Nuclear Energy

Nuclear Science

        Nuclear science is the study of the atomic world. In nuclear science, the word nuclear is defined as “relating to or constituting the nucleus of an atom.” Atoms are the essential component of our surroundings, and we are exclusively compiled of them. This implies that nuclear science is critical to understand our universe, our world and living organisms at the atomic level. Nuclear science has granted humans with a great power, but its influence has in turn been used against humanity. So far, the chemistry of nuclear science has improved many features of our medical industry, and my opinion is that if the substances are handled with responsibility, then the benefits of nuclear science outweigh the side effects.  

        As defined by Chemistry: Volume One, the atom is a basic unit of matter that consists of a dense central nucleus surrounded by a cloud of negatively charged electrons. The atomic nucleus holds a combination of positively charged protons and electrically neutral neutrons. Chemical reactions involve either the transfer or the sharing of electrons between atoms. Therefore, the chemical reactivity or properties of an element are primarily dependent upon the number of electrons in an atom of that element. Protons also play a significant role because the tendency for an atom to lose, gain or share electrons is dependent upon the charge of the nucleus. As a result, one can conclude that the chemical reactivity of an atom is dependent upon the number of electrons and protons, and independent of the number of neutrons (pages 49 through 51).  If one can comprehend how atoms can form bonds, interact, or can be best combined with other atoms, then innovative and more efficient materials like drugs can be developed in areas such as rational drug design. By using neutrons produced during the radioactive decay of atoms, developers can study materials and their properties and conduct processes in the advancement of nuclear science.

        Throughout history, nuclear science has resulted in various successes. But with the highs come the lows, and the prevalence of nuclear science in most industrial areas has lead to some extreme disasters. Aside from chemical warfare, natural occurrences have caused an immeasurable amount of destruction. For instance, The Great East Japan earthquake of March 2011 was a tragedy of unprecedented scale. It is one of the largest natural disasters experienced by a developed nation. The event began with the crucial destruction of the earthquake, which sequentially produced to the ultimate wreckage from the preceding tsunamis and accumulated to further damage of the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The demolition of the power pant has become a source of alarm not only to the people living in the power plant's surrounding area, but elsewhere in Japan and even in locations around the world, for example; the coastal beaches of Washington State (Nagayama, D., & Inokuma, A.). The wrath of the tsunami ruined homes and businesses and the effects of the destroyed power plant subjected humans, animals, and especially marine life forms to the dangers of chemical exposure. Of course, heavy measures are taken to prevent such disasters but natural events like these earthquakes and tsunamis are unavoidable. As humans, the best we can do to avoid serious harm from these types of nuclear catastrophes is to implement a solid recovery plan.

        Although the past offers a small bounty of nuclear disasters to reflect on, the future presents an even larger prediction of victories in the realm of nuclear science. For example, the use of radiology in medicinal practices has an encouraging amount of triumphs. On average, most citizens of first world countries can predict to have a nuclear medicine procedure that uses a radioisotope for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes at a given point during their life time. Nuclear medicine and radiology are the medical procedures that require the use of radiation or radioactivity to diagnose, treat and prevent diseases. While radiology has been utilized for almost an entire century, the expression "nuclear medicine" entered our language approximately fifty years ago. Currently, an estimated one-third of all procedures carried out in up to date hospitals and other medical facilities involve radiation or radioactivity. These procedures are safe, effective, and do not require any anesthetic. They are useful in an extensive spectrum of medical departments. For example, fields like pediatric care to cardiology and even psychiatry. Nuclear medicine and radiology are needed as a diagnostic procedure to evaluate a patient's overall health, observe the impact of an illness or examine the improvements of the treatment. In addition, these factors are also required as a therapeutic procedure to deal with some diseases. But, nuclear medicine and radiology have diverse positions because with nuclear medicine, radioisotopes are introduced to the body on the inside.  But in radiology, X-rays break through the body externally. Nuclear medicine utilizes miniscule amounts of radiation to make information about a person's body available and also permits more information regarding the functioning of specific organs. Afterwards, doctors who are then able make an exact diagnosis analyze the information from the nuclear imaging. Nuclear medicine can also be used to directly treat disease or to relieve pain (Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization). Considering these positive factors, I am able to conclude that with applied responsibility, the nuclear science achievements can overcome the past failures.