Nuclear Reactors vs. Earthquakes (NETGIS.de)

http://www.netgis.de/atom_gmaps/

One of my favorite blogs, Google Maps Mania, is featuring a mash-up, developed by a German firm, NETGIS, of data depicting all the world's operating, planned and defunct nuclear reactors combined with all the earthquakes in the world since 1990 that have registered 5 or above on the Richter scale.  

http://www.netgis.de/atom_gmaps/

These data sets are then conveniently overlaid on a Google Map with pop-up bubbles that contain tools for easily defining a 100 km radius around the site and links to the Wikipedia article on the reactor.  You can see some screenshots to the right to get a sense of what I am talking about.  The site should be very useful to analysts trying to figure out where the next Fukushima might occur.

Understanding Radiation Dosage Levels (XKCD.com)

While XKCD is best known for its very funny web comic, occasionally Randall Munroe, the author, uses his graphic skills for more serious purposes.  Recently, he created one of the most useful charts I have seen.  The chart compares radiation doses at various levels to each other and puts these dosages in terms of everyday experience.

While Munroe is quick to point out that "the author is not an expert, and that anyone potentially affected by Fukushima should always defer to the directives of regional health authorities", Munroe has consulted with experts and the chart is still worth sharing.

For more background on the chart and the sources used on the chart, click here; For a full size version of the chart, click here.

http://xkcd.com/radiation/