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9781637700594

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“I have always known the half-life example of mistaken fear, but I was amazed to see how many examples the authors of Earth Is a Nuclear Planet found. Writing this book must have been an amazing research project. It has 60 pages of endnotes plus 30 pages of supplements. The supplements are more detailed explanations of things like calculations of mining wastes. By relegating some of the heavy-duty material to a separate section, the authors made the main part of the book very readable. “For example, the book has several chapters on the Linear No Threshold (LNT) theory: the title of one chapter is ‘No Safe Dose of BS’. LNT claims that there is ‘no safe dose’ of radiation. Since life on Earth includes background radiation, I guess we are all going to die. Wait, . . . wait, . . . we ARE all going to die! But not of the effects of radiation. “The authors explain that BS in the chapter title means Bad Science. (Of course, it does. Why didn’t I notice that?) For me, reading this book was enjoyable as well as informative. “We live on a planet with a great deal of natural radioactivity. There are also many ways in which radioactive material can be used for human health and happiness. This comprehensive book is a guide to our nuclear planet and our nuclear future. Please read it!” —Meredith Angwin, author of Shorting the Grid “Rarely do we find a book that is both extremely entertaining and educational to read. This is one of those rare gems.” —Rauli Partanen, award-winning energy analyst and CEO of Think Atom “I’ve known for many years that nuclear power is safe, reliable, and one centrally important answer to both air pollution and global warming. What I hadn’t realized is how entertaining a discussion can be of the misunderstandings that complicate its adoption. Earth Is a Nuclear Planet is just that—a great read about a great subject.” —Richard Rhodes, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A Human History and The Making of the Atomic Bomb “In this blunt and fact-filled book, the authors prove that we can’t rely on transient energy from the wind and the sun. Instead, we have to charge past unfounded fears about radiation and embrace the staggering power of fission. As B.F. Randall has said, ‘we should be splitting atoms, not mining them’. Highly recommended!” —Robert Bryce, author of A Question of Power: Electricity and the Wealth of Nation “A must-read for anyone, but particularly fellow Greens and environmentalists who seek a balanced perspective on nuclear energy's potential to shape a sustainable and carbon-neutral future.” —Mark Yelland, founder of Greens for Nuclear Energy “Cleverly demystifies radiation and delivers a well-sourced perspective on our clean energy choices.” —Rich Powell, CEO of Clear Path and Clear Path Action “If understanding is the antidote to fear and ignorance, then this book is strong medicine. Comprehensive, informative, and fun, it tells the truth about nuclear power and debunks the widespread misinformation about it.” —Joshua Goldstein, author of A Bright Future, co-scriptwriter with Oliver Stone of Nuclear Now “The policies we adopt in this decade will determine the planet’s climate for the next ten thousand years. There is one proven path to safety: nuclear power. Anyone seeking a thorough explanation of this path will find it in this book. The authors cover matters from the disposal of nuclear waste to how the health effects of radiation came to be misunderstood, with full technical detail yet in a readable and even entertaining style.” —Spencer Weart, author of The Rise of Nuclear Fear “An outstanding primer in a crowded field. The authors have delivered a deeply-informative and well-paced journey through the topic, full of terrific explanations which I look forward to adding to my own communications toolkit. It’s an enjoyable trip up the learning curve, which I wish was available fifteen years ago! With so much at stake in our energy future, our opinions need to be factually informed. This is a great resource for those embarking on that journey.” —Ben Heard, founder of Bright New World “Lays to rest the myths we have been told about nuclear power, and gives us hope that we can shift to green energy—abundant enough not just to replace fossil fuels, but to help lift the developing world out of poverty as well.” —Kerry Emanuel, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Atmospheric Science, MIT, and publisher of over 200 peer-reviewed scientific paper “A deeply-researched wealth of knowledge, tied together in a cohesive narrative discussing the misperceptions, bad science, and fundamental truth about nuclear power. The authors’ final paragraph sums it all up: ‘A practical solution to the issues we face already exists, and it’s already been proven at scale. The only obstacle is nuclear fear’.” —Ray Rothrock, nuclear engineer, philanthropist, and venture investor “Earth Is a Nuclear Planet is a science-focused, passionate rebuttal that aptly addresses and dispels the panic that has been disproportionately directed at the clear advantages of splitting the atom.” —Kyle Hill, award-winning science educator and science communication advisor to the White House. “Earth Is a Nuclear Planet is the real story of why we are late—but it’s not too late for our young people’s future.” —Dr. James Hansen, world-renowned climate scientist “Nothing in life is without risk. Striking the balance between the risks and benefits of different methods of energy production is paramount. For many years, public attitudes to the risks associated with nuclear power have been led by urban myths rather than scientific evidence. Part of the problem is finding a way to explain a complex area of science in an understandable way. This book seeks to do just this and should lead to a more informed discussion over energy policy in the future.” —Dr. Geraldine Thomas, Director of Chernobyl Tissue Bank

