Scientists have figured out how to use nuclear waste as an energy source, converting radioactive gas into artificial diamonds that could be used as batteries.
These diamonds, which are able to generate their own electrical current, could potentially provide a power source for thousands of years, due to the longstanding half-life of the radioactive substances they’re made from.
“There are no moving parts involved, no emissions generated, and no maintenance required, just direct electricity generation,” says geochemist Tom Scott from the University of Bristol in the UK.
“By encapsulating radioactive material inside diamonds, we turn a long-term problem of nuclear waste into a nuclear-powered battery and a long-term supply of clean energy.”
So basically science has given us a common staple of fantasy - crystals that have real tangible power. I will now assume all fantasy stories with power crystals and gems are post apocalyptic.
My Mum and I get invited to lunch or
dinner once a week by a good friend of ours. Mostly on weekend, he lets me
decide if I want to eat Italian, Asian or something else, and then we go there.
My absolute favorite is a little
Italian restaurant in our town. Not only because the food there is so tasty it
should be illegal, but also because there is that one elderly waiter – Italian himself-
who always makes my day.
The first time we went to that
restaurant, we were not served by that guy, though, but by a younger,
unlikeable young waiter. He didn’t greet us, brought the wrong drinks and didn’t
once smile or anything.
The whole time, I felt quite
uncomfortable around him, but I got a glimpse of that elderly waiter in the
background, watching with a frown. He caught my interest because he looked just
as uncomfortable by the younger’s display as I did.
And then, the young one made one
last misstep – he turned towards my Mum and said, “What does the boy want to
eat?”
There was a long pause where we all
exchanged confused gazes, before I said, slowly but clearly, “I’m a girl, sir.”
(I wasn’t angry, mind you. It
happens quite a lot to me – I close to never wear tight clothes, my hair is cut
short and I never wear makeup. I see where it’s coming from, really.)
But what came then made me grit my
teeth, because instead of being baffled or even embarrassed, the guy looked at
me and said, “You’re kidding me, right?”
Before I could say anything – or calm
my mum, because she gasped loudly in outrage – the elder waiter swooped in,
bristling as he basically tore into the younger one. I couldn’t understand what
he said, because he talked Italian the whole time, but my Mum later said that
he had been outraged that “A beautiful young Signorina” just as me had been insulted like that.
All in all, it didn’t take very long
until the young waiter vanished back in the kitchen and the elder waiter turned
towards me, basically bowed to me and
apologized over and over again. “I’m so sorry, Signorina, that you had to hear that! Please accept my sincere apology…!”
“No, please,” I managed, not knowing
if I should be embarrassed or amused by the sight of him being so dramatic. “This
happens a lot to me, please, you didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Ah, Signorina, such a gentle soul you are!”
At that point, I laughed out loud
because he beamed at me with such a delight, it was just funny how passionate
he was about all that.
Since then, the dear waiter always
insisted on being the one who catered to us whenever we come to this
restaurant. I didn’t complain at all, and also my mum and our friend were quite
amused by that. The elderly man would take my jacket off, pull my chair back
for me and give me a kiss on the hand once we left again, insisting that I had
to be treated like “the gentle and nice Singorina”
I am.
Honestly, such behavior is strange
to me, since I didn’t really grow up with gentlemen, but I let him have his
fun, since he always pouted when I wouldn’t let him tend to me. It was his way
of showing me his respect, and if that was what he wanted, I would let him.
Today, we went there for lunch, but
I wasn’t really looking forward to it. I was still deep in thought about school
and that dumb group project, and the only reason I did leave the house at all
was because my Mum basically pleaded me to do so.
So I was kind of staring into the
air instead of making conversation, and didn’t even realize that I had taken
off my jacket alone before the waiter could help me.
Once my mum left to go to the toilet
and our friend went back to his car because he had forgotten his wallet there,
I was startled by the waiter appearing next to me, putting down a little plate
with chocolates on the table next to me.
I blinked, frowning. “Excuse me, but
we didn’t order that.”
“Ah, but Signorina,” he winked at me, smiled crookedly. “That’s a little
present on the house.”
I managed a little smile, thanking
him.
He hummed, refilling my glass and
explaining. “I missed your smile today, Signorina.”
“I’m sorry. I’m a bit… lost in thought,
I guess.”
“We can’t have that, no, no.”
I shot him a glance, guessing that
he was already planning something again, but he just took my order with a wide
smile and disappeared in the kitchen again.
Let’s just say that he exceeded
himself that day.
The pizza I ordered was not round as
usual – somehow, he had managed to convince the chef to make it heart-shaped
this time. In between bits of conversation, he would appear at our table,
refill the little plate with chocolates again and again, shooting me a grin
every time. And when I followed my Mum out of the restaurant, he waited already
at the door, surprising me with a bowl full of chocolate mousse – “on the house”,
he explained with a wink.
Etiquette or whatever be damned – I straight
out hugged him then and there. And based on his delighted laughter and him
cheering “There is your smile, Signorina!”
I don’t think he really minded.
Honestly, bless this angel of a
person, please. Bless him and all his descendants.
Black women going through health issues in general…
Black women going through personal issues…
Black women who don’t conform…
Black women who’ve suffered any form of mistreatment/abuse and are shamed for displaying your emotions towards other people, for being any of the black women above…
If I left anyone out, please let me know and I will edited this post! But I just want you all to know…
On Feb 11
Takiya
was shot in the head. We have to support her family in as many ways as we can. Takiya passed away on the morning of February 14th. We appreciate your continued support of the family as they make end of life arrangements and celebrate their beloved Takiya Holmes.
#BlackTumblr boost
As a larger community, we must show up to love and support Takiya and her family. Please donate to support all of the costs they are incurring.
We have to protect, defend and build safe communities.
