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--Captions by VITAC--
www.vitac.com

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CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

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Narrator:
TODAY ON "HOW IT'S MADE"...

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ENDOSCOPES...

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MEGAPHONES...

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AND URANIUM.

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AN ENDOSCOPE IS A TUBE
WITH OPTICAL GLASS FIBERS

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AND LENSES INSIDE ATTACHED
TO A VIDEO CAMERA.

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DOCTORS FEED THE ENDOSCOPE
THROUGH THE PATIENT'S MOUTH

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OR OTHER OPENING OR INSERT IT
THROUGH A TINY INCISION

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THEN WATCH WHAT THE CAMERA
CAPTURES ON A VIDEO MONITOR.

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AN ENDOSCOPE LETS THE SURGEON
SEE INSIDE THE PATIENT

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DURING AN EXAMINATION
OR SURGICAL PROCEDURE.

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ITS LIGHT-TRANSMITTING
OPTICAL FIBERS WORK

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LIKE A FLASHLIGHT
INSIDE THE BODY.

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THE OPTICAL FIBER MANUFACTURER
SUSPENDS GLASS RODS

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FROM THE TOP OF A TALL OVEN,

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WHICH HEATS THEM
TO A MELTING TEMPERATURE

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OF 1,652 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

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EACH ROD DRIPS DOWNWARD
IN THE FORM OF A THIN STRAND.

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A GUIDE WHEEL TURNS THIS GLASS
FIBER IN A HORIZONTAL DIRECTION.

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THE FIBER THEN WINDS
ON TO A DRUM,

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WHOSE ROTATION SPEED
STRETCHES IT

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TO A SPECIFIC
HAIR-THIN DIAMETER.

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A WORKER COMBINES SEVERAL SINGLE
FIBER SPOOLS ON TO A LARGE

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WINDING WHEEL TO MAKE A BUNDLE
CONTAINING THOUSANDS OF FIBERS.

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TO MAKE THE CABLE
THAT CONNECTS A LIGHT SOURCE

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IN THE OPERATING ROOM
TO THE ENDOSCOPE,

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A WORKER INSERTS
AN OPTICAL FIBER BUNDLE

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INTO A SILICON CABLE SHEATHING.

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THIS ONE HAS NEARLY
9,000 FIBERS.

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SHE SCREWS
A STAINLESS STEEL FASTENER,

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CALLED A FERRULE ON TO EACH
THREADED END OF THE SHEATHING.

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AFTER SATURATING THE FERRULES
AND OPTICAL FIBERS

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INSIDE WITH GLUE AND CURING
THE ADHESIVE WITH HEAT,

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THE WORKER TRIMS
OFF EXCESS FIBERS

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AND HANDS OFF THE CABLE
TO THE NEXT STATION,

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WHERE A WORK POLISHES BOTH ENDS.

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POLISHING
FINALIZES THE DIMENSIONS

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AND ENABLES LIGHT
TO SHINE THROUGH.

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THIS QUALITY CONTROL TEST,
ONE OF SEVERAL,

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ENSURES THE FIBERS CAN

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WITHSTAND A PRESCRIBED AMOUNT
OF PRESSURE WITHOUT CRACKING.

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THE OPTICAL FIBER MANUFACTURER

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ALSO SUPPLIES FIBER SPOOLS

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TO THE ENDOSCOPE MANUFACTURER

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FOR THE LIGHT TRANSMISSION
SYSTEM INSIDE THE ENDOSCOPE.

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WORKERS CUT THE BUNDLE
OF OPTICAL FIBERS

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TO THE LENGTH REQUIRED

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FOR THE ENDOSCOPE MODEL
THEY'RE MAKING.

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ENDOSCOPES VARY IN LENGTH
AND DIAMETER,

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DEPENDING ON THE PART OF
THE BODY THEY'RE DESIGNED FOR.

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AFTER VERIFYING THAT
THE DIAMETER

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OF THE BUNDLE IS CORRECT,

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THEY TIE THE OPTICAL FIBERS
WITH STRING

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TO HOLD THEM TOGETHER
DURING INSERTION.

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THEN WORKERS INSERT
THE FIBER BUNDLE

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BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER
STAINLESS STEEL SHEATHES

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THAT MAKE UP THE MAIN BODY
OF THE ENDOSCOPE,

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PUSHING THE FIBERS DOWN
THE LENGTH OF THE INNER SHEATH.

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THEY ATTACH
A STAINLESS STEEL ADAPTOR.

