Uranium enrichment: A chemist explains how the surprisingly common element is processed to power reactors and weapons

Uranium enrichment concentrates one specific type of the atom to create a substance that can generate massive amounts of energy.

André O. Hudson, Dean of the College of Science, Professor of Biochemistry, Rochester Institute of Technology • conversation
June 26, 2025 • ~6 min

Engineering students explore how to ethically design and locate nuclear facilities in this college course

Students explore nuclear facilities in virtual reality and learn about the ethical dimensions of nuclear technology in a University of Michigan course.

Katie Snyder, Lecturer III in Technical Communication, College of Engineering, University of Michigan • conversation
March 25, 2025 • ~6 min

Nuclear rockets could travel to Mars in half the time − but designing the reactors that would power them isn’t easy

Sending a nuclear fission reactor into space means lots of technical questions. One research group is coming up with models that could improve how a nuclear rocket starts up and powers down.

Dan Kotlyar, Associate Professor of Nuclear and Radiological Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology • conversation
Oct. 4, 2024 • ~9 min

Fusion power could transform how we get our energy — and worsen problems it’s intended to solve

Some processes that support fusion energy fuel climate change and may harm the environment.

Sophie Cogan, PhD Candidate, University of York • conversation
July 5, 2024 • ~6 min

How much energy can people create at one time without losing control?

Scientists are working on ways to make lots of energy by converting matter into energy. The trick is keeping the process under control. One possibility is nuclear fusion – the Sun's power source.

Xuejian Wu, Assistant Professor of Physics, Rutgers University - Newark • conversation
May 17, 2021 • ~6 min

To safely explore the solar system and beyond, spaceships need to go faster – nuclear-powered rockets may be the answer

An update of 50-year-old regulations has kickstarted research into the next generation of rockets. Powered by nuclear fission, these new systems could be the key to faster, safer exploration of space.

Iain Boyd, Professor of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder • conversation
May 20, 2020 • ~10 min

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