Radiation and Reason: The Impact of Science on a Culture of Fear

by Wade Allison

The human race is in a dilemma; it is threatened by economic instability on one hand and climate change on the other. Either of these could lead to widespread unrest and political turmoil, if the right choices are not made now. In particular, prosperity without carbon emission implies a comprehensive switch in our sources of energy. With luck, the activity generated by the process of switching will also contribute to prosperity in the short and medium term. There are many solutions wind, tidal, solar, improved efficiency but the most powerful and reliable source is nuclear. However, it is widely supposed that this presents a major problem of safety. Is this long-held concern about radiation and nuclear technology fully justified? Straightforward questions should have simple answers, and the simplest answer is No. Explaining and exploring the question and this answer in accessible terms is the subject of this book.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Physics

216 pages, Paperback

First published October 23, 2009

Reviews

[charles f hawkins · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pubic fear of nuclear is killing us

The book is clearly written getting to the heart nuclear reactors. It gets high marks for that. The one disappointment was thorium. There was a short summary of its magic properties, no follow up. Th deserves the detailed description of the other technologies. I kept waiting for one as I read on. Otherwise an excellent book..

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything Professor Wade Allison says makes a lot of sense.

I never thought I would say this, but this book has given me much hope for the potential of nuclear power.

[Tracey Timko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Side notes from an Oxford professor, yes, please. Anything that gives the educational side of radiation and playing down fear is a plus for me. This book adds clarity to the propaganda of radiation throughout the last century and makes me less concerned about the tiny dose we get for medical, dental, etc. reminding us that sun is also toxic in certain amounts along with many other elements that we live with everyday. A shame that one man stating that ANY dose is too much is the scale we still use to this day. He isn't alone in what level we need to raise the bar to as far as threshold and I had no idea this is utilized currently by some hospitals after doing my own research, ie. Michigan. He highlights the evolved immunity of human beings and how we are designed to deal with certain amounts of radiation perfectly fine and even healthier because of it. Without the fear and political nightmares...if there was more respect for science vs politics, we could someday live in a world that runs on nuclear and power the entire planet, make it cleaner again and feed billions of people...also, travel to other planets. I'm totally there with what this book explains.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit basic for many who did well in high school science, there are still many excellent insights peppered throughout which are not often articulated partly because they are taken for granted by those who already know. Radiation is certainly something to be wary of in much the same way as being out in the sun for more than an hour. Wait - that's the same thing....