Atomic Insights Favorite Web Sites

Atomic Insights Favorite Web Sites

Interesting Articles on the Web

ExternE - Externalities of Energy. A Research Project of the European Commission. A major EU funded research study undertaken over the past 10 years has proven that the cost of producing electricity from coal or oil would double and the cost of electricity production from gas would increase by 30% if external costs such as damage to the environment and to health were taken into account. . . . The report also says that nuclear power involves relatively low external costs due to its low influence on global warming and its low probability of accidents in the EU power plants. Wind and hydro energy present the lowest external costs.

"New Life for Nuclear Power" by Alvin M. Weinberg Published in the Summer 2003 issue of Issues in Science and Technology Online. This article provide an interesting perspective on the potential for growth in the nuclear power industry by one of the most prolific writers in the United States on the topic.

"Nuclear Green" This leads you to a terrific article by John Ritch, former US ambassador to the United Nations Organization in Vienna. The views are his own, but they are consistent with the officially stated views of the United States. We are impressed that a West Point graduate has such a good grasp of the issues associated with the expanded use of atomic energy. Apparently the World Nuclear Association agrees. Mr. Ritch is now the Director General of that organization.
Alternative Nuclear Power On the cover of the April, 2001 print issue of The World & I, this article's leader was "Backyard Nuclear Reactors". Since the idea seems so far out of the mainstream, it was actually published in the magazine's On the Edge section. We think it is a very well written article about a topic that is not really so far out there as to be unimaginable.

Interesting Sites about Atomic subjects

Nukeworker.com: Nukeworker.com is an indispensable resource for people in the nuclear industry or those that are interested in learning more about working in the industry. There are sections with news, forums, training, and job listings. Highly recommended!

ANS - Nuclear Science and Technology (NS&T): WasteGreat source of straightforward information about the process of safely handling and storing the left over material from nuclear reactor operation. It is too bad it is hidden from the view of most search engines by the way that the pages are structured and composed using CGI.
Environmentalists for Nuclear Energy: Environmentalists For Nuclear Energy (EFN) is an independent environmental, non-profit organization which aims at :

providing complete and straightforward information to the public on energy and the environment
promoting the benefits of nuclear energy for a cleaner world
uniting people in favor of clean nuclear energy

Radiation, Science, and Health, Inc.: The home of a non-profit organization made up of scientists and engineers dedicated to unveiling the truth about the the health effects of radiation.

Warning: A series of visits to this site may be hazardous to long-held beliefs.

World Nuclear University: The World Nuclear University was established in September 2003. Here is an excerpt from the web site:
The mission of the World Nuclear University (WNU) is to strengthen the international community of people and institutions so as to guide and further develop:

The safe and increasing use of nuclear power as the one proven technology able to produce clean energy on a large global scale; and
The many valuable applications of nuclear science and technology that contribute to sustainable agriculture, medicine, nutrition, industrial development, management of fresh water resources and environmental protection.

The Nuclear Virtual Tourist: This new site is produced by a veteran of the nuclear industry who has visited more than 20 nuclear power plants world-wide. His site includes valuable information and some terrific pictures that help readers understand how nuclear reactors work and how nuclear energy compares to other available energy alternatives. Well worth a visit!

International Atomic Energy Agency: The IAEA is the world's center of cooperation in the nuclear field. It was set up as the world's "Atoms for Peace" organization in 1957 within the United Nations family. The Agency works with its Member States and multiple partners worldwide to promote safe, secure and peaceful nuclear technologies. As might be expected, this well supported site is full of information and the latest in Web design features.

University of Missouri- Rolla: American Nuclear Society Student Chapter. This site, one of several excellent productions by nuclear engineering students, provides a great list of frequently asked questions related to nuclear power, radiation health, and public interest.

University of Texas-Austin: American Nuclear Society Student Chapter. The site includes some very interesting articles and occasional calls for political action.

American Nuclear Society: The American Nuclear Society is a not-for-profit, international, scientific and educational organization. It was established by a group of individuals who recognized the need to unify the professional activities within the diverse fields of nuclear science and technology. December 11, 1954, marks the Society's historic beginning at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. ANS has since developed a multifarious membership composed of approximately 10,500 engineers, scientists, administrators, and educators representing 1,600 plus corporations, educational institutions, and government agencies. It is governed by three officers and a board of directors elected by the membership.

Nuclear Energy Institute: The NEI is the trade association of the United States nuclear industry; its site includes press releases and official position statements. The site is also a good source of industry statistics about cost, capacity and performance of established nuclear plants.

Uranium Information Center: This site is physically located in Australia, the home of 30 percent of the world's uranium resources, but not a single nuclear electric power plant. It provides an interesting perspective on the nuclear energy industry. The UIC newsletter, which is archived at this site, is a particularly valuable resource.

The World Nuclear Association: This organization bills itself as "the only independent, non- governmental, global organization to offer a forum for research and debate on economic, technical and political issues affecting the peaceful use of nuclear energy." The site is well organized and worth regular visits.

The Canadian Nuclear FAQ: A privately maintained page with hard-to-find information about Canada's successful CANDU heavy water reactor plants and many other Canadian innovations. The author, while not an official source, is a nuclear engineer with first hand knowledge of his subject. Well worth a visit. Ask him some more questions!

Competitive Energy Sources

We like to know as much as possible about the competition. Here are a few of the sites that we have found that provide useful information about non-atomic energy sources.

OPEC Home Page. There is really no way to begin to understand the workings of the world's energy markets without a thorough comprehension of how OPEC works. This site provides some exceptional materials, especially in the history section. Plan to spend some time here.
American Gas Association. This large site provides access to a up-to-date information about the natural gas industry, along with links to many members of the American Gas Association. The site is a candidate for regular visits.
OPEC NEWS. This large site gathers news reports related to the market activities of the Organization of Oil Exporting Countries. It often provides indications on the direction of energy prices well before any other source.
Chevron's Saudi Oil Discoveries. (Note: This page has interesting stories and pictures that tell how geologists found an "ocean" of oil deep below the Saudi Arabian desert.)
What is crude oil? (This page gives good basic information about the uses, resources, and history of petroleum.)
Car and Deep Cycle Battery FAQ. Though batteries are not technically an energy source, they are an important component in many energy systems that use diffuse, intermittent energy sources like wind and solar power. This site answers many questions and provides excellent advice for those who want to ensure that the battery component of their system is well maintained and lasts as long as possible.

Other Thought Provoking Sites

There are plenty of other interesting places to visit on the web that do not fit into the above categories.

Sustainability of Human Progress By one of the original AI researchers and the inventor of the LISP computer programming language, John McCarthy. He is a technological optimist who believes that humans will continue to progress and prosper if they use their reasoning abilities.
The Energy Advocate. Site by Dr. Howard Hayden of the University of Connecticut Physics Department. The Link of the Day archives are quite comprehensive for a site geared towards lay readers. Lots of information on WHY nuclear is the best of all options.

| Home | About Us | Contact Us | Links |
| Topical index | Periodical index | Article file | Guest Columns | For the Rest of Us | Ask Atomic | Audio Archive |
Additional Atomic Sites
| Atomic Engines | Atomic Blog | The Atomic Show |

Copyright 1995-2005 Adams Atomic Engines, Inc. All rights reserved.
Last modified: October 22, 2006