Risk or possibility?
The Two Faces of Nuclear Power: The More You Know

All matter that makes up the universe is made up of atoms.
The nucleus at the center of the atom creates enormous reaction energy through 'nuclear reaction', which is 'atomic power'.
Nuclear energy has great value when used peacefully.
Nuclear power has been highlighted as a new energy source that can complement the limitations of existing fossil fuels, such as global warming and climate change.
By acquiring the technology of nuclear power about 80 years ago, mankind was able to achieve unprecedented abundance and convenience.


But unfortunately, mankind first used this nuclear energy to create a weapon of destruction: the 'atomic bomb'.
There are many dark stories of humanity related to nuclear power, such as nuclear accidents, nuclear wars, and radioactive contamination.
This series of events has sparked serious global debate about whether nuclear power is still a viable energy source.
In this way, nuclear power is like a double-edged sword that carries both risks and possibilities.
This book is a general education textbook for everyone that systematically and easily addresses theoretical and technical questions such as "What is nuclear power?", "Why is nuclear power dangerous?", and "How can nuclear power help?"
Should you support or oppose nuclear power? This is a question for readers to carefully consider and decide for themselves.
I would be very happy if this book could help you make that decision.

Marie Curie devoted herself to research with all her passion until her death in France in 1934.
Currently, her cause of death is believed to be aplastic anemia caused by long-term radiation exposure.
However, since the dangers of radiation were not well known at the time, she is said to have carried the test tube containing the radioactive element in her pocket.
Marie Curie likely suffered from a number of illnesses caused by radiation exposure, including blindness due to cataracts.
However, she is said to have never admitted to any deterioration in her health due to radiation exposure.
--- 「Chapter 1.
From “How did the history of nuclear power begin?”

The major nuclear reactions are nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.
The atomic bomb is a bomb that uses nuclear fission reaction, and the hydrogen bomb, which we will look at later, is a bomb that uses nuclear fusion reaction.
Both the atomic bomb and the hydrogen bomb are often referred to in the same context as 'nuclear bombs', as they both utilize nuclear reactions.
However, the principles of the two bombs are completely opposite, and the energy generated is also significantly different.
--- 「Chapter 2.
From "Can nuclear reactions solve the energy problem?"

The ability or property of a radioactive substance to emit radiation is called ‘radioactivity.’
Radiation is matter or energy, and when it collides with living things, it can cause fatal damage to them.
However, since radiation is an 'ability/property', it is not a 'substance' that can cause harm.
This relationship may be easier to understand if we use a baseball analogy.
'Radioactive material' is a pitcher.
The ball thrown by the pitcher is 'radiation'.
The pitcher's talent and ability as a pitcher is 'radioactive'.
A dead ball is something that hurts when hit, and it is impossible for the 'pitcher's ability' to hit and hurt someone.
--- Chapter 3.
From “Let’s learn about atoms and nuclei before understanding nuclear power”

The Earth is bombarded with cosmic rays from space.
This cosmic radiation is identical to radiation.
Cosmic radiation, which mainly consists of gamma rays and neutron rays, is very harmful to the human body, but the Earth's atmosphere, especially the ozone layer in the high stratosphere, absorbs and blocks it.
The ozone layer is the Earth's natural barrier.
Without shields like the ozone layer, life on Earth would not be possible.
Not only that, but life would never have been born in the first place.
--- 「Chapter 4.
From "What You Need to Know About Radiation"

A nuclear reactor is equivalent to a boiler, and the difference between a nuclear reactor and a boiler is whether a 'nuclear reaction' or a 'chemical reaction' is used to create steam.
In other words, the only difference is that while a boiler uses the combustion energy generated by burning carbon fuel, that is, 'chemical energy', to create steam, a nuclear reactor uses 'nuclear power', which is nuclear energy based on nuclear fission, as its energy.
--- Chapter 5.
From “Looking at the Structure of Nuclear Power Generation”

Nuclear power plants produce energy as well as fission products.
These fission products are radioactive substances with strong radioactivity, emitting strong radiation.
Therefore, in nuclear reactors, care must be taken to ensure that neither radioactive materials nor radiation leak to the outside.
A device that blocks radioactive materials or radiation inside a nuclear reactor from leaking to the outside environment is generally called a shielding device.
Shielding devices consist of multiple layers and can be broadly divided into pressure vessels and containment vessels.
--- 「Chapter 6.
From "Dissecting the Inside of a Nuclear Reactor"

The amount of carbon dioxide emitted per kWh (kilowatt hour) by nuclear power generation is significantly less than that of coal-fired, oil-fired, and LNG-fired power generation.
It is similar to natural energy such as solar or wind power.
Additionally, nuclear power plants do not produce NOx or SOx.
In that sense, it can be called clean energy.
While possessing such excellent environmental suitability, nuclear power generation generates radiation and radioactive materials, so strict management and handling are always required to ensure that it does not affect the surrounding environment.
--- Chapter 7.
From “What does nuclear power have to do with the environment?”

There were four nuclear reactors in Chernobyl, and the accident occurred in reactor number 4.
After the accident, Unit 4 was filled with concrete, but recently, the concrete has weakened due to radiation, so a plan to cover it with another layer of concrete is being considered.
Even now, entry is prohibited within 30km of the reactor.
Radiation levels had been dropping recently, but they rose again in February 2022 when Russian forces invaded Chernobyl, Ukraine.
It is said that this is because the ground was dug up when the tram passed near the reactor, exposing buried radioactive materials to the surface.
--- Chapter 8.
From "Nuclear Reactor Accidents in History That Shook the World"

After witnessing the tragedy of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident in 2011, the world seemed to have turned its back on nuclear power.
However, as the problem of global warming and climate change becomes more serious due to the increase in carbon dioxide produced by fossil fuels, there has been a recent movement to use nuclear power again.
The vulnerability of renewable energy, which was expected to replace nuclear power, and the exodus of Russian energy due to the Ukrainian crisis are spurring this movement.
--- Chapter 9.
From “How will nuclear power generation evolve in the future?”

Reactions that extract energy from the nucleus include nuclear fission reactions and nuclear fusion reactions.
Nuclear fusion reactors use this nuclear fusion reaction to extract heat and use it to generate electricity.
As we have seen, the energy that can be obtained from a nuclear fusion reaction is much greater than the energy that can be obtained from a nuclear fission reaction.
Nuclear fusion reactors may be the trump card that will shoulder humanity's future energy burden.

--- 「Chapter 10.
From "Is nuclear fusion the ultimate energy card that will carry the future of humanity?"