WP4 intro

Nuclear power is arguably one of humankind’s greatest achievements.  However, it is also undoubtedly one of our most dangerous and terrifying.  When implemented correctly, nuclear power can provide an efficient and relatively clean source of energy.  However, if something goes wrong, the situation could quickly deteriorate into a disaster on the scale of Chernobyl, or, more recently, Fukushima.  It has often been speculated that technology is a double-edged sword, bringing both benefits and drawbacks, and no technology fits this description better than nuclear reactors.  According to Adam Piore in his article ‘Planning for the Black Swan,’ the major issue revolving around nuclear technology is that of safety versus cost.  Although nuclear power can indeed provide a more efficient source of energy, with less pollution than a conventional fuel like coal, it also carries with it greater risks than these more conventional power sources.  Therefore, the main problem that nuclear engineers must overcome is designing a reactor that strikes the right balance between efficiency and safety.  But can nuclear technology overcome these fundamental problems?  Or are conventional sources of energy a better option?

WP 4 Topic

People seem to be divided over the issue of nuclear power.  On the one hand, there are people who wholeheartedly support it, declaring it as the miracle cure for America's "oil adiction."  On the other, there are those who claim that the radioactive waste produced by nuclear reactors is too great a threat to safety.  But just how realistic are these claims?  Are nuclear reactors really as efficient as supporters claim them to be?  And are they really as dangerous as detractors would have you believe?  The purpose of my paper is to analyze the benefits and drawbacks of nuclear technology, and to reach a conclusion as to wether the rewards outweigh the risks.

Sub questions that will be answered include:

Nuclear technology is relatively young, but there have still been a few nuclear accidents, like Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, and the tsunami that recently damaged the reactor in Japan.  Just how harmful were these accidents?  What is the likelihood that similiar accidents will happen in the future?  And what steps are being taking to reduce the liklihood of nuclear accidents happening again?

How costly are nuclear reactors to build and maintain?  Would it be cheaper to just use conventional sources of energy?

How is nuclear waste being stored, and how effective is this method of storage?  It has been speculated that stored nuclear waste could be a target for terrorists.  What are the odds of this actually happening?