vailable anywhere. Solar power, while it uses a different means of energy production, has the same problems as the other possibilities. That leaves the idea of nuclear energy. Current nuclear reactors use water as a main means of both cooling and energy production. The water is pumped through the reactor core, heated to about 325 C, then the superheated water is pumped through a steam generator, where, through heat exchangers, a secondary loop of water is heated and converted to steam This steam drives one or more turbine generators, is condensed, and pumped back to the steam generator The secondary loop is isolated from the reactor core water and, therefore, is not radioactive. During operation, and even after shutdown, the reactor contains a large amount of radiation. Radiation emitted from the reactor during operation and from the fuel after shutdown is absorbed in thick concrete shields around the reactor and primary coolant system. Other safety features include emergency core cooling systems to prevent core overheating during malfunction of the main coolant systems and, in most countries, a large steel and concrete containment building to retain any radioactive elements that might escape in the event of a leak. These are all containment-based ways to stop radiation from leaking. If the concrete shields were to break, and the containment building was breached the radiation from the core would escape.Current nuclear energy is not very widespread for a number of reasons. First and foremost is the fear of an accident. It is extremely unlikely that a nuclear reactor will have an accident resulting in the release of radiation, and it is even less likely that a meltdown will occur. Although the chances of these events are slim, the results could be catastrophic. It is this fear that has stopped the progress of nuclear power."Although over 100 nuclear power plants were operating in the United States at the beginning of the 1980...
