Nuclear energy
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This article originated from the Critical Issues Program authored by the American Geosciences Institute. To learn more about AGI or the Critical Issues Program, visit http://www.americangeosciences.org/critical-issues. |
Nuclear energy is released from the fission of heavy elements like uranium, a weakly radioactive metal found around the world. Fission splits large atoms into smaller atoms, releasing enormous amounts of energy. During electricity generation, the process of fission emits only water vapor but leaves behind spent fuel, which remains highly radioactive. Milling uranium, processing uranium into nuclear fuel, and operating nuclear power plants all create various types of nuclear waste, both low-level and high-level.
Why does nuclear energy matter?
The United States has used nuclear power since the mid-20th century. Nuclear energy makes up around 20% of U.S. electricity supply. There are currently one-hundred commercial nuclear reactors operating at sixty-two nuclear power plants in thirty-one states.[1]
How does geoscience help inform decisions about nuclear energy?
Geoscientists find and extract our supply of heavy elements like uranium. They evaluate the safety of nuclear power plants to withstand natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods, and tsunamis, and also play a central role in identifying safe options for short- and long-term management of nuclear wastes, including underground storage of spent-fuel and high-level waste.
Introductory resources
- Nuclear Explained, Energy Information Administration
- This web article provides an overview of nuclear energy, uranium as a fuel for nuclear fission, the operation of U.S. nuclear power plants, the nuclear fuel cycle (uranium exploration, mining, milling, conversion, and enrichment, fuel use, and fuel disposal), uranium sources, status of the U.S. nuclear industry and power plants, and environmental impacts of nuclear power.
- What You Need to Know About Energy: Nuclear, The National Academies
- An overview of the role of nuclear energy in the United States, the benefits and disadvantages of nuclear, and opportunities and challenges for using nuclear energy in the future.
Frequent questions
- What are the major sources and users of energy in the United States?
- How much electricity does a typical nuclear power plant generate?
- How many nuclear power plants are there in the U.S.?
References
- ↑ Nuclear Explained: U.S. Nuclear Industry, EIA, http://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=nuclear_use
See also
- Nuclear Energy Basics, American Geosciences Institute
- Coal
- Geothermal
- Hydraulic fracturing
- Oil and gas
- Renewable energy
External links
| find literature about Nuclear energy |
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