Nuclear Energy Explained: Risk or Opportunity

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Anything with the word nuclear next to it usually comes with a fair bit of misunderstanding. Hopefully this video demystifies the process of how nuclear fuels are turned into electricity and how we can use them in combination with renewables in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the effects on the climate that come with high levels of them.

Of course, there are many things that have been left out this video as nuclear energy, just as with any other source, has many different factors that need to be taken into account when making decisions. In order to fully understand the situation and make decisions, I highly recommend that you do some research of your own on the topic, rather than simply base your opinion on a four-minute YouTube video.

It should also be noted that this video has been made from the perspective of the United States in general. Every area on Earth has different natural resources and environments that determine what works best there.

Sources*:

European deaths due to coal use

Indian deaths due to coal use

*Not every source listed was used in the end video.

[MorrisonProductions]

Learned more from this 4 minute video than 4 months of High School Science class years back.

[MM-dwir]

We could also use thorium instead, an element that can make nuclear energy, but is more plentiful, has cleaner waste, and makes more energy per ton. Or geothermal energy because it's always there and pretty strong.

[dario]

I was, when I was very young, a supporter of "No at the reintroduction of Nuclear Reactors Referendum" in my country. But now, because we have a lot of proofs that our ways of "energy production" bring us toward a dark future I changed my mind. Combined with renewable energy the nuclear energy, by now, could be the only way to save us.

[Jim_]

Humanity’s rejection of Nuclear power was a massive mistake, and the environment has payed dearly for it as we continue to rely on fossil fuels for our electricity

[thatstimboiii]

Got to do this for a damn science project

[AIRburst]

I'm in love with you Internet. I used to have to debate people in school and online about the overwhelming benefits of investing in next gen nuclear power, and I was always outnumbered by detractors.

Even after horribly biased media coverage and overall misinformation about nuclear power (calling power plants "nukes" doesn't help your cause), somehow you all still find a way to impress me by actually coming to logical conclusions in the face of adversity. I am so grateful, thank you.

Now let's move on to GMOs, we still have a lot of debunking myths and unsubstantiated rumors to deal with.

[nGFlare]

This channel is awesome, I hope you continue to make videos (Even though you probably won't, as it's been a year without posting). The animation is great, and the voice overs are clear and easy to hear. Also, you're videos are very educational and clearly have a lot of work put into them, shown by the amount of detailed information. Anyway, hopefully you start making more videos, because you deserve more views and subscribers. Thanks!

[bregentejennisjohnt.]

Thank you for making this video because its important to know about the nuclear energy is being process. Nuclear energy is important to save electricity and its safest way to have a wonderful environment

[zanekrystyan]

Lol three eyed fish. That's from the simpsons

[mrkokolore]

It's nice how you formally explained the topic without personal criticism.

[nsg_kuunda]

Didn't lots of workers in Japan die during the disaster and in the immediate aftermath trying to stabilize the situation? Maybe I'm misremembering, but I thought that was all over the news.

[pauladams]

Uranium abundance: At the current rate of uranium consumption with conventional reactors, the world supply of viable uranium, which is the most common nuclear fuel, will last for 80 years. Scaling consumption up to 15 TW, the viable uranium supply will last for less than 5 years. (Viable uranium is the uranium that exists in a high enough ore concentration so that extracting the ore is economically justified.)

[mtadams]

My cousin was the head nuclear engineer at our local nuclear plant. He was very smart and a Harvard graduate. Whatever he said was taken to be true. He would always tell us how safe nuclear energy was so we trusted him. Then Three Mile Island happened and he was called in to help resolve the issue. He never told us nuclear energy was safe again.

[carsonhardy]

You need to make more videos, I see a lot of potential in this channel!

[BrianD]

Thank you so much for this optimistic piece about nuclear power.
I just wanted to add more about the positive effects.
In the worst case scenarios of a massive earthquake and tidal wave with Fukushima no one died of radiation poisoning. But rather from the overreaction of the government not allowing people to return to their homes.
A lot of people could have returned to their homes with very few mitigating factors.
With Chernobyl, the RBMK reactors primary design was to create plutonium for nuclear weapons. Electricity was just a byproduct.
The accident occurred because of the reckless ambitions of the lead engineer on duty. The deaths were created by the Soviet government not being upfront about the disaster.
Just hundreds of feet away was reactor number three and then reactor number two and one. They kept running for about another 15 years.
In both these scenarios today there is tourism including people that are walking right up to the reactor for a limited amount of time.
Everyone knows that the news sells fear and anger. The news is part of the problem with keeping this truly green energy source from being deployed.
There are forces that want to make nuclear power so expensive it can never be bilt. Principle among them are oil companies.
The deaths and expense of global warming with its extreme weather is obvious and plays out everyday.
I'm excited about generation 4 reactors. They're about six different designs and they have about six different characteristics.
Some of the best characteristics are
-They're considered walk away safe.
-They burn more nuclear waste than they create.
-The waste is considered hazardous for far less time.
-They're non-proliferation so they can't be used for nuclear weapons.
- The designs are small and can be as common as a hospital. They take up the footprint of about a Walmart. A truly local power grid to accompany wind and solar.
This is truly the future that's going to power our electric cars and trucks. Some of the byproducts of nuclear power is creating hydrogen. This could power our airplanes, trains and ships.
I look forward to clean skies without smog or inversion layers.
I would much rather live next door to a nuclear power plant then a power plant admitting CO2 gas in other poisons and toxins.

[pauladams]

Uranium non-abundance: At the current rate of uranium consumption with conventional reactors, the world supply of viable uranium, which is the most common nuclear fuel, will last for 80 years. Scaling consumption up to 15 TW, the viable uranium supply will last for less than 5 years. (Viable uranium is the uranium that exists in a high enough ore concentration so that extracting the ore is economically justified.)

[ShineSun]

Whoa....I don't understand the world today. It keeps advancing going to destruction.

[swatimavinkurve]

one of the best and concise videos on this topic so far!

[mattsbs]

He did not mention nuclear bombs, though. There is no way to ensure that the technology can be used only for nuclear reactirs and not for bombs.

[lesliedapple]

Great video! I like the music of choice as well.