A groundbreaking energy source has been identified by scientists, with the potential to power a nation for 60,000 years.
Despite our long history on Earth, researchers continue to uncover remarkable discoveries about our natural world.
This latest breakthrough comes from China, where a newly declassified report in the Chinese journal Geological Review indicates that the country may possess more of a certain radioactive element than previously thought.
Thorium, a silver-colored metal, is noted by Interesting Engineering to produce 200 times the energy output of uranium.
This energy source offers several advantages over uranium. Thorium molten-salt reactors generate minimal radioactive waste, which benefits the environment, and they do not require water cooling.
The report highlights thorium’s significant potential in China’s mining waste, with the Bayan Obo mining site alone potentially containing about one million tonnes of thorium.
This suggests that the site could possibly supply enough energy to sustain China for 60,000 years.
Fan Honghai from the National Key Laboratory of Uranium Resource Exploration-Mining and Nuclear Remote Sensing in Beijing, who led the study, commented: “These thorium resources in tailings remain totally untouched.”
A geologist based in Beijing, choosing to remain anonymous, shared with the South China Morning Post: “For over a century, nations have been engaging in wars over fossil fuels. It turns out the endless energy source lies right under our feet.”
Though the discovery is promising, several logistical challenges remain, including the extraction process.
Extracting thorium will require significant resources, such as acid and energy, making the process challenging.
Concerns also revolve around the potential misuse of thorium, prompting officials to ensure its proper application.
While there are fears about thorium by-products being weaponized, experts assert that the metal is unsuitable for nuclear weaponry.
Honghai noted: “The demand for thorium in nuclear power and nuclear propulsion sectors has brought significant opportunities and challenges to the exploration and exploitation of thorium resources in China.”
Although researchers have estimated the duration China’s thorium reserves could last, the precise quantity remains undisclosed due to national security concerns.