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How a Nuclear Reactor Works
Over the years, nuclear reactors have been viewed as both a miracle and a menace. How does a nuclear reactor do its job? And what happens when something goes wrong?
NUCLEAR SCIENCE
Nuclear science is the study of sub-atomic particles and their application in various disciplines. Here you can learn about nuclear power plants, atomic theory and radiation.
Stuff You Should Know
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Alpha, Beta or Gamma? It's the Nuclear Radiation QuizWe live in a radioactive world, and we're not just talking about the times when a nuclear plant is melting down and scaring the heck out of us. How much do you know about the ABGs (or alphas, betas and gammas) of nuclear radiation? See more »
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Can people get poisoned by indirect exposure to polonium-210?
British authorities have found traces of polonium-210 in at least five buildings and three British Airways jets since Alexander Litvinenko fell ill. See more »
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Fact or Fiction: Radiation Sickness
Radiation sickness is a horrible way to die, but fortunately it's pretty rare to encounter enough radiation to suffer from it. It has been the cause of some of the more bizarre incidents in history since we began studying and using radioactive materials. See more »
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How a Nuclear Reactor Works
Over the years, nuclear reactors have been viewed as both a miracle and a menace. How does a nuclear reactor do its job? And what happens when something goes wrong? See more »
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How Atom Smashers Work
Atom smashers tell us about the fundamental structure of matter, the forces holding it together and the origins of the universe. Discover how scientists use particle accelerators to break atoms apart to learn about the nature of reality. See more »
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How Atomic Clocks Work
When the power goes out and is later restored, how do you know what time to set your clocks to? Have you ever wondered how time is regulated? Learn how scientists determine exact time. See more »
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How easy is it to steal a nuclear bomb?
If you watch "24," you might think real-life Jack Bauers stop bad guys from detonating stolen nukes all the time. Just how hard is it to steal a nuclear weapon? See more »
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How Japan's Nuclear Crisis Works
Explosions, fires and dangerous radiation levels dominated the headlines after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami sparked a nuclear crisis in Japan. How did so many safety measures fail? See more »
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How Nuclear Fusion Reactors Work
Fusion reactors will use abundant sources of fuel, will not leak radiation above normal background levels, and will produce less radioactive waste than current fission reactors. Learn about this promising power source. See more »
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How Nuclear Medicine Works
Nuclear materials get used in many forms of nuclear medicine -- everything from PET scans to chemotherapy uses them. Learn how nuclear medicine works. See more »