“I have always known the half-life example of mistaken fear, but I was amazed to see how many examples the authors of Earth Is a Nuclear Planet found. Writing this book must have been an amazing research project. It has 60 pages of endnotes plus 30 pages of supplements. The supplements are more detailed explanations of things like calculations of mining wastes. By relegating some of the heavy-duty material to a separate section, the authors made the main part of the book very readable. “For example, the book has several chapters on the Linear No Threshold (LNT) theory: the title of one chapter is ‘No Safe Dose of BS’. LNT claims that there is ‘no safe dose’ of radiation. Since life on Earth includes background radiation, I guess we are all going to die. Wait, . . . wait, . . . we ARE all going to die! But not of the effects of radiation. “The authors explain that BS in the chapter title means Bad Science. (Of course, it does. Why didn’t I notice that?) For me, reading this book was enjoyable as well as informative. “We live on a planet with a great deal of natural radioactivity. There are also many ways in which radioactive material can be used for human health and happiness. This comprehensive book is a guide to our nuclear planet and our nuclear future. Please read it!” Meredith Angwin, author of Shorting the Grid “Rarely do we find a book that is both extremely entertaining and educational to read. This is one of those rare gems.” Rauli Partanen, award-winning energy analyst and CEO of Think Atom “I’ve known for many years that nuclear power is safe, reliable, and one centrally important answer to both air pollution and global warming. What I hadn’t realized is how entertaining a discussion can be of the misunderstandings that complicate its adoption. Earth Is a Nuclear Planet is just that—a great read about a great subject.” Richard Rhodes, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A Human History and The Making of the Atomic Bomb “In this blunt and fact-filled book, the authors prove that we can’t rely on transient energy from the wind and the sun. Instead, we have to charge past unfounded fears about radiation and embrace the staggering power of fission. As B.F. Randall has said, ‘we should be splitting atoms, not mining them’. Highly recommended!” Robert Bryce, author of A Question of Power: Electricity and the Wealth of Nation “A must-read for anyone, but particularly fellow Greens and environmentalists who seek a balanced perspective on nuclear energy's potential to shape a sustainable and carbon-neutral future.” Mark Yelland, founder of Greens for Nuclear Energy “Cleverly demystifies radiation and delivers a well-sourced perspective on our clean energy choices.” Rich Powell, CEO of Clear Path and Clear Path Action “If understanding is the antidote to fear and ignorance, then this book is strong medicine. Comprehensive, informative, and fun, it tells the truth about nuclear power and debunks the widespread misinformation about it.” Joshua Goldstein, author of A Bright Future, co-scriptwriter with Oliver Stone of Nuclear Now “The policies we adopt in this decade will determine the planet’s climate for the next ten thousand years. There is one proven path to safety: nuclear power. Anyone seeking a thorough explanation of this path will find it in this book. The authors cover matters from the disposal of nuclear waste to how the health effects of radiation came to be misunderstood, with full technical detail yet in a readable and even entertaining style.” Spencer Weart, author of The Rise of Nuclear Fear “An outstanding primer in a crowded field. The authors have delivered a deeply-informative and well-paced journey through the topic, full of terrific explanations which I look forward to adding to my own communications toolkit. It’s an enjoyable trip up the learning curve, which I wish was available fifteen years ago! With so much at stake in our energy future, our opinions need to be factually informed. This is a great resource for those embarking on that journey.” Ben Heard, founder of Bright New World “Lays to rest the myths we have been told about nuclear power, and gives us hope that we can shift to green energy—abundant enough not just to replace fossil fuels, but to help lift the developing world out of poverty as well.” Kerry Emanuel, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Atmospheric Science, MIT, and publisher of over 200 peer-reviewed scientific paper “A deeply-researched wealth of knowledge, tied together in a cohesive narrative discussing the misperceptions, bad science, and fundamental truth about nuclear power. The authors’ final paragraph sums it all up: ‘A practical solution to the issues we face already exists, and it’s already been proven at scale. The only obstacle is nuclear fear’.” Ray Rothrock, nuclear engineer, philanthropist, and venture investor “Earth Is a Nuclear Planet is a science-focused, passionate rebuttal that aptly addresses and dispels the panic that has been disproportionately directed at the clear advantages of splitting the atom.” Kyle Hill, award-winning science educator and science communication advisor to the White House. “Earth Is a Nuclear Planet is the real story of why we are late—but it’s not too late for our young people’s future.” Dr. James Hansen, world-renowned climate scientist “Nothing in life is without risk. Striking the balance between the risks and benefits of different methods of energy production is paramount. For many years, public attitudes to the risks associated with nuclear power have been led by urban myths rather than scientific evidence. Part of the problem is finding a way to explain a complex area of science in an understandable way. This book seeks to do just this and should lead to a more informed discussion over energy policy in the future.” Dr. Geraldine Thomas, Director of Chernobyl Tissue Bank

Author Information

As a lifelong science nerd, MIKE CONLEY became interested in nuclear power in 2010, and quickly saw that the field was in dire need of writers who could explain the technology to the average reader. So he joined the Thorium Energy Alliance, met dozens of scientists and engineers, and made them an offer: “You explain it to me and I’ll explain it to the world.” The son of a career naval officer, Mike Conley has lived in Yokohama, Oslo, Idaho, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Illinois, Maryland, Hawaii, and California, and has backpacked through Thailand and Cambodia. Born in Chicago, he’s been a resident of Southern California since 1967 and has lived in the Echo Park Hills of Los Angeles since 1994, working on screenplays for Hollywood. TIM MALONEY, PH.D., is a graduate of Case Institute of Technology and the University of Toledo. He has been a start-up engineer and a professor of electronic technology and wrote the standard textbook, Modern Industrial Electronics.

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