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THIS WILL CONNECT
THE LIGHT CABLE

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FROM THE OPERATING ROOM
LIGHT SOURCE

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TO THE ENDOSCOPE,

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TRANSFERRING LIGHT
TO THE OPTICAL FIBERS

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INSIDE THE ENDOSCOPE.

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A WORKER INSPECTS THOSE FIBERS

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UNDER MAGNIFICATION
FOR BLACK SPOTS.

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BLACK SPOTS INDICATE
BROKEN FIBERS,

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WHICH WOULD INTERRUPT
THE TRANSMISSION OF LIGHT.

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AN ENDOSCOPE TRANSMITS AN IMAGE
MUCH LIKE A TELESCOPE DOES.

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OPTICAL LENSES SEND REFLECTED
LIGHT, WHICH PRODUCES THE IMAGE,

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FROM INSIDE THE PATIENT

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ALL THE WAY UP TO YOUR EYE
PEERING THROUGH THE TOP.

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THE LENSES IN THE ENDOSCOPE
ARE GLASS RODS.

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AFTER CLEANING THEM
WITH CHEMICAL SOLUTION,

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WORKERS LINE THEM UP
IN A FIXTURE

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WITH BRASS SPACERS
OF VARIOUS LENGTHS IN BETWEEN.

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DEPENDING ON THE LENGTH
OF THE ENDOSCOPE,

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THERE ARE FIVE TO SEVEN LENSES.

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THE SPACERS CREATE SPECIFIC
DISTANCES BETWEEN THEM.

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ONCE WORKERS HAVE ASSEMBLED
THE IMAGE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM,

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THEY GENTLY SLIDE IT
OFF THE FIXTURE

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INTO THE INNER SHEATH
OF THE ENDOSCOPE.

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THEN, THEY SCREW ON
AN OCULAR CAP

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TO HOLD IT ALL IN PLACE.

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A WORKER CLEANS
THE CAP'S GLASS TOP,

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THEN ATTACHES AN EYEPIECE.

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THIS GIVES THE SURGEON
THE OPTION OF EITHER

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LOOKING DIRECTLY
INTO THE ENDOSCOPE

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OR LOOKING AT AN OPERATING ROOM
VIDEO MONITOR

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WHICH RECEIVES THE IMAGE
VIA A SMALL CAMERA

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ATTACHED TO THE EYEPIECE.

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THIS DEMONSTRATION SHOWS
HOW IT ALL COMES TOGETHER

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IN THE OPERATING ROOM.

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AFTER SECURING THE ENDOSCOPE
IN A HOLDING FIXTURE,

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THE SURGEON ATTACHES
THE LIGHT CABLE

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COMING FROM THE NEARBY
LIGHT SOURCE.

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THE LIGHT TRAVELS DOWN
AND OUT THE ENDOSCOPE,

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ILLUMINATING THE AREA
THAT SURGEON'S WORKING ON.

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THE LENSES REFLECT THE IMAGE

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TO THE TOP OF THE ENDOSCOPE,

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WHERE A CAMERA TRANSMITS
IT TO A VIDEO MONITOR

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THAT'S MOUNTED IN FRONT
OF THE SURGEON.

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Narrator: IN THE BEGINNING,

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MEGAPHONES WERE SIMPLY
CONE-SHAPED DEVICES

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THAT FOCUSED SOUND FORWARD
SO IT WENT FURTHER

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AND COULD BE HEARD
MORE CLEARLY.

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IN THE 20th CENTURY MICROPHONES,
AN AMPLIFIER AND A SPEAKER

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WERE ADDED TO THE CONE,

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AND THAT REALLY
RAMPED UP THE VOLUME.

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WITH A MEGAPHONE,
THERE'S NO NEED TO SHOUT.

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JUST SPEAK,
AND YOU WILL BE HEARD.

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THIS WATERPROOF VERSION
IS DESIGNED FOR COACHING,

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LAW ENFORCEMENT,
AND MILITARY USES.

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PRODUCTION STARTS WITH A PANEL
OF FOUR DIGITAL CIRCUIT BOARDS

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THAT HAVE LITTLE
GOLD PADS ON THEM.

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AN ASSEMBLER PLACES
A STENCIL OVER THE PANEL

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AND ALIGNS THE STENCIL HOLES
WITH THE GOLD PADS.

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HE THEN SQUEEGEE'S
SOLDER PASTE DOWN THE STENCIL,

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AND IT FLOWS ON TO
THE EXPOSED GOLD PADS.

