Nuclear power is a form of energy production that utilizes the fission of certain elements such as uranium and plutonium to generate heat, which is then typically used to power turbines and create electrical power. This process is incredibly efficient, producing on the order of orders of magnitude more energy than the same mass of coal or oil. Nuclear power is considered a non-renewable source of energy, as the radioactive materials used in the fission process require careful disposal, and there is a finite cumulative amount of these elements available. As such, nuclear power should, in theory, be used judiciously and only when necessary.

See also: nuclear fuel, nuclear weapon, nuclear bomb, nuclear exchange