Essay --

Introduction: The Basis for Nuclear Power The technological and scientific undertaking on the discovery of actinides such as uranium, plutonium, and neptunium cannot be ignored. It led, for example to the Manhattan Project of 1945; a Cold War arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union; and more recently, the active development of nuclear weapons by proliferating states, such as North Korea and Iran1-2. Although the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1970 called for peaceful applications of nuclear technology, including technological by-products, derived from nuclear weapons3, environmental problems remain a concern as a byproduct of this age . In accordance to the NPT, efforts to recycle weapons-grade material, as a new energy source, has become an attractive alterative for power generation of the world’s electrical power supply via fuel reactors for two reasons. First, it can curb cost and foreign dependency of oil, by allowing the United States to invest their domestic policies on further development of their nuclear reactors programs. For instance, by August 2000, the average price paid by U.S. refineries for a barrel of oil had risen from $10 to $30 as defined by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)4. Second, nuclear power can take the place of burning fossil fuels by reducing carbon dioxide emission thereby addressing the concern of the greenhouse effect4. Even though nuclear power, accounts for 13-14% worldwide energy5, if nuclear fuel can produce electricity more cheaply compared to coal, gas, or oil, then the desire to be independent of international trade for energy supplies is indeed worthwhile. In sum, nuclear power is a remarkable solution for peaceful uses of energy especially i... ... (CTR) program: the consolidation and security of loose nukes from the former Soviet Union in the nuclear arsenal stockpile21, should also extend to the containment and security of new technologies, such as UOFs at designated nuclear engineering facilities in the United States. As a result, this will help inflate compliance to the NPT, and more importantly, reduce the likelihood of theft from threatening parties. Conclusion Uranyl organic frameworks, as a new fuel alternative is indeed an exciting and promising technology that can mitigate the nuclear waste problem in the United States. Even though UOFs introduce new issues in global security via nuclear proliferation and nonproliferation, the current and proposed safeguards of UOFs will help strengthen the United States posture in the international community by their continual adherence and transparency to the NPT. Essay -- Introduction: The Basis for Nuclear Power The technological and scientific undertaking on the discovery of actinides such as uranium, plutonium, and neptunium cannot be ignored. It led, for example to the Manhattan Project of 1945; a Cold War arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union; and more recently, the active development of nuclear weapons by proliferating states, such as North Korea and Iran1-2. Although the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1970 called for peaceful applications of nuclear technology, including technological by-products, derived from nuclear weapons3, environmental problems remain a concern as a byproduct of this age . In accordance to the NPT, efforts to recycle weapons-grade material, as a new energy source, has become an attractive alterative for power generation of the world’s electrical power supply via fuel reactors for two reasons. First, it can curb cost and foreign dependency of oil, by allowing the United States to invest their domestic policies on further development of their nuclear reactors programs. For instance, by August 2000, the average price paid by U.S. refineries for a barrel of oil had risen from $10 to $30 as defined by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)4. Second, nuclear power can take the place of burning fossil fuels by reducing carbon dioxide emission thereby addressing the concern of the greenhouse effect4. Even though nuclear power, accounts for 13-14% worldwide energy5, if nuclear fuel can produce electricity more cheaply compared to coal, gas, or oil, then the desire to be independent of international trade for energy supplies is indeed worthwhile. In sum, nuclear power is a remarkable solution for peaceful uses of energy especially i... ... (CTR) program: the consolidation and security of loose nukes from the former Soviet Union in the nuclear arsenal stockpile21, should also extend to the containment and security of new technologies, such as UOFs at designated nuclear engineering facilities in the United States. As a result, this will help inflate compliance to the NPT, and more importantly, reduce the likelihood of theft from threatening parties. Conclusion Uranyl organic frameworks, as a new fuel alternative is indeed an exciting and promising technology that can mitigate the nuclear waste problem in the United States. Even though UOFs introduce new issues in global security via nuclear proliferation and nonproliferation, the current and proposed safeguards of UOFs will help strengthen the United States posture in the international community by their continual adherence and transparency to the NPT.