What did splitting the atom really achieve for humanity?

[SunnyD]

I'm curious - I started to think about nuclear fission, and what it really has provided mankind. Splitting the atom was commonly considered one of man's greatest achievements if I am not mistaken...

But exactly how great of an achievement is it? One could go on about bombs and all, not that great of an achievement. Nuclear power plants, yes - capable of creating vast amounts of relatively "clean" electricity, but horrendously under-utilized. Enabled our first work with nuclear fusion, but again, in bombs.

I'm sure a few medical applications may have spawned from it, but nothing radical. Smoke detectors commonly use some sort of radioisotope in them, okay. A few satellites out there use nuclear fuel. Some naval vessels as well - but again, mostly combat related.

What real daily tangible benefit has this whole atom splitting thing given humanity?

 

[olds]

2 for 1 atoms and you don't need a coupon

BTW, do your own homework...

 

[videogames101]

Tangible benefit? I beleive your forgetting the point of such achievements, which is to advance our knowledge of the universe and world around us. It's not what we gain in say, quality of life, but what it does to advance human's understandings of how things work. Thats why we keep experimenting, we don't know what benefit it will bring, but if history shows us anything, advancing science generally improves quality of life.

 

[Jeff7]

Fission, yes. Fusion, eventually. Knowledge about subatomic particles. Who knows.
Particle physics has brought you TV, and any other electronic device you use.

Some other countries get a significant portion of their electricity from fission, so I'd say that they think it's a pretty tangible benefit.

Satellites - those that use nuclear power sources are not for military use. Any military satellites are in orbit of Earth, and would use solar power. RTEG's are only used for satellites too far from the sun for solar arrays to be feasible.
And sure, maybe those medical applications aren't widespread today because of the cost associated with them. Give it time. New technology will grow out of the old.

 

[yllus]

We'd probably have had ten times as many conventional wars if not for atomic weaponry and what a real war would mean in terms of their usage.

Medical isotopes have saved tens of thousands of lives, if not more.

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: videogames101
Tangible benefit? I beleive your forgetting the point of such achievements, which is to advance our knowledge of the universe and world around us. It's not what we gain in say, quality of life, but what it does to advance human's understandings of how things work. Thats why we keep experimenting, we don't know what benefit it will bring, but if history shows us anything, advancing science generally improves quality of life.

Right - that is a great argument, but the thing is most of these advancements have yet to come. We're right on the cusp of learning tons about the universe and in physics in general, but honestly where does splitting the atom come in? It's a great source of energy that we have largely not tapped or tapped in the wrong ways. But it's not like I head out to the garage and start the 'ole fission reactor in the morning...

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
2 for 1 atoms and you don't need a coupon

BTW, do your own homework...

olds, I haven't had homework to do in about 7 years, and I'm don't plan on having any anytime soon. BTW... where are the coupons posted?

 

[ShotgunSteven]

Splitting the Tasmanian Beer Atom allowed Young Einstein to put bubbles in his beer! :beer:

 

[Vic]

Splitting the atom proved Special Relativity, which immensely broadened our understanding of the universe.

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: Jeff7
Fission, yes. Fusion, eventually. Knowledge about subatomic particles. Who knows.
Particle physics has brought you TV, and any other electronic device you use.

Some other countries get a significant portion of their electricity from fission, so I'd say that they think it's a pretty tangible benefit.

Satellites - those that use nuclear power sources are not for military use. Any military satellites are in orbit of Earth, and would use solar power. RTEG's are only used for satellites too far from the sun for solar arrays to be feasible.
And sure, maybe those medical applications aren't widespread today because of the cost associated with them. Give it time. New technology will grow out of the old.

Particle physics yes, but fission, not so much. TV's were around before the atom was split, and fission has little to do with the world of electronics.

The satellites, I agree, but those satellites don't really do much tangibly on the ground in daily life.

 

[nakedfrog]

Well, look, we've split the atom, we've got digital watches... compare this with the dolphin. All they've ever done is muck about in the water having a good time. This proves our superiority.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: SunnyD
...

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
2 for 1 atoms and you don't need a coupon

BTW, do your own homework...

olds, I haven't had homework to do in about 7 years, and I'm don't plan on having any anytime soon. BTW... where are the coupons posted?

Hmm, maybe some English/reading compression homework?
:laugh:

 

[Atomic Playboy]

It's a symbol of our dominion over nature. By splitting the atom, we've shown that sometimes matter just needs to back the fuck down.

 

[JohnCU]

gave me a good job.

 

[jonks]

gozira

 

[Epic Fail]

Originally posted by: Atomic Playboy
It's a symbol of our dominion over nature. By splitting the atom, we've shown that sometimes matter just needs to back the fuck down.

Don't mess with the playboy.

 

[Baked]

We're 1 step closer to having the power of the Gods!

 

[shocksyde]

Originally posted by: Baked
We're 1 step closer to having the power of the Gods!

Otherwise known as "the ability to make people believe you exist."

 

[James3shin]

a bomb.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Great accomplishment != benefit for humanity, the two can and often are mutually exclusive. Splitting the atom was a monumental achievement because of the great difficulties involved. They went from pure theory to working device in 3 years and along the way solved problems that had not even been imagined. What they did in the time frame they had to do it was remarkable. From a purely scientific standpoint no other project in history did more and none even approached the speed and efficiency with which they did it.

 

[dud]

Almost unlimited ability to power the world ... and to destroy it.

 

[George P Burdell]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
BTW, do your own homework...

I agree.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: Atomic Playboy
It's a symbol of our dominion over nature. By splitting the atom, we've shown that sometimes matter just needs to back the fuck down.

LOL

 

[Jassi]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Well, look, we've split the atom, we've got digital watches... compare this with the dolphin. All they've ever done is muck about in the water having a good time. This proves our superiority.

Lets not forget that we know how to dodge tuna nets. When was the last time we had to make an effort for human free tuna?

 

[sutahz]

Nuclear power plants. Just because they are under utilized doesn't mean it hasn't given us the tangible benefit(s).
Smoke detectors are just an isotope decaying so not the same thing.
An aircraft carrier's nuclear plants are just power plants, plain and simple.

 

[videogames101]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: Atomic Playboy
It's a symbol of our dominion over nature. By splitting the atom, we've shown that sometimes matter just needs to back the fuck down.

LOL

win