Nuclear scientist Question: Download Nuclear scientist PDF

BP official Mark Hafle recently told a Coast Guard investigative panel that “all the risks had been addressed” at the Deepwater well. With oil still gushing, he’s clearly untethered from reality, but it raises an important question: While we can force BP and other oil companies to improve their safety and environmental damage plans, are there are some technological systems — like nuclear power and deepwater drilling — that are so dangerous that they are unacceptable unless they have zero possibility for error. And who could ever give such a guarantee? If we build the thousands of nuclear plants required to meet growing energy needs, even the smallest mistake puts millions of lives at risk. As a society are we willing to accept the risk — however small — of such a catastrophic disaster?