PHYSICS

With great power, come the French 🥐

Think about nuclear power stations. What comes to mind? I suggest that most of you will immediately think of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the corresponding Chernobyl disaster that happened in 1986 in what was formally the Soviet Union. Now in modern-day Ukraine, the power plant is located within a large, restricted area known as the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. More recently, in March 2011, there was a major nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, in Japan. Both of these incidents led to the loss of life, the release of a large amount of ionising radiation and the displacement of local residents.

So why do we still rely on nuclear power and why, specifically, does France currently have 56 operable reactors accounting for over 70% of its electricity production? Advocates for the use of nuclear power will argue that it is a sustainable energy source that massively reduces carbon dioxide emissions when compared to fossil fuel power stations using coal, oil, or gas.

Many believe that it is the only realistic way to achieve true energy independence for states and due to the ever-improving technology and research into nuclear power stations, the operational safety is excellent. The lack of energy independence for France was apparent during the 1973 oil crisis which spurred the French government to invest in nuclear power as an alternative.

Critics, however, will argue that nuclear power still poses many threats to both people and the environment. There are risks associated with uranium-mining, processing, and transportation. Nuclear power stations are a common target for potential saboteurs and then there is the issue of storing nuclear waste. Although the current method of disposing of nuclear waste (inserting the waste in large pods made of reinforced concrete several meters thick about forty feet underground) is generally considered safe, accidents can and do still happen. Nuclear power stations also cost a lot to commission and can take up to ten years to become fully operational, which deter some governments from making the switch to nuclear power, such as the UK’s Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government in the early 2010s.

💡 Things to consider

• Mister reliable: There are, of course, many different types of power stations that all generate electricity and that all need different inputs, nuclear power is just one of these many. There are other types of electricity generation that also do not emit any carbon dioxide such as wind and solar. These both cost considerably less than nuclear power and have a much lower commissioning time, however, they are nowhere near as reliable. If you had to pick one type of power station which one would you choose and why?

  

  This is wind energy.

• Risk or reward: In many aspects of modern life, taking a risk is worth the reward. Whether that be nuclear power generation or in other areas – like medicine, advancements often come with potential dangers that need to be managed effectively. For example, most surgeries have an element of risk involved, but their life-saving benefits are invaluable. Similarly, pursuing a nuclear future involves risks, but the rewards, like creating a self-sustainable and green energy source, often outweigh them. What more could be done to make nuclear power generation safer? What other actions can you think of where the reward vastly outweighs any potential risks?

• Forward thinking: Many governments around the world are only in post for a short amount of time before they can be voted out of power. Long-term projects, like the building of nuclear power stations, are sometimes deprioritised in favour of short-term projects to appease voters, which may not always be the best long-term solution. Do governments need to have more continuity to have more accountability when it comes to long-term projects? How would this work in practice?

🔎 Find out more

• Read about France’s future with nuclear power here

  Watch about opinions on nuclear energy in Germany

🍒 The cherry on top

• 👮 The Stanford Prison Experiment: Normal people can become monsters given the right situation. That’s the standard narrative of the Stanford Prison Experiment, one of the most famous psychological experiments of all time. But what if the cause of its participants’ cruel behaviour wasn’t what we’ve always been told? Check out this YouTube video if you’re into Psychology.

• 🗿 The Distant Origins of a Stonehenge Stone: After two decades of research, scholars find that Stonehenge’s giant Altar Stone came from northeast Scotland. How did they use science to figure this out? Check out this article if you’re into History or Geology.

• ❤️ Love & Metaphysics: What would a philosophy academic say about love? In this article, Peter Graarup Westergaard explains why love is never just physical, with the aid of Donald Davidson’s anomalous monism. Great if you like Philosophy!

FROM OUR PARTNERS

Fact-based news without bias awaits. Make 1440 your choice today.

Overwhelmed by biased news? Cut through the clutter and get straight facts with your daily 1440 digest. From politics to sports, join millions who start their day informed.

Sign up now!

👀 Keep your eyes peeled for…

• 14th October:

  • King’s College Cambridge Q+A Sessions for Teachers

  • Cambridge Engineering Interview Webinar

  • Sheffield Architecture Webinar

• 15th October:

  • UEA Politics Webinar

• 16th October:

  • University of Roehampton Applying to University as a Care Leaver Webinar

  • Sheffield East Asian Studies Webinar

  • Sheffield English Language Webinar

  • Sheffield English Literature Webinar

  • Sheffield Journalism Webinar

🗳️ Poll