Chalk River can meet possible isotope shortfall: AECL
It emerged that a nuclear reactor in the Netherlands that produces a percentage of isotopes for medical use in Canada has been temporarily shut down.
All five reactors around the world that make the isotopes – including the one at Chalk River – are currently offline for unrelated reasons.
About 20 per cent of Canada's medical isotopes come from overseas.
Dale Coffin of the AECL says if a shortfall occurs, the Chalk River facility can ramp up production to meet Canadian needs.
Chalk River, which supplies about 80 per cent of Canada's medical isotopes, is undergoing scheduled maintenance but is expected to be back up and running by August 29.
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LONDON - "Mining" for the cryptocurrency is power-hungry, involving heavy computer calculations to verify transactions.
Cambridge researchers say it consumes around 121.36 terawatt-hours (TWh) a year - and is unlikely to fall unless the value of the currency slumps.
Critics say electric-car firm Tesla's decision to invest heavily in Bitcoin undermines its environmental image.
The currency's value hit a record $48,000 (£34,820) this week. following Tesla's announcement that it had bought about $1.5bn bitcoin and planned to accept it as payment in future.
But the rising price offers even more incentive to Bitcoin miners to run more and more machines.
And as the price increases,…
