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Adeldor t1_j5tjf6q wrote

Reply to comment by FrostyAcanthocephala in NASA to test nuclear thermal rocket engine for the first time in 50 years | CNN by dem676

He's more or less right. In its pure form it's as much dangerous from its heavy metal qualities as it is from radiation, hence the person holding this 90% pure plutonium puck wearing gloves.

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FrostyAcanthocephala t1_j5tkjqp wrote

Yeah, that photo doesn't tell me much about the relative dangers. I get that it's fairly safe in a puck as an alpha emitter, but that's not really the danger we are discussing, is it?

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zypofaeser t1_j5un2ng wrote

Just uranium. Like, what is found naturally all over the place.

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Adeldor t1_j5tm2oh wrote

Referring to the earlier comments, I think it is what we're discussing - the pure "unburned" form being relatively safe.

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