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Over 40 million nuclear medicine procedures are performed each year

Controlling the spread of disease, helping doctors diagnose and treat patients, powering space exploration; the uses of nuclear technology are varied – and truly life-changing.

The performance of the world’s nuclear reactors in 2020 are set out in  World Nuclear Association Performance Report 2021 , which was published 1 September 2021. 

Radioisotope power sources have been an important source of energy in space since 1961. Fission power sources have been used mainly by Russia, but new and more powerful designs are under development in the USA.

The Earth's uranium has been thought to be produced in one or more supernovae over 6 billion years ago. More recent research suggests it could also be created through the merger of neutron stars.

Fuel fabrication is the final stage in nuclear fuel preparation prior to use in a reactor. Nuclear fuel assemblies are specifically designed for particular types of reactors and are made to exacting standards.

About half of the staff who were on shift on the day Russian forces took control of the Chernobyl site on 24 February, have been able to return home.

The changeover of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) staff at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has taken place, following a month-long delay, with the experts having to make part of the journey across the frontline by foot.

Nuclear power is cost-competitive with other forms of electricity generation, except where there is direct access to low-cost fossil fuels. In assessing the economics of nuclear power, decommissioning and waste disposal costs are fully taken into account.

Germany's Energiewende (energy transition) is a national program to change to a renewable-dominated energy system and phase out nuclear power. The government has estimated that the total cost of this could reach €1 trillion.