The Impact of the Highly Improbable

In previous blogs I have outlined my skepticism of both the nuclear arms buildup and the unfounded belief that science can solve all problems. While it may seem hypocritical to suggest that the implementation of nuclear power has gotten a raw deal, it appears that the potential rewards of nuclear power may outweigh the risks. In the readings for today, and the explanation of nuclear power plants provided by Professor Maleki, it is clear that nuclear power has its downsides. Fission reactors provide radioactive waste and the lingering possibility of a nuclear meltdown deeply frightens many. Nevertheless, the readings for today emphasize the useful possibilities of nuclear power and the relatively small chance of a deadly nuclear accident.

In recent years America’s high oil consumption has come under scrutiny for its negative effects on the environment, and its propping up of disgraceful Middle East regimes. Ultimately, it must be asked how the risks regarding nuclear power add up against the downsides of our current energy sources. In the evaluation of risks involving nuclear power, it is implied that there is a gap between the public perception and reality. Understandably many Americans developed skepticism of anything nuclear during the cold war. Additionally, there is clearly a sense of uncertainty in the readings about whether nuclear power will be safe enough to use on a large scale. But in comparing nuclear power to the airline industry (in which many made the argument that the skies could never contains the amount of flights seen today without multiple disasters) it seems as though the increased use of nuclear power and developments of its technology might make it safer. In a future where our energy needs will continue to rise, and as the dependability and detrimental effects of our current energy sources become increasingly questionable, perhaps nuclear power can be a part of the solution.

The fear centered on the possibility of a meltdown has spoken louder than some scientist’s statistics suggesting that radioactive waste is fairly easy to deal with, and the chances of an all out nuclear disaster are very low. The possibility of an unlikely catastrophe often distorts reality in our 24/7 T.V.- news culture. I am still not sure whether nuclear power is the answer to our energy problems, but the readings convinced me that it is at least possible. If we can produce cheap and efficient energy with relatively low side effects we owe it to ourselves to debate and experiment. In the videos Professor Walker showed us a couple of weeks ago I can see how nuclear physicists were too optimistic about what technology could do. Yet, perhaps with a second nuclear age there is still a possibility that nuclear power can improve America’s consumption of energy. I fear that even the discussion of nuclear power is clouded by those who have let fear close their minds. Average Americans support policies of questionable morality in our foreign policy in order to stop terrorism at all costs. Yet, it appears that this fear is somewhat irrational, as the chance of an individual being killed in a terrorist attack is incredibly small. Hysteria and fear can push humanity to be too aggressive, as we have seen in the Cold War and in the War on Terror, but it can also make humanity too cautious. We shouldn’t let irrational fear stop us from at least exploring the possibilities of nuclear power; so that we can try to make something good out of the splitting of the atom.