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THIS IS BEFORE AND AFTER
THE SOLDER PAST APPLICATION.

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ROBOTIC ARMS INSTALL
ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS

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ON THE SOLDER-COATED PADS,
CREATING CIRCUITRY.

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VARIOUS REELS UNWIND TO DELIVER
THESE LITTLE PARTS.

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THE ROBOTIC ARMS
SUCTION THEM OFF LINERS

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AND TRANSFER THEM TO PRECISE
LOCATIONS ON THE BOARDS.

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THE PARTS WILL RUN
THE MEGAPHONE'S SIRENS,

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HORNS, AND MICROPHONES.

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A TECHNICIAN CLAMPS

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ONE OF THE COMPLETED
CIRCUIT BOARDS IN A TESTER.

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SPRING-LOADED PINS UNDERNEATH
MAKE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS

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WITH THE COMPONENTS
AND PROBE THEIR PERFORMANCE.

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THE SYSTEM RUNS A FULL TEST
OF THE CIRCUITRY.

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AT THE NEXT STATION,
AN ASSEMBLER ATTACHES

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A PART KNOWN
AS THE FRONT CAN

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TO THE END
OF A FLARED SPEAKER CONE.

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HE THEN TURNS HIS ATTENTION
TO THE SPEAKER.

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THE ASSEMBLER
INSERTS SCREWS IN THE BASE.

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HE THREADS WIRES
FROM THE SPEAKER

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THROUGH A HOLE IN THE CONE

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AND THROUGH THE FRONT CAN.

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THE ASSEMBLER THEN PLACES
THE SPEAKER IN THE CONE,

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AND HE SCREWS IT IN PLACE.

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HE ATTACHES A CONNECTOR
TO THE PROTRUDING SPEAKER WIRES.

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THE WORKER PLACES
A MESH METAL SCREEN

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OVER A HOLE IN THE REAR CAN.

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THE ASSEMBLER TAPS A NUT DRIVER

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WITH A HAMMER TO FORCE
THE MESH INTO THE HOLE,

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AND THIS SHAPES THE MESH
INTO A MICROPHONE COVER.

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HE REMOVES THE NEWLY-FORMED MIC
COVER AND FITS IT TO THE MIC,

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MANUALLY CRIMPING IT AROUND
THE SIDES FOR A SNUG FIT.

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HE NOW TUCKS THE MICROPHONE
INTO A TUBE

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THAT HAS A SLIDING INNER SLEEVE.

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THE ASSEMBLER INSERTS THE TUBE
INTO THE MICROPHONE HOLE

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IN THE REAR CAN.

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HE SLIDES THE INSIDE TUBE DOWN

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TO PUSH THE MICROPHONE
IN THE HOLE.

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HE SECURES THE KNOB
FOR TURNING THE MEGAPHONE ON

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AND FOR ADJUSTING THE VOLUME.

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THE ASSEMBLER INSTALLS
A MINI-CIRCUIT BOARD

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THAT'S LINKED TO THE SIREN
AND HORN BUTTON.

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THESE SMALL SPRING PINS
WILL MATE TO A BATTERY

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TO POWER
THE MEGAPHONE'S CIRCUITRY.

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HE TUCKS THE PINS
INTO MOLDED PROTRUSIONS

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INSIDE THE REAR CAN

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AND WATERPROOFS THEM
WITH RUBBER O-RINGS.

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THIS MEGAPHONE SUBASSEMBLY
IS NOW READY

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FOR THE MAIN CIRCUIT BOARD.

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THE ASSEMBLER THREADS WIRES

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FOR THIS SWITCH TRIGGER,
MICROPHONE, SIREN,

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AND HORN THROUGH HOLES
IN THE BOARD.

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HE THEN SCREWS THE BOARD
TO THE REAR HOUSING.

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HE FITS A SILICON
O-RING AROUND

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THE RIM OF THE REAR
CAN TO SEAL IT.

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THE ASSEMBLER THEN JOINS
THE REAR CAN

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WITH ALL THE WORKING PARTS

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TO THE FRONT CAN
AND CONE ASSEMBLY.

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HE CONNECTS THE SPEAKER WIRES
TO THE CIRCUIT BOARD.

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THIS MEGAPHONE IS NOW READY
FOR A SOUND TEST.

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THE TECHNICIAN CONNECTS IT
TO A TEMPORARY BATTERY

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AND POWERS IT UP.

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CHECK, ONE, TWO.
ONE, TWO.

