In 1984, alarms at a Pennsylvania nuclear plant indicated that radiation had contaminated an engineer. Initially, investigators suspected that the contamination had occurred at the plant. It turned out that plant employees had more to fear from their houses than from their workplace. On the show Rhodes subsequently interviewed radiation biologist John Moulder, who explained that the effects of a dose of natural radiation are identical to the effects of the same dose of man-made radiation. We haven't needed nuclear power in America, so we enjoy the luxury of investing it with our nuclear fears.
Civilizations run on energy.
Kenneth Smith is an editorial writer for The Washington Times .