Nuclear Energy - Uses, Abuses, and the Price of Power

                Hiroshima, Japan. At 8:15 A.M. on August 6, 1945, the US Army Air Force dropped the world’s first atomic bomb on an unsuspecting populace, decimating the city with the force of over a dozen kilotons of TNT. In the wake of WWII, the world was ablaze with fearsome prospects and daring ideas–“What if you could take that and power a country?” was foremost in the minds of many entrepreneurs and environmental activists; “Why in the hell would you want that kind of power  anywhere near you?” was another pervasive opinion. Nuclear power will always have its advantages–but are the rewards worth the risk?

                When considering the advantages of nuclear fission, you have to keep in mind that despite its radioactive by-products, it is one of the most economic and least environmentally affecting types of “green” energy. Turbines kill birds, hydro plants disrupt aqueous ecosystems, and solar power is thought too expensive to implement on a grand scale. The greatest portion of its cost is included in the construction of the power plants themselves–operating and maintenance costs are minimal, meaning that long-term, nuclear power is in fact a strong investment and efficient system; however, the high initial price means that few other than governments are willing to take the financial plunge. To give and idea of the sheer power of nuclear fission, many space programs are considering (and using) the energy source for powering long-range space vessels due to the energy density (mass-to-energy rate) being some 10 000 000 times greater than the current and next most powerful method of propulsion. Less than a kilogram of Uranium-235 actually underwent nuclear fission in Little Boy, the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Needless to say, nuclear energy has incredible potential.

                However, disadvantages must be taken into consideration. While the waste produced by a fuel rod of uranium is minimal compared to the energy produced, it may last anywhere from hundreds to millions of years, and is radioactive the whole while. Another environmental issue is that while the world’s supply of nuclear power is unimaginably huge, it is not actually renewable. A finite (though enormous) amount of uranium exists on the planet, and depletion is always a looming threat.

                Despite these problems, the greatest and most prevalent argument against nuclear development will always be safety. Civilian and military research go hand in hand, and with the improved understanding and amelioration of nuclear technology comes the refinement of military capabilities. Even ignoring the intentional misuse of nuclear power, there is the very real risk of accidental catastrophes. Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima: when nuclear safety is mentioned, these are brought to mind. Nuclear incidents, explosions and meltdowns, are among society’s greatest fears. Hiroshima and Nagasaki will never be forgotten, just as the lives lost in Russia and Japan as a result of civilian fission will live in our minds.
                That being said, nuclear power production has resulted in the least amount of worldwide deaths than any other type of harnessed energy. When it fails, it fails big, but similar to airlines nuclear is still (mathematically) safer than other methods. If used correctly and responsibly, it will be a great boon to society as a whole, but we must always remember the consequences of carelessness.

                While nuclear power is one of the world’s most potent sources of energy, and it will always have its advocates and opponents, we must always remember: everything has a price, and “there ain’t no such thing as a free lunch.” We have with nuclear technology a way to drive the planet forward or drag it to a terrifying stop–how we use it is up to us.