The Rest is History
Country Club
Numberphile
Alt Key
Environmental Health
100
US's Terragon Nuclear Power Plant became the world's first commercial nuclear power station in 1954.
False! Russia's Obninsk Nuclear Power Plant became the world's first commercial nuclear power station in 1954.
100
Russia generates over 70% of its electricity from nuclear power, the highest percentage of any country in the world.
False! France generates over 70% of its electricity from nuclear power, the highest percentage of any country in the world.
100
Nuclear energy provides approximately 10% of the world's electricity from about 440 power reactors.
True! Nuclear energy provides approximately 10% of the world's electricity from about 440 power reactors.
100
Solar and wind energy only generate around 30% of the time.
True! Solar and wind energy only generate around 30% of the time
100
Solar farms produce 4x fewer carbon emissions than nuclear energy.
False! Nuclear power produces 4x fewer carbon emissions than solar farms.
200
More than half the nuclear reactors in the world were built between in the 15 years between 1970 and 1985.
True! More than half the nuclear reactors in the world were built between in the 15 years between 1970 and 1985.
200
The highest number of operational nuclear reactors is in the United States, United Kingdom, China, Russia, and India.
False! The highest number of operational nuclear reactors is in the United States, France, China, Russia, and Japan.
200
Nuclear power plants operate at over 50% capacity factor, compared to about 40% for wind and solar.
False! Nuclear power plants operate at over 90% capacity factor, compared to about 25-35% for wind and solar.
200
German electricity costs 5x less than French electricity due to shifted investment in renewables and governmental policy.
False! German electricity costs 2x more than French electricity due to shifted investment in renewables and governmental policy.
200
Nuclear power plants release significantly less radiation into the environment than coal-fired power plants during normal operation.
True! Nuclear power plants release significantly less radiation into the environment than coal-fired power plants during normal operation.
300
The first nuclear-powered submarine, USS Heimlet, was launched in 1954 with the famous message "underway on nuclear power."
False! The first nuclear-powered submarine, USS Nautilus, was launched in 1954 with the famous message "underway on nuclear power."
300
South Korea builds nuclear reactors at one-third the cost and in half the time compared to the United States.
True! South Korea builds nuclear reactors at one-third the cost and in half the time compared to the United States.
300
The half-life of uranium-235, commonly used in nuclear reactors, is approximately 700 million years.
True! The half-life of uranium-235, commonly used in nuclear reactors, is approximately 700 million years.
300
Denmark, a leader in wind energy installation, has some of the lowest electricity prices in Europe.
False! Denmark, despite being a leader in wind energy installation, has some of the highest electricity prices in Europe.
300
Fossil fuel air pollution is responsible for 1 in 5 deaths worldwide.
True! Fossil fuel air pollution is responsible for 1 in 5 deaths worldwide.
400
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was established in 1957 as the world's "Atoms for Peace" organization.
True! The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was established in 1957 as the world's "Atoms for Peace" organization.
400
Germany reversed its nuclear phase-out policy in 2010, citing concerns about climate change and energy security.
False! Sweden reversed its nuclear phase-out policy in 2010, citing concerns about climate change and energy security.
400
A typical 1,000-megawatt nuclear reactor requires 300,000 cubic meters of fuel per year, compared to 3 million tons of coal for an equivalent coal plant.
False! A typical 1,000-megawatt nuclear reactor requires just 3 cubic meters of fuel per year, compared to 3 million tons of coal for an equivalent coal plant.
400
The largest solar farm in the world, located in China's Tengger Desert, covers an area equivalent to 2,550 football fields.
True! The largest solar farm in the world, located in China, covers an area equivalent to 2,550 football fields.
400
Hydropower causes fewer deaths than wind power per unit of energy produced.
False! Hydropower causes more deaths than wind power per unit of energy produced.
500
The Chernobyl disaster in 1986 released about 40 times more radiation than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima
False! The Chernobyl disaster in 1986 released about 400 times more radiation than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima
500
India has enough thorium reserves to power itself for the next 2000 years.
False! China has enough thorium reserves to power itself for the next 20,000 years.
500
Nuclear power has caused 1.8 million deaths over 40 years due to its many catastrophes.
False! Nuclear power has prevented 1.8 million deaths over 40 years by replacing fossil fuels.
500
Germany installed 11% more wind turbines in 2016, but generated 2% less electricity from wind.
True! Germany installed 11% more wind turbines in 2016, but generated 2% less electricity from wind.
500
A detonation of just 3% of the global nuclear arsenal could result in 2.5 billion deaths.
True! A detonation of just 3% of the global nuclear arsenal could result in 2.5 billion deaths.