Coal versus Nuclear: Why You Shouldn’t Be Scared of Nuclear Power

Is nuclear energy safe?

When considering clean sources of energy in comparison to coal, most people gravitate towards solar, wind, and hydro power, but where does nuclear energy lie? Most people are cautious on the topic of nuclear power because of its connotations: nuclear disasters, nuclear weapons, radiation.


While these are historically and scientifically valid concerns, I believe that nuclear energy is safer than other sources in most ways, and it has the potential to create much bigger energy outputs with lesser cost. I argue that nuclear energy is safer for the environment, safer for humans, and safer for our wallets than most other forms of energy.


One of the most important topics to address when analyzing nuclear power are the disasters that have been caused by nuclear power and energy advancements. Two of the most infamous nuclear plant accidents are the Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters.


While Chernobyl is a more historic example, Fukushima was just over a decade ago, making the general public opposed to the further use of nuclear energy; however, according to Our World in Data, their total estimated death tolls are still uncertain. Despite this uncertainty, we do know that these estimated death tolls are much higher than reality. Taking into account only the known deaths of each incident, the combined death toll of both incidents is ~2,400 casualties (not accounting for any projected death amounts).


The Fukushima disaster was also affected by the tsunami that caused damage to the plant in the first place, likely inflating the cause of death reports. In hindsight of natural disasters such as the Fukushima tsunami, energy officials are taking more precautions in their placement of these plants in high-risk areas, which will likely increase their overall safety in the future. Hopefully these next steps will encourage people to consider the positive aspects of nuclear power instead of fearing it. That being said, nuclear meltdowns can only be prevented with the implementation of better emergency systems and training on behalf of the operators.


For the sake of this discussion, deaths caused by nuclear applications for the sake of weaponry (atomic bombs and missiles) are not being taken into account because they were not used for domestic energy production purposes and are separate issues.


When comparing the safety of nuclear energy to traditional fossil fuels, nuclear energy has caused fewer overall casualties. Research from the Harvard School of Public Health provides that, “460,000 deaths were attributable to coal PM2.5 (in the United States in 1999).” This information means that the air pollution given off by coal plants contain air contaminants that significantly increase health complications and mortality rates among U.S. citizens. In this case, the toxic waste is not carefully contained like nuclear waste, but the waste from coal plants is in the air that we breathe.


These deaths from coal plants were seen most from 1999-2007, and have decreased drastically in recent years, but mostly because many plants in the U.S. have installed scrubbers or have been shut down. These recent changes will help in the future, yet do not aid past air pollution which will take time to dissipate.


Nuclear power is also more efficient in power output than coal plants are. Infographics from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) claim that it takes “88 tonnes of coal” to match the amount of energy that a person uses in a lifetime. On the other hand, the IAEA claims that it takes “A chicken-sized egg amount of uranium fuel” to produce more than enough energy to fuel this quota.


I concede that nuclear technology is slightly younger and less understood than coal power, and that the issue of nuclear waste is still being discussed; however, I do not believe that this will remain an issue because nuclear scientists focus heavily on safety and containment, especially in light of the notable accidents.


Rather than accepting the dangers posed by power production, nuclear energy is actively trying to become safer. Coal plants are also addressing the dangers of their methods but are inherently less ‘clean’ than nuclear power due to CO2 emissions. Nuclear energy stands out even among the other clean energy sources, and while I cannot apply every topic of discussion for this argument in this opinion piece, I believe that nuclear energy is making bounds in safety and sustainability efforts.

June 18: Machine Learning

 Machine Learning

Dr. Schuman's Seminar on Machine Learning and its Applications

For this class period, Dr. Schuman, who has a PhD in computer science, shared her team's latest research efforts on machine learning. Machine learning requires a system to utilize training data in order to apply it to new situations that are unlike any that the system has seen before. This process requires machines to actually learn rather than memorizing specific outcomes, and because of this they can adapt. Adaptation is important for creating automated systems such as the self-driving car that Dr. Schuman's team is experimenting with.

