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Solomon Lo

Mr. Ruiz

Honors English 10

15 February 2017

How Nuclear Technology Has Changed the World

According to the Atomic Heritage Association, during World War 2, a 13.6 pound ball of

plutonium caused an explosion equivalent to 21,000 tons of TNT (“Little Boy and Fat Man”).

The reason such a small mass of uranium was able to an explosion as large as a volcano is

because of a phenomenon known as nuclear fission, a monumental innovation in nuclear

technology during that time. Nuclear bombs, such as the two that were detonated in World War

II, are a sign of the great power of nuclear technology, and today, numerous countries have

harnessed it to harmlessly create electricity. In fact, it has become so widespread and relied upon

that some countries would collapse without it. Nuclear technology is also being used in vast

array of other applications, from modern medicine to smoke alarms. It is a major cornerstone of

medicine, and has uses in X-rays, radiation agriculture, medicine, food preservation, and

bacterial sterilisation. However, after more than 70 years after the discovery of nuclear fission,

some people are beginning to doubt whether or not we would’ve been better off without nuclear

technology. Nuclear technology has been blamed for environmental damages and its potential a

for nuclear disaster. However, even with its shortcomings, nuclear technology has majorly

influenced people’s lives around the world, and it is necessary for the world’s survival. Though it

was originally designed to be used as a weapon of destruction, it is now being used to make life
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easier and improve the environment. Therefore, despite its shortcomings, nuclear technology is a

significant advancement in science that has a net benefit to the world.

Nuclear technology was first pioneered in the 20th century, after scientists noticed how

they could create heavier elements by bombarding them with neutrons. However, nuclear fission,

which was the innovation that truly unlocked the chest to nuclear power’s potential, was

discovered much later than that. In an article published by HowStuffWorks, “Two German

scientists, Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann, were the first to officially acknowledge this

process[nuclear fission] in 1938 when they successfully split uranium atoms into two or more

parts” (Fuller). Their discovery of nuclear fission in uranium sparked the founding of the

Manhattan Project, which was aimed at weaponizing what these German physicists had

discovered. The sole, original, purpose of discovering and innovating nuclear technology during

that time was to achieve victory over Japan through the excessive destruction caused by

intentional nuclear fission. It was met with mixed opinions from the few people who knew about

it, because it was highly classified. Many scientists supported the United States’ effort to build a

nuclear bomb, while others opposed it for fear that it would be too easy for humans to annihilate

each other. However, the Manhattan Project achieved it goal when the nuclear bombs were

detonated and Japan swiftly surrendered because of the lethality and devastation of the two

nuclear attacks. The world saw the great power and potential of nuclear technology, and after

World War II, nuclear technology continued to be researched and added upon. It was eventually

harnessed and used inside of power plants, and its usefulness in medicine and other alternative

purposes were later discovered.


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The invention of clean, reliable energy was an unintended consequence of the discovery

of nuclear fission. Originally, nuclear fission was designed to cause as much destruction as

possible. However, nuclear technology has now been harnessed in order to bring a huge amount

of electricity to our homes, making our lives easier. After witnessing the power produced by a

nuclear blast, scientists began to think of ways in which nuclear explosions could be controlled

in order to produce power. Because of nuclear bombs, nuclear fission inadvertently inspired the

start of nuclear power plants. Today, countries around the world have developed nuclear reactors

which provide electricity all around the world. In fact, according to the World Nuclear

Association, 14% of the world’s energy comes from nuclear power, and countries such as France

procure three quarters of their energy from nuclear power plants (“What is Uranium?”). This is a

testament to nuclear power’s reliability, as seen by how so much of the world trusts nuclear

technology to consistently produce electricity essential to a country’s survival. Other types of

electrical production are significantly lower than nuclear power plants, such as wind and solar

energy. This is because they are unreliable and entirely depend on the environment. However,

nuclear power is always very consistent and eliminates many factors that these other methods of

electrical production depend on. Nuclear energy also allows for clean energy to be made, and is

very beneficial for the environment. It is completely clean and doesn’t produce harmful

chemicals or greenhouse gases like traditional coal and gas power plants. According to an article

published by the Nuclear Energy Institute, nuclear power plants are superior to fossil fuel power

power plants “Because they generate heat from fission rather than burning fuel,” which means

that they “produce no greenhouse gases or emissions associated with acid rain or urban smog”

as a result (“Clean Air”). This is a huge benefit for the climate on earth, because it doesn’t
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contribute towards climate change and it reduces pollution. Nuclear technology’s unintentional

consequence of providing clean energy will likely continue to grow in the future, as we reduce

our dependency on petroleum resources for energy. Newer technologies will increase nuclear

efficiency, and the environmental benefits of using nuclear energy will influence nuclear

technology’s growth.

