Why can't we convert the radiation emanating from the Yucca mountain slag heap into a flow of electricity?

What would an electricity generator with a half-life of 10,000 years be worth?

Why can't we convert the radiation emanating from the Yucca mountain slag heap into a flow of electricity?
It is not as easy as it sounds.





All[/most] the nuclear waste that will be burried in Yucca mountain has come from nuclear power plants already opperating, expending its nuclear fuel to generate electricity. What remains (the stuff they will remain dangerously radio active for thousands of years) is no longer particularly suited for genersting electricity.


Compared to the energy needed to be spent in order to capture the enegry being given off through the radio active decay of the waste, it is not really practical right now.
Reply:Red tape.
Reply:its is yellow tape
Reply:Theoretically it is possible.. However at present we are not capable of turning radioactive energy directly into electrical energy.. Nuclear power stations first change water into steam to drive turbines to make electrical energy.





Not only that, we are so inept we are only able to use some types of radioactivity and the resultant "waste" we must dump because we don't know how we can clean it up..





It's a sad fact to admit but mankind may think he is quite capable but look at it this way.. We still can't get anything better than the internal combusion engine which is around 25% efficient.. I.E we put a dollar of gas in our cars and we use 25 cents.. the rest is wasted...





And you're asking Yucca mountain questions???