What is nuclear energy?Everything around you is made up of tiny objects called atoms. Most of the mass of each atom is concentrated in the center (which is called the nucleus), and the rest of the mass is in the cloud of electrons surrounding the nucleus. Protons and neutrons are subatomic particles that comprise the nucleus.Under certain circumstances, the nucleus of a very large atom can split in two. In this process, a certain amount of the large atoms mass is converted to pure energy following Einsteins famous formula E = MC2, where M is the small amount of mass and C is the speed of light (averylarge number). In the 1930s and 40s, humans discovered this energy and recognized its potential as a weapon. Technology developed in the Manhattan Project successfully used this energy in a chain reaction to create nuclear bombs. Soon after World War II ended, the newfound energy source found a home in the propulsion of the nuclear navy, providing submarines with engines that could run for over a year without refueling. This technology was quickly transferred to the public sector, where commercial power plants were developed and deployed to produce electricity.Fission and FusionThere are two fundamental nuclear processes considered for energy production: fission and fusion. Fissionis the energetic splitting of large atoms such as Uranium or Plutonium into two smaller atoms, called fission products. To split an atom, you have to hit it with a neutron. Several neutrons are also released which can go on to split other nearby atoms, producing a nuclear chain reaction of sustained energy release. This nuclear reaction was the first of the two to be discovered. All commercial nuclear power plantsin operation use this reaction to generate heat which they turn into electricity. Fusionis the combining of two small atoms such as Hydrogen or Helium to produce heavier atoms and energy. These reactions can release more energy than fission without producing as many radioactive byproducts. Fusion reactions occur in the sun, generally using Hydrogen as fuel and producing Helium as waste (fun fact: Helium was discovered in the sun and named after the Greek Sun God, Helios). This reaction has not been commercially developed yet and is a serious research interest worldwide, due to its promise of limitless, pollution-free, and non-proliferation features.Advantages of Nuclear EnergyDespite potential drawbacks and the controversy that surrounds it, nuclear energy does have a few advantages over some other methods of energy production.ExpenseLess uraniumis needed to produce the same amount of energy as coal or oil, which lowers the cost of producing the same amount of energy. Uranium is also less expensive to procure and transport, which further lowers the cost.ReliabilityWhen a nuclear power plant is functioning properly, it can run uninterrupted for up to 540 days. This results in fewer brownouts or other power interruptions. The running of the plant is also not contingent of weather or foreign suppliers, which makes it more stable than other forms of energy.No Greenhouse GasesWhile nuclear energy does have some emissions, the plant itselfdoes not give offgreenhouse gasses.Studieshave shown that what life-cycle emissions that the plants do give off are on par with renewable energy sources such as wind power. This lack of greenhouse gases can be very attractive to some consumers.Disadvantages of Nuclear EnergyOne of the reasons that nuclear energy falls under fire so frequently is due to the many disadvantages it brings.Raw MaterialUranium is used in the process of fission because it's anaturally unstableelement. This means that special precautions must be taken during the mining, transporting and storing of the uranium, as well as the storing of any waste product to prevent it from giving off harmful levels of radiation.Water PollutantNuclear fission chambers arecooled by water. This water is then turned into steam, which is used to power the turbines. When the water cools enough to change back into liquid form, it is pumped outside into nearby wetlands. While measures are taken to ensure that no radiation is being pumped into the environment, otherheavy metals and pollutantscan make their way out of the chamber. The immense heat given off by this water can also be damaging to eco systems located nearby the reactor.WasteWhen the uranium has finished splitting, the resulting radioactive byproducts need to be removed. Whilerecycling effortsof this waste product have been undertaken in recent years, thestorageof the byproduct could lead to contamination through leaks or containment failures.LeaksNuclear reactors are built with severalsafety systemsdesigned to contain the radiation given off in the fission process. When these safety systems are properly installed and maintained, they function adequately. When they are not maintained, have structural flaws or were improperly installed, a nuclear reactor could release harmful amounts of radiation into the environment during the process of regular use. If a containment field were to rupture suddenly, the resulting leak of radiation could be catastrophic.Shutdown ReactorsThere have been several nuclear reactors that have failed and been shutdown that are stillin existence. These abandoned reactors are taking up valuable land space, could be contaminating the areas surrounding them, yet are often too unstable to be removed.IAEA- International Atomic Energy Agency