As engineers struggle to control the crippled nuclear reactors in Japan, an Oregon expert believes the odds are heavily against a catastrophic meltdown and massive radiation release: “At this point in time, I think that’s extraordinarily unlikely. Because they’ve managed to keep these things covered. It appears that the bulk of the containment structures are intact.” Kathry Higley is the head of OSU's Department of Nuclear Engineering. She says that if anybody can solve the problem, the Japanese can.