Cooling towers are not the only way to remove waste heat. Power stations located on the coast will typically use fresh seawater instead.

Power generation is the leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions, primarily due to the use of fossil fuels such as oil or coal. 

Spent nuclear fuel is highly radioactive and is only handled remotely by huge machines and typically while submerged under water.

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.

Some nuclear reactor types use gases to cool the reactor core instead of water. A common example is Carbon Dioxide.

Companies from across the world are racing to be the first to successfully design and build a Small Modular Reactor.

The energy released during a fission reaction comes from mass being turned into energy.

Two workers are moving a set of canisters which contain fuel elements. A reactor building can be seen in the background, along with several steam generators.

Calder Hall was the world’s first full-scale nuclear power station when it was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1956.

France used nuclear energy to generate almost 80% of its total energy between the mid 90s and the mid 2010s.

Heavy water, sometimes used in reactors, can be lethal in higher concentrations as it inhibits cell division.

Americium-241 is used as a sealed alpha-emitting source in smoke detectors.

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.

Workers observe instruments in the main control room.

A worker inspects the reactor loading face. 

A reactor is filled to the brim with control instrumentation which monitors every aspect of the reactor’s operation.

Various well known automotive manufacturers created concepts for nuclear-powered cars.

Huge steam turbines are used to convert heat into rotational energy. The rotational energy is converted to electricity by generators.

Nuclear fuel typically contains around 5% of the fissile U-235 isotope. Natural uranium only contains about 0.7% of this isotope.

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

Containment buildings prevent radioactive release, act as radiation shielding, and protect the reactor from external threats.

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

The Core of Windscale Unit 1 overheated and caught fire on the 10th of October 1957.

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

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is the world’s central intergovernmental forum for cooperation in the nuclear field.

Workers move about the area above the opened reactor pressure tank. The area was often used for monitoring or assembling experimental equipment.

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

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

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

The Gilbert Lab was a children’s toy which featured real uranium ore and various radiation detectors.

‘The China Syndrome’ was a movie about an accident at a nuclear plant and was released just 12 days prior to the Three Mile Island accident.

Fuel rods and fuel assemblies can be enormous. They are typically up to 4 metres long.

Atomic weapons release so much energy that temperatures over 100 million degrees Celsius can be reached during the reaction.

Fusion is the process that powers the sun and other stars, where hydrogen nuclei fuse together to form helium.

Our ‘Music’ page lets you enjoy a tumultuous collection of nuclear themed songs which tend to err on the sillier side.

Gas centrifuges are a common way of enriching uranium. To achieve this, the devices must spin at over 50000 rotations per minute.

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

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

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

At 05:29:21 MWT on the 16th of July 1945 the world’s first nuclear weapon was detonated by the United States.

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

70% of nuclear reactors worldwide are Pressurised Water Reactors. Boiling Water Reactors are the second most common type.

Transport flasks for nuclear materials are built to withstand immense impacts and other serious hazards they might encounter as they are moved across the country.

Our careers quiz lets you quickly and easily find the ideal job for you in the nuclear industry.

Uranium goes through a range of different stages to turn it into nuclear fuel. The most recognisable of these is called yellowcake.

To prevent the unwanted movement of radioactive contamination, portable surface contamination meters are used to monitor people and objects as they leave controlled areas.

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

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

The containment building is the third layer of containment, enclosing the reactor and typically also the primary cooling circuit.

Water in a PWR primary circuit is heated to around 300 degrees Celsius and kept under extreme pressure to prevent it from turning to steam.

A tsunami caused extensive damage to Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant on the 11th of March 2011, eventually leading to the release of radioactive material into the environment.

Cherenkov radiation causes a blue shine under water. The phenomenon is caused by charged particles traveling through the medium.

Uranium can be used to stain glass, resulting in a yellow or green colour, as well as glowing bright green under UV light.

Gamma radiation can be used to confirm the integrity of welds, metal components, or even buildings.

Our ‘3D Models / Simulations’ page lets you look inside the depths of a nuclear reactor and even take control of a complete power station.

