Summary of Serhii Plokhy's Atoms and Ashes

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 Ionizing radiation, the emission or transmission of energy, comes in a variety of forms. The radiation produced by nuclear explosions and accidents carries enough energy to detach electrons from atoms and molecules. #2 The statue of Prometheus, a Greek Titan who stole fire from the gods and gave it to humankind, was erected in the city of Prypiat a few years before the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986. It now stands before the entrance to the office of the Chernobyl nuclear power station. #3 The main economic argument against nuclear energy is the cost of building a nuclear power plant. It now costs at least $112 per megawatt to build a nuclear plant, compared to $46 per megawatt for solar, $42 per megawatt for gas, and $30 per megawatt for wind. #4 The history of the nuclear industry is full of accidents that have caused public concern about the safety of nuclear reactors. The three major accidents that have rocked the civil nuclear sector are the Three Mile Island accident of 1979, the Chernobyl disaster of 1986, and the Fukushima multiple reactor meltdown of 2011.