Nuclear fission—when the nucleus of an atom splits in two, releasing energy—may seem like a process that is fully understood. First discovered in 1939 and thoroughly studied ever since, fission is a ...

A five-dimensional model accurately predicts the asymmetric fission of mercury isotopes, advancing our understanding of nuclear fission beyond traditional heavy elements such as uranium and plutonium ...

Outdone only by nuclear fusion, the process of nuclear fission releases enormous amounts of energy. The ‘spicy rocks’ that are at the core of both natural and artificial fission reactors are generally ...

Although nuclear fission, which powers nuclear reactors, can provide plenty of energy, it also produces potentially dangerous radioactive waste as a by-product. Now, researchers say they may have ...

Is nuclear power the world's best hope for slowing climate change—or a high-stakes gamble that risks radioactive disaster? What if it's both? As the world seeks cleaner energy sources, nuclear energy ...

In the next few decades, many physicists are hopeful that nuclear fusion could become a realistic source of practically ...