Energy
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZiqG54A85Mx7hXsvNs9rJc-320-80.jpg)
Find out everything there is to know about energy and stay updated on the latest energy news with the comprehensive articles, interactive features and pictures at LiveScience.com. Learn more about solar energy, renewable energy, and alternative energy as scientists continue to make amazing discoveries.
Explore Energy
Latest about Energy
![The nuclear bomb attack against Nagasaki, Japan on Aug. 8, 1945.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SFNAEe2dpAaUwj5w9h3cc7-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SFNAEe2dpAaUwj5w9h3cc7-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SFNAEe2dpAaUwj5w9h3cc7-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SFNAEe2dpAaUwj5w9h3cc7-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SFNAEe2dpAaUwj5w9h3cc7-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SFNAEe2dpAaUwj5w9h3cc7-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SFNAEe2dpAaUwj5w9h3cc7-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SFNAEe2dpAaUwj5w9h3cc7-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
What is fission?
By Nola Taylor Redd, Tia Ghose last updated
Fission is the process by which an atom splits into two, generating two smaller atoms and a tremendous amount of energy. Fission powers nuclear bombs and power plants.
![Wind turbines generate electricity at the San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm near Palm Springs, California.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VHBgxBF7H3tQ3rgrriVytP-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VHBgxBF7H3tQ3rgrriVytP-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VHBgxBF7H3tQ3rgrriVytP-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VHBgxBF7H3tQ3rgrriVytP-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VHBgxBF7H3tQ3rgrriVytP-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VHBgxBF7H3tQ3rgrriVytP-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VHBgxBF7H3tQ3rgrriVytP-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VHBgxBF7H3tQ3rgrriVytP-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Wind and solar power overtakes coal for the first time ever in the US
By Ben Turner published
Wind and solar power produced a combined 252 terawatt-hours in the first five months of 2023, compared with coal's output of 249 TWh
![The damaged Chernobyl nuclear power plant: a group of ruined and damaged gray, green and white buildings](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/quot7kNm69aWtc7RqkU5xE-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/quot7kNm69aWtc7RqkU5xE-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/quot7kNm69aWtc7RqkU5xE-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/quot7kNm69aWtc7RqkU5xE-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/quot7kNm69aWtc7RqkU5xE-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/quot7kNm69aWtc7RqkU5xE-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/quot7kNm69aWtc7RqkU5xE-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/quot7kNm69aWtc7RqkU5xE-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Chernobyl: The world's worst nuclear disaster
By Marc Lallanilla published
The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant explosion resulted in the most horrific nuclear disaster in the world.
![Person wearing a yellow biohazard suit in a decontamination shower against an industrial background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/58tYBVtrzgtK9e6t6q3ZRo-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/58tYBVtrzgtK9e6t6q3ZRo-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/58tYBVtrzgtK9e6t6q3ZRo-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/58tYBVtrzgtK9e6t6q3ZRo-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/58tYBVtrzgtK9e6t6q3ZRo-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/58tYBVtrzgtK9e6t6q3ZRo-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/58tYBVtrzgtK9e6t6q3ZRo-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/58tYBVtrzgtK9e6t6q3ZRo-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
How do you decontaminate objects exposed to radioactivity?
By Joanna Thompson published
Can a person or object exposed to high radioactivity just take a shower with soap and water, or is more needed for decontamination?
![A scanning electron microscope image of a bacterium that can use atmospheric hydrogen to generate an electrical current.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/96bCoKZLkAcE58DZWoUSyC-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/96bCoKZLkAcE58DZWoUSyC-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/96bCoKZLkAcE58DZWoUSyC-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/96bCoKZLkAcE58DZWoUSyC-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/96bCoKZLkAcE58DZWoUSyC-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/96bCoKZLkAcE58DZWoUSyC-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/96bCoKZLkAcE58DZWoUSyC-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/96bCoKZLkAcE58DZWoUSyC-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Scientists discover enzyme that can turn air into energy, unlocking potential new energy source
By Ben Turner published
A relative of the tuberculosis bacterium has long been known to convert hydrogen from the air into electricity. Now, scientists have discovered how.
![NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare — as seen in the bright flash on the top right — on Oct. 2, 2022. The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares and which is colorized in orange.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/k5SyxoUqNhTQwvuWdkHR9G-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/k5SyxoUqNhTQwvuWdkHR9G-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/k5SyxoUqNhTQwvuWdkHR9G-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/k5SyxoUqNhTQwvuWdkHR9G-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/k5SyxoUqNhTQwvuWdkHR9G-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/k5SyxoUqNhTQwvuWdkHR9G-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/k5SyxoUqNhTQwvuWdkHR9G-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/k5SyxoUqNhTQwvuWdkHR9G-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
What is nuclear fusion?
By Nola Taylor Redd, Tia Ghose published
Nuclear fusion is the merging of two light atomic nuclei into one heavier one. If it can be harnessed on Earth, it could generate clean, limitless energy.
![SSAB HYBRIT steel plant](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/C5pkhjfymjQSwegbKR96eK-320-80.png 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/C5pkhjfymjQSwegbKR96eK-450-80.png 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/C5pkhjfymjQSwegbKR96eK-500-80.png 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/C5pkhjfymjQSwegbKR96eK-650-80.png 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/C5pkhjfymjQSwegbKR96eK-840-80.png 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/C5pkhjfymjQSwegbKR96eK-970-80.png 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/C5pkhjfymjQSwegbKR96eK-1024-80.png 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/C5pkhjfymjQSwegbKR96eK-1200-80.png 1200w)
Steelmaking doesn’t need to come with CO2 emissions anymore, and SSAB has the technology
By Sponsored published
Sponsored SSAB’s new steel-making process avoids fossils entirely, largely eliminating carbon emissions and producing water as a byproduct that it has bottled up to highlight its clean process.
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xuv6Zy3rFWmd3z3yFsBjic-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xuv6Zy3rFWmd3z3yFsBjic-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xuv6Zy3rFWmd3z3yFsBjic-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xuv6Zy3rFWmd3z3yFsBjic-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xuv6Zy3rFWmd3z3yFsBjic-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xuv6Zy3rFWmd3z3yFsBjic-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xuv6Zy3rFWmd3z3yFsBjic-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xuv6Zy3rFWmd3z3yFsBjic-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
New Way to Make 'Green Diesel' from Coal
By Bjorn Carey last updated
If perfected, the process could help ease our reliance on petroleum-based gasoline.
Live Science newsletter
Stay up to date on the latest science news by signing up for our Essentials newsletter.