What is Nuclear Energy? The Science of Nuclear Power | IAEA
Nov 15, 2022 — Nuclear fission is a reaction where the nucleus of an atom splits into two or more smaller nuclei, while releasing energy. For instance, when hit by a neutron, the nucleus of an atom of uranium-235 splits into two smaller nuclei, for example a barium nucleus and a krypton nucleus and two or three neutrons.
The 1986 Chornobyl nuclear power plant accident | IAEA
Jun 13, 2013 — On 26 April 1986, the Number Four reactor at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant in what then was the Soviet Union during improper testing at low-power, resulted in loss of control that led to an explosion and fire that demolished the reactor building and released large amounts of radiation into the atmosphere. As safety measures were ignored, the uranium fuel in the reactor
What is Radiation? | IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency
Jan 25, 2023 — Health: thanks to radiation, we can benefit from medical procedures, such as many cancer treatments, and diagnostic imaging methods.; Energy: radiation allows us to produce electricity via, for example, solar energy and nuclear energy.; Environment and climate change: radiation can be used to treat wastewater or to create new plant varieties that are resistant to climate change.
What is Nuclear Fusion? - International Atomic Energy Agency
Aug 3, 2023 — Nuclear fusion and plasma physics research are carried out in more than 50 countries, and recently researchers have finally achieved scientific energy gain in a fusion experiment for the first time.Experts have come up with different designs and magnet-based machines in which fusion takes place, like stellarators and tokamaks, but also approaches that rely on lasers, linear devices and ...
Frequently Asked Chernobyl Questions | IAEA
On April 26, 1986, the Number Four RBMK reactor at the nuclear power plant at Chernobyl, Ukraine, went out of control during a test at low-power, leading to an explosion and fire that demolished the reactor building and released large amounts of radiation into the atmosphere. Safety measures were ignored, the uranium fuel in the reactor overheated and melted through the
What are Isotopes? - IAEA
Aug 19, 2022 — The IAEA helps countries build capacity to use isotopic techniques and to produce radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals. The IAEA assists national experts in enhancing the quality of their analytical measurement data through the provision of reference materials, validated procedures, proficiency tests and guidelines for environmental protection.
Nuclear power and climate change | IAEA
Nov 22, 2024 — Nuclear power is a low-carbon source of energy. In 2018, nuclear power produced about 10 percent of the world’s electricity. Together with the expanding renewable energy sources and fuel switching from coal to gas, higher nuclear power production contributed to the levelling of global CO 2 emissions at 33 gigatonnes in 2019 1/.Clearly, nuclear power – as a dispatchable low carbon source of ...
Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Accident - IAEA
Jan 12, 2024 — The IAEA’s Incident and Emergency Centre (IEC) received information from the International Seismic Safety Centre at approximately 08:15 Vienna Time concerning an earthquake with a magnitude of 9.0 near the east coast of Honshu, Japan’s main island.. This was followed by an accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, which was ultimately categorized as a Level 7 — Major ...
What are Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)? - International Atomic …
Sep 13, 2023 — Small modular reactors (SMRs) have a power capacity of up to 300 MW(e) per unit. Many SMRs, which can be factory-assembled and transported to a location for installation, are envisioned for markets such as industrial applications …
What are Radiopharmaceuticals? - IAEA
Feb 2, 2024 — Radiopharmaceuticals are drugs that contain, among other ingredients, radioactive forms of chemical elements called radioisotopes.Depending on the type of radiation that those radioisotopes produce, they can be used to diagnose or treat several medical conditions. Their applications range from imaging of many different organs, such as brain, heart, kidney and bone, to the treatment of cancer ...