She also mentioned that the training data that fuels these machines is provided by ordinary people every day. The data given from simply browsing the web helps machine learning tailor advertisements and other media towards its audience. Machine learning is beginning to be based more and more off of human intelligence as Dr. Schuman noted that they are modeling these systems to be like human neurons. This formation will allow these machines to process information in a more energy efficient way, just like people.

June 24: Chatbots

 Chatbots

Chatbot Flow for Business Page

Learning How to Create Chatbots to Answer FAQs Using Facebook and Chatfuel

First things first, what is a chatbot? A chatbot is an automated system that is used to talk to people without the supervision of a person. One of their main uses, which we explored today, is how chatbots can be used by businesses to help customers when agents are not available. These systems are able to answer questions for customers based on inputs set by the company.

First, we used the website repl.it to learn about the code used to make chatbots. We used Python to create basic dialogue for the bot to follow, and then made several if-else statements to guide the bot through answering different questions. Through this we were able to interact with a chat bot in a capacity that was limited to the amount of code that we made.

Because creating code ourselves would take too long, we used a site called Chatfuel to connect to a Facebook page that we could add a chatbot to. This site made it easy to create a chatbot because all you had to create was a 'flow'. A flow in this sense is just the order of events that you give to your chatbot. For example: if you ask about the business hours, the flow will then tell the chatbot to present the information in the next message. I designed my chatbot to answer questions about the locations, hours, and menu for a fake pancake restaurant. The user has the option to click on boxes that display these areas of inquiry, then the flow leads them through the information.

Some pitfalls you might encounter while creating a chatbot include messing up the flow and answering all of your possible questions. If you do not properly set up your flow, your customers may not get the information they ask for. In the same sense, whichever questions you do not answer, your chatbot will not be able to provide customers with the information.

June 21: Ecological Self Maps and Natural Areas Observations

 Ijams Nature Preserve Reports

Exploring Nature and its Connections

June 17: Visualization and AI Overview

 Data Visualization

This data visualization activity was a Python code that created a model of the planets. It made them circular, gave them nametags, gave them a color, and oriented them in-scale with how far away they are in relation to the sun. 

I was able to change the planets from their original blue color to green, and I messed with their size to make them larger. Then I played with the scale so that some planets would overlap less. By doing this, I learned that data visualization can be tinkered with in order to maximize the readability of the data being presented.

Learning About AI - Titanic

AI, by definition, is artificial intelligence. They are programs that are able to learn and can be trained by absorbing data, and they use this information to complete tasks. Some give straight answers, but others can be made into algorithms that can predict outcomes by looking at the data. In the situation of the Titanic, my group predicted who would survive by looking at their social status, gender, and age. The higher the social status, the more likely they survived. This also goes for females surviving more than males, and younger people surviving more than older people. When I coded my Titanic predictions, they were fairly accurate given the information that I gave the computer from the tutorial. I learned that we could use AI to do the same kind of figuring that human minds can do, but faster and more informed.

June 14: CAFOs

 CAFOs and Intersectionality

Issues with Factory Farms and the Nuances of Stopping Them

Today we discussed CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations) and got into groups to think about whether or not CAFOs are necessary. Our group was assigned to discuss why it would be beneficial to get rid of CAFOs, and we talked about a few key points.

First, we brought up the point of animal cruelty. These operations are very inhumane on behalf of the animals being farmed. We agreed that smaller farms could treat animals better; however, it would also make meat widely less available and more expensive. Another point that was brought up was that getting rid of CAFOs could build community and spread awareness about real rood. This would be an effect because smaller operations require more interaction with the farms, so if the farms were local, people would engage more with members of their community. It would also allow people to have more insight into how meat processing works, which would be beneficial since most people are far removed from their food sources. Finally, we discussed that it would be safer for communities if CAFOs were disbanded because the waste from animals can pollute water sources and create resistant diseases.

June 13: Are Animals People?

