All new radiation sign

The New Scientist magazine tells us about the release of a new radiation warning symbol to compliment the existing yellow one. This is more of the stop, and run variety rather than the cryptic clue in yellow.



Its a good idea as with the yellow one unless you were in the know wasn't exactly the most obvious warning in the world, although nothing that bright yellow could possibly be good news.

However, the new one is a bit busy which kind of lead to this comedy sketch (usual disclaimer this is amusing to me probably not to anyone else on planet earth, although I do hear it has them rolling in the aisles in zephyr world 3 in the funny bone constellation)

Dim Wit 1: Oh look its one of those picture signs, don't tell me what it is, let me try and work it out. Ok so red, probably, warning or danger. OK so that thing on top must be the sun, that skull and crossbones must mean pirates. Hmm why is the man running on a hot day away from pirates.
(Dim wit thinks hard)

Shadowy figure: Erm excuse me have you got the time.

Dim wit 1: I've almost got it ... sorry about two minutes after 5.

Shadowy figure: Oh damn late again, still in your case I could be an hour late and you still wouldn't get it.

Dim wit 1: That's where your wrong, I've got it now.

Shadowy figure: I think you will find you haven't.

Dim wit 1: No look its obvious its a warning sign about the pirate fun run on a hot day, to make sure you slap on the sub block.

Shadowy figure: I think not.

Dim wit 1: Well prove me wrong.

Shadowy figure: Its a radiation warning sign, run or die.

Dim Wit 1: Well that cant be right I'm still alive.

(Shadowy figure reveals himself as death complete with scythe.)

Death: Are you sure about that one?

Dim Wit 1: Bugger.

The other thing this new sign reminded me of was how to warn future generations about nuclear waste buried deep underground. After all we don't want them to just dig it up when it will kill them all.

The US government has some fascinating ideas about big and small monuments all based around the radiation symbol with lots of different language warnings as well. A kind of modern day Stonehenge. Which kind of makes me wonder given that we are not completely certain what Stonehenge is for, will future generations have any real idea about nuclear waste storage.

On the upside it will make a great future tourist attraction, visit nuclear henge where even the ground gives you warm feelings of the past.

One possible outcome is that the legend turns into a ghost story of the site being protected by ancient spirits and anyone that digs there will die. Whatever happens in the future you can bet that no one will be saying "Don't dig there, its a Nuclear waste depository, you will die from radiation poisoning".

Nothing is certain except that the radiation will kill you whatever sign you use.

Warning Sign Images and further details from IAEE