Science, Technology, and Society (2nd Sem 2019-2020)

Gallo, Isiah Jeremy B. 11-25-29

BABR 1-2

‘What is it about?’
The episode is about the explosion of a nuclear power plant specifically the core where the workers are
confused and being silenced by the higher-ups claiming that the explosion was not possible. The chief engineer
said that he measured 200 Roentgen (Legacy unit of measurement for the exposure of X-rays and gamma rays)
but again, the higher-ups didn’t believe them and just downsized the whole situation as a mild incident that
wasn’t fatal. There was also graphite found on the power plant coming from the explosion of the core which
affected the firemen responding to the area but the committees in charge of the nuclear power plant didn’t tell
them.
‘What is the science/technology behind the event?’
A nuclear power plant made to meet the energy requirements for the city of Pripyat named Chernobyl. The
power plant was consisted of 4 RBMK reactors each capable of producing 1000 megawatts (MW) and produced
about 10% of Ukraine’s electricity at the time. It was the time of the rise of the nuclear power plants as the
Obninsk, the first power plant was built on 1954 while Chernobyl was built in 1983. The method of making
nuclear energy was a process of splitting atoms placed in a reactor core which produces a chain reaction then
the control rods absorb the free floating neutrons during the fission process which are then released into cooling
water to contain the radiation and make the reactor safe and stable (that’s why in the episode, the engineer told
his comrades to pour water on the reactor). The heat and the radiation heat the water then the water carries the
heat and steam to power the turbines. Water is an essential part of creating nuclear energy as it flows the energy
released and also cools the reactor in the process.
‘How did it impact the people/society?’
the people were unaware of what was happening before their eyes. Firemen responding to the disaster were just
as clueless as the people watching from a distance (which the radiation eventually reached). One fireman held a
piece of Graphite without knowing it and moments later his hand starts to bleed and gets marks from the
Graphite he picked up. The devastation of the high amount of radiation was very fatal as it caused redness of the
skin and made people vomit while also affecting the skin which seems to be one of the first signs of being
exposed to radiation (aside from the skin being affected).
‘Reflect on how science, technology and society are interrelated based on what you have watched.’
The evolution of science and technology are always used to improve the way a society lives. We see the
development of Virtual Reality (VR) which changes the way people see games as we are being exposed to
virtual worlds. VRchat is a game that is a social hub of everyone using VR and users have said that it was a
different experience as they felt they were really in a room with the person they’re talking to online. Internet
being widely available to billions of people in the world can now communicate with each other either through
emails or voice chat that makes a huge difference because people don’t need to travel anymore to just talk. You
could do it with just one click of a button. We are in the digital age where everything seems to be advancing at a
rapid rate and with the science and technology that is ever-changing, the society adapts to that change until it
evolves into something better and more efficient and thus the society evolves with it and the cycle continues.