What is nuclear power? Is it safe and eco friendly? All I really know about it if from watching The Simpsons and hearing about chernobyl. But I somehow don’t think theres drums of glowing gloop laying around anywhere!
In: Technology
Everything around you is made up of atoms. In the late 1930s, it was discovered that some particularly large atoms can split in two (or *fission*), releasing a shockingly large amount of energy. When these atoms are arranged properly in a machine, one splitting atom can cause nearby ones to split, creating a chain reaction. Such a machine is called a *nuclear reactor*, and can convert the nuclear energy into electricity, shaft horsepower (for submarines, etc.), building heating, desalinated water, and lots of other things useful to civilization. Today, nuclear power plants worldwide produce around 400 GW of electricity, enough to power 400 million average households.
Nuclear energy is controversial due to concerns about radiation. Public support varies geographically, but nuclear is generally among the least popular forms of energy.
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