Nuclear energy, in terms of an overall safety record, is better than other energy.
Bill GatesRead
The nuclear industry has this amazing record, even equipment from generations one and two. But nuclear mishaps tend to come in these big events - Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, and now Fukushima - so it's more visible.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The nuclear industry has a strong safety record, but high-profile accidents attract significant attention and fear.
Bill Gates highlights the paradox of the nuclear industry, which, despite its remarkable safety track record across generations of technology, is often overshadowed by catastrophic incidents like Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, and Fukushima. These high-profile mishaps receive extensive media coverage, creating a public perception that nuclear energy is inherently dangerous, even when statistically, it is one of the safer energy sources available.
Themes
NuclearSafetyAccidentsPerceptionEnergy
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about energy sources and their safety, this quote can illustrate the perception vs reality of nuclear energy.
More from Bill Gates
All quotes →The Internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow.
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With the states release today of a set of clear and consistent academic standards, our nation is one step closer to supporting effective teaching in every classroom, charting a path to college and careers for all students, and developing the tools to help all children stay motivated and engaged in their own education. The more states that adopt these college and career based standards, the closer we will be to sharing innovation across state borders and becoming more competitive as a country.
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About three million computers get sold every year in China, people don't pay for the software. Someday they will, though. And as long as they're going to steal it, we want them to steal ours. They'll get sort of addicted, and then we'll somehow figure out how to collect sometime in the next decade.
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Internet TV and the move to the digital approach is quite revolutionary. TV has historically has been a broadcast medium with everybody picking from a very finite number of channels.
Bill GatesRead
These four policy prescriptions - strengthening educational opportunities, revamping immigration rules for highly skilled workers, increasing federal funding for basic scientific research, and providing incentives for private-sector R&D - should in my view be top priorities as Congress and the Administration consider how to maintain the nation's leadership in science, technology, and innovation.
Bill GatesRead
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