A World Without Chernobyl

User avatar
Reliant121
3 Star Admiral
3 Star Admiral
Posts: 12263
Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2007 5:00 pm

Re: A World Without Chernobyl

Post by Reliant121 »

To be quite honest, I would never drive anything that ostentatious and...flat.
Sionnach Glic
4 Star Admiral
4 Star Admiral
Posts: 26014
Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 10:58 pm
Location: Poblacht na hÉireann, Baile Átha Cliath

Re: A World Without Chernobyl

Post by Sionnach Glic »

I like it. It's nice and sleek.
Unless you mean the Ford Nucleon. In which case I agree completely that it's hideous.

I'm curious, are nuclear-powered cars a realistic possibility? You always hear about people suggesting biofuels and hydrogen as alternative ways of powering cars, but can we not harness the power of the atom for such a task?

And while we're on vehicles, could a nuke-powered plane be a possibility?
"You've all been selected for this mission because you each have a special skill. Professor Hawking, John Leslie, Phil Neville, the Wu-Tang Clan, Usher, the Sugar Puffs Monster and Daniel Day-Lewis! Welcome to Operation MindFuck!"
User avatar
Reliant121
3 Star Admiral
3 Star Admiral
Posts: 12263
Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2007 5:00 pm

Re: A World Without Chernobyl

Post by Reliant121 »

I think its just about making it efficient at that small size.
Nickswitz
Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Posts: 6748
Joined: Sun May 25, 2008 5:34 pm
Location: Home
Contact:

Re: A World Without Chernobyl

Post by Nickswitz »

Not really a problem to make it smaller, I think the problem would be people walking around in lead suits worried about growing an extra head. :bangwall:

I think it would be a perfectly reasonable idea, I mean they need to use something more than just gas sooner or later, ok later, but still.

Also we have to worry about people who will start blaming everything that goes wrong in the world on the nuclear cars. (they get a :bangwall: too)

But I do think it would be possible, at this day and age, I would strongly advise against it, because no one in the world but us would buy it. Plus the problem with nuclear waste, I mean we would have to put the spent nuclear rods(or whatever they use) somewhere.
The world ended

"Insanity -- a perfectly rational adjustment to an insane world" - R.D.Lang
Sionnach Glic
4 Star Admiral
4 Star Admiral
Posts: 26014
Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 10:58 pm
Location: Poblacht na hÉireann, Baile Átha Cliath

Re: A World Without Chernobyl

Post by Sionnach Glic »

Well, again I was talking about a hypothetical world where anti-nuclear hysteria didn't exist. Would nuclear cars exist, or perhaps even be common, by now in such a world?
Nickswitz wrote:But I do think it would be possible, at this day and age, I would strongly advise against it, because no one in the world but us would buy it. Plus the problem with nuclear waste, I mean we would have to put the spent nuclear rods(or whatever they use) somewhere.
We could always use something like these for power. They're pretty safe. And I can't imagine they'd produce all that much nuclear waste.
"You've all been selected for this mission because you each have a special skill. Professor Hawking, John Leslie, Phil Neville, the Wu-Tang Clan, Usher, the Sugar Puffs Monster and Daniel Day-Lewis! Welcome to Operation MindFuck!"
Tyyr
3 Star Admiral
3 Star Admiral
Posts: 10654
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 10:49 pm
Location: Jeri Ryan's Dressing Room, Shhhhh

Re: A World Without Chernobyl

Post by Tyyr »

The car thing isn't really workable. The shielding will weigh a ton and greatly hinder performance not to mention with the way American's drive I don't really think you want every one of them having a nuclear reactor in the back seat. Nuclear powered aircraft are possible and considered from time to time by the military and NASA.
Aaron
3 Star Admiral
3 Star Admiral
Posts: 10988
Joined: Thu Aug 23, 2007 10:01 pm
Location: Timepire Mobile Command Centre
Contact:

Re: A World Without Chernobyl

Post by Aaron »

Yeah a car is pretty unlikely given the need for shielding. IIRC the B-29 (or was it the B-36) they built with a reactor proved to be impractical as well because of the shielding.
Tyyr
3 Star Admiral
3 Star Admiral
Posts: 10654
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 10:49 pm
Location: Jeri Ryan's Dressing Room, Shhhhh

Re: A World Without Chernobyl

Post by Tyyr »

B-36, though it only carried a reactor aloft, it wasn't set up to power the aircraft.
User avatar
Lighthawk
Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Posts: 4632
Joined: Fri May 22, 2009 7:55 pm
Location: Missouri, USA, North America, Earth, Sol System, Orion Arm, Milkyway Galaxy, Local Group, Universe

Re: A World Without Chernobyl

Post by Lighthawk »

Sionnach Glic wrote:Actually, it's a Cadillac. And it's pretty sexy.

