The mighty atom? The development of nuclear power technology
Issue 354 | Page 85 | Published Sep 2014
Description
What is the current state of probably the most controversial and most expensive power source to set up? The use of nuclear energy for the generation of electricity started in the 1950s and was viewed, at the time, as a source of virtually free power. Development flourished and some countries adopted the nuclear option as their principal source for producing electrical energy. However, a series of nuclear incidents and concern about the treatment of nuclear waste established such a perceived risk in the minds of the public that the British government has dithered indecisively over the role of nuclear power in the UK. This article examines the history of nuclear power, considers its progress and looks at the implications of future developments.
More from this issue
The science behind climate change generally considered to be due to human activity. The fundamentals of climate change are well established:...
Students are given the opportunity to try a lesser known method of providing an energy source. Electricity from osmotic pressure might seem a far...
Deriving energy from new biological sources rather then fossilised remains. This article looks at the potential of bioenergy as a replacement for...