How Science challenges Society

Is progress always good?

The Basic Argument

Look at these two pairs of pictures How is progress shown between them? What are the disadvantages of this?

Look at these two pairs of pictures How is progress shown between them? What are the disadvantages of this?

The Basic Argument

Debate
We are going to look at 3 areas and discuss if progress is always positive. Glossary Nuclear Fusion Nuclear Fission Genetic Modification

Key Definitions: Nuclear Fusion

1. The division of the nuclei of isotopes of certain heavy elements, such as uranium and plutonium, effected by bombardment with neutrons. 2. Nuclear fission causes the release of energy, additional neutrons, and an enormous quantity of heat. Nuclear fission is used in nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons. 3. A by product of nuclear fission is toxic radioactive waste. Used to create the atomic bomb

Key Definitions: Nuclear Fission

1. The combination of the nuclei of certain extremely light elements, especially hydrogen, effected by the application of high temperature and pressure. 2. Nuclear fusion causes the release of an enormous amount of heat energy, comparable to that released by nuclear fission. The principal by product of nuclear fusion is helium. 3. 6. Used in creating the more powerful hydrogen bomb http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSi-zSeS0_Y
Mk- 17 Hydrogen bomb 1954- 1957

Advantages of nuclear energy

1. Almost zero emissions (very low greenhouse gas emissions). 2. They can be sited almost anywhere unlike oil which is mostly imported. 3. The plants almost never experience problems if not from human error, which almost never happens anyway because the plant only needs a small group to operate it. 4. A small amount of matter creates a large amount of energy. 5. A lot of energy is generated from a single power plant. 6. Current nuclear waste in the US is over 90% Uranium. If reprocessing were made legal again in the US we would have enough nuclear material to last hundreds of years. 7. A truckload of Uranium is equivalent in energy to 10,000+ truckloads of coal. (Assuming the Uranium is fully utilized.) 8. A nuclear aircraft carrier can circle the globe continuously for 30 years on its original fuel while a diesel fuelled carrier has a range of only about 3000 miles before having to refuel. 9. Modern reactors have two to ten times more efficiency than the old generation reactors currently in use around the US. 10. New reactor types have been designed to make it physically impossible to melt down. As the core gets hotter the reaction gets slower, hence a run-away reaction leading to a melt-down is not possible. .

Disadvantages of nuclear energy

1. Nuclear plants are more expensive to build and maintain. Proliferation concerns - breeder reactors yield products that could potentially be stolen and turned into an atomic weapon. Waste products are dangerous and need to be carefully stored for long periods of time. The spent fuel is highly radioactive and has to be carefully stored for many years or decades after use. This adds to the costs. There is presently no adequate safe long-term storage for radioactive and chemical waste produced from early reactors, such as those in Hanford, Washington, some of which will need to be safely sealed and stored for thousands of years. Early nuclear research and experimentation has created massive contamination problems that are still uncontained. A lot of waste from early reactors was stored in containers meant for only a few decades, but is well past expiration resulting in leaks are furthering contamination. Nuclear power plants can be dangerous to its surroundings and employees. It would cost a lot to clean in case of spillages. Mishaps at nuclear plants can render hundreds of square miles of land uninhabitable and unsuitable for any use for years, decades or longer, and kill off entire river systems

2.

3. 4. 5. 6.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=im8AAm9 mz2o&feature=related Nuclear fuel production can go wrong though. Watch the you tube clip above which looks at problems in Japan.

The Manhattan Project example of the use of nuclear power

Was undertaken by the American government during World War 2. The first atom bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 which ended the war. Also it has been used to create power stations Look at the statements on the following slide and decide what are the advantages and disadvantages of the discovery of nuclear fusion The clip below details the Manhattan project
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhSKqz wwypQ

1. Having Nuclear weapons makes a country more secure as stops other countries from attacking 2. Nuclear Fission could provide even more energy for society. 3. It is not a cheap way of making electricity as it produces waste that is dangerous and difficult to store. 4. It can makes countries more secure as they do not have to rely on unstable oil producing countries.

The consequences of scientific discoveries can be unintended and harmful. Atomic Bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 1945 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gjqxegu2n8k

Key Definitions:A genetically modified organism (GMO

1. Genetically engineered organism (GEO) is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. 2. These techniques are generally known as recombinant DNA technology. With this technology, DNA molecules from different sources are combined into one molecule to create a new set of genes.
3. This DNA is then transferred into an organism, giving it modified or novel traits.

Great Debate
Developments in genetics will lead to a Frankenstein future for mankind! CSI: NY -- Human Ears on Mice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= kefoIXnLAN0 Dolly the sheep

Key Points
Scientific discoveries can lead to huge progress The consequences of these discoveries can be unintended and harmful. This leads to a debate as to whether humans should always seek to discover more scientific knowledge

The Key Debate: As a class discuss the following questions

Should human beings have popularised the discovery of nuclear fusion? Should they be pursuing nuclear fission? How is this debate similar to Genetics and genetic modification? Should we modify cells?