Is it possible to create nuclear fuel as a form of energy storage?

Is it possible to create nuclear fuel as a form of energy storage?
Ask Anything Wednesday - Biology, Chemistry, Neuroscience, Medicine, Psychology
With autoimmune diseases, why does the immune system decide that the healthy cells are to be destroyed?
In an article on solar sails, they talk about preemptively scrambling the laser signal so that the atmosphere scrambles the laser back into order. Why would this be necessary?
How is the delta COVID-19 variant able to push out and replace others?
Given the vaccination rate we have worldwide, when do you think we'll reach herd immunity?
Will a larger number of vaccinated people cause the development of new vaccines to be slower?
Are Lagrange points still the same under other inverse power force laws besides an inverse square law?

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 04:23 AM PDT

As I understand it, one of the main problems with renewable energy like solar power is that it needs to be spent as it is produced. Storing the produced energy would solve the problem, but while batteries are improving, they can't store energy for long periods of time. Other ways to store energy like pumping water or compressing air can't store it for long either. Heating gravel/water/chemicals and storing them underground could provide long-term storage, but building the infrastructure would cost a lot.
Uranium is a dense energy source, and we can use it as fuel in nuclear power plants. Googling around, I can't find mention of trying to use it to store energy. I imagine it could be done by transmutation of already heavy elements, or even of radioactive waste, effectively recycling it. There aren't that many nuclear plants around, and they have a bad reputation, but other than that, is there a fundamental reason why uranium as energy storage wouldn't work?

submitted by /u/yldedly
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Ask Anything Wednesday - Biology, Chemistry, Neuroscience, Medicine, Psychology

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 07:00 AM PDT

Welcome to our weekly feature, Ask Anything Wednesday - this week we are focusing on Biology, Chemistry, Neuroscience, Medicine, Psychology

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With autoimmune diseases, why does the immune system decide that the healthy cells are to be destroyed?

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 05:47 AM PDT

submitted by /u/ffrozenffirefflame
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In an article on solar sails, they talk about preemptively scrambling the laser signal so that the atmosphere scrambles the laser back into order. Why would this be necessary?

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 05:17 AM PDT

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-08/canberra-anu-scientists-laser-sail-interstellar-space-discovery/100198228

Link to the article.

I've heard about using lasers to propel spacecraft and sattelite using solar sails before, but I don't understand why we might need to preemptively scramble the signal. Is it because the atmosphere refracts the laser making it useless? Or something else entirely?

submitted by /u/the_emerald_phoenix
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How is the delta COVID-19 variant able to push out and replace others?

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 04:56 AM PDT

submitted by /u/JoelWHarper
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Given the vaccination rate we have worldwide, when do you think we'll reach herd immunity?

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 04:44 AM PDT

I'm just curious about this topic. For experts out there, when do you think we'll reach the herd immunity that everyone is aiming for?

submitted by /u/kacchan06
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Will a larger number of vaccinated people cause the development of new vaccines to be slower?

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 06:27 AM PDT

The more vaccinated people = the fewer people eligible to take part in vaccine trials?

submitted by /u/GrabApprehensive
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