Nuclear power emerged as a significant alternative energy source in the mid-20th century, addressing the world’s increasing demand for sustainable energy solutions. Since the Industrial Revolution, traditional energy sources like hydroelectric power, steam turbines, and internal combustion engines using fossil fuels have been prevalent. However, the finite nature of fossil fuels necessitated the exploration of new, sustainable energy sources, leading to the development of nuclear power.
In the 1930s, physicists unraveled the structure of the atom and discovered the potential of nuclear fission to breed enriched radioactive elements like plutonium. This technology was initially harnessed for nuclear weapons during World War II but later transitioned to civilian use for energy production. The first research-grade nuclear reactor producing electricity was operational in the US in 1951, followed by the world’s first large-scale nuclear power plant in Obninsk, USSR, in 1954. Currently, nuclear power contributes approximately 10% of global electricity.
The process of generating power from nuclear energy, primarily through the heat produced by radioactive decay to drive steam turbines, required significant engineering innovations to prevent reactor meltdowns. Despite these advancements, the nuclear industry has faced challenges, including notable accidents at Three Mile Island in 1979 and Chernobyl in 1986. These incidents, along with the ongoing issue of nuclear waste disposal, have hindered the broader adoption of nuclear power despite its potential as a sustainable energy source.
