4. Two worst-case scenarios - Japan`s nuclear emergency (sitios de interés)
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If engineers are unable to cool a damaged fuel core, enriched uranium can melt into a pool of radioactive lava, which can burn its way out of the containment vessel or send radioactive steam out through cracks in the system.
Cooling spent fuel is critical, for if it becomes exposed, an inextinguishable zirconium fire can break out and spew massive amounts of radiation.
According to nuclear analyst Kenneth D. Bergeron, the containment
vessels at Daiichi are stronger than Chernobyl but not as robust as Three Mile Island.