Union of Concerned Scientists
The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet's most pressing problems. Joining with people across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.
How Nuclear Weapons Work | Union of Concerned Scientists
Sep 29, 2016 · Each piece by itself was not enough to constitute a critical mass (the minimum amount of nuclear material needed to maintain fission)—but by colliding the pieces, critical mass was reached and a fission chain reaction occurred.. Modern nuclear weapons work slightly differently. Critical mass depends on the density of the material: as the density increases, the critical mass decreases.
Health Impacts of Radiation Exposure - Union of Concerned …
Oct 4, 2024 · Acute exposure to radiation (as in direct contact with radioactive material or being near a nuclear detonation) can result in cutaneous radiation injury (CRI), a skin burn that can occur at radiation doses as low as 2 grays (Gy) or 200 rads 2, increasing in severity as the dose increases.At the site of a nuclear detonation, humans are incinerated; people farther away can receive skin burns.
How Radiation Interacts with the Human Body
Oct 4, 2024 · The way radiation enters the environment or human body can affect what health outcomes researchers expect to see. Nuclear toxicologists investigate the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) of radioactive materials in the environment to understand the exposure risks more fully and better predict resultant health outcomes.
Benefits of Renewable Energy Use - Union of Concerned Scientists
Jul 14, 2008 · In contrast, most renewable energy sources produce little to no global warming emissions. Even when including “life cycle” emissions of clean energy (ie, the emissions from each stage of a technology’s life—manufacturing, installation, operation, decommissioning), the global warming emissions associated with renewable energy are minimal [].
Environmental Impacts of Geothermal Energy - Union of …
Mar 5, 2013 · Air emissions. The distinction between open- and closed-loop systems is important with respect to air emissions. In closed-loop systems, gases removed from the well are not exposed to the atmosphere and are injected back into the ground after giving up their heat, so air emissions are minimal.
Environmental Impacts of Solar Power - Union of Concerned …
Mar 5, 2013 · The sun provides a tremendous resource for generating clean and sustainable electricity without toxic pollution or global warming emissions. The potential environmental impacts associated with solar power—land use and habitat loss, water use, and the use of hazardous materials in manufacturing—can vary greatly depending on the technology, which includes two broad categories: photovoltaic ...
Environmental Impacts of Wind Power - Union of Concerned …
Mar 5, 2013 · Wildlife and habitat. The impact of wind turbines on wildlife, most notably on birds and bats, has been widely document and studied. A recent National Wind Coordinating Committee (NWCC) review of peer-reviewed research found evidence of bird and bat deaths from collisions with wind turbines and due to changes in air pressure caused by the spinning turbines, as well as from habitat disruption.
Understanding Radiation - Union of Concerned Scientists
Oct 4, 2024 · When a radioisotope decays, it may emit energy (radiation) in the form of alpha or beta particles or gamma rays. If the energy of these particles or rays is high enough, that radiation can damage living tissue by ionizing, or stripping electrons from, atoms or molecules.Radiation can also be non-ionizing (in the form of visible light or …
Environmental Impacts of Renewable Energy Technologies
Jul 14, 2008 · Solar power. Like wind power, the sun provides a tremendous resource for generating clean and sustainable electricity. The environmental impacts associated with solar power can include land use and habitat loss, water use, and the use of hazardous materials in manufacturing, though the types of impacts vary greatly depending on the scale of the system and the technology used—photovoltaic (PV ...