Books with author James Mahaffey

A gripping narrative of nuclear mishaps and meltdowns around the globe, all of which have proven pivotal to the advancement of nuclear science.From the moment radiation was discovered in the late nineteenth century, nuclear science has had a rich history of innovative scientific exploration and discovery, coupled with mistakes, accidents, and downright disasters. Mahaffey, a long-time advocate of continued nuclear research and nuclear energy, looks at each incident in turn and analyzes what happened and why, often discovering where scientists went wrong when analyzing past meltdowns. Every incident has lead to new facets in understanding about the mighty atom―and Mahaffey puts forth what the future should be for this final frontier of science that still holds so much promise. 16 pages of color and B&W images, charts and graphs throughout

“Persuasive and based on deep research. Atomic Awakening taught me a great deal."―Nature The American public's introduction to nuclear technology was manifested in destruction and death. With Hiroshima and the Cold War still ringing in our ears, our perception of all things nuclear is seen through the lens of weapons development. Nuclear power is full of mind-bending theories, deep secrets, and the misdirection of public consciousness, some deliberate, some accidental. The result of this fixation on bombs and fallout is that the development of a non-polluting, renewable energy source stands frozen in time. Outlining nuclear energy's discovery and applications throughout history, Mahaffey's brilliant and accessible book is essential to understanding the astounding phenomenon of nuclear power in an age where renewable energy and climate change have become the defining concerns of the twenty-first century.

“Persuasive and based on deep research. Atomic Awakening taught me a great deal."—NatureThe American public's introduction to nuclear technology was manifested in destruction and death. With Hiroshima and the Cold War still ringing in our ears, our perception of all things nuclear is seen through the lens of weapons development. Nuclear power is full of mind-bending theories, deep secrets, and the misdirection of public consciousness, some deliberate, some accidental. The result of this fixation on bombs and fallout is that the development of a non-polluting, renewable energy source stands frozen in time.Outlining nuclear energy's discovery and applications throughout history, Mahaffey's brilliant and accessible book is essential to understanding the astounding phenomenon of nuclear power in an age where renewable energy and climate change have become the defining concerns of the twenty-first century.

Nuclear power is a paradox of danger and salvation―how is it that the renewable energy source our society so desperately needs is the one we are most afraid to use? The American public's introduction to nuclear technology was manifested in destruction and death. With Hiroshima and the Cold War still ringing in our ears, our perception of all things nuclear is seen through the lens of weapons development. Nuclear power is full of mind-bending theories, deep secrets, and the misdirection of public consciousness, some deliberate, some accidental. The result of this fixation on bombs and fallout is that the development of a non-polluting, renewable energy source stands frozen in time. It has been said that if gasoline were first used to make napalm bombs, we would all be driving electric cars. Our skewed perception of nuclear power is what makes James Mahaffey's new look at the extraordinary paradox of nuclear power so compelling. From medieval alchemy to Marie curie, Albert Einstein, and the Manhattan Project, atomic science is far from the spawn of a wicked weapons program. The discovery that the atom can be split brought forth the ultimate puzzle of the modern age: Now that the energy of the universe is available to us, how do we use it? For death and destruction? Or as a fuel for our society that has minimal impact on the environment and future generations? Outlining nuclear energy's discovery and applications throughout history, Mahaffey's brilliant and accessible book is essential to understanding the astounding phenomenon of nuclear power in an age where renewable energy and climate change have become the defining concerns of the twenty-first century.

Newly conceived, safer reactor designs are being built in the United States (and around the world) to replace the 104 obsolete operating nuclear power reactors in this country alone. The designs--which once seemed exotic and futuristic--are now 40 years old, and one by one these vintage Generation II plants will reach the end of productive service in the next 30 years.The Future of Nuclear Power examines the advanced designs, practical concepts, and fully developed systems that have yet to be used. This book introduces readers to the traditional, American system of units, with some archaic terms remaining in use. Ideal for students and teachers interested in the technology of energy production in the next 100 years, this brand-new, full-color resource provides clear explanations of the terms and expressions used almost exclusively in nuclear science and the direction in which nuclear power is expected to go.

“Persuasive and based on deep research. Atomic Awakening taught me a great deal."—NatureThe American public's introduction to nuclear technology was manifested in destruction and death. With Hiroshima and the Cold War still ringing in our ears, our perception of all things nuclear is seen through the lens of weapons development. Nuclear power is full of mind-bending theories, deep secrets, and the misdirection of public consciousness, some deliberate, some accidental. The result of this fixation on bombs and fallout is that the development of a non-polluting, renewable energy source stands frozen in time. Outlining nuclear energy's discovery and applications throughout history, Mahaffey's brilliant and accessible book is essential to understanding the astounding phenomenon of nuclear power in an age where renewable energy and climate change have become the defining concerns of the twenty-first century.

Billions of dollars have been spent and hundreds of reactors have been built, but not a watt of usable power has been produced by a controlled fusion device. Unlike fission systems, precise prediction of fusion system behavior by mathematical means has proven difficult. Still, the advantages of this ultimate source of limitless power are too great to abandon. As energy problems of the world grow, work toward fusion power continues at a greater pace than ever before.The topic of fusion is one that is often met with the most recognition and interest in the nuclear power arena. Written in clear and jargon-free prose, Fusion explores the big bang of creation to the blackout death of worn-out stars. A brief history of fusion research, beginning with the first tentative theories in the early 20th century, is also discussed, as well as the race for fusion power. This brand-new, full-color resource examines the various programs currently being funded or planned as well as the reality of fusion power and the magnitude of the challenge for future scientists and engineers.

The discovery and application of nuclear power is one of the most profound scientific accomplishments of the 20th century, beginning with tentative explorations of the structure of matter, expanding into a rapid succession of unexpected discoveries, and finally settling into a seamless transition from theoretical science to applied engineering. Science transitioned from an academic pursuit to an industry and public safety concerns shifted from boiler explosions on steamboats to nuclear reactor explosions on continents. Written in clear and accessible language, The History of Nuclear Power describes the sequence of these changes, as science and technology rapidly matured more than a hundred years and as the scale of civilization and its energy needs expanded. Providing a fundamental introduction to this complicated subject, this new, full-color resource is ideal for high school and college students interested in the future through a study of the past.

James A. Mahaffey, Ph.D., has more than 25 years' experience as a senior research scientist at the Georgia Tech Research Institute, where he was engaged in a wide variety of projects, ranging from theoretical mathematics to nuclear science. At the Georgia Institute of Technology, he completed undergraduate and master's studies and earned a doctorate there in nuclear engineering. He was director of a long-term project to design and build the Emergency Response Data System at Georgia Power's Plant Hatch nuclear power station. He has also worked on projects for the Defense Nuclear Agency, the National Ground Intelligence Center, and the Air Force Air Logistics Center.