Energy
64 The Confliction of Nuclear Energy
Exploring the Pros and cons of Nuclear energy and how it pertains to STS
Ellis Bryant
Introduction
The history of nuclear energy traces back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries with foundational discoveries in radioactivity by Henri Becquerel and subsequent work by Marie and Pierre Curie. However, it was the discovery of nuclear fission by Lise Meitner, Otto Hahn (Lise Meitner’s nephew) and Fritz Strassmann in 1938 that catalyzed the development of nuclear energy. The urgency of World War II propelled research into nuclear weapons, culminating into the Manhattan Project which lead to the deployment of atomic bombs. Post-war, there was a significant expansion of nuclear research for both military and civilian purposes. The first civilian nuclear power plant, Experimental Breeder Reactor I, came online in 1951, followed by the Atoms for Peace Initiative in 1953 to promote peaceful nuclear applications. Throughout the 1970s to the 2000s, nuclear power experienced both growth and challenges. Concerns over oil shortages and environmental issues drove a surge in nuclear power plant contraction, but incidents like Three Mile Island in 1979 and the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 raised safety concerns. Despite these setbacks, nuclear energy has remained an integral part of many countries’ energy production.
Figure 1: Fritz Strassmann, Lise Meitner and Otto Hahn, at the Max-Planck-Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, West Germany 1956
benefits that nuclear energy Provides
Nuclear energy has been a cornerstone of modern civilization, offering a multitude of benefits across various sectors. Foremost among these benefits is its capacity to generate vast amounts of electricity with minimal environmental impact. Unlike fossil fuels, nuclear power plants produce little to no greenhouse gas emissions during operation, making them a crucial ally in the fight against climate change. Additionally, nuclear energy provides a stable and reliable source of electricity, capable of meeting the demands of a growing population and industrial infrastructure. Furthermore, nuclear energy enhances energy security by reducing dependence on the ever-shrinking amount of imported fossil fuels that power nearly eighty percent of the world’s energy. Overall, nuclear energy stands as a highly capable source of sustainable and reliable power generation and can offer a pathway towards a cleaner and more secure future for energy production.
downfalls that nuclear energy presents
Alongside its benefits, nuclear energy also poses significant drawbacks and challenges. At the top of these concerns is the risk of accidents and catastrophic events happening, as demonstrated by incidents such as Chernobyl and Three Miles Island. These nuclear incidents loomed large in the public eye, raising questions about the safety and viability of nuclear power. Additionally, the proliferation of nuclear weapons remains a pressing global concern, with the dual-use n