By Prisha Goyal
In December 1942, Dr. Enrico Fermi was able to conduct the world’s first controlled
nuclear reaction. Since then, nuclear energy has been used in many ways, good and
bad: In 1945, the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were attacked by utilizing atomic
bombs, but after a peace act was signed between countries, we started using it for
methods to generate electricity. In 1955, the town of Arco in Idaho became the first U.S.
town to use nuclear energy as its energy source.
nuclear reaction. Since then, nuclear energy has been used in many ways, good and
bad: In 1945, the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were attacked by utilizing atomic
bombs, but after a peace act was signed between countries, we started using it for
methods to generate electricity. In 1955, the town of Arco in Idaho became the first U.S.
town to use nuclear energy as its energy source.
There have been a lot of controversies ever since we discovered nuclear power about
whether we should use it or not. People who are against nuclear energy say that
nuclear energy can be used to make weapons — some of the deadliest known to
humans. There has been a non-proliferation treaty, but it has had little success. Another
argument is that people are scared that there could be other disasters similar to
Chernobyl and Fukushima, which could lead to large areas remaining dangerous for
hundreds of years. Finally, people argue that nuclear power plants release harmful
radioactive chemicals. We currently have no place to store them except at the sites
themselves, which can negatively impact human health. People advocating for nuclear
energy say that it is stored in areas where it can’t be released. At the same time, smoke
from industrial factories is responsible for many deaths through lung cancer and other
respiratory diseases. Proponents also mention that nuclear energy has the lowest death
rate among all other energy sources — even renewable ones like wind and solar.
hundreds of years. Finally, people argue that nuclear power plants release harmful
radioactive chemicals. We currently have no place to store them except at the sites
themselves, which can negatively impact human health. People advocating for nuclear
energy say that it is stored in areas where it can’t be released. At the same time, smoke
from industrial factories is responsible for many deaths through lung cancer and other
respiratory diseases. Proponents also mention that nuclear energy has the lowest death
rate among all other energy sources — even renewable ones like wind and solar.
It isn’t likely that we’ll completely switch over to nuclear energy, but we have to
acknowledge that it releases fewer CO2 emissions than fossil fuels. And on a planet
already facing record-high temperatures and the threat of climate change, we need to
make more sustainable choices. We can choose nuclear energy now and not use it later
when we have made renewable sources more efficient and cost-effective. But
ultimately, we need to make a choice — and fast.
References:
Nutshell, Kurzgesagt- In a. “Nuclear Energy Explained: How does it work? 1/3.” YouTube,
26 Mar. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcOFV4y5z8c&t=198s.
Nutshell, Kurzgesagt- In a. “3 Reasons Why Nuclear Energy Is Terrible! 2/3.” YouTube, 1
Apr. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEYbgyL5n1g.
Nutshell, Kurzgesagt- In a. “3 Reasons Why Nuclear Energy Is Awesome! 3/3.” YouTube,
1 Apr. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVbLlnmxIbY.
“Timeline of Nuclear Technology | American Experience | PBS.” 17 Mar. 2023,
www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/three-nuclear-technology.
