The Thorium Fuel Cycle has been known for over 50 years and had staunch advocates, a.o. in The Netherlands, which in the 70s even boasted an experimental Thorium Reactor, KEMA, in Arnhem. But nothing came of it because it was the height of the Cold War, and the Thorium Fuel Cycle doesn't lead to Plutonium for atom bombs (to recap, in the thorium fuel cycle Th-232 absorbs a neutron, so that it transmutes into Th-233. Th-233 then beta decays to Pa-233 and finally undergoes a second beta minus decay to become U-233).
But, after that false start, Thorium may well become an important fuel in the nuclear technology mix:
Good night.
MFBB.