Power: on Earth, we tend to take it for granted. Most of your household power is generated from the burning of fossil fuels—coal and natural gas account for roughly 61 percent of US power. Another 20 percent is generated in nuclear power plants. These resources are nonrenewable—experts estimate that we may have 50–100 years of fossil fuels and over 200 years of natural uranium left—but Earth also has access to a treasure trove of renewable energy sources. In 2019, water, wind, and sun produced enough energy to power over 60 million average American households. No matter where it comes from, accessible energy is plentiful on Earth. But on other planets and in…
Comments closedTag: Nuclear Fission
To close out this difficult year, this month’s blog series is going to look back at a few of the titans of scientific discovery from years past. This week, we return to the topic of nuclear fission with the story of Lise Meitner—an Austrian physicist who discovered the fundamental mechanism behind nuclear fission. Meitner’s story is pocked with the sexism and anti-Semitism that characterized Europe in the early 1900s. But despite the adversity she faced, Meitner made one of the most pivotal scientific discoveries of her time—one that would make nuclear power (and nuclear bombs) possible. Lise Meitner was born…
Continue readingThe Ghosts of Science Past: Part 1—Lise Meitner and the Discovery of Nuclear Fission
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