The World Needs Nuclear Power, And We Shouldn’t Be Afraid Of It

As we embrace green solutions, nuclear should absolutely be part of the equation.

For millennia, humanity has harnessed natural forces to fuel our advancement. From using fire for cooking and warmth to utilizing animal labor for various tasks, our quest for energy has evolved. The advent of windmills allowed us to convert wind into power, grinding grain without human intervention.

A significant shift occurred when we began employing natural elements—such as wind, steam, and flowing water—to generate electricity. Currently, most of the world's energy demands are still met through these methods, predominantly reliant on non-renewable fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas. We are utilizing energy sources from the iron age to sustain our space age civilization. The pressing need for nuclear energy is clear, yet misinformation and fear often dictate our energy policies. Here’s the science supporting its adoption.

The operation of a traditional power plant is straightforward. A fuel source is combusted, releasing energy that heats water and produces steam. This steam turns a turbine, generating electricity for various applications.

However, this method of producing energy leads to significant environmental issues. The extraction of these raw materials has profound impacts, and the combustion of fossil fuels has drastically altered the Earth's atmospheric and oceanic chemistry, contributing to global warming and ocean acidification.

The evidence of these changes is undeniable, compounded by our daily activities. The increase in fossil fuel combustion has raised atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels from approximately 270 parts per million (ppm) before industrialization to around 410 ppm today—a more than 50% increase in less than three centuries.

This rise in CO2 also affects ocean chemistry, as CO2 reacts with water to form carbonic acid, altering the ocean's pH globally.

The most urgent concern is the global warming resulting from this elevated CO2 concentration. Since accurate temperature measurements began in 1880, the global average temperature has increased by 0.98 °C (1.76 °F), with a notable acceleration of 0.18 °C (0.32 °F) per decade over the last 39 years.

Numerous strategies have been proposed to tackle this issue, but any sustainable, long-term solution must incorporate energy sources that do not emit additional CO2. While many suggestions focus on renewables like solar and wind, we should seriously consider nuclear fission power as a viable option.

It is true that poorly managed fission power plants can lead to catastrophic events, as seen in Chernobyl (1986) and Three Mile Island (1979), or result in radioactive waste contamination due to natural disasters like Fukushima (2011). Despite these incidents, nuclear energy, overall, is safer than any other large-scale energy source in history.

Since the mid-1950s, when the first nuclear reactors began operating, over 17,000 reactor-years of activity across 33 countries have been recorded, with only three significant incidents. However, public perception often emphasizes the disasters, overshadowing nuclear power's safety, efficiency, and environmental benefits.

The science of nuclear energy is relatively straightforward, revealing why we shouldn't fear it as we do nuclear weapons. The process of nuclear fission can generate massive amounts of energy to meet global energy demands for centuries without the harmful emissions associated with fossil fuels.

The physics behind nuclear power. In chemical fuels, reactions occur between electron configurations of atoms, releasing about 0.0000001% of the fuel's mass as energy. Conversely, nuclear reactions split atomic nuclei, releasing approximately 1,000,000 times more energy from the same amount of fuel. Fissionable materials like uranium-235 require merely a neutron to initiate a fission reaction.

Nuclear power is inherently self-sustaining; each U-235 nucleus absorbs a neutron and, upon splitting, emits three additional neutrons, perpetuating the reaction. This process generates heat, boiling water to produce steam and turn turbines—similar to chemical reactors—without CO2 emissions.

Nuclear's energy output is entirely controllable. A common concern regarding renewable energy sources like wind and solar is their unpredictability. In contrast, the output of nuclear energy can be regulated by controlling factors such as control rods, temperature, and the medium used, typically water.

The rate of nuclear reactions depends on the availability of neutrons. Adjusting control rods changes neutron absorption levels, while temperature adjustments directly influence reaction rates. This allows for flexible power generation up to the plant's maximum safe capacity.

There’s no risk of a nuclear bomb, and the waste is eminently manageable. Many fear the possibility of a nuclear explosion; however, this risk is nonexistent in nuclear power plants. The fuel used is not enriched sufficiently to create a runaway chain reaction.

Although nuclear waste will be produced, some materials can be repurposed, such as plutonium for deep space missions, while others like tritiated water require proper management. According to the World Nuclear Association: - High-level radioactive waste requires about five years of underwater storage, followed by around 45 years of dry storage, reducing its radioactivity and heat. - After this period, it becomes low-level waste, suitable for long-term underground disposal.

Although overcoming the "not in my backyard" (NIMBY) mentality is a challenge, this issue can be scientifically resolved.

We can fully transition to nuclear in under 20 years. A comprehensive transition to nuclear energy necessitates significant investment in new reactors, cooling towers, and fuel supply chains, in addition to addressing waste management.

The potential benefits are substantial. By replacing: - coal, gas, and oil power plants with nuclear, - gasoline vehicles with electric, - fossil fuel-based heating and power with electric solutions,

we could eliminate over 80% of fossil fuel consumption, particularly non-sustainable sources. This transition offers the chance for a cleaner, sustainable future with an upfront investment that promises long-term gains.

The uncomfortable reality is that our space-age civilization has avoided advanced energy technologies due to fear and resistance. We continue to rely on outdated methods that harm our environment. While various approaches exist to combat climate change, nuclear power stands out as a proven, adaptable solution with the potential to play a leading role in this vital fight.

For too long, fear has shaped the narrative surrounding nuclear power. The conventional view focuses on a few disasters, but its history reveals a story of exceptional safety, effective waste management, and plentiful, affordable green energy. The world requires nuclear power now more than ever. Overcoming our biases could help us address one of the most significant challenges of our time.

Starts With A Bang is written by Ethan Siegel, Ph.D., author of Beyond The Galaxy, and Treknology: The Science of Star Trek from Tricorders to Warp Drive.