Why Uranium?
Commonly found in rocks, Uranium is a heavy metal that occurs naturally in the earth's crust. Although it is barely radioactive, it is responsible for most of the earth's heat, causing convection and continental drift.
The key word here is heat. One reason Uranium “heat” is valuable is the clean and efficient way it boils water to make steam that drive turbine generators used in nuclear power stations. These generators produce electricity for our homes and businesses at a reasonably low cost. What’s more, the fuel is nearly unlimited when you take into account both the geological and technological facets. Proven (however, not yet fully economic) technology means that we can extract about 60 times as much energy from Uranium as we do today.
Most people think of Uranium only powering nuclear reactors, which provide a vast amount of electricity. Some specialized reactors are used to power ships and submarines, from ice-breaking barges to aircraft carriers. While Uranium is the fuel used to operate nuclear power stations that generate electricity on a large scale, it also has many other uses.
Small, specialized nuclear reactors, fueled by Uranium, are used to create radioisotopes, which emit gamma radiation. These emissions are frequently used in clinical diagnostics. A more powerful gamma radiation is used in the sterilization of medical equipment. Radioisotopes are also used in the treatment of certain diseases, such as cancer. Even smoke detectors in your home use a very small amount of americium, a derivative of plutonium, which is made in a nuclear reactor.
Many people are concerned about the affect producing nuclear energy has on the environment. Because it does not produce any significant wastes that are dispersed to the environment, it does not contribute to increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. And nuclear power stations do not cause any pollution. Nearly all the waste is contained and managed. And the electricity customer meets the costs of containment and management at the time, making nuclear energy an economically sound solution.
“Nuclear energy is the only non-greenhouse gas-emitting power source that can effectively replace fossil fuels and satisfy global demand.”
– Dr. Patrick Moore, founder of Greenpeace
