Countdown to Christmas
12 - Nuclear Power
- The discovery of nuclear power embodies a major advance in human understanding of the world. It is closely linked to various explanatory models in physics that form the basis of our current understanding of the structure of matter.
- The technical uses of nuclear power are manifold. Peaceful use, the controlled generation of electrical energy through nuclear fission, is crucial for the progress of civilization. But nuclear power is also a very powerful tool of destruction, used in nuclear weapons.
- The processes associated with the use of nuclear energy can give rise to various problems, which have led to skepticism and protests. However, these problems can be overcome through technical and scientific progress. Currently, 9% of all electric energy used worldwide is generated in nuclear power plants.
Inventors
The practical possibility of nuclear fission was was discovered by Otto Hahn, Fritz Strassmann, Lise Meitner and Otto Robert Frisch on December 19, 1938.
The theoretical basis for this was Albert Einstein's formula for the equivalence of mass and energy, E=mc².
Later on fission reactors have been developed.
For me, nuclear power has a relation to christmas for two reasons: First, today Christmas without electricity is almost unimaginable. The beautiful light decorations everywhere need electricity - and nuclear power is one of the safest and most efficient sources. Secondly, the use of nuclear power is an important instrument for protecting the climate and being able to celebrate Christmas for a long time to come.
