May 19, 2025 · Nuclear reactors are the heart of a nuclear power plant. They contain and control nuclear chain reactions that produce heat through a physical process called fission.

A nuclear reactor is driven by the splitting of atoms, a process called fission, where a particle (a ‘neutron’) is fired at an atom, which then fissions into two smaller atoms and some additional neutrons.

Just as conventional thermal power stations generate electricity by harnessing the thermal energy released from burning fossil fuels, nuclear reactors convert the energy released by controlled nuclear …

In this article, we'll explain how nuclear reactors work, what happens when they malfunction, and the risks they pose to our health and the environment compared to other energy sources.

Nuclear reactors produce heat by splitting atoms. This heat converts water into steam, which in turn turns a turbine that spins a magnet, causing electricity to flow to the grid.

Nov 11, 2025 · How does a nuclear power plant work? Inside nuclear power plants, nuclear reactors and their equipment contain and control the chain reactions, most commonly fuelled by uranium-235, to …

Feb 6, 2026 · In a nuclear reactor the chain reaction is maintained at a controlled, nearly constant level. Nuclear reactors are so designed that they cannot explode like atomic bombs. Most of the energy of …

Nuclear reactors come in all shapes and sizes, but they share the same central fission process, splitting atomic nuclei to release energy. Different systems also are used to collect and transfer energy to …

Nov 7, 2025 · A nuclear reactor is a machine engineered to initiate and control a sustained nuclear chain reaction, with the primary purpose of generating heat. This controlled process allows for the steady …

Mar 16, 2025 · An easy-to-understand introduction to what happens inside a nuclear power plant, with photos and diagrams showing how everything works!