What is nuclear energy?
We’re all familiar with the word ‘nuclear’ either from movies, tv shows, or even books. Even if you’re not, we’re here to help you out! The word nuclear is often paired with the word energy. Everything in our universe is made of very small particles called atoms. Nuclear energy is the energy that is found at the centre of the atoms. Atoms can release energy in two ways: nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. We have only been using nuclear fission until now because it is much easier to use than nuclear fusion.
What makes nuclear energy so important and how are we using it?
Nuclear energy is one of the most environmentally friendly ways to produce energy. It does not release any harmful greenhouse gases, unlike fossil fuels like coal. Today, nuclear fission is used to power large towns and even some parts of cities all over the world. Even then, scientists are working hard to get energy from nuclear fusion. This is because the energy it generates is much more than nuclear fission.
What have scientists discovered recently?
Nuclear fusion happens at very high temperatures. Even as you read this article, nuclear fusion is happening in the sun and the stars.
In nuclear fusion, a large amount of energy is released continuously. This is why the sun and stars continue to shine brightly! This is called ignition. Recently, scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) created ignition for a short time and generated a small amount of energy. That’s a huge win for science!
Is nuclear energy the future of energy generation?
Good question. Nuclear energy could very well be the future of energy generation especially because it is more environmentally friendly than fossil fuels. Scientists around the world are working hard to find a way to convert energy produced by nuclear fusion into electricity. But there is still a long way to go!
One thing is for certain - everyone is trying to move away from burning fossil fuels!
