Nuclear Waste in Germany

Nuclear waste is hard to dispose of. Often far-away countries or the oceans serve as dumping grounds, but this time a deserted salt mine in Lower Saxony/Germany tells the story. Having been a deceptively safe 'storage' of Germany's nuclear waste for almost 50 years, the mine has grown instable, is filling with water and on the verge of collapsing. Now, a new solution must be found quickly before more radioactive water leaks into the environment. (National Geographic)

This is how it looks above the hazardous source:

Beyond Boundaries

Scientists have identified 9 areas that are crucial for the assessment of life on planet Earth as we know it. Exceeding their boundaries means a serious threat to the natural world and resources. They are:

-Fresh water use
-Change in land use
-Rate of Biodiversity loss
-Climate change
-Nitrogen cycle
-Phosporus cycle
-Stratospheric ozone depletion
-Atmospheric Aerosol loading
-Chemical polution
-Ocean acidification
Now, the graph shows that humans have overstepped 3 of the 9 planetary boundaries and are close to transgressing others. The ultimate impact: unknown. The way of limitation: unknown. Wow, what a prospect. (from New Scientist 2010)