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From World War II to the present day, nuclear power has remained a controversial topic in the public eye. In the wake of ongoing debates about energy and the environment, policymakers and laypeople alike are once more asking the questions posed by countless others over the decades: What actually happens in a nuclear power plant? Can we truly trust nuclear energy to be safe and reliable? Where does all that radiation and waste go?
This book explains everything you would want to know about nuclear power in a compelling and accessible way. Split into three parts, it walks readers through the basics of nuclear physics and radioactivity; the history of nuclear power usage, including the most important events and disasters; the science and engineering behind nuclear power plants; the politics and policies of various nations; and finally, the long-term societal impact of such technology, from uranium mining and proliferation to final disposal.
Featured along the way are dozens of behind-the-scenes, full-color images of nuclear facilities. Written in a nontechnical style with minimal equations, this book will appeal to lay readers, policymakers and professionals looking to acquire a well-rounded view about this complex subject.
List of contents
Chapter 1. Reactors, bombs and visions: a brief history of the nuclear age.- Chapter 2. Nuclear physics and its applications.- Chapter 3. Radioactivity - the physics and biology.- Chapter 4. Types of radioactive substances.- Chapter 5. How to operate a nuclear reactor.- Chapter 6. Reactor types and safety.- Chapter 7. Economic, ecological and political aspects of nuclear energy.- Chapter 8. Uranium mining.- Chapter 9. Proliferation.- Chapter 10. Radioactive incidents and disasters.- Chapter 11. Disposal.
About the author
Dr. Dirk Eidemüller is a science journalist and author living in Berlin. He studied physics and philosophy in Darmstadt, Heidelberg, Rome, and Berlin, specializing in nuclear and astroparticle physics. His PhD thesis was on the philosophy of science, on the interactions between the interpretations of modern physics and biology. Previously, Dr. Eidemüller worked at the German Academy of Science and Engineering before transitioning to a career in science journalism. He is joint editor of the magazine "Physik in Unserer Zeit".
