O. Hahn and F. Strassmann 1 have discovered a new type of nuclear reaction, the splitting into two smaller nuclei of the nuclei of uranium and thorium under neutron bombardment. Thus they ...

Cesium-137 is formed as a fission product by operating a nuclear reactor. Cesium-137, also known as Cs-137, was first released into the atmosphere during Oppenheimer’s Trinity test on July 16 ...

Many of the features of the reactor are designed to control the speed of the reaction and the temperature inside the shielding. An uncontrolled fission reaction is the basis of an atomic bomb.

Fermi's task, however, was to create a controlled nuclear reaction; that is, to split the atom without creating a deadly explosion. Theoretically, it was possible. During fission, a fast-moving ...

A controlled nuclear fission reaction releases one million times more energy per kg than a chemical reaction such as burning coal, oil or gas. This means much less fuel is required than for a ...