This brings all new meaning to a nuclear diaper

[liberal N proud]

Diaper absorbent used to try to plug nuke leak
Mix so far fails to stop radioactive water from going out to sea

A first stab at the desperate experiment failed, Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said.

"We were hoping the polymers would function like diapers but are yet to see a visible effect," said NISA spokesman Hidehiko Nishiyama.

Engineers mixed nearly 20 pounds of a chemical absorbent, 130 pounds of sawdust and three garbage bags of shredded newspapers into pipes leading to a pit connected to the Unit 2 reactor, NISA stated.

The absorbent — like those used to soak liquid in diapers — can expand to 50 times its normal size when combined with water.

Engineers were stirring the mix in an attempt to get it to expand. They expected to know by Monday morning if it would work.

Earlier, a concrete patchfailed to stop the tainted water spewing from a crack in the pit.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42402150/ns/world_news-asiapacific/

[aquart]

1. So we're to think of Fukushima as another David Vitter?

Utterly perverse and impossible to get rid of?

[Webster Green]

2. We're fucked!

Shredded newspapers and sawdust and some polymers (we call them guerilla-crystals in Humboldt County) thrown in for good measure?

Hoo-boy! :nuke:

[subterranean]

3. How about throwing a bunch of sponges in there?

:shrug:

I'm no expert, but it appears the experts don't know what to do either.