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CHECK, TESTING,
TESTING.

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ONE, TWO, TEST.

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MORE SENSITIVE
TESTING IS NEEDED.

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HE ENCLOSES THE MEGAPHONE
IN AN INSULATED CHAMBER

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TO SHUT OUT BACKGROUND NOISES.

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A COMPUTER RUNS THE MEGAPHONE
AT DIFFERENT FREQUENCIES

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00:10:28,137 --> 00:10:31,931
AND ANALYZES ITS PERFORMANCE.

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ONCE THE MEGAPHONE PASSES
THESE TESTS,

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THEY INSTALL HANDLES.

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00:10:36,724 --> 00:10:39,931
AND NOW IT'S READY FOR
ANYTHING YOU HAVE TO SAY.

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Narrator: URANIUM IS
A METALLIC ELEMENT

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THAT WAS DISCOVERED BY
A GERMAN CHEMIST IN 1789.

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THE SIGNIFICANCE
OF THIS DISCOVERY

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WASN'T UNDERSTOOD
FOR A CENTURY AND A HALF.

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IN 1938, SCIENTISTS FIGURED
OUT THAT URANIUM ATOMS

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COULD BE SPLIT
TO PRODUCE ENERGY.

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THE SIZE OF A FIREPLACE LOG,

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THIS NUCLEAR FUEL BUNDLE
GENERATES A LOT MORE HEAT.

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IT'S PACKED WITH ENOUGH URANIUM

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00:11:20,724 --> 00:11:24,793
TO POWER 100 HOMES FOR A YEAR.

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00:11:24,793 --> 00:11:26,551
TO OBTAIN THE URANIUM,

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THE TUNNEL 1,640
FEET UNDERGROUND

206
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AT THIS SITE IN
NORTHERN SASKATCHEWAN.

207
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THIS MINE IS THE LARGEST SOURCE

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OF HIGH-GRADE URANIUM
IN THE WORLD.

209
00:11:37,758 --> 00:11:39,827
THE URANIUM ORE LIES
BENEATH A BED

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OF WATER-SATURATED SANDSTONE.

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00:11:43,068 --> 00:11:45,482
TO REACH IT, THEY USE
DRILL BITS STUDDED

212
00:11:45,482 --> 00:11:47,724
WITH TUNGSTEN CARBIDE BUTTONS.

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00:11:47,724 --> 00:11:49,379
LIKE KNUCKLES ON A FIST,

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THE BUTTON BITS PUNCH
INTO THE ROCK FACE.

215
00:11:54,103 --> 00:11:56,034
THESE FIRST HOLES ARE FOR PIPES

216
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THAT WILL PULL HEAT
OUT OF THE GROUND

217
00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:01,655
AND FREEZE IT AROUND THE ORE.

218
00:12:01,655 --> 00:12:05,655
THE MINER OPERATES THE EQUIPMENT
BY REMOTE CONTROL.

219
00:12:05,655 --> 00:12:08,448
IT TRANSFERS A NEW PIECE OF PIPE
TO THE END OF THE DRILL

220
00:12:08,448 --> 00:12:09,965
ROUGHLY EVERY FIVE FEET

221
00:12:09,965 --> 00:12:15,655
TO PENETRATE 426 FEET
INTO THE SANDSTONE BED.

222
00:12:15,655 --> 00:12:17,103
IT TAKES UP TO EIGHT DAYS

223
00:12:17,103 --> 00:12:19,413
TO INSTALL JUST
ONE LENGTH OF PIPE,

224
00:12:19,413 --> 00:12:22,758
AND THERE ARE 200 OF THEM.

225
00:12:22,758 --> 00:12:24,103
WORKERS CONFIGURE THE PIPES

226
00:12:24,103 --> 00:12:26,689
SO THEY SURROUND
THE ORE DEPOSIT.

227
00:12:26,689 --> 00:12:29,448
THESE FREEZE PIPES
WILL STABILIZE THE GROUND,

228
00:12:29,448 --> 00:12:32,000
AND THEY'LL ALSO TURN
HIGH-PRESSURE GROUND WATER

229
00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:35,551
TO ICE, SO IT WON'T INTERFERE
WITH THE ACTUAL MINING.

230
00:12:37,758 --> 00:12:39,862
A FREEZE PLANT ABOVE
GROUND CHILLS

231
00:12:39,862 --> 00:12:43,862
CALCIUM CHLORIDE BRINE
TO MINUS-22 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT

232
00:12:43,862 --> 00:12:46,724
AND SENDS IT THROUGH
THE FREEZE PIPES.

