A LONE racoon managed to shut down one of America’s biggest nuclear power plants last month. The forest-loving creature brought the Grand Gulf nuclear power station in Mississippi to a grinding halt after finding its way over a 2-metre-high fence into the electrical switchyard of the plant. Unfortunately for the racoon, voltages are stepped up and down in the switchyard to pass electricity between the plant and the power grid.
The racoon caused a short circuit, creating a power fluctuation that triggered an automatic shut-down. Back-up power systems ensured that the plant was never in any danger, but it…
