Radioactive wasp nest discovered in US: Routine check findings at Cold War-era nuclear facility; radiation levels 10 times above limit
Workers at a former US nuclear weapons facility in South Carolina have uncovered a radioactive wasp nest emitting radiation levels ten times higher than regulatory limits, reports the BBC.
Routine radiation checks at the Savannah River site near Aiken discovered a wasp nest early July, positioned on a post near tanks storing liquid nuclear waste.
"The wasp nest was sprayed to kill wasps, then bagged as radiological waste," according to a US Department of Energy report released last week.
Officials said that no wasps were found at the site near Aiken, South Carolina. They confirmed that the waste tanks are not leaking, and currently, there are no wasps present at the site.
"No contamination was found in the area," the report confirmed. "There were no impacts to workers, the environment or the public,"
Investigators believe the dangerously high radiation levels found on the nest are the result of "onsite legacy radioactive contamination", residual radiation left behind from the site's Cold War-era operations, when it was actively involved in producing components for nuclear weapons, reports the BBC.
While the nest showed high radiation levels, the wasps that once occupied it would have carried significantly lower levels of radiation, the report said.
The report says that wasps usually don't travel far from their nest—just a few hundred feet. Since the nest was found inside the 310-square-mile facility, it's unlikely that the wasps flew outside the site.
The Savannah River site originally began operations in the 1950s and produced plutonium for nuclear bomb cores.
The site remains active to this day focusing on nuclear materials for power generation.
The site originally produced over 625 million liters of liquid nuclear waste, which has since been reduced to approximately 29 million liters through evaporation. Currently, 43 underground tanks remain in use, while eight have been closed, as per the Savannah River Mission Completion.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
10 hours ago
- Indian Express
Chinese students at UK universities asked to monitor classmates, report on talks critical of China: report
Chinese students in the UK are being asked by officials to monitor their classmates and report on discussions that may be critical of China, according to a new report by the UK-China Transparency (UKCT) think tank, the BBC reports. The report, based on a survey of academics in China studies, also found that some university staff had been warned by Chinese officials not to speak about certain topics in class. The Chinese embassy in London rejected the findings, telling the BBC the report was 'groundless and absurd'. A spokesperson said China respects freedom of speech in the UK and does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. The findings come soon after a new law came into effect in the UK, requiring universities to actively promote academic freedom and free speech, even when they have partnerships with foreign governments. The Office for Students (OfS), the higher education regulator, said freedom of speech and academic freedom are 'fundamental' to universities. OfS chief executive Susan Lapworth has said Confucius Institutes—cultural centres funded by the Chinese government and hosted at UK universities—should be examined under the new law due to concerns about foreign influence. Some universities may hesitate to raise concerns about interference because of the high number of Chinese students and the fees they pay, the UKCT said. According to the report, some students from China told lecturers they had been asked by officials to observe and report on their peers. Other students said they felt uncomfortable discussing topics considered sensitive by the Chinese government, and were reluctant to pursue further study in those areas. Topics seen as sensitive include China's policies in Xinjiang, the origins of Covid-19, and the country's growing tech industry. Some academics also said they had been harassed or intimidated. The report said some researchers were denied visas to China, and others said their families in China were pressured because of their work in the UK. There were also reports of intimidation by visiting Chinese scholars and by staff linked to Confucius Institutes. The OfS said it already has powers to ensure universities protect free speech, including from foreign influence. These powers will be expanded to include a new complaints system where staff and visiting speakers can raise concerns directly with the regulator. Universities that fail to protect academic freedom could face fines, with one already being fined £585,000 earlier this year. Universities UK, a group representing 141 institutions, said: 'Any threats to the freedom of our staff or students are taken very seriously. We work closely with the government to prevent this.' A government spokesperson said, 'Anyone working or studying at our universities should know their rights to personal and academic freedom are protected when they are on British soil.' Skills Minister Jacqui Smith added, 'Academic freedom is non-negotiable in our universities. Any attempt by a foreign state to intimidate or harass people in the UK will not be tolerated.' She said the new law makes universities' responsibilities clear, and that institutions failing to act 'will face the consequences'. (With inputs from BBC)
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
13 hours ago
- First Post
Ditch that soda and noodles. The lung cancer link to ultra-processed foods
A study in the Thorax journal reveals that those consuming ultra-processed foods like fast food and sugary drinks have a 41 per cent higher risk of developing lung cancer compared to those who ate the least. The study analysed data of over 100,000 Americans aged 55 to 74, who were tracked for more than a decade read more We've known for a while that our go-to ultra-processed foods, like fast food, sugary drinks, and instant meals, aren't exactly the best for our health. They're often linked to heart problems and metabolic issues. But now, a new study points to another worrying connection. These foods might also raise the risk of lung cancer. Published in the journal Thorax, the research found that people who ate the most ultra-processed foods had a 41 per cent higher risk of developing lung cancer compared to those who ate the least. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD So, what counts as ultra-processed food? And how could it be linked to cancer? Here's what we know about the new study. But first, what are ultra-processed foods? Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are industrially manufactured products made from a combination of refined ingredients and additives. They are designed to be hyper-palatable, convenient, and have a long shelf life. Unlike minimally processed foods, UPFs are made mostly from substances extracted from foods, such as fats, starches, added sugars, and unhealthy fats, rather than the whole food itself. They undergo extensive alterations and typically contain artificial substances like emulsifiers, preservatives, colourants, and sweeteners. As a result, UPFs tend to be calorie-dense but low in essential nutrients and fibre, making them nutritionally poor despite their appealing taste. Rows of ultraprocessed potato chips are placed at a convenience store in Boston. File image/AP In the UK and US, more than half of the average diet consists of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), which include frozen meals, soft drinks, hot dogs and cold cuts, fast food, packaged cookies, cakes, and salty snacks. What does the new study reveal? The study draws data from the US Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial, which followed over 100,000 Americans aged 55 to 74. Participants enrolled between 1993 and 2001, and their health was tracked for more than a decade. Out of 101,732 people who filled out food questionnaires at the start, researchers categorised their diets based on how processed the foods were, with a special focus on ultra-processed foods (UPFs) like lunch meats, soft drinks, ice cream, baked goods, instant noodles, and fast food. Researchers believe rising global consumption of UPFs could be contributing to the growing burden of diseases, such as cancer. Image for Representation. Reuters On average, people consumed nearly three servings of UPFs a day, with some having up to six. Over 12 years, 1,706 lung cancer cases were diagnosed, including both non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Even after accounting for factors like smoking and diet quality, those who ate the most UPFs had a 37 per cent higher risk of NSCLC and a 44 per cent higher risk of SCLC. The researchers believe rising global consumption of UPFs could be contributing to the growing burden of diseases, such as cancer and stressed the need for more research to confirm these findings across diverse populations. 'Over the past two decades, consumption of ultra-processed foods has significantly increased worldwide, regardless of development or economic status,' the authors wrote. This rise may be driving global increases in obesity, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, they added. How might heavily processed foods increase cancer risk? Researchers believe one reason is that ultra-processed foods often replace healthier options, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, that may help protect against cancer. When diets become dominated by UPFs, there's simply less room for the good stuff. There's also growing concern about the additives and chemicals found in these products. Ingredients like emulsifiers, preservatives, artificial colours, and acrolein (a toxic compound also found in tobacco smoke) may lead to inflammation, disrupt hormones, damage DNA, and upset the gut microbiome. The packaging materials used for many of these foods can also be a source of risk. Chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, commonly found in food containers and wrappers, may leach into the food and have been linked to health issues, the study noted. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD So, what can you do? Nutritionist Rob Hobson, author of Unprocess Your Family Life, told The Independent that it's less about blaming specific foods and more about c 'That might mean cooking more from scratch where possible, adding in more whole foods like vegetables, beans and grains, or just becoming more aware of how often UPFs show up in your day,' he said Also read: What is fibremaxxing, the new diet trend taking over social media? How safe is it? Making small, sustainable changes will help you gradually replace junk food with more nutritious, whole foods Image for Representation. Pixabay 'It's not about being perfect, it's about balance and understanding how your food choices could be supporting or undermining your long-term health.' In short, cutting back on ultra-processed foods doesn't require a complete lifestyle overhaul. But being mindful of how often these foods appear on your plate, and gradually replacing them with more nutritious, whole foods, can go a long way in supporting better health. With input from agencies
News18
16 hours ago
- News18
Classroom Spies? Chinese Students In UK Told To Monitor Peers, Here's Why
Last Updated: Chinese students in the UK are pressured to spy on classmates to suppress sensitive discussions, says UK-China Transparency. The Chinese Embassy in London called it "groundless." If you're a student in the UK, there's a possibility you might be spied upon—not by a government agency, but by a fellow student. A new report has suggested that Chinese students studying at UK universities are being pressured to spy on their classmates, in what is being described as an attempt to suppress discussions on topics sensitive to the Chinese government. Lecturers at several universities have reportedly been warned by Chinese government officials not to discuss certain issues, according to a survey conducted by UK-China Transparency (UKCT), a think tank focused on China studies, as reported by BBC. However, the Chinese Embassy in London dismissed the findings, calling the report 'groundless and absurd." The report comes just days after a new law came into force, requiring UK universities to actively promote academic freedom and free speech—even in cases where institutions have formal agreements with foreign governments. The higher education regulator—the Office for Students (OfS)—has stated that freedom of speech and academic freedom are 'fundamental" to university education. It warned that universities could face fines running into millions if they fail to uphold these values, BBC reported. What Are These Sensitive Topics? China, which is known to suppress dissent within its borders, has refused to acknowledge international allegations of ethnic cleansing in the Xinjiang region and criticism over Covid-19 origin. These are among the issues the Chinese government does not want discussed in classrooms abroad. Other sensitive topics include those related to science, politics, humanities, and the global rise of Chinese technology firms, according to the UKCT. Without naming China, UK Minister of State for Skills Jacqui Smith said that any attempt by a foreign state to 'intimidate, harass or harm" individuals in the UK will not be tolerated." Calling academic freedom 'non-negotiable" in UK institutions, she said the new legislation makes that stance 'explicitly clear." 'We are also working directly with the Office for Students to support universities in safeguarding free speech and tackling any form of harassment on campus," she added. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
