Nuclear power plants are used primarily to generate electricity, and while they're often thought of as a cleaner energy source, there is a drawback. These power plants produce waste. This waste is ...

One of the issues with nuclear power plants is that they produce long-lived radioactive waste. Storing spent nuclear fuel is a real problem. However, researchers at the Department of Energy’s Thomas ...

Nuclear energy is often regarded as the cleanest power source on Earth. Unlike coal or gas, nuclear power plants don't release smoke and other contaminants into the air. They produce massive amounts ...

For decades, the most radioactive category of low-level waste in the U.S. has had a disposal plan that exists only on paper: a deep geologic repository that was never built. Late last week, the ...

While nuclear power has the potential to help cut humanity’s addiction to fossil fuels, scientists are still working on how to deal with its radioactive leftovers. The Thomas Jefferson National ...

Nuclear energy is one of the most polarizing topics when it comes to ways of generating electricity. On one hand, there are those who believe nuclear is a much better alternative to fossil fuels and ...

New designs mean new strategies for managing spent fuel. MIT Technology Review Explains: Let our writers untangle the complex, messy world of technology to help you understand what’s coming next. You ...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18, 2025 — From electric cars to artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, the technologies people use every day require a growing need for electricity. In theory, nuclear fusion — a ...

Nuclear fusion could produce almost boundless energy with zero emissions or waste, but is not yet viable on a large scale because of the cost and difficulty generating the right conditions.