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History of nuclear energy |
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400 BC- Greeks hypothesize that matter is made of little particles, called atoms. |
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1905- Albert Einstein comes out with his famous theroy of relativity. This formula explains the conversion of mass to energy and versa vice. |
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1942- Scientists are toying with the energy contained in atoms. Research is being done to investgate using it as a weapon. Enrico Fermi discovers that a massive amount of energy holds atoms together. In December of 42 he produces the first controlled fission reacton in California. No one blows up and the experiment is widely successful. An Austrain scientist, Lise Meitne,r discovers that there are fewer reactants than products, and applies E=MC2. Mass was successfully converted into energy. |
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1945- Nuclear Energy, in bomb form, brings a quick (albeit controversial) end to WWII. Many tests ensue over the next 20 years. Both America and the USSR are looking to improve their WMD's. |
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1947- The AEC (Atomic Energy Commission) Decides that the energy released energy released during nuclear fission can power our lights, rather than blow up cities. (The AMerican Government is still researching nuclear bombs.) |
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1951- Nuclear Fission lights four lightbulbs. WOOT! Just a couple million more.... |
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1955- The AEC starts recieving funding to use nuclear energy for government and industrial purposes. |
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1956- First Nuclear Power Plant Station goes into operation, off the coast of Cumberland. |
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1957- The first nuclear power plant that generates civilian energy is erected in Shippingport Pennsylvania. |
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1965- A nuclear reactor is operated in outer space! |
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1965-1973- There are now 41 power plants up and running by 73. |
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1977 The NRC (You might've seen them in the papers- the Nuclear Regulatory Commision ) is formed. They run drills and inspectins to make sure that our nuclear plants don't blow up. And they're right on time, too. |
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1979- Nuclear Oops number One: Three Mile Island. When misreading a dial, a plant employee accidentaly overheated the reactor. A nuclear "fart" (McLoughlin, April 2006) allows radiation to escape. People om the area recieved less than 100 milirems of radiation (the equivalent to working 50 days in a power plant) NO one dies . |
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1984- DAM IT! Nuclear energy is responsible for generating more energy than hydroelectric dams. |
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April 26th 1986- A tragic accident occurs at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. The reactor was overheated, and the top blew off. Radiation was spewed over a large area, putting millions at the risk of cancer. Today, twenty years later, people (especially children) are at risk or are suffering from cancer.Learn more here. |
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Well to see how nuclear energy is faring these days, take a peek at "Environmental and Economic Effects." Beam me up Scotty. |
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