Nuclear Power Pros and Cons
In light of the events in Japan over the past few weeks, many people are more carefully thinking out nuclear power pros and cons. To better understand the situation, it's important to first look at the history of nuclear energy in order to determine nuclear power pros and cons.History of Nuclear Power
Although we tend to think of nuclear energy as a relatively new form of energy, its history goes back to the earliest discoveries of atoms and follows a series of discoveries dating back to 500 b.c., to Pierre and Marie Curie's discovery of natural radioactivity, through the early 1900's and the development of the quantum theory, and then coming to fruition with Einstein's theory of relativity. These events paved the way for the scientists of the 1940's, brought together by a global war, with the key goal of creating a nuclear weapon.Following the devastation in Japan after the atomic and hydrogen bombs, President Truman, along with the pime ministers of the United Kingdom and Canada, declared the use of the scientific knowledge of nuclear energy should from that point forward, be used for peaceful purposes. This was the beginning of nuclear energy as power source.
The first experimental reactor produced enery in 1951. Although it could only light a bulb, it was as significant to the eventual use of nuclear power as the first phone call was to the evolution of telecommunications. In 1956, Calder Hall became the world's first power station, located in Cumbria, England. From that point forward, the focus of nuclear physics was the creation of reliable nuclear power.
Nuclear Power Pros
The most obvious advantage of nuclear power is its incredible efficiency. One ton of uranium can produce the same amount of energy as several million tons of either coal or petroleum. In terms of emissions, nuclear power is a much cleaner burning fuel than either coal or oil, and new generation reactors actually produce much less waste and have much higher safety controls compared to other power sources. In a world that is greatly concerned with global warming, the fact that nuclear power produces such little emissions is a tremendous benefit.A major issue of today's world is also where fuels are located. Uranium naturally occurs in very politically stable areas, in areas like Canada and Australia. With an almost limitless supply, and the relative cleanliness and efficacy in creation of energy, nuclear power compares well alongside its power competitors.
Nuclear Power Cons
The glaring issue associated with nuclear power, especially with the recent issues in Japan and the renewed highlight on Chernobyl, is the idea of a possible nuclear meltdown or major radiation emission. There is a very real fear of nuclear meltdown, the process that occurs when the fission reaction is out of control. In Russia's Chernobyl Plant in 1986, in a very complex situation, an explosion occurred that sent massive amounts of radiation and chemicals into the air, effecting many thousands of people and ultimately killing 16,000, with many complications to survivors' health. Although many issues and mis-management problems contributed to the Chernobyl explosion, it still offers the world a look at the tremendous dangers that can occur with nuclear power.Another major drawback to nuclear power is the waste created in the process of creating energy. Nuclear waste must be contained and stored for thousands of years. This means that it creates waste that generations long after us will have to live with. Also, in an increasingly dangerous world, the idea that a nuclear plants or nuclear weapons could possibly be controlled by terrorists is cause for concern. The most publicized example of this are the nuclear plans of Iran. With an unstable regime, nuclear power could translate to nuclear weapons that could be used against innocent victims.
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