What Defines a Person?

Today in class we collaboratively came up with a list of characteristics that makes something a person based off of how we define ourselves as people. In order to be a person, something must have some form of sentience, have reason, have the capacity to communicate, have emotions, and have some form of morals. By this definition, more things than just humans can be people; however, even some humans don't meet all these criteria, such as babies and people with cognitive disabilities. This definition of personhood brings up a couple of questions:

Do the rights of persons outweigh those of non-persons in every case?

If you do not meet all the criteria for personhood, does that mean you are not a person?

In relation to the first question, the example of animal abuse is a case where the rights of a typical non-person would morally outweigh the rights of the person doing the harm; however, by this new definition of a person, many animals would also be considered people, which changes the nature of this example to 'whose rights are more important'. In this case, it would be the person whose rights are being infringed upon, even if the other person's rights give it the freedom to infringe upon them.

In the second question, I believe that something can be a person even when it doesn't meet the criteria of a person if the rest of the subject's kind is supposed to be a person, or, in simpler terms, if it has the capacity to gain these criteria. Babies are an example. They do not come out of the womb with a moral compass or self-awareness, but because they can develop these things they age and gain experience, they are still people. However, the eventual development of all these criteria is necessary to gain full personhood.

June 11: Objectivity?

 Objectivity and Value-Based Science

How do biases affect our science?

Pitbull and Bunny

In the video linked above, we can see a Pitbull licking a bunny as the bunny spins around. The bunny didn't seem too concerned about this treatment as it stayed still instead of running away. The Pitbull also seemed very calm and almost nurturing to the bunny, as if it were cleaning one of its own puppies.

This is how I interpreted the video because of the animals' body language and the bunny's compliance to being licked. Given these behaviors, it only makes sense to me that the bunny did not feel in any immediate danger.

My interpretation is influenced by the value that I hold which leads me to believe that domestic animals can be civil with one another. If I were to be more objective, I would take into account the fact that animals have instinctual behaviors and could possibly have ulterior motives. 

After recognizing my possible bias and rewatching the video, I realized that the Pitbull could be sparing the bunny because the owner is present. Some dogs that are well trained will control some of their instincts when their trainer is around, so it is possible that the Pitbull was only playing with the bunny in an attempt to behave; however, this also depends on the idea that this is the relationship that the Pitbull has with its owner.

June 10: 3D Printing

 3D Printing and Design

My final design

Using Tinkercad to Create a Model that will be 3D Printed

Before today, I had almost no experience in 3D modeling and design other than watching my brother do it at home. Due to my inexperience, I chose to use Tinkercad to learn the basics of manipulating 3D models for my printing project. For my project, I decided to make a star-shaped keychain with my first initial (J) on it. I chose this because it is a basic design, but also requires all of the skills that I learned today. 

By using Tinkercad, I learned how to measure models in the workspace and view how large they would print. I also learned how to properly embed text into a design so that the words come out in the desired clarity. For the keychain's hole, I learned how to create hollow shapes in order to make indents in my design, which also helped in creating my text.

June 7: Computational Thinking

 Coding

Learning to use Python 2 for the first time

Before today, I knew almost nothing about coding and programming. The last time I touched a computer science class was in elementary school, but today I successfully did some programming with Python. I started from the ground up with Code Academy and learned the basic Python syntax. I learned that there are many things that you can do through writing code. These operations include printing text in the console, creating True and False statements, and even using it as a calculator!

I completed the Python Syntax and Strings and Console Outputs sections, and barely started the Conditionals and Control Flow section

AI

Learning about ChatGPT's User Biases

 Yesterday we read two articles that described AI's inherent user bias: Artificial Intelligence Has a Problem With Gender and Racial Bias. Here’s How to Solve It, Why algorithms can be racist and sexist. These sources showed that AI systems can be intentionally or unintentionally biased based off of the materials that they are trained with, such as only giving facial recognition programs information from one demographic. This bias is dangerous in multiple ways. First, the continuation of this incomplete training is hindering AI's full potential to function properly. Second, by not including information about certain demographics in the system's training, these groups are either recognized less or purposefully neglected by AI. In order for programs such as ChatGPT to give unbiased and helpful information, we must begin training these programs with wider arrays of sources.

