItâs quite possible that a negative leap second will be needed if Earthâs rotation rate increases further,â said Peter Whibberley, a senior research scientist with Britainâs National Physical Laboratory, according to The Daily Telegraph.
The speed of Earthâs spin fluctuates constantly due to a range of factors, including the motion of the planetâs core and oceans, according to the British newspaper.