I applaud this explanation, though I would like add a slight detail. Another huge complication at Chernobyl was the presence of graphite, which is flammable and sent radioactive smoke into the upper atmosphere. Now, no reactors use graphite as a moderator anymore. It is certainly not present at Fukushima.

It doesn't actually state what he does. It says he is a "research scientist." Maybe he is researching nuclear energy, or perhaps he consulted his father? Those seems like reasonable possibilities.

I have trouble trusting this article at all. For one thing, it says it cannot be confirmed if any of the reactors use MOX fuel. Um....they've been saying that reactor 3 uses MOX fuel for days now. Where has the Times been? Other than that it is generally vague about a timeline or any evidence that it "could last for months."

Hmmmm could it perhaps have something to do with the fact that the entire area lies in god-forsaken ruin?

Yes, there is rationing, though it was largely avoided today due to conserving efforts by train operators and large companies. 7 prefectures have been divided into 5 groups, which rotate among 3 hour power outages as needed. Today only group number 5 (5 - 7 pm) was needed. They are planning it again tomorrow, though. Since the trains are set to expand a bit, I assume that they will need to implement more of those outages.

Yes, this article is about the 2nd explosion at reactor number 3. So far there have been explosions at reactors 1 and 3. Reactor 2's building is still intact.

According to this Japanese article, TEPCO (the power company that runs the reactor) reports that at about 3:30 pm local time (1 hour 40 minutes ago) an explosion was heard and white smoke could be seen coming from the number 1 reactor. A few workers have been reported to be injured. :( http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20110312/t10014627881000.html