Comments by "Nicholas Conder" (@nicholasconder4703) on "Why You’re Wrong About Nuclear Power" video.

  1. Negatives: The biggest problem with nuclear power is that when something goes wrong, the after effects spread out over a large area and last for such a long time. Areas contaminated as a result of nuclear accidents have to be closed off to access for decades, centuries or millennia. Also, there is the problem of dealing with radioactive waste that can remain lethal for millions of years. This needs to be worked out before people start using nuclear power on a large scale. Positives: One issue is that used Uranium-based reactors start runaway reactions when the coolant is lost. It is still theoretical, but Thorium-based reactors should actually shut down when coolant is lost, preventing the runaway reactions that have resulted in most nuclear accidents to date. Its downside is that at least one of the byproducts (protactinium) is extremely radioactive, so methods for handling these would also need to be developed. Nuclear power will reduce, but won't eliminate, CO2 release (as long as you use concrete, you produce a LOT of CO2).
    1