The Truth They Never Told You About Nuclear Power

Atomic energy and nuclear energy are terms that are often used interchangeably, but are they actually the same thing? They are both defined by their relation to the parts of an atom. Atoms include a nucleus and an electron cloud around the nucleus. The nucleus is made up of subatomic particles, protons, and neutrons. Each has different electrical charges: Protons are positive, electrons are negative, and neutrons have zero charge. This affects their interactions with each other (via Britannica). Energy is what holds all the parts of the atom together.

When we generally think of nuclear reactors, we think of the ones created by humans. They're anthropogenic and technically artificial, designed and manufactured specifically to slow the process of nuclear fission, producing energy as an alternative to coal power (via the U.S. Office of Nuclear Energy). But surprisingly, nuclear reactors aren't solely human-made. So far, only one naturally occurring nuclear reactor has ever been discovered as of this writing, but the keywords here are "naturally occurring." Located in Gabon, Africa, this natural reactor has puzzled scientists and appears to have been created under a unique set of circumstances unlikely to be replicated anywhere else on Earth.

For many of us, the term "nuclear meltdown" scares up images of mushroom clouds and fireballs blasting their way to the center of the Earth, "China Syndrome" style. Although nuclear power plants are designed with safety, not destruction, in mind, the risk of deadly contamination is always there. As noted by the BBC, Russia's bombardment of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Enerhodar -– the largest plant in Europe -– and the takeover of the defunct Chernobyl plant in northern Ukraine revived global concerns about nuclear plant meltdowns not expressed since Japan's Fukushima reactor accident in 2011. Haunted by the possibility of nuclear plants in Ukraine being misused during military operations, fears about worst-case scenarios have reignited.

Most plants have automatic cooling systems in place to prevent explosive elements from leaking into the atmosphere. But when natural disasters — or in some cases, potential damages or disruptions from weapons or rockets —occur, the system threatens to overheat.

Sometimes, people get weird ideas about alternative and renewable energy. It might be because it's a technology that they're not quite used to. Humans have gotten electricity from coal or electricity ever since, well, electricity was discovered. The first electric power plant in the world used steam power, said the New York Landmarks Preservation Commission. Even in 1882, people spread myths about electricity, ideas that we now find ridiculous. The 23rd president of the United States, Benjamin Harrison, was afraid of it.