233
00:12:46,724 --> 00:12:50,310
THE BRINE ABSORBS HEAT
AS IT FREEZES THE GROUND

234
00:12:50,310 --> 00:12:52,551
AND LOOPS BACK
TO BE CHILLED AGAIN.

235
00:12:54,965 --> 00:12:56,896
ABOVE THE URANIUM DEPOSITS,

236
00:12:56,896 --> 00:13:00,448
WORKERS NOW GEAR UP
TO MINE THE ORE.

237
00:13:00,448 --> 00:13:03,379
THEY'LL USE THIS BIT
TO CHEW INTO THE ORE BODY

238
00:13:03,379 --> 00:13:05,862
IN ORDER TO MAKE AN INITIAL
SMALL-DIAMETER HOLE

239
00:13:05,862 --> 00:13:08,586
KNOWN AS A PILOT HOLE.

240
00:13:08,586 --> 00:13:12,620
THE PILOT HOLE MAPS OUT
THE DRILL ROUTE TO ORE,

241
00:13:12,620 --> 00:13:16,413
AND IT CREATES AN ENTRY POINT
FOR LARGER MINING EQUIPMENT.

242
00:13:16,413 --> 00:13:19,068
FROM A RAISED POSITION,

243
00:13:19,068 --> 00:13:21,241
THE BIT BORES VERTICALLY
INTO THE ROCK

244
00:13:21,241 --> 00:13:22,896
TO DRILL THE PILOT HOLE

245
00:13:22,896 --> 00:13:25,896
AND REACH A SPECIFIC
LEVEL BELOW THE ORE BODY.

246
00:13:32,310 --> 00:13:34,862
THEY'RE NOW READY
FOR THE REAMER BIT.

247
00:13:34,862 --> 00:13:36,586
THE REAMER HAS NUMEROUS

248
00:13:36,586 --> 00:13:39,896
BUTTON-ENCRUSTED
WHEEL TENTACLES.

249
00:13:39,896 --> 00:13:41,793
AS THIS ANIMATION SHOWS,

250
00:13:41,793 --> 00:13:45,689
THE DRILL PULLS THE REAMER UP
THE PILOT HOLE, WIDENING IT.

251
00:13:45,689 --> 00:13:48,068
AND THE BROKEN ORE FALLS
INTO WHAT'S KNOWN

252
00:13:48,068 --> 00:13:51,689
AS AN EXTRACTION CHAMBER.

253
00:13:51,689 --> 00:13:54,655
HERE, A TRAM OPERATED
BY REMOTE CONTROL

254
00:13:54,655 --> 00:13:57,034
SCOOPS UP THE ROCK.

255
00:13:57,034 --> 00:14:00,862
THIS REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM KEEPS
MINERS A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY

256
00:14:00,862 --> 00:14:03,137
FROM FALLING ROCK HAZARDS.

257
00:14:03,137 --> 00:14:05,068
IT ALSO MINIMIZES THEIR EXPOSURE

258
00:14:05,068 --> 00:14:09,241
TO THE RADIOACTIVE URANIUM
IN THE ORE.

259
00:14:09,241 --> 00:14:10,620
AS ANOTHER PRECAUTION,

260
00:14:10,620 --> 00:14:13,172
WORKERS CONTINUOUSLY
VENTILATE THE MINE,

261
00:14:13,172 --> 00:14:16,448
INTRODUCING FRESH AIR
EVERY 20 MINUTES.

262
00:14:16,448 --> 00:14:18,965
STEERED BY
THE OPERATOR'S JOYSTICK,

263
00:14:18,965 --> 00:14:22,310
THE TRAM DELIVERS
THE ORE TO A SCANNER.

264
00:14:22,310 --> 00:14:25,413
BY MEASURING THE AMOUNT
OF RADIOACTIVITY IN THE ORE,

265
00:14:25,413 --> 00:14:26,620
THE SCANNER DETERMINES

266
00:14:26,620 --> 00:14:30,724
THE URANIUM CONTENT
IS ABOUT 15%.

267
00:14:30,724 --> 00:14:34,206
IN MUCH OF THE ORE, THE URANIUM
CONTENT IS EVEN GREATER --

268
00:14:34,206 --> 00:14:36,551
ON AVERAGE, AROUND 18%,

269
00:14:36,551 --> 00:14:39,241
AND THAT'S CONSIDERED
TO BE VERY HIGH-GRADE.

