Article 2 “Nuclear Energy”
Citation: National Geographic . (2022, July 1). Nuclear energy. National Geographic Society. Retrieved August 3, 2022, from https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/nuclear-energy
Summary:
This article describes the process of how a nuclear reactor works, by first establishing that the nucleus of an atom is densely packed with energy in order to keep the electrons stable and in orbit. When the atom is split, it causes a chain reaction, which releases much heat, usually into water, which then creates steam, which powers a turbine within the plant to create electricity. It then states that in 2011, that 15% of the world’s electricity, and the US’s total of over 100 nuclear plants spanning the country, and how countries like Lithuania and France and Slovakia rely mostly on Nuclear Power. It then continues on to describe how a majority of Uranium is sourced from Russia, Kazakhstan, Australia, and Canada.
Relevance:
This article is relevant because it describes the process of how Nuclear fission works and the economic aspects of Nuclear Energy and the disasters that staind its reputation. It then goes on to describe how Uranium is purchased and traded and how only certain countries may purchase uranium due to its use in nuclear weapons.
I think it’s interesting that nuclear energy currently is one of our most “eco-friendly” options. Do you think the environmental benefits outweigh the possible costs in case something were to go wrong?
I believe wholeheartedly in nuclear power as being one of the best solutions for the current carbon crisis. It is frankly amazing how efficient and productive these reactors are. The likely hood of a meltdown in modern times is staggeringly low, and nuclear energy is often overplayed as being too dangerous, and while it is true when their is a meltdown it is quite disastrous, previous meltdowns have only occurred due to shockingly awful engineering and incompetence. The likely hood of a modern nuclear reactors having a full meltdown (Ala Chernobyl), or better yet, a thorium reactor, is close to zero if properly maintained.