One way to determine the age of the earth is to measure the ratio of certain radioactive elements to their more stable forms. By comparing the amount of radioactive form of an object with the stable one and by knowing how long it takes to turn from one to the other, scientists can estimate the age of the object. Some people argue that the decay rate has not always been the same and that it can be much faster than scientists have measured in labs. Nuclear power plants use radioactive elements to produce power because, during the decay process, energy is released.

If scientists are wrong about the Earth's age based on radioactive material and the decay rates are really much faster, how would nuclear power plants be affected?

A. Nuclear fuel would remain useful longer.
B. The rate of energy release would be higher.
C. The amount of energy released would be less.
D. Nuclear Fuel would generate less radioactivity.