270
00:14:39,241 --> 00:14:44,793
THE TRAIN NOW EMPTIES
THE ORE INTO A CHUTE.

271
00:14:44,793 --> 00:14:48,689
CAMERAS FOLLOW THE ROCKS'
JOURNEY TO THE NEXT STATION.

272
00:14:48,689 --> 00:14:50,413
THEN FROM A CONTROL ROOM,

273
00:14:50,413 --> 00:14:52,655
AN OPERATOR MANIPULATES
A HYDRAULIC HAMMER

274
00:14:52,655 --> 00:14:54,965
TO SMASH THE ORE TO BITS.

275
00:14:57,241 --> 00:14:59,655
THE BROKEN ORE
THEN MIGRATES TO A MILL

276
00:14:59,655 --> 00:15:03,068
THAT GRINDS IT INTO A FINE SAND.

277
00:15:03,068 --> 00:15:05,344
THEY ADD WATER,
AND IT BECOMES SLURRY,

278
00:15:05,344 --> 00:15:08,724
WHICH THEY THEN PUMP
TO THE SURFACE.

279
00:15:08,724 --> 00:15:11,655
TRUCKS THEN TRANSPORT
THE URANIUM ORE SLURRY

280
00:15:11,655 --> 00:15:15,965
TO A MILL NEARLY 50 MILES AWAY.

281
00:15:15,965 --> 00:15:19,103
THEY PULL INTO A SPECIAL
OFF-LOADING FACILITY.

282
00:15:19,103 --> 00:15:22,206
THE SUPPORT FOR A VACUUM SYSTEM
ALIGNS WITH THE TOTE

283
00:15:22,206 --> 00:15:24,620
THAT ENCASES THE SLURRY TANK.

284
00:15:26,931 --> 00:15:30,482
ONCE IN POSITION, A VACUUM PIPE
DROPS INTO THE TANK

285
00:15:30,482 --> 00:15:33,827
AND SUCTIONS UP THE SLURRY.

286
00:15:33,827 --> 00:15:36,827
CAMERAS PROVIDE A LIVE FEED
OF THE UNLOADING PROGRESS

287
00:15:36,827 --> 00:15:41,413
TO A CONTROL ROOM
ALMOST 23 FEET AWAY.

288
00:15:41,413 --> 00:15:43,689
AFTER A WASH
AND A RADIATION CHECK,

289
00:15:43,689 --> 00:15:45,862
THE TRUCK LEAVES.

290
00:15:45,862 --> 00:15:47,896
STAY TUNED FOR
THE TRANSFORMATION

291
00:15:47,896 --> 00:15:50,551
OF URANIUM INTO NUCLEAR FUEL.

292
00:16:02,275 --> 00:16:04,793
Narrator: JUST ONE FUEL BUNDLE
OF URANIUM CONTAINS

293
00:16:04,793 --> 00:16:06,344
THE SAME AMOUNT OF ENERGY

294
00:16:06,344 --> 00:16:09,689
AS JUST OVER
71,000 GALLONS OF OIL.

295
00:16:09,689 --> 00:16:11,758
BUT URANIUM CAN'T
SIMPLY BE CHIPPED AWAY

296
00:16:11,758 --> 00:16:13,827
FROM THE ROCK IT RESIDES IN.

297
00:16:13,827 --> 00:16:16,689
IT MUST BE CHEMICALLY
SEPARATED AND PROCESSED

298
00:16:16,689 --> 00:16:20,344
TO MAKE IT INTO USABLE FUEL
FOR A NUCLEAR REACTOR.

299
00:16:24,551 --> 00:16:28,241
ACID DISSOLVES THE URANIUM,
BUT NOT THE REST OF THE ROCK.

300
00:16:28,241 --> 00:16:30,448
IT SETTLES TO THE BOTTOM
OF THESE TANKS.

301
00:16:30,448 --> 00:16:35,137
THE URANIUM-ACID
SOLUTION FLOWS FORWARD,

302
00:16:35,137 --> 00:16:38,724
LEAVING THE UNWANTED
MINERALS BEHIND.

303
00:16:38,724 --> 00:16:41,034
USING A SERIES
OF CHEMICAL REACTIONS,

304
00:16:41,034 --> 00:16:43,586
THEY FURTHER PURIFY THE URANIUM.

305
00:16:43,586 --> 00:16:47,758
THEY THEN ROAST IT
AT 1,562 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

306
00:16:47,758 --> 00:16:51,862
THIS CONCENTRATES IT INTO
A JET-BLACK POWDER.

