Often the reaction ejects a particle, usually an electron (beta ray) , helium nucleus (alpha ray), a high energy photon (gamma ray) or a neutron. These particles may pack enough energy to be destructive. So is unchecked fire. Any concentration of energy can be destructive. read more
There are different kinds of nuclear energy, broadly speaking, fission and fusion. No one to date has built a successful fusion reactor, ie one that puts out more power than it consumes, and enough more power so that selling that power will pay for the reactor over time. read more
As INPO, the Institute of Nuclear Power Operators, there are three special characteristsics of nuclear power, as compared to other industries: 1) Nuclear material is radioactive. 2) Nuclear power plants contain all of their fuel for one fuel cycle (18-24 months) in their cores. read more
Nuclear power generation provides outstanding environmental performance. It generates power by utilizing the heat that is released during the nuclear fission of uranium fuel inside a reactor, and like photovoltaic and wind power generation, it releases no CO 2, the primary cause of global warming, nor NOx and SOx, the major sources of air pollution, in the process of generating power. read more