June 6: Pseudoscience

SETI: Science or Pseudoscience?

SETI Radios

SETI is the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, but are the methods real or fake science?

My discussion group: John, Tanish, Trey, Gracelyn

A Primer on SETI at the SETI Institute 

Technosignatures and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence | News | Astrobiology (nasa.gov)

Aliens are often thought of as nothing more than a conspiracy theory; however, a team of scientists are working towards finding signs of this intelligent life through the detection of radio signals from space. Although the SETI mission has been going on for 60 years, their radio efforts have not seen any definite results. Despite this, I still believe that the methods of the mission are scientific, and that this search is not pseudoscience.

Pseudoscience is defined by a few conditions: it claims to be a science, is unfalsifiable, and may have empirical evidence, but the evidence seems to only support the theory. In this way, some may claim that the search to find intelligent life despite having no results after all their research is implementing false evidence to support their theory. The theory of intelligent life is indeed falsifiable, even if we do not currently have the technology to prove it. Because of this, I do not believe it is wrong for scientists to continue using any hope of proof that they find in order to continue their mission. Therefore, the method that SETI uses is definitely scientific.

With the knowledge that the SETI radios have not found much solid evidence, and that their method is scientific, how can the search be improved? Some scientists speculate that the frequencies may just be out of the range of what we are trying to pick up, so at this point we need to start experimenting! In all actuality we have no clue how extraterrestrials may communicate, but SETI must open up new avenues in their scientific research because microwave detection is not proving successful.

June 4: Engineering Design Process

Skinny Mobile (fig.1)

The Engineering Design Process

Creating a mode of transportation with only K'NEX (a.k.a the Skinny Mobile)

June 3: Self-Driving Cars

 

Self-Driving Car Dilemma 

The ethics of programming self-driving cars to make the best decisions is a difficult task.

How will self-driving cars choose how to resolve conflicts on the road? Well, the decision is actually up to the programmers. Today we discussed what a self-driving car should do in the event that large debris falls off of a truck in front of the car, given that there is not enough time to hit the brakes.

 In this scenario, the car has the option to A) Hit the debris and sacrifice the driver, B) Swerve left into an SUV, or C) Swerve right into a motorcycle. If I was making the decision, I would swerve left into the SUV as it is a vehicle with a high safety rate and would likely protect the automated car driver while not causing too much harm to the SUV driver. 

This option creates a balance between saving the automated car driver and preventing casualties. However, solutions like this bring the complication of deliberately deciding to hit another vehicle on the road, which makes the decision unethical. These self-driving vehicles would only be safe if every vehicle was self-driving, so I believe that vehicles must first implement driving assistance to transition to automated vehicles. These assists include automatic braking, lane warnings, cameras, and cruise control, which can lead to further developments. 

This scenario has led me to rethink other ethical aspects of technological advancements, such as how these cars might unintentionally endanger others.

A Little About Me and My Governors School Experience

A Little About Me and My Governors School Experience

The sciences provide a world of possibilities for any interest, including emerging fields with little current knowhow. The Governors School for the Sciences and Engineering, otherwise known as GSSE, gives opportunities for the sciences to be discovered: materials science, math, physics, chemistry, biology, industrial systems, and general STEM topics. Despite these amazing opportunities, I was also drawn to the beautiful campus it is on, and the various labs to be explored. I have the privilege of studying the materials science course here, which correlates to my interest in nuclear technologies! Outside of my appreciation for the sciences, I am also an athlete on the wrestling team and a cadet in my high school's JROTC program. These activities take up most of my free time, but I also enjoy going out with friends and indulging in video games.

Me (middle) and my fellow captains (sides) at one of my JROTC Drill Meets