How dangerous is nuclear?

Answer 1

Nuclear power is only dangerous if radio-activity from the nuclear plant is released into the environment. Nuclear power plants are designed in such a way that radio-activity is never released and remains contained whithin the plant, under normal conditions and also under certain extreme conditions (earthquakes, flooding, plane crashes etc.). The only radio-active material that ever leaves a nuclear power plant, is the "burnt-out" uranium, which is stored in special bunkers, where it can decay further until it is no longer radio-active. The problem is that this decay can take 1000s of years, so these bunkers are created in geologically stable places.

In a nuclear power plant, radio-active uranium is used to generate a nuclear chain reaction: energy is released and absorbed in the form of heat by a fluid. This fluid, which can be in direct contact with the radio-active uranium, is kept in a closed circuit. This means it stays in a closed loop of pipes, and never comes into contact with anything else. These pipes run through a reservoir, and the heat of the radio-active fluid in the pipes will heat up the fluid in the reservoir (much like how the hot fluid in a central heating system heats up a room: the fluid never leaves the pipes or radiators). The water in the reservoir is thus heated, and can be used to drive electrical turbines to generate electricity.

Answer 2

Nuclear energy can be dangerous if not properly managed. Accidents such as Chernobyl and Fukushima have shown the potential for catastrophic consequences if safety protocols are not followed. However, with strict regulations and proper maintenance, nuclear power plants can operate safely and provide a reliable source of low-carbon energy.