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The Power of the Radioactive Atom

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Submitted By trpk
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Human civilization as a whole has always been innovative. They turned sticks and stones to tools, and the Wright Flyer I to the Apollo 11 in a mere sixty-six years. Most importantly innovations turned mud huts into thriving modern cities with billions of people. The secret to success is power. But by continuing to fuel large cities and businesses with fossil fuels, many nations are knowingly releasing tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. A study done by Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center states that "The world pumped 39.8 billion tons (36.1 billion metric tons) of carbon dioxide last year. That is 778 million tons (706 metric tons) or 2.3 per cent more than the previous year" (Zolfagharifard 2014). The United States and many countries attempted more environmentally friendly solutions but only to fall on heuristic approaches. In order to tackle the problem head on, nuclear reactors must be built; for this reason Lucas Davis writes:
The NRC received 16 license applications for a total of 24 proposed reactors.
The time was right, so it seemed, for a nuclear power renaissance in the
United States. Natural Gas Prices were at their highest level ever in real terms.
The 2005 Energy Policy Act provided loan guarantees, production tax credits, and other subsidies for new nuclear plants. Many believed that the United States
Was close to enacting legislation that would limit emissions of carbon dioxide. (Davis 49)
Nuclear power is the solution to the world's growing energy problems; it is relatively safe, sustainable and most importantly, powerful.
Nuclear reactions can easily be dangerous being such a powerful force but if handled properly, nuclear reactions can be as safe as chemical reactions handled in the lab. Even mining uranium is safe. "The U3O8 is only mildly radioactive. (The radiation level one metre from a drum of

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