My research topic is Nuclear Energy and the positives and negatives associated with harnessing its power.
The first link I found useful was http://casenergy.org/nuclear-energy/energy-in-your-state/nuclear-energy-in-louisiana/. This link is useful to me because it's an article published by CASEnergy Coalition. Even though this website is technically "biased" because it only provides the positive uses and effects of nuclear energy, all of the information provided is accurate and relevant. I would consider the website a reasonable source even though it doesn't clearly state both sides of the coin of nuclear energy.
The second link I discovered is http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter13.html. This link brings you to a page that is relatively simple but interactive. All the information is straightforward and could be geared towards middle school kids with how easy it is to comprehend. I liked this website in particular because it has two links that describe the differences between nuclear fusion and fission in comprehensive language. Often times when one looks for information comparing and contrasting fusion and fission they are escorted to websites that have information written for scientists or in a very complex fashion. I enjoyed this website for the reason that it is user friendly to the common person while still providing useful and accurate information.
Perhaps the best source I have found so far is http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Physical_Chemistry/Nuclear_Chemistry/Fission_and_Fusion. I like this source because it is a sub page within the UC Davis website with accurate information provided by the college's school of chemistry. Even though my research paper is on Nuclear Energy, one must understand the sub topics of fusion and fission to better understand the chemistry of how Nuclear Energy is created. Within this website virtually everything about fusion and fission is explained. From the abstract ideas for harnessing its power, down to the science of the very atoms that start the chain reactions producing electricity. This website shows no bias towards the use of Nuclear Energy and has scientific data and links to back up its substance. I found this website the most informative so far as well as the most complex. I predict this will be the website I use most to support my research.
http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2012/07/is-nuclear-power-good-for-you.html
This is another website I found, it's from a reputable science journal. In the page the author of the article explains why nuclear energy could in fact be beneficial to humans as a population. This article focuses on the idea that nuclear energy produces "cleaner" energy and is better for the environment than other forms of energy.
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/assets/docs_f_o/nuclear_energy_the_good_the_bad_and_the_debatable.pdf
The title of this article basically explains it "The Good the Bad and the Debatable" It basically emphasizes the idea that the exploration of nuclear energy is a very controversial prospect. It explains that what we already know about nuclear energy has greatly advanced our ability to create clean environmentally friendly energy. What the article also explains is that although nuclear energy is a "clean" form of energy, it has severe negatives. The thing I like best about this article is that it completely discusses the scientific reasoning and creation behind nuclear energy. It not only describes the process of how nuclear energy is made but also the exact amounts of waste it creates and how we could dispose of that waste. I think this source will be very useful in providing specific scientific research to support my ideas in my paper.
