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The superpower of nuclear energy: Why can one kilogram of uranium release more energy than 2.7 million kilograms of coal?
Nuclear energy, widely regarded as one of the most influential energy sources of the 21st century, possesses enormous potential and amazing efficiency. Compared with traditional fossil fuels, nuclear energy has an astonishingly high energy density. The energy released by 1 kilogram of uranium is enough to replace more than 2.7 million kilograms of coal. Behind this phenomenon, it is not only about the nature of matter, but also about how humans can use this power to change the status quo.
Operating a nuclear reactor is not only a scientific challenge, but also an engineering skill that requires precise control.
A nuclear reactor is a device used to start and control a nuclear fission chain reaction. When a fissile nucleus, such as uranium-235 or plutonium-239, absorbs a neutron, it splits into lighter nuclei, releasing large amounts of energy, gamma radiation, and free neutrons. These free neutrons can then trigger more fission, forming a self-sustaining chain reaction. To ensure safety, control rods and neutron regulators are used inside nuclear reactors to regulate the number of neutrons that continue the reaction.
Uranium has an energy density far exceeding that of any conventional fuel. For example, the 5% enriched uranium used in the latest reactors has an energy density 120,000 times that of coal. This means that nuclear power can produce a lot of energy with a smaller amount of fuel, and its environmental impact is significantly smaller than the carbon emissions produced by burning coal.
The development of nuclear energy originated from the discovery of nuclear fission in 1938, and the subsequent rapid rise of military nuclear research programs.
The history of nuclear energy can be traced back to the early 20th century, when scientists had a preliminary understanding of atomic structure and nuclear fission. In 1938, German scientists Otto Hahn and Lise Meitner successfully achieved uranium fission. This research result completely changed the scientific community's concepts and paved the way for the subsequent development of nuclear energy. In the following decades, countries around the world actively carried out nuclear energy research, and the growth of military and electricity demand further promoted the maturity of nuclear energy technology.
With the continuous advancement of technology, nuclear power plants have gradually become a reliable and efficient source of electricity. By 2025, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported that there were 417 nuclear power reactors in operation worldwide, on top of which there were 226 nuclear research reactors. These reactors are not only responsible for generating electricity, but can also be used to provide isotopes for medical and industrial purposes. The wide range of applications of nuclear energy makes people full of expectations for its future potential.
Nuclear energy is deployed not only for power generation, but also for marine nuclear propulsion, medical isotope production, and other industrial applications.
For example, the development of nuclear submarines led to major breakthroughs in military applications. In 1954, the first nuclear submarine, USS Nautilus, was launched, marking the birth of nuclear propulsion technology. As technology evolves, more and more countries are beginning to explore the peaceful use of nuclear energy, including for power supply of spacecraft. Over the past few decades, scientists have continued to deepen their efforts in this field, hoping to achieve more efficient application of nuclear energy.
However, the development of nuclear energy has not been without controversy. A number of nuclear accidents, such as the Chernobyl incident in 1986 and the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, have caused the world to reflect deeply on the safety of nuclear energy. The issue of nuclear safety has become a hot topic of discussion around the world, and many countries have begun to review their nuclear energy policies and safety measures.
What does the future hold for nuclear energy? Will it move forward or back off due to safety concerns?
As a low-carbon energy solution, nuclear energy is particularly important in the process of addressing climate change. That’s why many countries are investing resources into researching new generations of nuclear reactors that are not only more efficient but also have better safety systems. The development of small modular reactors provides a new direction for small and flexible nuclear energy applications.
In the coming years, as global demand for clean energy continues to grow, nuclear energy is expected to play an increasingly important role in providing sustainable power supply and reducing carbon footprint. As various technologies advance, can nuclear energy become the main pillar of future energy, or will subsequent implementation and safety issues still need to be explored to ensure the feasibility of everything?