307
00:16:51,862 --> 00:16:56,896
THE URANIUM POWDER FLOWS
INTO 55-GALLON STEEL DRUMS.

308
00:17:02,275 --> 00:17:04,137
A WORKER TAPS
THE LIP OF THE DRUM

309
00:17:04,137 --> 00:17:06,206
TO REMOVE RESIDUAL POWDER.

310
00:17:10,206 --> 00:17:13,517
HE THEN PUTS THE LID
ON AND ACTIVATES A PRESS

311
00:17:13,517 --> 00:17:15,793
THAT SECURES IT
TIGHTLY TO THE DRUM.

312
00:17:18,172 --> 00:17:22,000
AS AN EXTRA PRECAUTION,
HE SEALS IT WITH A STEEL RING.

313
00:17:25,344 --> 00:17:27,931
HE LABELS IT TO INDICATE
THE DRUM'S CONTENTS,

314
00:17:27,931 --> 00:17:30,241
WEIGHT, AND RADIOACTIVITY.

315
00:17:32,517 --> 00:17:34,655
WORKERS STACK THE DRUMS
IN A WAREHOUSE

316
00:17:34,655 --> 00:17:38,862
TO AWAIT SHIPMENT TO THE NEXT
PROCESSING PLANT.

317
00:17:38,862 --> 00:17:42,000
THERE, THE URANIUM GOES
FROM BLACK TO YELLOW

318
00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:44,724
AS THEY CONVERT IT
TO URANIUM TRIOXIDE,

319
00:17:44,724 --> 00:17:49,206
AN INTERIM CHEMICAL FORM
IN THE PROCESSING CHAIN.

320
00:17:49,206 --> 00:17:51,655
THEY SHIP THE URANIUM
TRIOXIDE IN SPECIALLY

321
00:17:51,655 --> 00:17:54,965
DESIGNED INVERTED CONES.

322
00:17:54,965 --> 00:17:57,275
UPON ARRIVAL AT
THE NEXT FACILITY,

323
00:17:57,275 --> 00:17:59,103
A VALVE OPENS AT THE BOTTOM

324
00:17:59,103 --> 00:18:01,241
AND THE POWDER FLOWS
INTO CONVEYOR TUBES

325
00:18:01,241 --> 00:18:04,655
THAT TAKE IT INTO THE PLANT.

326
00:18:04,655 --> 00:18:06,241
INSIDE, WORKERS DISSOLVE

327
00:18:06,241 --> 00:18:10,413
THE URANIUM TRIOXIDE
POWDER IN ACID.

328
00:18:10,413 --> 00:18:12,931
A WORKER TAKES A SAMPLE
TO TEST THE DENSITY

329
00:18:12,931 --> 00:18:16,827
AND THE CHEMISTRY AND CONFIRMS
THAT BOTH ARE ACCEPTABLE.

330
00:18:19,620 --> 00:18:22,206
THEY THEN ADD A CHEMICAL
TO TURN THE DISSOLVED URANIUM

331
00:18:22,206 --> 00:18:25,137
BACK INTO A SOLID.

332
00:18:25,137 --> 00:18:26,862
AFTER MORE PROCESSING,

333
00:18:26,862 --> 00:18:30,172
THE URANIUM TRIOXIDE
BECOMES URANIUM DIOXIDE,

334
00:18:30,172 --> 00:18:33,206
THE CHEMICAL FORM REQUIRED
FOR NUCLEAR FUEL.

335
00:18:33,206 --> 00:18:37,689
SPINNING THE URANIUM
DIOXIDE MIXES

336
00:18:37,689 --> 00:18:39,241
THE DIFFERENT SIZED PARTICLES

337
00:18:39,241 --> 00:18:43,344
TO MAKE IT
A MORE HOMOGENOUS BLEND.

338
00:18:43,344 --> 00:18:46,517
THE CHEMICAL PROCESSING HAS
ALSO CAUSED THE URANIUM

339
00:18:46,517 --> 00:18:48,344
TO CHANGE COLOR AGAIN.

340
00:18:48,344 --> 00:18:51,586
IT IS NOW A FINE BLACK POWDER.

341
00:18:51,586 --> 00:18:53,620
USING SEVERAL TONS OF PRESSURE,

342
00:18:53,620 --> 00:18:57,482
TOOLS SHAPE THE URANIUM DIOXIDE
INTO PELLETS.

