Uranium is a heavy, silvery metal that contains enormous amounts of energy locked inside its atoms. When uranium atoms are split apart in a process called fission, they release tremendous heat that can be used to generate electricity in nuclear power plants. A single pound of uranium can produce as much energy as burning three million pounds of coal.

Uranium is also radioactive, meaning its atoms naturally break down over time, releasing invisible energy called radiation. This makes uranium both useful and dangerous. Nuclear power plants use carefully controlled uranium reactions to create electricity without burning fossil fuels, but the radiation requires thick concrete walls and strict safety measures. The same energy that powers cities can also be weaponized, which is why uranium is closely monitored by governments around the world.

Scientists discovered uranium in 1789, but its remarkable energy wasn't understood until the early 1900s. Today, about 10% of the world's electricity comes from uranium-powered nuclear plants. The metal occurs naturally in rocks and soil, though in very small amounts. Miners extract it from special ore deposits, then process it extensively before it can fuel a nuclear reactor.