Nuclear Power: Pros and Cons

Running Head: Nuclear Power 1
Nuclear Power
Author’s Name
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Nuclear Power 2
Nuclear power
Nuclear power refers to the electric power generated by nuclear reactors. The nuclear
technology puts into use the energy released in the splitting of atoms of radioactive elements
such as Uranium, Thorium or Plutonium. The technology was first developed during the Second
World War in the 1940s with the objective of making bombs. In the 1950s, ideas of peacefully
using nuclear fission and controlling it for generating power started developing ("The history of
nuclear power", 2011.) In the 190s and the 1970s more nuclear reactors were developed for the
production of electricity which was cheap and emission-free that was cheap in transmission and
was similar to the technique used in making nuclear submarines.
The invention of nuclear power came along with several drawbacks among which
include; unsolved radioactive wastes which are dangerous and should be carefully looked after
for thousands of years. According to the environmental protection agencies management of
nuclear wastes is a major drawback to the development of nuclear energy. Security challenges
are also unaccounted for as the nuclear power plants and wastes are preferred targets for terrorist
activities and could have catastrophic outcomes to the world’s (Gordienko, Brykin, Serebryakov.
Starko and Tairov, 2012)
In addition, the wastes produced in nuclear power plants can be used in the production of
nuclear weapons. The knowledge of constructing a nuclear power plant is likewise sufficiently
adequate in the development and improvement of nuclear arsenal. This is a drawback to the
world's security as the nations involved raise alarm on what extent the produced weapons can be
used in the destruction of other states and enemies (Gordienko, Brykin, Serebryakov. Starko and
Tairov, 2012)