Explore Nuclear

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

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

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

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

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.

A reactor pressure vessel is lowered into its final position.

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

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

The construction of RBMK reactors began in the 1970s, a time of significant geopolitical tension. By building some of the largest and most powerful reactors in the world, the Soviet Union aimed to project an image of scientific and industrial superiority.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

Nuclear propulsion systems offer significantly higher specific impulse compared to chemical rockets. This means they use fuel more efficiently, allowing spacecraft to carry heavier payloads or travel longer distances with less propellant.

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

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

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

Workers observe instruments in the main control room.

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.

A nuclear submarine can remain submerged for months, limited only by the crew’s food supply and psychological endurance.

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

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

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

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.

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

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