I'm amazed at how slowly the press seems to put the pieces together on events like those unfolding in northern Japan. Reports have detailed how serious failures in the #2 reactor at the Daiichi plant have raised fears of a full scale meltdown. Here's what they aren't saying:

1. If there is a meltdown in the #2 reactor, the site must be abandoned by humans for a very long time. Think Chernobyl.
2. If the site is abandoned, there will be no way to maintain the cooling systems that are keeping reactors 1, 3, and 4 from melting down.
3. The #3 reactor has a special configuration (appearing only at the very end of the NYTimes update this afternoon): that the fuel used there is reprocessed and contains plutonium--something that makes a meltdown much, much more dangerous.

So, basically, if the world is not successful at keeping Daiichi #2 from melting down, we will have a far worse problem on our hands. Let's all hope that TEPCO and those assisting can avert this disaster.

Update: there's a very straightforward explanation of these problems over at allthingsnuclear.org

More Update: it's increasingly apparent that the spent fuel, located in pools outside of the primary steel containment structure, could pose an still greater threat and may already be on fire.

In my opinion, more relevant and informative than the US/UK outlets so far.

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