Nuclear power may become more popular in the future. Oil and gas will run out one day because developing countries are using more and more electricity. We must therefore find alternative energy sources.
In 50 years’ time, nuclear energy may be made in a different way.
Most nuclear reactors use fission to make energy. Another way to create nuclear energy is to join atoms together. This is called fusion, and produces much less radiation than fission. Fusion takes place in special doughnut-shaped reactors called tokomaks, but so far scientists have not found a way of producing enough energy from fusion.
Nuclear reactors could send spacecraft to other planets
Small nuclear reactors could provide enough to power a spacecraft. However, people argue that it would be dangerous to launch nuclear materials into space.
Nuclear waste may be a problem for your children and their great-great-grandchildren.
Dumping nuclear waste may solve the problem for now, but how will future generations deal with the waste? Scientists have suggested writing instructions on special paper that does not rot. This paper is similar to the papyrus used by Ancient Egyptians thousands of years ago.
