The consequences of an accident or terrorist attack are minimal compared with other commonly accepted risks. Radiological effects on people of any radioactive releases can be avoided." (https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/safety-and-security/safety-of-plants/safety-of-nuclear-power-reactors) The article continues to cite that out of all nuclear power plants there have only been 2 dangerous accidents, and only one of which has ended with the loss of life. "There have been two major reactor accidents in the history of civil nuclear power – Chernobyl and Fukushima Daiichi." (same article) This means that nuclear energy throughout all of its history has only caused one lethal accident, and that was due to poor Russian management. Our modern reactors are incredibly safe.
It is efficient, "This basically means nuclear power plants are producing maximum power more than 92% of the time during the year." (https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/nuclear-power-most-reliable-energy-source-and-its-not-even-close) Out of all energy producing sources we have currently, nuclear energy is easily the most reliable and most efficient. It is twice or even thrice as powerful as other generators, and like mentioned, it is safer than the other ones as well. Furthermore, if your entire life was powered by nuclear energy, it would only produce a soda can's size of radioactive waste. This includes all conveniences one would use day to day. That is the efficiency and power of nuclear energy. (https://cna.ca/2019/06/25/your-lifetime-used-fuel-would-fit-in-a-soda-can-want-proof/) Thus it is also environmentally secure.
Nuclear reactors work by heating water using nuclear fission, which is where the radioactivity comes in. Fuel rods made of thorium, uranium, or plutonium undergo a process called fission, where atoms collide with big particles (such as those mentioned above), causing it to split and releasing a large amount of energy. This process can happen passively, which is what radiation is. The heat output from these fuel rods heat the water into vapor, which is what the steam billows that are seen exiting a reactor are. This vapor is just water, which returns to the water cycle. It is completely sustainable, except for when the fuel rods decay. In this case, they are replaced and deposited deep underground where they cannot harm or effect the environment. They set in tubs of water to reduce the radiation to safe levels again.
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