Interesting Links for 05-08-2017

[andrewducker]

A Dinosaur So Well Preserved It Looks Like a Statue

(tags: dinosaurs archeology )

Have Smartphones Changed The Latest Generation? - The Atlantic

(tags: phones Technology society children )

The Ctenophore evolved it's brain entirely separately to all other life

(tags: evolution brain life )

It’s not that your teeth are too big: your jaw is too small

(tags: teeth evolution )

Tryptophan may help soothe inflamed gut

(tags: mice microbiome )

Nuclear is the safest major energy source

(tags: nuclearpower safety )

Math Journal Editors Quit to Start Competing Open Access Journal

(tags: academia publishing OpenAccess )

Comments

[armiphlage]

With wind at $24-$50/MWh and solar at $60-114/MWh (depending on whose numbers you believe), with prices dropping continually, nuclear will have to get much cheaper very rapidly to compete. Plus solar and wind can be built incrementally, reducing risk to investors. I agree with you that renewables plus storage is probably going to be more affordable. Utilities will find it hard to issue bonds for nuclear plants with other options available.

[danieldwilliam]

Are those renewable prices round the wrong way?

I've seen solar PV project below $30 / MWH but no wind project that low.

I think it may turn out to be the case that a small amount of modular nuclear on a grid avoids a lot of battery storage. The battery storage that I think it avoids is the stuff that is used least. The storage of summer sun solar PV for use in February.

AT $60 / MWH or more, some nuclear plant might be cheaper than storage. Depends obviously on the cost of the storage technology, how much hydro there is on the grid and how interconnected the grids are.