Reactor coolant removes heat from the reactor core and transfers it to the secondary circuit for electricity generation.

Uranium takes its name from a planet in our solar system. Uranium was discovered in 1789 and named after the recently discovered planet Uranus.

U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower delivered his ‘Atoms for Peace’ speech to the UN General Assembly on December 8, 1953.

Pressurised Water Reactor fuel assemblies contain hundreds of individual fuel rods. The tubes containing control rods can be seen in the gap between the fuel rods and the assembly head.

Boilers turn water into steam using heat from the reactor. Heat that cannot be extracted from the steam is later rejected into the atmosphere using the cooling towers.

Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs) are the second most common nuclear reactor type and work by heating water in the core until it turns into steam, which then goes on to drive turbines.

The NS Savannah was the world’s first civilian ship powered by a nuclear reactor.

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

Launched on the 21st of January 1954, USS Nautilus became the first nuclear powered submarine.

Wilhelm Röntgen took the world’s first medical X-Ray on the 22nd of December 1895. Shown is his wife’s hand, wearing a ring.

Atoms with the same number of protons but varying number of neutrons are known as isotopes.

Otto Hahn and Lise Meitner are two of the four scientists credited with discovering fission in December of 1938.

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

To avoid exposing people to radiation, the movement of waste packages is done via automated cranes in modern facilities. The facilities are also heavily shielded.

Fuel cladding is the first layer of containment and performs the crucial job of retaining highly radioactive fission products.

Uranium is not the only nuclear fuel. Other fissile elements like Plutonium or even fuel mixtures can be used for energy generation.

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

The primary cooling circuit of Pressurised Water Reactors is under extreme pressure requiring very thick and sturdy pipework.

Nuclear energy generates the lowest greenhouse gas emissions of all major energy sources.

In December 1903, Pierre Curie, Marie Curie, and Henri Becquerel were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their joint research on radiation.

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

Steam generators act as the interface between the primary and secondary cooling circuit, transferring heat away from the reactor.

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

Carbon dating uses the half-life properties of the radioactive Carbon-14 isotope to determine the age of substances.

A series of equipment is used to control the steam as energy is extracted from it. The steam eventually turns back into liquid water and is returned to the boilers.

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

The nuclear industry is made up of many different occupations and specialisms. You can learn about these using our ‘Workforce’ section.

Space craft can be powered using radioactive materials. NASA has flown more than 25 missions carrying a nuclear power system.

Across all life-cycle aspects, nuclear uses vastly less land per unit of electricity than any other energy source.

A number of uranium cubes produced during the Manhattan Project. 

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

Our ‘Nuclear Insights’ section lets you explore a vast range of pages explaining the many different facets of nuclear.

Radiotherapy uses radiation to target and kill cancerous cells. The materials used are typically made in a nuclear reactor.

This cross-sectional cut of a nuclear waste container reveals how spent nuclear fuel assemblies are stored. The wall of the container includes radiation absorbing material and the exterior is covered with heat fins.

Our ‘Journeys through Nuclear’ section makes it easy to learn about nuclear using a simple to follow, step-by-step format.

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

Alpha particles have a large mass and slow speeds. They can be stopped easily by paper and air.

Glove boxes are sealed containers which can be used to manually handle dangerous materials. They are used in many industries, including nuclear.

A reactor pressure vessel for a pressurised water reactor is upended.

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

Advanced fuel technologies reimagine how nuclear fuel works and looks. A promising concept is the use of pebbles instead of rods.

Our ‘Museum’ section lets you immerse yourself in the incredible moments and items that define the industry. 

Attempts were made to create nuclear powered aircraft. This aircraft carried a reactor to test radiation shielding.

Decommissioning is the process of shutting down, cleaning up, and dismantling a nuclear power station.

Steam generators are stored on their side prior to installation.

Nuclear propulsion is commonplace in military vessels such as submarines, aircraft carriers, and even ice breakers.

If nuclear fuel is reprocessed, only 3% of the spent fuel goes to waste. The rest can be reused.