Another unforeseen consequence of nuclear fission is its use in insect control. Crop loss

due to insects is a worldwide problem which plagues farmers across the world. While pesticides

may be a temporary solutions, insects constantly destroy crops and cause farmers to lose money.

They also hurt the nation’s economy because they produce less agriculture. However, nuclear

technology has allowed for effective crop control around the world. According to an article

published by the World Nuclear Association, male insects that are sterilised with nuclear

technology are released into infested areas, so that when they mate, no offspring is produced.

This program has already seen success in countries such as Mexico, Argentina, and Chile, where

Mediterranean fruit flies have been completely eradicated (“The Many Uses”). It was also used

in the United States, and Mexico, where it allowed the United States to eradicate the screwworm

and yield 3 billion dollars of additional crops! With this innovation, nuclear technology is as

useful as current pesticides which are in use today, while remaining environmentally friendly and

non-polluting, unlike conventional pesticides which accumulate in rivers and oceans, destroying

wildlife wherever it goes. Nuclear technology's unintentional consequence of pest control will

continue to change the environment, as it becomes more widespread around the world. Newer

advances in this field will make nuclear pest control more viable and effective, increasing its

reach around the world. This will lead to higher agricultural output, and benefit people by
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providing them with more plentiful food which will no longer be plagued by harmful pests. This

will become especially important in the future, as the population on earth increases, since this

will result in a higher demand for food.

Critics of nuclear technology may claim that it poses a risk to humanity because of its

potential to cause a nuclear disaster. However, in reality, nuclear energy is extremely safe to use,

and traditional forms of electrical production such as coal and gas power plants prove to be a

much larger threat to society’s well being than nuclear power plants. According to an article

published by Conde Nast, “particulate matter from coal power plants kills about 7,500 people in

the US every year” (Stockton). Coal power plants produce huge amounts of pollution which have

a direct impact on human health. An example of this is seen in China, where pollution from coal

power plants have covered entire cities with a dense, visible fog of pollutants! However

technology is extremely clean, and doesn’t have an impact on human health unless there is a

nuclear disaster. However, assuming that a nuclear disaster can even take place with all the

recent advancements in nuclear safety, the death toll would still be extraordinarily small when

compared to traditional power plants. According to an article published by Conde Nast, the

World Health Organization predicts that only 4,000 people will be killed as a result of a nuclear

disaster (Stockton). This is lower than the death toll of traditional power plants, and only three

nuclear disasters have ever taken place since the inception of the nuclear power plant. This

amazing track record, coupled with its low death toll, mean that nuclear technology is extremely

safe and kills less people than its coal and gas alternatives.

Nuclear technology has vastly evolved since its development in 1938. It has transformed

from being solely designed for mass destruction to uses which benefit society and make life
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easier. Nuclear technology has had many unintentional consequences, such as the advent of

power plants and pest control. Some critics may argue that nuclear technology has harmed the

environment more than it has helped humanity. However, it is clear from the power plants and

pest control that nuclear technology has caused that nuclear technology has benefited us more

than it has harmed us. The miniscule risks of deaths caused by nuclear disasters are a small price

to pay for the preservation of our future environment and greater survivability from pests which

nuclear technology brings.


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Works Cited

"Clean Air." ​Clean Air. Nuclear Energy Institute, n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2017.

Fuller, John. "How the Manhattan Project Worked." ​HowStuffWorks Science. HowStuffWorks,

17 Jan. 2008. Web. 16 Feb. 2017.

"Little Boy and Fat Man." ​Atomic Heritage Foundation. Atomic Heritage Foundation, n.d. Web.

16 Feb. 2017.

"The Many Uses of Nuclear Technology." ​The Many Uses of Nuclear Technology. World

Nuclear Association, Mar. 2014. Web. 16 Feb. 2017.

Stockton, Nick. "Nuclear Power Is Too Safe to Save the World From Climate Change." ​Wired.

Conde Nast, 03 Apr. 2016. Web. 16 Feb. 2017.

"What Is Uranium? How Does It Work?" ​What Is Uranium? How Does It Work. World Nuclear

Association, Jan. 2017. Web. 16 Feb. 2017.

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