Image
...why are the wheels made of a series of hoops?
Image
Sionnach Glic
4 Star Admiral
4 Star Admiral
Posts: 26014
Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 10:58 pm
Location: Poblacht na hÉireann, Baile Átha Cliath

Re: A World Without Chernobyl

Post by Sionnach Glic »

There are actually 16 wheels in total. Four per "wheel". I've no idea why.
"You've all been selected for this mission because you each have a special skill. Professor Hawking, John Leslie, Phil Neville, the Wu-Tang Clan, Usher, the Sugar Puffs Monster and Daniel Day-Lewis! Welcome to Operation MindFuck!"
Tsukiyumi
4 Star Admiral
4 Star Admiral
Posts: 21747
Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2007 2:38 pm
Location: Forward Torpedo Tube Twenty. Help!
Contact:

Re: A World Without Chernobyl

Post by Tsukiyumi »

If one pops, the other ones will keep the car going?
There is only one way of avoiding the war – that is the overthrow of this society. However, as we are too weak for this task, the war is inevitable. -L. Trotsky, 1939
User avatar
Lighthawk
Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Posts: 4632
Joined: Fri May 22, 2009 7:55 pm
Location: Missouri, USA, North America, Earth, Sol System, Orion Arm, Milkyway Galaxy, Local Group, Universe

Re: A World Without Chernobyl

Post by Lighthawk »

Sionnach Glic wrote:There are actually 16 wheels in total. Four per "wheel". I've no idea why.
Style? It certainly can't be a performance thing.
Tsukiyumi wrote:If one pops, the other ones will keep the car going?
The only place that car is going is in a straight line on a flat stretch. The traction on those wheels has to be shit.
Image
Mikey
Fleet Admiral
Fleet Admiral
Posts: 35635
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 3:04 am
Commendations: The Daystrom Award
Location: down the shore, New Jersey, USA
Contact:

Re: A World Without Chernobyl

Post by Mikey »

This is only a guess, but it's probably for the same reason why typical car wheels aren't solid - weight savings. For whatever reason - weight imbalance, lack of overall weight, whatever - it was probably deemed preferrable to have a fairly wide footprint where the rubber meets the road. Wider wheel = heavier wheel.
I can't stand nothing dull
I got the high gloss luster
I'll massacre your ass as fast
as Bull offed Custer
User avatar
Lighthawk
Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Posts: 4632
Joined: Fri May 22, 2009 7:55 pm
Location: Missouri, USA, North America, Earth, Sol System, Orion Arm, Milkyway Galaxy, Local Group, Universe

Re: A World Without Chernobyl

Post by Lighthawk »

Mikey wrote:This is only a guess, but it's probably for the same reason why typical car wheels aren't solid - weight savings. For whatever reason - weight imbalance, lack of overall weight, whatever - it was probably deemed preferrable to have a fairly wide footprint where the rubber meets the road. Wider wheel = heavier wheel.
I guess. I can't claim to be a car expert, so it certainly could be something like that.

It would be a bitch trying to find replacements at your local shop though.
Image
Mikey
Fleet Admiral
Fleet Admiral
Posts: 35635
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 3:04 am
Commendations: The Daystrom Award
Location: down the shore, New Jersey, USA
Contact:

Re: A World Without Chernobyl

Post by Mikey »

Lighthawk wrote:It would be a bitch trying to find replacements at your local shop though.
Trying to find chromed out rizzies with spinners, maybe - if the car goes into production, Cadillac will be happy to make wheels (and everything else) readily available. The margin in OEM car parts if far higher than the margin in selling the car. In fact, cars have some of the lowest margins (as a percentage of price) of any retail item.

Yet, for some reason, the dickheads who would never think of trying to haggle for toilet paper or televisions think they have some G-d-given right to get ridiculous discounts off of MRP on a car...
I can't stand nothing dull
I got the high gloss luster
I'll massacre your ass as fast
as Bull offed Custer
Post Reply