www3.nhk.or.jp says The operation at Fukushima No.1 plant to lower pressure of the containment vessel has been suspended due to high radiation levels at the site.

Secretary Clinton was evidently misinformed in her remark about coolant. USAF was quoted later as saying they offered logistics support but Japan didn't need it, at least not yet.

wouldnt it be better to use some kind of precision jet directional perforating explosive to put a few holes in that pressure vessel before it blows up entirely? (trust me they can be very precise if used correctly) if the valve cannot be made to work - would that be a viable alternative?

@another expert I think it was batteries

@another expert soon they will need it

er the reactors dont blow but they melt into the water table and cause steam explosions dont they?

By design, there is no way possible for the core geometry to reach "critical geometry" In addition, with a loss of coolant, there is a loss of neutron moderation, which will prevent the fission process.

Venting air from reactor container suspended

The operation at Fukushima No.1 plant to lower pressure of the containment vessel has been suspended due to high radiation levels at the site.

Pressure of the reactor container is rising as its cooling system became dysfunctional due to a blackout and power generator breakdown. This has raised concern about possible damage to the container.

The power station's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, began to vent air from the reactor container at 9AM on Saturday.

Under the plan, 2 valves close to the container would be opened manually, but radiation level on the second valve was found higher than expected.

The operation has been suspended because of the possibility that workers could be exposed to radiation. The utility is reportedly studying how to open the valve by replacing workers at a short interval, or using electric remote control.

Keep in mind that the experts working on the plants know this is a post-Chernobyl world, and that they want to protect citizens above everything else. If they weren't optimistic about fixing the plant, they'd be getting ready to seal it off or further evacuating people.

@regular guy no

The core at Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant's No. 1 reactor may be partially melting, the nuclear safety agency said Saturday.

@Daily stop saying radiation will get into the air there is always radiation in the air and it comes primarily from the sun! contamination gets into the air, the radiation is then emitted.

prayers go out to the few around the plant, hopefully the explosion wont be huge

if there is a loss of neutron moderation, it will increase fission process.

NHK also reported in the same story that the rest of the fuel is cooling. Very confusing.

Injecting Standby liquid injection (Borated water) requires electricity to provide power the pump. It's a low capacity injection source. The reactor is already shut down-all control rods in, therefore there is no reason for boron to be injection.

@ Greg-You are clueless. Neutron moderation is the slowing down of neutrons, which is required for the fission process to occur, as a Light water reqctor operates on "slow neutrons" . It is NOT a fast reactor.

Even after struck with such a massive disaster, The Japanese Administration's timely effort prevented the death toll to rise dramatically. We know what happened in Gujarat when 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck. At least this time let our leaders and Administration study and practice a good system to rescue people when such kind of calamity happens.

releasing some pressure is good but they still need to get some long term cooling established