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Jim Smith

Jim Smith

Professor of Environmental Science, University of Portsmouth
I am an expert in radioactive pollution of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, having worked on this since 1990. I have coordinated four multi-national projects on the environmental consequences of the Chernobyl accident and regularly work in the Chernobyl 30-km Exclusion Zone. I am lead author of a major book on the accident: Chernobyl: Catastrophe and Consequences and authored a key opinion piece in Nature in the wake of the Fukushima accident. I am a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Expert Group on the Chernobyl Cooling Pond, and have advised Fukushima Prefecture on the consequences of the 2011 accident. My and colleagues' research on the effects of wildlife at Chernobyl received worldwide media attention with the finding that wildlife is abundant in the abandoned areas around Chernobyl.

I am currently Professor of Environmental Science at Portsmouth University.

Decontaminating Fukushima: have the billions spent been worth it?

Oct 24, 2023 09:28 am UTC| Business Life

The Chernobyl and (to a lesser extent) Fukushima nuclear accidents contaminated large areas of land with low-level radioactivity. After both accidents, huge efforts were taken to decontaminate the affected areas. But a...

Fukushima to release contaminated water – an expert explains why this could be the best option

Jan 24, 2023 05:35 am UTC| Insights & Views

Over ten years ago, a tsunami triggered a disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant on Japans east coast. After the accident, large amounts of radioactivity contaminated the ocean leading to the imposition of a...

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Economy

Trump Rejects Iran Proposal as Tensions Persist Amid Fragile Ceasefire

U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with Irans latest proposal for renewed talks, signaling continued deadlock in efforts to resolve the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict. Despite a ceasefire reached on...

EU Warns of Response as U.S. Considers 25% Tariffs on Car Imports

The European Commission signaled it is prepared to defend its economic interests after the United States threatened to impose new tariffs on European vehicles, raising concerns over a potential escalation in transatlantic...

Wall Street Mixed as Apple Earnings Boost Nasdaq and Oil Prices Ease

U.S. stock market performance ended mixed on Friday, with major indices showing resilience despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and fluctuating oil prices. The SP 500 and Nasdaq Composite posted gains, while the Dow Jones...

Gold Prices Slip Amid Iran Tensions and Rising Rate Concerns

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Dollar Gains Slightly as Yen Volatility Continues After Japan Intervention

Currency markets closely monitored the Japanese yen on Friday after suspected intervention by Tokyo triggered significant volatility, while the U.S. dollar began May with a modest rebound following April losses. The U.S....

Politics

Cuba Condemns New U.S. Sanctions, Calls Measures “Collective Punishment”

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Rising Tensions in US-Europe Relations Amid Trump Policies and Iran War

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Trump Expands Cuba Sanctions Targeting Key Sectors and Foreign Entities

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US to Withdraw 5,000 Troops from Germany Amid Growing Rift with European Allies

The United States is set to withdraw approximately 5,000 troops from Germany, signaling rising tensions between Washington and its European allies amid the ongoing Iran conflict. The Pentagon confirmed the move, which will...

U.S. Weapons Delays Raise Concerns Among European Allies Amid Iran Conflict

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Science

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

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NASA Artemis II: First Crewed Moon Mission Since Apollo Takes Four Astronauts on 10-Day Lunar Journey

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NASA's Artemis II Mission: First Crewed Lunar Journey Since Apollo

NASAs Artemis II mission launched Wednesday, marking humanitys return to crewed lunar exploration for the first time since the Apollo era. Carrying four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft, this historic 10-day mission...

NASA's Artemis II Crew Arrives in Florida for Historic Moon Mission

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SpaceX Pivots Toward Moon City as Musk Reframes Long-Term Space Vision

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has revealed a significant shift in the companys near-term space exploration strategy, announcing that SpaceX is now prioritizing the development of a self-growing city on the Moon rather than focusing...

Technology

U.S. Cybersecurity Pushes Faster Patch Deadlines Amid Rising AI-Driven Threats

U.S. cybersecurity officials are exploring significantly shorter deadlines for fixing critical vulnerabilities in government IT systems, driven by growing concerns that hackers are leveraging advanced artificial...

Apple Q2 2026 Earnings Surge as iPhone 17 Sales Drive Record Revenue

Apple delivered a strong fiscal Q2 2026 performance, reporting record-breaking revenue and profit growth fueled by robust iPhone sales and expanding services. The tech giant posted earnings of $2.01 per share on $111.18...

FBI Warns of China’s Expanding Hack-for-Hire Network Amid Extradition Case

The Chinese governments alleged hack-for-hire ecosystem is rapidly expanding and becoming increasingly difficult to control, according to a senior FBI official. Speaking on Thursday, FBI Assistant Director Brett Leatherman...

Taiwan Activates Backup Communications After Undersea Cable Break on Dongyin Island

Taiwan has activated emergency backup communications for Dongyin, its northernmost and strategically important island, after an undersea cable was damaged due to shifting shipwreck debris caused by severe weather. The...

Meta Raises 2026 Capex Outlook Amid AI Spending Surge, Shares Drop After Earnings

Meta Platforms has increased its full-year capital expenditure guidance for 2026, signaling continued aggressive investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure despite rising costs and market concerns. The company...
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