Scientists FINALLY Revealed The First Ever Thorium Reactor!
The Fukushima disaster reminded us all of the dangers of uranium-fueled nuclear reactors. The nuclear power plant, which was severely damaged by the earthquake on March 11 2011, is home to a total of six reactors, all of which went operational in the 1970s. The subsequent struggle to contain the fuel rods and keep them cool brought to light just how energetic uranium fission reactions are and how difficult it is to maintain control over them. Of course, that level of energy is precisely why we use nuclear energy - it is an incredibly efficient source of power, produces very few emissions, and has an excellent safety record to boot. On the other hand, when people talk about how nuclear power is beneficial, but uranium is risky, they frequently bring up an excellent point: what about thorium? A nuclear reactor powered by thorium rather than uranium would provide enough energy for thousands of years, but it's nowhere to be found today. The question then becomes, what went wrong, and given that scientists are now theorizing that it is possible, is thorium on the verge of making a comeback? Come along with us in today's video to get the lowdown on what's going on with nuclear reactors that run on thorium!
Nuclear energy is a type of energy released by the nucleus, the core of an atom composed of protons and neutrons. This type of energy can be generated in two ways: fission (when atom nuclei split into several parts) or fusion (when nuclei fuse together). Current nuclear power plants use fission to produce electricity, while research and development into fusion power plants continues in the background. So, what exactly is nuclear fission? Nuclear fission is a reaction in which an atom's nucleus splits into two or more smaller nuclei while spewing energy. When hit by a neutron, the nucleus of an atom of uranium-235, for example, splits into two smaller nuclei, such as a barium nucleus and a krypton nucleus, as well as two or three neutrons. These extra neutrons will collide with other nearby uranium-235 atoms, splitting and producing additional neutrons in a multiplying effect, resulting in a chain reaction in a fraction of a second. Every time the reaction occurs, energy is released in the form of heat and radiation. In a nuclear power plant, the heat can be converted into electricity in the same way that heat from fossil fuels such as coal, gas, and oil is used to generate electricity. Disclaimer:
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