Steven Chu

Steven Chu's Opinions

Science Is fusion power feasible as the next major energy source? Mostly Disagree ... After 60 years of research we are not yet close. The most optimistic researchers predict that maybe in 40 or 50 years, commercial energy sources based on nuclear fusion may become possible. At the present, nuclear fusion remains a research program. We should continue to do research in fusion, but we cannot put all our eggs in one basket. Edit Pitches 08 Jul 2005    Source Is global warming caused primarily by humans? Mostly Agree There are stronger and stronger indications that global warming is happening, that it's caused by humans, and its consequences are looking more and more ominous. You can draw a parallel to the early days of [research into] cigarette smoking, the '50s and '60s, where scientists said, "Hey, there seems to be a link between lung cancer and cigarette smoking." The Analogy Pitch   The History Repeats Pitch   Edit Pitches 30 Sep 2005    Source Politics Should the world embrace nuclear energy? Agree [Should fission-based nuclear power plants be made a bigger part of the energy-producing portfolio?] Absolutely. Right now about 20 percent of our power comes from nuclear; there have been no new nuclear plants built since the early '70s. The real rational fears against nuclear power are about the long-term waste problem and [nuclear] proliferation. Edit Pitches 30 Sep 2005    Source Is nuclear energy safe enough to justify its use? Mostly Agree Right now, compared to conventional coal, [the risk-benefit equation looks pretty good for nuclear. The question is] - what are the lesser of two evils? But if we can reduce the volume and the lifetime of the [nuclear] waste, that would tip it very much against conventional coal. Edit Pitches 30 Sep 2005    Source Is Yucca mountain the best place to store nuclear waste? Neutral Although President-elect Obama and others have voiced opposition to Yucca based on concerns over safety, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, whose job it is to make such determinations, is currently reviewing the Department of Energy's application to build Yucca. It should be allowed to carry out its mission. Edit Pitches 29 Jan 2009    Source

Economics Will energy scarcity cause a severe world depression? Disagree I deeply believe that in my heart and soul, that science, when put to the task, can and will I think give us much better energy solutions. [For example,] an early crisis Europe faced at the beginning of the transition from the 19th to the 20th century was [that] the constant agriculture on pieces of land depleted the soils..... And so what happened was, German chemists invented a way to synthesize ammonia, which became the basis of nitrogen fertilizer [and] got a Nobel Prize for that. Edit Pitches 09 Mar 2009    Source Are biofuels good? Agree [I Announce Nearly $800 Million from Recovery Act to Accelerate Biofuels Research and Commercialization.] Developing the next generation of biofuels is key to our effort to end our dependence on foreign oil and address the climate crisis -- while creating millions of new jobs that can't be outsourced. With American investment and ingenuity -- and resources grown right here at home -- we can lead the way toward a new green energy economy. Edit Pitches 05 May 2009    Source

Comparisons with Other Experts and Influencers

The similarity between Steven Chu and each expert and influencer is calculated by looking at how the same questions were answered. These figures are used to calculate conforming, nonconforming, and projected opinions. The accuracy of the analysis depends on Steven Chu's coverage, which grows with the number of their opinions entered into TakeOnIt.

Conforming Opinions

Steven Chu's conforming opinions are opinions that align with the group of experts and influencers Steven Chu typically agrees with.

Nonconforming Opinions

Steven Chu's nonconforming opinions are opinions that contradict the group of experts and influencers Steven Chu typically agrees with.

Projected Opinions

Steven Chu's projected opinions are opinions Steven Chu is expected to have if their opinions align with the experts and influencers that they typically agree with.