De Kiekeboes: Uranium-235

Flanders’ most popular comic family – De Kiekeboes – has explored the entire world: from exotic places to deep in the ocean and even the planetoid Spih. But now it’s daughter Fanny’s turn to take the lead. In the latest comic book, she dives into the nuclear sector. The title “Uranium-235” already hints at it, but what does it actually mean?

Fanny looks startled when a Geiger counter is pushed under her nose. Is that little device supposed to measure the invisible, detect it, and guarantee her safety? Is it really necessary to get out of the way when the Geiger counter goes off? Why is it so important to know if ionizing radiation is present and how much? We find out…

During a visit to Nuclean, Fanny meets a man who spouts nothing but clichés and nonsense. He claims that radiation turns you into a glowing green man. Is that true? Of course not! Radiation is a natural phenomenon. While it can damage DNA at high doses, in controlled amounts, it also saves lives!

n ‘Uranium-235’, Fanny Kiekeboe visits a storage facility where low-level, short-lived radioactive waste is stored for a hundred years. The guide says this waste comes from hospitals. Is that true? And what does SCK CEN do in “real life” to minimize the amount of waste as much as possible? Let’s zoom in.

Fanny Kiekeboe also dives deep underground to a repository for high-level and long-lived waste. This storage facility is not just a figment of Nix and Charel Cambré’s imagination. In Belgium, a principle decision has also been made to store this waste deep underground. Where does this waste come from exactly? How do we arrive at such geological storage? How do we avoid and reduce the number of barrels destined for deep underground? Let’s dig into it!

“Nuclear energy has fervent supporters and opponents,” Fanny opens the comic. She’s right! Citizens, politicians, countries, and even experts often passionately disagree about nuclear energy. It’s not entirely black or white. What are the arguments? Is nuclear energy dangerous? We fact-check it for you!

Fanny talks about a dirty bomb. In principle, this is not a nuclear weapon but a ‘conventional bomb’ with a radioactive charge or casing. However, it evokes associations with nuclear weapons and radiation danger for many people, so let’s delve further into the topic of ‘non-proliferation.’ Here’s what you really need to remember about it.

If we safely store our radioactive waste underground, how can we ensure that, a hundred thousand years later, no one accidentally comes into contact with it? How will they still know what exactly is buried there? The latest Kiekeboes comic, Uranium-235, touches on this important challenge in the long-term management of radioactive waste.

From the nuclear power plant in Doel to the fictional comic company 'Nuclean,' Fanny Kiekeboe is constantly close to the nuclear sector in the latest comic album Uranium-235. Even when she's chasing a villain among offshore wind turbines, she remains connected to the nuclear world. Because did you know that the nuclear sector also plays a role in wind energy?

In the latest Kiekeboes comic Uranium-235, Fanny Kiekeboe suddenly finds herself face-to-face with a mysterious figure, cloaked in a dark hood. The revelation surprises us and breaks stereotypes. Well played by the writers! Read more here about how we challenge incorrect assumptions ourselves.