Physicists, who have been involved with jobs in energy, are aware of the dangers and potential benefits of fission. As they continued to unveil the structure of atoms in the 1930s, they tried to control the rate of radioactive emissions and harness the energy. During the 1940s and 1950s, American physicists dedicated much of their research to the development of nuclear weapons and nuclear-powered submarines. It was not until 1957 that Americans used their technical knowledge of nuclear sciences toward peaceful uses, establishing the first nuclear plant in Shipping Port, Pennsylvania. More than three decades have passed since the United States initiated its Atoms for Peace program to promote peaceful uses of nuclear energy as a national objective. During the 1970s, nuclear energy-related activity in the United States grew rapidly, with the number of firms involved in the manufacture and delivery of nuclear-related products and services more than doubling. Although much of this growth occurred in major areas of nuclear energy activity, a large number of firms were engaged in many other related activities, such as nuclear facility maintenance, protective clothing, transportation and shipping, environmental monitoring equipment services, information services, and training of nuclear plant personnel. In addition, other nuclear-related activities, such as radioisotope products and radiography services, continued to expand. The United States nuclear energy industry has matured and shifted from emphasis on research and development to large-scale commercial activities.
Other than nuclear energy, there are many industries involved with the nuclear sciences. Nuclear instrument manufacturing is one of them. With their energy careers, engineers, and technicians are employed by companies that make reactor control instruments and radiation detection and monitoring devices. Perhaps the most versatile use of nuclear energy is the use radioisotopes as tracers to follow what is happening in dynamic systems. Very few areas of scientific research have not benefited from the judicious use of radioisotopes in one form or another. Radioisotopes also provide the medical profession with diagnostic and therapeutic techniques in the battle against disease. Medical technicians work closely with physicians in the application of these techniques. Meanwhile, one common medical use of radioisotopes is to determine how the thyroid gland of a patient is functioning. Other widespread applications arising from the development of the nuclear industry is radioisotope radiography. Radiography is the use of penetrating radiation, such as gamma or x rays, to examine voids in solid or welded specimens. These radiographic devices are often called cameras since they function in relatively the same way.
In the energy job process, nuclear weapons and defense material production works extensively with nuclear materials. The production of nuclear weapons, weapons components, and other defense materials require large numbers of physicists, chemists, mechanical, electrical, and electronics engineers. Over a thousand private companies are engaged in manufacturing and selling of a variety of nuclear products and services, such as nuclear reactors, neutron howitzers, radiation detection equipment, and other items that are used in colleges, universities, and research and development facilities.
As for energy employment, most of the people working in nuclear energy are engaged in designing and engineering nuclear facilities; and developing and manufacturing nuclear weapons, nuclear reactors, and reactor components. Many people are also involved in research and development. Most people working in this field are scientists, engineers, technicians, and craft workers. Other large groups of employees are service workers in production operations and office personnel in administrative and clerical jobs. One dedicated specialist here is a nuclear physicist. Someone in that field studies the properties of materials or matter as they conduct research into the building blocks that make up subatomic particles. Much of the nuclear-related research and development activities are government-funded, and most of the activity is located in government-owned, contractor-operated facilities. Employment of nuclear engineers is expected to slightly increase, especially to other developing countries that are capable to finance nuclear energy facilities. Furthermore, for the experimental research and theoretical study of nuclear physics, many in the profession will be employed by the universities, while other professors are also involved with private business research works.
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