阅读理解

Is a car that does not have to be refueled every few hundred miles, with the atom exploding peacefully beneath the bonnet, possible in the future? In theory it is, since already the atom has been harnessed to drive submarines, and an atomic engine is already in existence. But there are many problems still to be conquered before such an engine can in fact be fixed into a car.

Now what exactly are these problems that stand between you and the car? Frankly, most of them can be summed up in one word—radiation. An atomic reactor, the kind of engine that would produce energy by atomsplitting, throws off radiation, extremely dangerous radiation. These rays are just as dangerous as when they are released from an atomic bomb. This radiation penetrates anything except the thickest concrete and lead, with fatal results for anybody in its path. Thus, at the moment, any car carrying an atomic engine would also have to carry many tons of lead in order to prevent the radiation from escaping.

Since a car made up of tons of lead is rather impracticable, the only answer at the moment seems to be the discovery or invention of a metal that will be strong enough to hold in the rays, but at the same time light enough for a vehicle to carry, with ease and economy. Most likely this metal would have to be synthetic, since no natural metal except lead has yet proved fit for the job. When this light metal is invented, the motoring world will be well on the way to an atomic car. However, even after the invention of a protective but light metal, two other problems still remain, those of economics and safety.

But then the problem of safety still remains. Suppose that there is a road accident involving one, or perhaps two, atomic cars, and that the atomic reactor or its protective covering was damaged. Any explosion would be equal to that of a very small atomic bomb. The effects of such an explosion would be felt for several miles around. As will be realized, this is perhaps the biggest problem of all to overcome.