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    Essay - Impacts of Nuclear Science and Technology

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    Marvin Villanueva LPT
    This essay discusses the impacts of nuclear science and technology. It acknowledges that while nuclear energy poses risks like radioactive waste and potential weapons proliferation, it also has benefits as an efficient, low-cost, and potentially eco-friendly energy source. The author notes that nuclear technology has largely stagnated since the 1980s and that modernizing reactor designs using fuels like thorium could make waste less hazardous. The essay concludes that whether or not the Philippines pursues nuclear energy, technology can be used for good or ill depending on human intent, and responsible development and use of our scientific knowledge is important.

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    Essay - Impacts of Nuclear Science and Technology

    Uploaded by

    Marvin Villanueva LPT
    59 views1 page
    This essay discusses the impacts of nuclear science and technology. It acknowledges that while nuclear energy poses risks like radioactive waste and potential weapons proliferation, it also has benefits as an efficient, low-cost, and potentially eco-friendly energy source. The author notes that nuclear technology has largely stagnated since the 1980s and that modernizing reactor designs using fuels like thorium could make waste less hazardous. The essay concludes that whether or not the Philippines pursues nuclear energy, technology can be used for good or ill depending on human intent, and responsible development and use of our scientific knowledge is important.

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    Essay_Impacts of Nuclear Science and Technology

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    This essay discusses the impacts of nuclear science and technology. It acknowledges that while nuclear energy poses risks like radioactive waste and potential weapons proliferation, it also has benefits as an efficient, low-cost, and potentially eco-friendly energy source. The author notes that nuclear technology has largely stagnated since the 1980s and that modernizing reactor designs using fuels like thorium could make waste less hazardous. The essay concludes that whether or not the Philippines pursues nuclear energy, technology can be used for good or ill depending on human intent, and responsible development and use of our scientific knowledge is important.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    59 views1 page

    Essay - Impacts of Nuclear Science and Technology

    Uploaded by

    Marvin Villanueva LPT
    This essay discusses the impacts of nuclear science and technology. It acknowledges that while nuclear energy poses risks like radioactive waste and potential weapons proliferation, it also has benefits as an efficient, low-cost, and potentially eco-friendly energy source. The author notes that nuclear technology has largely stagnated since the 1980s and that modernizing reactor designs using fuels like thorium could make waste less hazardous. The essay concludes that whether or not the Philippines pursues nuclear energy, technology can be used for good or ill depending on human intent, and responsible development and use of our scientific knowledge is important.

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    NAME: Marvin D.

    Villanueva MAJOR: General Science and Technology


    PROGRAM: Master of Arts in Teaching SUBJECT: General Chemistry

    Essay: Impacts of Nuclear Science and Technology


    Science has brought us even further into the world where technology and humans coexist and depend on each
    other. Over the span of hundreds of years, we have evolved from theories into applications of science and
    technology to even the simplest things like a toothbrush. Unfortunately, it is not a secret that such great
    achievements have a huge drawback that may set our future into an entirely different course. We need energy to
    power these technologies, and due to this production of energy, we raise the catastrophe of global warming; to
    solve this, we must opt for the most eco-friendly, reliable, and efficient way possible. This situation produced
    the decades-long argument about the riskiest but possibly life-changing form of energy- nuclear power.

    Philippines may not be the most technological country out there, but we are no stranger to the shortage of
    electricity. Even with hydro-powered plants, coal plantations, or even wind and solar energy may not fulfill the
    needs of the nation’s electricity. And with the growing technological advances that find its way to their country,
    our supply of energy is far from coping up to the fast-pacing technological world. Recently, the government eyes
    the possible usage of nuclear power to back-up the needs of the country-partly influenced by the Russia’s offer
    to help operate it in the first few years. The Philippine Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi mentioned this matter
    during a meeting of the Alliance Global group Sustainability Conference in the Philippines; he said that even
    though nuclear power may not be an option under Duterte Administration, it is a viable power source to the
    country’s requirements in moving forward.

    The mention of nuclear power has sparked a lot of controversies, while it is a usable form of energy, I suspect
    that the history of nuclear weapons used and accidents poses as a threat to the many. While nuclear power took a
    great deal of discussion ever since its introduction early 1900’s, it instantly died down around late 1980’s. The
    atomic age involved a lot of great things, and yet bad. During the time where research of atomic power is
    widespread and is freely done, it is used as both as a massive weapon of ultimate destruction or a great deal of
    power source. Due to the past history and showcase of researches on how powerful nuclear power is, it made us
    wary of it and have split decision- thus preventing the usage of such wonderful discovery.

    While there is no doubt the potential of nuclear energy is limitless, I can’t deny the lists of downsides it possesses.
    First is the renowned radioactive waste that possess a threat both environmental and health. For example is the
    Chernobyl accident or the Japanese nuclear crisis that proves disasters accompanied this power source. Then,
    there is the risk of the continuous usage of nuclear energy may ruin our world for the next centuries due to the
    nuclear waste it produces. Not to mention it can be used as an excuse to hide the development of atomic weapons
    that may result to the elimination of humanity.

    However, great power comes with great responsibility. We are already evolving, and yet we deny such great
    potential due to our wariness because of humanity’s past mistakes. Nuclear energy introduces limitless
    possibilities when it comes to efficiency, eco-friendliness, and cost. First of all, the initial constructions of nuclear
    power plants are highly expensive due to the combination of chemical and physics all together. And yet, once we
    are through in that phase, it is a smooth sailing. It is low cost and the estimated amount of energy it produces is
    ten million times greater than the amount released by burning fossil fuels- thus, making it less cheap and eco-
    friendly.

    Moreover, nuclear energy is more beneficial when it comes to climate crisis. Unlike fossil fueled power plants
    that releases toxic in the air, nuclear wastes are thrown deep in the earth where it decomposes for thousands of
    year. And of course, the decomposition rate may lessen if researches are implemented. Since improvements for
    nuclear reactors stopped around 1985, the ones used nowadays for most 439 nuclear reactors in 31 countries are
    severely outdated in terms of modernization. The possibility of using Thorium instead of Uranium as a fuel for
    the reactors can make nuclear wastes more eco-friendly and may decompose as early as a century or even less.

    At the end of the day, no matter how we look at it, technology can be either good or bad depending on the
    perspective and the intent of the user. Since powerful objects can be powerful weapons to, we should focus to our
    intent to use technology to make a better and yet advanced place to live in. Nuclear energy or not, we are all
    responsible for the outcome of this man-made or applied science. We should enjoy the fruitful result of centuries
    of researches and use it to achieve a common goal- world peace.

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