Nuclear Energy Research Paper
The natural resources of this world have diminished at a rapid rate in recent years. Resources such as water and fossil fuel have become almost extinct. This has led to people seeking alternative ways to generate electricity. One unique way out of this energy crisis seems to be "nuclear energy." The science of nuclear fission and atomic radiation was developed between 1895 and 1945; much of that development was focused on the atomic bomb. Then, in 1945, attention shifted to harnessing this energy for making electricity. Uranium was first discovered in 1789 by a German Chemist, and the first commercial nuclear power station started operations in the 1950's in Russia. Following series of laboratory experiments, fission was found to not only release energy but also
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neutrons that could cause fission in other uranium nuclei with a self-sustaining chain reaction that leads to a massive release of energy. Since then, other power plants have come into operation in over 30 countries of the world including the United States.
Nuclear power plants provide over 11% of the world's electricity as continuous, reliable base-load power, without greenhouse gas emissions. Although nuclear power can be a great source of "clean energy" supply, it raises greater risk concerns such as nuclear waste management, radiation exposures/accidents, and weapon proliferation. Another is the complex decommissioning required to remove all radioactive material from a plant site. Radioactive waste can remain active for hundreds of years or even to thousands of years. Improper waste isolation from the public and the environment is known to contaminate air, soil, and water supplies and even create serious health hazards or cause death. This can be seen from the effects of the nuclear bombing in Hiroshima during World War II; Five decades after the mishap, children are still born with defects. This brings me to question; why is nuclear energy preferred today by some over alternative sources of energy? Alternatives with less severe possible consequences to the environment like- solar or wind power, considering the dangers nuclear power
poses.
neutrons that could cause fission in other uranium nuclei with a self-sustaining chain reaction that leads to a massive release of energy. Since then, other power plants have come into operation in over 30 countries of the world including the United States.
Nuclear power plants provide over 11% of the world's electricity as continuous, reliable base-load power, without greenhouse gas emissions. Although nuclear power can be a great source of "clean energy" supply, it raises greater risk concerns such as nuclear waste management, radiation exposures/accidents, and weapon proliferation. Another is the complex decommissioning required to remove all radioactive material from a plant site. Radioactive waste can remain active for hundreds of years or even to thousands of years. Improper waste isolation from the public and the environment is known to contaminate air, soil, and water supplies and even create serious health hazards or cause death. This can be seen from the effects of the nuclear bombing in Hiroshima during World War II; Five decades after the mishap, children are still born with defects. This brings me to question; why is nuclear energy preferred today by some over alternative sources of energy? Alternatives with less severe possible consequences to the environment like- solar or wind power, considering the dangers nuclear power
poses.