Nuts, bolts of nuclear energy

The administration's recent push for more nuclear energy has both bipartisan support and opposition. While fears and doubt linger, most Americans can agree that reducing dependence on dwindling coal, oil, and natural gas as primary energy sources, especially from foreign sources, is desirable. If we can do that with less impact on the environment, even better.

Nuclear energy is nothing new. French physicist Henri Becquerel discovered it in 1896 when he noticed that photographic plates stored in the dark near uranium turned black.At the 104 commercial nuclear plants in the U.S., nuclear energy is generated to produce 19 percent of the nation's electricity. This is "clean" energy; but so far, made with a nonrenewable resource. Smoke stacks sometimes visible from outside release steam from heated water, which powers turbines for electricity.

Strong bonds hold together the tiny particles within an atom's nucleus, or core. Splitting these apart (fission) or forcing them together (fusion - like the sun) releases immense energy and heat. That's harnessed to produce electricity. Fusion is not yet commercially viable, but ongoing research may change that.Although two other metals - plutonium and thorium - may be used, uranium is the most typical nuclear fuel. Uranium is found in rocks worldwide and is 100 times more common than silver. In the U.S. the majority is mined in the West.

Not all uranium is suitable for nuclear energy; only the rarer Uranium-235. U-235 atoms are easily split apart. Fusion reactions are created with hydrogen.Nuclear energy produces up to 10 million times more energy than do other energy sources and thus needs far less to produce more. In some countries nuclear energy is already the primary energy source (80 percent in France) and the trend is increasing. It's also cheaper than other energy sources, so it's not going to fade away.

Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network. E-mail sholehjo@hotmail.com.