Explore Nuclear

High Level Waste can be stored in gigantic and extremely heavily shielded dry casks during storage or transport.

Enrico Fermi lead an experiment on the 2nd of December 1942, initiating the first human-made self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction.

A worker uses mechanical actuators to handle equipment inside a hot cell. 

Natural draft towers make up the vast majority of cooling towers used at nuclear power stations. They rely on the natural buoyancy of hot air to create a continuous airflow without the need for mechanical assistance.

Nuclear energy has immense potential for heat generation, offering a sustainable and efficient alternative to traditional fossil fuels. Applications could include district heating, chemical production, refining, steel manufacturing, desalination, and hydrogen production.

Almost 50% of radiation the average person receives comes from a gas called Radon.

Three Mile Island Unit 2 experienced a partial core meltdown on the 28th of March 1979.

Nuclear fuel continues to generate heat after fission stops. This is due to the natural radioactivity of the material.

Pseudo-scientific beauty and medical products made with radioactive materials used to be sold under the false pretence of health benefits.

Our ‘Comics’ page lets you go on various illustrated adventures through the history, science, and technology of nuclear energy.

Radioactive waste is stored in many ways. Some Low-Level Waste requires less shielding and containment and can be stored in standard barrels.

Massive generators are mounted in huge concrete structures. The turbines driving the generators are located one level above.

Workers use mechanical actuators to manipulate radioactive materials inside a heavily shielded process line.

A reactor pressure vessel is transported in front of the New York skyline.

Cherenkov radiation is crucial in astrophysics for studying high-energy cosmic phenomena. In high-energy cosmic ray events, particles entering the Earth’s atmosphere create secondary particles that emit Cherenkov radiation in air.

One of the earliest and most ambitious concepts for nuclear space propulsion was Project Orion, developed in the U.S. during the late 1950s. Orion proposed propelling a spacecraft by detonating a series of small nuclear bombs behind it.

Reactor No. 4 of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded on the 26th of April 1986.

Radioactive waste is often stabilised and encased to keep it secure. Vitrification involves embedding waste into glass.

One of the most prominent applications of nuclear batteries is in space missions. Spacecraft often operate far from the Sun or in environments where solar panels are ineffective.

There are lots of paths into the nuclear industry that require no formal education.

Russia uses huge nuclear-powered ice breakers to navigate the Northern Sea Route.

Our ‘Videos’ page lets you learn about nuclear by watching a collection of amazing and insightful videos.

A depleted and highly irradiated fuel unit is inspected for irradiation damage.

Bikini Atoll, a small ring of islands in the Marshall Islands, became a significant site in the history of nuclear weapons testing. Between 1946 and 1958, the United States conducted 23 nuclear tests at this remote location.

If you are pursuing a career in the nuclear industry, our ‘Next Steps’ tool can help you pick the right path for you.

Enriched uranium can be handled by hand. The main danger is not the radiation, but the possibility of heavy metal poisoning.

Las Vegas, nicknamed the ‘Atomic City’, became a hotspot for ‘Atomic Tourism’ during the 1950s. Tourists flocked to the city to watch atomic weapons tests.

A reactor pressure vessel is lowered into its final position.

Uranium is the world’s most energy dense fuel source. One pellet contains as much energy as 1000kg of coal.

Nuclear power stations make up less than 0.3% of the average annual dose to the public.