Jann Höfer & Martin Lamberty
27,000 cubic meters of highly radioactive waste—produced by a few people in a short period of time. The waste emits deadly radiation and will outlast future generations. The German government is searching for an underground repository that will keep humanity safe from this nuclear waste for one million years.
One million years. This time span reaches far into the future of humanity and is comparable to evolutionary scales. It will be necessary to communicate the location of this repository and the nature of its contents over this period of time.
With the current search for a nuclear repository, nuclear waste has become part of our modern heritage. Nuclear waste is cultural heritage. What conclu sions will future generations draw about our societal self-image? When will we become aware of the present that was once ours?
one million years, a collaboration between Jann Höfer and Martin Lamberty, is a photographic exploration of the nuclear legacy of our time. It is an attempt to make the limits of the imaginable—as well as an invisible danger—visible.
01 – Salzgitter, 06/2022
The “Schachtanlage Konrad”, a disused iron ore mine in Salzgitter, converted into the first repository for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste in Germany in accordance with nuclear regulations. It is envisaged that the converted iron ore mine will be ready to store 303,000 cubic meters of waste from the early 2030s. Once full, all cavities in the mine will be backfilled and the repository will be sealed securely for the long term.
02 – Morsleben, 02/2023
At a depth of around 480 meters, the Morsleben repository contains around 37,000 cubic meters of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste. This comes mainly from the operation and decommissioning of nuclear power plants as well as from research facilities and state collection points.
As the first German repository to be decommissioned in accordance with the provisions of nuclear law, the waste will remain at the site.
03 – Legden-Asbeck, 08/2020
The Atomians, a protest group from Münsterland, integrate aspects of atomic semiotics into street theater and performances during anti-nuclear protests. Atomic semiotics is an interdisciplinary field that studies communication strategies for conveying information about nuclear materials and their long-term storage.
04 – Rügen, 06/2022
Nobbin megalithic tomb.
Built from boulders, this megalithic site dates back to the Neolithic period on Rügen. It is one of the largest stone tombs in northern Germany. Archaeological investigations were conducted in 1970 under the direction of Professor Ewald Schuldt.
05 – Cologne, 05/2020
Potassium salt—one of the potential host rocks for a nuclear repository.
06 – Ahaus, 03/2024
CASTOR THTR casks loaded with irradiated fuel elements from the decommissioned Thorium High-Temperature Reactor (THTR) in Hamm-Uentrop in storage area II of the Ahaus Transport Cask Storage Facility. This is an interim storage facility until a final repository is found.
07 – Vilm, 06/2022
The old-growth forest on the island of Vlim off the coast of Rügen in the Baltic Sea has been left to its own devices for almost 500 years, after the last major logging operation took place there in 1527. Some of the trees in this forest are as much as 650 years old.
08 – Lubmin, 06/2022
Unit 8 of the decommissioned Greifswald Nuclear Power Plant, where dismantling has been underway since 1995. Unit 8 was never operational.
09 – Karlsruhe, 01/2023
Michael Fennel, research associate and doctoral candidate in the Department of Intelligent-Sensor- Actuator Systems (ISAS) at the Karlsruher Institute of Technology (KIT).
10 – Remlingen-Semmenstedt, 07/2023
Low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste was stored at Asse II for research into the final disposal of radioactive waste. However, the mine is an unsuitable repository as it is unstable and has cracks through which salty water is able to penetrate. Although this water is intercepted and disposed of, there is a long-term risk of radioactive substances being released. The waste will be retrieved and the mine will be shut down.
11 – Dortmund, 11/2023
Evaluated films from dosimeters at the North Rhine-Westphalia Materials Testing Office: conclusions can be drawn about the direction of radiation and a person’s wearing habits.
12 – Karlsruhe, 01/2023
At the Karlsruher Institute of Technology (KIT), a room- sized haptic interface that provides precise 2D force feedback has been developed in the telepresence laboratory of the Department of Intelligent-Sensor-Actuator Systems (ISAS). This innovation is part of research into developing automated processes for contaminant remediation, including the remote control and optimization of machine technology to minimize the risk to personnel handling contaminants.
13 – Morsleben, 02/2023
At a depth of around 480 meters, the Morsleben repository contains around 37,000 cubic meters of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste. This comes mainly from the operation and decommissioning of nuclear power plants as well as from research facilities and state collection points.
As the first German repository to be decommissioned in accordance with the provisions of nuclear law, the waste will remain at the site.
14 – Legden-Asbeck, 08/2020
The Atomians, a protest group from Münsterland, integrate aspects of atomic semiotics into street theater and perfor- mances during anti-nuclear protests. Atomic semiotics is an interdisciplinary field that studies communication strategies for conveying information about nuclear materials and their long-term storage.
15 – Duisburg, 01/2024
The State Archives of North Rhine-Westphalia contains items dating from the seventh century to the present day. It comprises a wide range of documents, including deeds, files, official records and maps, and is continually being supplemented by photographs, films and audio documents.
16 – Salzgitter, 02/2023
Archives of F5, the department for long-term documentation at the Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management (BASE).
17 – Vilm, 06/2022
The old-growth forest on the island of Vlim off the coast of Rügen in the Baltic Sea has been left to its own devices for almost 500 years, after the last major logging operation took place there in 1527. Some of the trees in this forest are as much as 650 years old.
18 – Karlsruhe, 01/2023
A measuring robot designed to be used for the initial exploration of potentially contaminated areas during the dismantling of nuclear facilities. It was developed during research into robotic systems for decontamination in hostile environments (robdekon) at the Karlsruher Institute of Technology (KIT).
19 – Ahaus, 03/2024
CASTOR V-type casks with spent fuel elements from German light-water reactors in storage area II of the Ahaus Transport Cask Storage Facility. This is an interim storage facility until a final repository is found.
20 – Rügen, 06/2022
Nobbin megalithic tomb. Built from boulders, this megalithic site dates back to the Neolithic period on Rügen. It is one of the largest stone tombs in northern Germany. Archaeological investigations were conducted in 1970 under the direction of Professor Ewald Schuldt.
21 – Cologne, 06/2022
Polish philosopher Stanislaw Lem suggested that an “atomic flower”, which thrives near radioactive waste, could be used in atomic semiotics, the study of communication strategies relating to the long-term storage of atomic materials.
22 – Dortmund, 11/2023
A caesium irradiation facility for calibration and product development at the North Rhine-Westphalia Materials Testing Office.
23 – Dortmund, 11/2023
Photon ring dosimeters are used to measure photon radiation (X-rays and gamma radiation) and to monitor the local skin dose to the hands. They are used in the fields of surgery, fluoroscopy, radiotherapy, materials testing and research. These dosimeters are designed to be used for a one-month period
24 – Cologne, 03/2023
The German fire department maintains special units that are trained and prepared to respond to nuclear contamination. These units are always on standby and can be deployed in the event of a nuclear accident.
25 – Lubmin, 06/2022
Unit 6 of the decommissioned Greifswald Nuclear Power Plant is a museum. Although it was never operational, it was fully completed.
26 – Legden-Asbeck, 08/2020
The Atomians, a protest group from Münsterland, integrate aspects of atomic semiotics into street theater and perfor- mances during anti-nuclear protests. Atomic semiotics is an interdisciplinary field that studies communication strategies for conveying information about nuclear materials and their long-term storage.
