A change in our current course is appropriate in light of the projected shortage of generating capacity in Ontario and the August 14 blackout, which revealed to everyone that nothing works without electricity. The signs of an approaching energy crisis are clear as oil supply and demand move out of balance, putting increasing pressure on […]
What Becomes of Nuclear Risk Assessment in Light of Radiation Hormesis? by Dr. J. M. Cuttler, P. Eng, Cuttler & Associates, Inc.
Large-scale tests and experience with nuclear accidents demonstrate that even severe accidents expose the public to only low doses of radiation, and a century of research has demonstrated that such exposures are beneficial to health. A scientific basis for this phenomenon now exists. PRAs are valuable tools for improving plant designs, but if nuclear power […]
Atomic Energy: Powerful Job Generator
It is easy to find recent news stories describing the effects of high energy prices on the world’s economy. A more challenging task is finding articles or analysis describing effective alternatives to watching increasing quantities of money flow from energy consumers and to energy suppliers. A large portion of this torrent of cash is flowing […]
Rooting for the Underdog: Small Nations Often Need Atomic Power
It made my day to watch the lowly Florida Marlins beat the 26 time “World Champion” New York Yankees. I nearly wept when the mighty Notre Dame football team kicked a last second field goal to squeak out a victory over Navy for the 39th time in a row. I cheered madly when the American […]
Ike Was Right: We Need Atoms for Peace
Imagine how different the world political stage would be if oil was just another commodity instead of being seen as THE vital ingredient in the world’s economy. Whole power structures and economic arrangements would shift dramatically. No longer would we be treated to the spectacle of democratically elected leaders groveling to despots that just happen […]
Ike Was Right: Oil is Obsolete
As I continue to read as much as I can stomach about Israel’s current struggle for its very survival, I have developed strong desire to shout on the streets. My message to Sharon and all the other leaders in the world is that we do not need oil. That fact should make the equation far […]
Yucca Mountain: Right Answer; Wrong Question
Yucca Mountain is a desolate place that resembles a set from “Lost in Space.” Pictures show that there is nothing green there as far as the camera lens can see. It is 50-60 miles from the nearest human settlement. The volcanic tuff that forms the mountain is extremely stable and dry. In the opinion of […]
Irradiation and Semantics
Most high school projects are dim memories, but I will never forget an assignment given by Mrs. Page, my Semantics teacher. She required us to watch television at least two hours per day for a week, paying close attention to the commercials. We then had to write a paper about the ways that the advertisers […]
Wouldn't It Be Great If We Didn't Need Oil?
Wouldn’t it be great if we could find and energy source that was actually better than oil? It would be incredibly terrific if that new energy source was so abundant that we could not even begin to calculate how long it would last. Perhaps if we were able to do that, we could figure out […]
Ask Atomic: Can fission by-products make steam?
John Mahler holds an almost invisible, but extremely important job. He is in charge of the physical plant operations for a major California hospital. He and his team of workers keep the water running, the electricity flowing, and the air at a comfortable temperature. He has a detailed knowledge of practical thermodynamics and energy that […]
The time has come for nuclear power plants
The president’s energy plan has called for an expanded use of nuclear power to meet our energy needs. It is refreshing that someone in authority is starting to recognize nuclear energy’s enormous benefits. The safety record of commercial nuclear energy generation in the United States is unsurpassed. Over the last 40 years, commercial nuclear power […]
CAREM – An Innovative, Small PWR
I want to tell you about a development project in Argentina that has received little attention in the nuclear industry press. Its existence demonstrates the continuing international interest in nuclear technology, even at a time when many industry observers declared that the atomic age had come and gone. CAREM ( http://www.invap.net/nuclear/carem/carem_index-e.html) is classified as a […]