343
00:18:57,482 --> 00:18:59,620
A REVOLVING WHEEL
WITH PROTRUSIONS

344
00:18:59,620 --> 00:19:03,379
GUIDES THE PELLETS
INTO A CHANNEL CONVEYOR.

345
00:19:03,379 --> 00:19:06,620
THE CONVEYOR TAKES
THE PELLETS INTO A FURNACE.

346
00:19:06,620 --> 00:19:11,034
OVER 24 HOURS, THE HEAT
REMOVES PORES IN THE PELLETS.

347
00:19:11,034 --> 00:19:14,827
THE PELLETS SHRINK, INCREASING
THE DENSITY OF THE URANIUM.

348
00:19:14,827 --> 00:19:19,379
THE PARTICLES FUSE TOGETHER
AND HARDEN INTO A CERAMIC.

349
00:19:19,379 --> 00:19:22,448
HERE'S A PELLET BEFORE
AND AFTER BAKING.

350
00:19:24,689 --> 00:19:26,758
A ROBOT ARM NOW LOADS
THE PELLETS

351
00:19:26,758 --> 00:19:28,758
ON TO A TRAY AND LEVELS THEM.

352
00:19:31,551 --> 00:19:34,241
A CONVEYOR MOVES
THE TRAY FORWARD.

353
00:19:34,241 --> 00:19:39,413
AHEAD, ANOTHER ROBOT PLACES
ZIRCONIUM FUEL TUBES ON A RACK.

354
00:19:39,413 --> 00:19:41,896
ZIRCONIUM IS A METAL
THAT'S HIGHLY RESISTANT

355
00:19:41,896 --> 00:19:44,310
TO BOTH HEAT AND CORROSION,

356
00:19:44,310 --> 00:19:46,758
BUT NEUTRONS WILL PASS
FREELY THROUGH IT

357
00:19:46,758 --> 00:19:48,620
DURING THE FISSION REACTION.

358
00:19:48,620 --> 00:19:51,137
THE RACK OF TUBES MEET UP

359
00:19:51,137 --> 00:19:54,724
WITH A TRAY OF INCOMING PELLETS.

360
00:19:54,724 --> 00:19:56,655
A ROBOTIC LOADER PUSHES
THE STACK

361
00:19:56,655 --> 00:19:58,793
OF 30 PELLETS INTO THE TUBE.

362
00:20:01,482 --> 00:20:04,655
ANOTHER ROBOT DELIVERS
THE RODS ONE AT A TIME

363
00:20:04,655 --> 00:20:07,689
TO AN AUTOMATED WELDER
THAT CAPS THE ENDS.

364
00:20:11,241 --> 00:20:15,034
THE NEXT ROBOT RETRIEVES
THE COMPLETED URANIUM FUEL RODS

365
00:20:15,034 --> 00:20:17,931
AND TRANSFERS IT
TO AN ASSEMBLY FIXTURE.

366
00:20:21,275 --> 00:20:23,896
IT ARRANGES A TOTAL OF 37 RODS

367
00:20:23,896 --> 00:20:26,517
IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION
WITHIN THE FIXTURE.

368
00:20:33,448 --> 00:20:35,206
AFTER THE RODS
HAVE BEEN WELDED

369
00:20:35,206 --> 00:20:37,310
AND THE BUNDLE CAPPED
AT BOTH ENDS,

370
00:20:37,310 --> 00:20:40,896
A ROBOT TRANSFERS IT TO A SCALE.

371
00:20:40,896 --> 00:20:42,586
THIS WEIGH-IN CONFIRMS

372
00:20:42,586 --> 00:20:45,655
THAT THERE IS THE CORRECT AMOUNT
OF URANIUM IN THE BUNDLE.

373
00:20:48,275 --> 00:20:50,413
PRIOR TO BURN UP IN A REACTOR,

374
00:20:50,413 --> 00:20:54,103
THE AMOUNT OF RADIOACTIVITY
EMITTED BY NUCLEAR FUEL BUNDLES

375
00:20:54,103 --> 00:20:56,517
IS VERY LOW,
AND THEY'RE SAFE TO HANDLE

376
00:20:56,517 --> 00:21:00,103
AS WORKERS PREPARE THEM
FOR SHIPPING.

377
00:21:00,103 --> 00:21:02,379
THEY'RE NOW ON THEIR WAY
TO THE POWER PLANT,

378
00:21:02,379 --> 00:21:05,103
WHERE THEY'LL BE SURE
TO GENERATE A REACTION.