Nuclear Energy : Media

DESCRIPTION
Nuclear power produces approximately 10 percent of the world's energy supply but has for decades sparked controversy among scientists, citizens, and politicians. Supporters of nuclear power argue that it is environmentally safe and an effective means of reducing greenhouse gases and combating climate change. Wind and solar power have a role to play, they contend, but are not sufficient to meet the world's growing demand for energy. Opponents of nuclear power argue that it is dangerous and costly. The consequences of a meltdown could be catastrophic, they contend, and managing nuclear waste threatens the environment. Rather than build expensive nuclear power plants, they assert, we should invest more in wind and solar energy. Is it time to expand nuclear power?

Harnessing the power of the atom is a staggering technological achievement—but how is it done, exactly? This program guides viewers through the complex science and basic operation of a nuclear power station. Outlining the nuclear fuel cycle—including mining, milling, enrichment, fabrication, storage, and reprocessing—the video looks at specific mining procedures; discusses the structure and properties of uranium hexafluoride; highlights two enrichment methods (centrifuging and gas diffusion); illustrates a fission reaction; explains how a nuclear plant uses water in various capacities; and examines the challenge of decommissioning nuclear power facilities. Viewable/printable educational resources are available online. (27 minutes)

Five years after the earthquake and tsunami that triggered the unprecedented trio of meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, scientists and engineers are struggling to control an ongoing crisis. What’s next for Fukushima? What’s next for Japan? And what’s next for a world that seems determined to jettison one of our most important carbon-free sources of energy? Despite the catastrophe—and the ongoing risks associated with nuclear—a new generation of nuclear power seems poised to emerge the ashes of Fukushima. NOVA investigates how the realities of climate change, the inherent limitations of renewable energy sources, and the optimism and enthusiasm of a new generation of nuclear engineers is looking for ways to reinvent nuclear technology, all while the most recent disaster is still being managed.

Everything in the universe is made out of matter, including living things. Learn about matter, the structure and composition of atoms, atomic numbers of different elements, and how these relate to nuclear energy. This program also covers the first nuclear fission ever by Otto Hahn, Albert Einstein and the relation between mass and energy, nuclear reactors, radioactive materials, and the Big Bang theory.